Wenwu and Princess Royal stood face to face. Her figure was artfully half-concealed—not fully covered, yet revealing an exquisite silhouette.

"What did you just say?"

"N-nothing."

Since he’d already seen it, it didn’t matter anymore.

The princess turned away, dressing herself piece by piece. She simply combed her hair and freshened up.

"Follow me."

She shifted a half-destroyed bookshelf aside, gently pushed the wall, and revealed a hidden door. As it opened, she sounded relieved: "Good thing—the door wasn’t blown up."

Wenwu had no words. He just followed her underground. The stone door closed silently behind them.

Glowing crystals lined the passage, lighting their way.

Wenwu trailed the princess downward until an iron door blocked their path.

"A dead end?"

Princess Royal didn’t answer. She placed her hand on the door. Purple light pulsed from her palm. The iron door creaked open slowly.

Wenwu stepped through—and froze. Instead of a dark basement, a brightly lit laboratory stretched before him.

"This…"

"My lab. I wanted to ask—"

"Princess Royal, first, I need to clear up our misunderstanding."

"Go ahead."

"That night… was it real? Or was I dreaming?"

"Yes."

"What did you do to me?"

"Kissing. And… that."

"That? You mean… between a man and a woman?"

"Mm-hmm."

She answered so bluntly. If the judges knew, it’d be worse than assassinating her.

"Why?"

"Well… during magic research, I had an accident. Needed yin-yang balance."

"That’s it?"

"Mm."

"Then why choose me?"

"You were the only one on the road."

Her words sent Wenwu plummeting from heaven to hell. He’d expected divine fate—or that it had to be him.

"Princess Royal… do you often do this?"

"No. First time."

"Hey… if your magic research has another accident, just find me." Wenwu gazed at her, hopeful.

"Sure. Any man works."

"But… you’re the empire’s princess. Won’t this ruin your reputation? You’ll marry someday."

"Doesn’t matter. I have a fiancé."

She looked eighteen, nineteen at most—already engaged. A soon-to-be wife. This plot only happened in movies.

"May I ask… who’s your fiancé?" Wenwu burned to know the poor sap she’d wronged.

"You’ve met him."

"Huh?"

"Hadi Kreist. The fifth judge."

Now Wenwu understood why that man wanted him dead. If his wife was mistreated, he’d kill too. Still, Wenwu pitied him now.

"Princess Royal… don’t you care about your body at all?"

He’d seen girls fake purity. But a princess ignoring her chastity? Unheard of.

"It doesn’t matter. As long as I complete the magic."