"Princess, we're heading back to the Ghost King's Manor." A gentle, melodious voice sounded from behind.
Fiona Yun nodded lightly and followed after him.
Damien Gray boarded the carriage, bent down, and extended his hand to her with a gentle smile. Fiona Yun reached out and placed her hand in his, letting him help her onto the carriage.
Inside the carriage, Fiona Yun sat next to Damien Gray. On the other side sat a maid, said to be her dowry maid who had always served her, but the maid's gaze toward her was full of disdain.
Fiona Yun gently lifted the curtain on the window and gazed at the scenery outside. The carriage gradually approached the palace gates, where Fiona Yun saw many luxurious carriages parked. When she saw the two princes she had met before boarding their carriages, her eyes flickered slightly. It seemed all carriages had to stop at the palace gate and could not proceed further, but the Ghost King's carriage was the exception. Was it because of his frail health? It appeared the emperor truly favored this prince. But whether it was genuine affection or some ulterior motive remained to be seen.
"Your Highness..." The carriage had just stopped when an anxious voice was heard.
Damien Gray stepped out of the carriage, looked at the newcomer, and spoke warmly, "Ethan, there's no need to worry."
Ethan Gu frowned. The prince had gone to the palace banquet alone while he was away, even though he knew...
Damien Gray reached out toward the carriage, and soon a fair, delicate hand was placed in his palm.
Ethan Gu looked in surprise at the woman stepping out of the carriage, his eyes scrutinizing. The prince had brought a woman back—was she another gift from His Majesty?
Damien Gray glanced at Fiona Yun and instructed Ethan Gu, "Ethan, have someone tidy up the Shadow Court. The Princess Consort will be moving in."
"Yes, sir!" Ethan Gu quickly went to find people to prepare the courtyard.
Though it was already late, the courtyard was usually well maintained, so it didn't require much effort.
Fiona Yun raised an eyebrow. The Ghost King's Manor, the Shadow Court—if one didn't know better, they might think this grand estate was Yama's Hall itself!
There was no wedding; Fiona Yun simply entered the Ghost King's Manor. The envoys were displeased, but since Fiona Yun had already lost her chastity to Damien Gray, and Emperor Alexander claimed the Ghost King's frail health couldn't withstand any fuss, what more could they say?
Inside the study, Ethan Gu frowned, "Your Highness, how could you attend the banquet alone?"
Damien Gray stood up from behind his desk, looked at him, and smiled gently, asking, "Is there a problem?"
Ethan Gu was momentarily stunned, then lowered his head, "No... no problem!"
Watching Damien Gray walk out, Maxwell Jing, who had been silent all along, shook his head and said, "Ethan, have you spent so long with the gentle and courteous Ghost King that you've started thinking His Highness is easy to push around?"
Ethan Gu replied speechlessly, "I'm just worried, that's all."
Maxwell Jing leisurely waved his folding fan, "You just don't trust His Highness!" He looked every bit the refined gentleman.
Ethan Gu glanced at him disdainfully and replied lightly, "A guard who's always showing off—do you even remember your own surname?"
Maxwell Jing didn't mind at all. "Isn't my surname Jing? I'm helping His Highness, you know! Let all the flowers and grass stick to me, that way His Highness stays safe!"
Ethan Gu snorted, "Hypocrite! You're just lustful and need a grand excuse. I really don't know why His Highness keeps you around."
"Tsk, tsk..." Maxwell Jing shook his head, "Ethan, your words could easily be misunderstood. I suspect you're the one ruining His Highness's reputation!"
Ethan Gu gave a cold snort and said abruptly, "I'm taking a month off!" Then he walked away without looking back.
Maxwell Jing gripped his folding fan angrily, "Well, Ethan Gu! You think you can just take time off whenever you please?"
There were plenty of courtyards in the Ghost King's Manor. As a prince, concubines were expected, but because Prince Damien was rather unique, most were left empty. He had his own courtyard and never intended to live with Fiona Yun, which suited her just fine.
In the Shadow Court, Fiona Yun sat comfortably, almost as if she were the maid rather than the mistress. She showed no displeasure, and to Serena Yuan, it seemed perfectly natural.
Serena Yuan looked at Fiona Yun with disdain and said, "Miss, you really have a way with men! You arrive and immediately charm a prince. The Ghost King may look sickly, but he's gentle and handsome. No wonder you were so eager to climb into his bed!"
Fiona Yun frowned. This maid spoke without restraint—was she truly so easy to bully in her past life? She hadn't received any memories from her previous incarnation, so she wasn't clear about her situation. Her soul and body hadn't fully fused yet, and her spiritual power was nearly depleted. She had no desire to stir up trouble now; that man... was far too dangerous!
She could sense a master lurking in the shadows, watching her every move.
Seeing her silent, Serena Yuan snapped, "Morgan Shangguan, don't think you're special just because you're the Princess Consort now. If Second Miss hadn't given up this opportunity, would you be here today?" Her tone made it seem as if she herself had given Fiona Yun the chance.
Morgan Shangguan? The name symbolizing the head of the Shangguan Family—she didn't like it. She hadn't expected to be bound to this name in both lives. Like a bubble, it vanished at a touch, yet her vitality was stubbornly resilient!
The training base that drove Luo Jin to flee—she survived it. The little ghost made a mistake, and she should have disappeared, but her grandfather helped her hold on and rewrite her fate!
She sighed inwardly. Fine, Morgan Shangguan it is.
"Why did she give it to me?" Judging from the maid's address, she wasn't a true princess—she'd only been granted the title for the marriage alliance.
Serena Yuan paused, then said disdainfully, "If Second Miss and the Crown Prince weren't in love, do you think you'd be here for the alliance? Second Miss is Azure Kingdom's famed talent and its greatest beauty—talented and beautiful. How could you ever compare to her?"