The Taste of Power

Seeing Lily Evans's look of surprise, Alexander Hayes leaned in quietly, bending toward her ear and said, "It seems you've lost, my Queen. Perhaps you should carefully consider how you will attend to my bath tonight."

Lily Evans blushed all the way to her ears and shot Alexander Hayes a glare. She thought, this man must have done something behind my back and is deliberately keeping it secret—making me worry and tricking me into losing the bet!

What a cunning man! And to think I was genuinely moved just now—hmph!

Alexander Hayes looked at his beloved wife's adorable, angry expression and smiled gently. He took Lily Evans's hand and said, "My Queen, let's go."

The handsome and dignified Alexander Hayes held Queen Lily of Qin's hand. King and Queen, side by side, walked out together in perfect harmony.

In the plaza, a herald announced, "Alexander Hayes and Queen Lily of Qin have arrived!"

All the members of the House of Zhao knelt in unison, chanting three times, "May Your Majesty live ten thousand years, ten thousand years, ten thousand ten thousand years! May Her Majesty the Queen live ten thousand years, ten thousand years, ten thousand ten thousand years!"

Everyone in the plaza knelt together, their calls echoing in perfect unison. Alexander Hayes and Lily Evans stood hand in hand atop the temporary platform, gazing down at the crowd.

Lily Evans looked at the kneeling crowd before her, witnessing their submission and fear. Suddenly, she understood why, throughout history, so many heroes and legends fought desperately to become kings and emperors.

The taste of power, once savored, is truly impossible to give up.