“Mu'er Aotiliya? Why is she here?”

The moment Rosetti saw the woman with short brown hair and a pair of adorable cat ears, she recognized her.

She was the Beast Kingdom’s thirteenth princess. Like Alice, she’d reached the fourth stage as a warrior before turning twenty.

Rumor had it that she was leading the Beast Clan’s forces this time.

If that was the case, shouldn’t she be on the front lines fighting Lady Alice? Why was she here?

Could it be that Lady Alice had already lost?

“No. That can’t be. Lady Alice couldn’t possibly lose.”

She’d said that she wouldn’t fall until her true dream came true.

Rosetti believed in her, unwaveringly.

“When you hear my signal, run. Got it?”

Rosetti leaned close to Lin Ge’s ear and whispered.

The faint, elegant fragrance on her breath tickled him, making him feel all tingly.

And since she had an extremely cold constitution, it only made the sensation even more intense.

Lin Ge was feeling better again.

“Did you hear me?! Do you even want to stay alive?”

Seeing Lin Ge staring blankly, she kicked him in the shin in annoyance.

Why was he always like this? When it was time to be serious, he wasn’t. Was he asking to get yelled at?!

If they weren’t in the middle of facing a powerful enemy, Rosetti would’ve given him a proper scolding. Whatever else he was, he was her husband in name, and he really ought to take things more seriously.

“Of course I do. Why wouldn’t I want to stay alive?”

Still as laid-back as ever, Lin Ge showed not the slightest trace of nervousness. He smiled and said:

“Forget that—why’s your hair turned so much whiter, honey? Is it because you’ve been missing your husband?”

“Missing you, my foot! Honestly, you’re impossible. Can’t you be serious for once, at a time like this?”

Rosetti was so flustered she felt like crying.

With no other choice, she resorted to a threat.

“Go! Get out of here, now! If you don’t, don’t blame me for using a forbidden spell.”

Rosetti’s gaze dropped to Lin Ge’s neck.

Since reasoning with him hadn’t worked, she could only resort to extreme measures.

Even though she no longer looked down on him—in fact, she’d even grown a little attached to him…

With a powerful enemy before them, this was all she could do…

She’d thought that, given Lin Ge’s personality, all she’d have to do was bluff and he’d obediently give in. After all, that was what he’d done last time…

But…

“I’m not leaving. I won’t leave you here alone.”

“I told you, if you don’t leave, I’ll use the forbidden—”

“Go ahead. Use it if you want. No matter what, I’m not leaving.”

“Why… Why are you doing this… Why are you being so good to me…”

Reasoning with him hadn’t worked. Neither had being harsh…

Rosetti couldn’t understand why the man in front of her was acting this way.

They were only a fake couple, married to fulfill the Emperor’s decree. She’d never even treated him kindly… So why was he still being so good to her…?

“I told you.” Lin Ge patted Rosetti on the head and spoke gently. “A husband has no reason not to shield his wife from the storm, even if our marriage is only pretend…”

“You idiot…”

Tears she hadn’t shed since she was abandoned as a child rolled slowly down her cheeks.

She’d known what it was like to be cared for by Alice and loved by the children, but this feeling was new to Rosetti…

“All right, don’t cry. You’re so pretty, it’d be a shame to mess up your face. Look, I got blown up like this and I’m not crying, am I?”

Lin Ge gently wiped the tears from Rosetti’s youthful cheeks and smiled.

“You idiot…”

Her pearly white teeth clenched down on her lower lip. She… couldn’t bring herself to do it. She couldn’t force him to leave for his own safety by using a forbidden spell.

At last, she let down every guard and leaned into his arms, burying her tear-streaked face against his chest.

Rosetti had been completely won over.

Lin Ge couldn’t help letting out a sigh of relief.

Everything he’d said was true, and he really did want to do those things. But the more important reason was that he wanted to slack off… cling to his wife and live a carefree life.

At the thought, Lin Ge’s lips curled into a smile.

What a natural-born actor he was!

“That was quite a touching little show you put on for me. Don’t you think, Roviet?”

Mu clapped. With dimples showing and a charming smile, Mu had a hint of hidden meaning in their eyes.

“Indeed, Lady Mu.”

Roviet bowed and played along, even though he wasn’t moved by the scene.

Still, he had to put on an act in front of his superior.

“More importantly, since Lady Mu is here, does that mean the battle on the front lines is already…”

“More or less.”

Mu nodded, and Roviet immediately beamed.

Rosetti heard this too. She pulled away from Lin Ge and wiped her tears.

Her sharp eyes glared fiercely at the two of them.

Seeing this, Roviet hurriedly urged Mu:

“Please, Lady Mu, take action. Once they’re dealt with, this city will be ours. That’ll make our future war with the Demon Clan go much more smoothly.”

“A war with the Demon Clan…”

Mu’s eyes narrowed slightly as Mu murmured under their breath.

“What is it, Lady Mu?” Seeing the surprise in Mu’s expression, Roviet asked, puzzled. “Is something wrong?”

“Wrong? There is something, I suppose… But more importantly, aren’t you going to explain your collusion with that lot?”

“Well…”

At Mu’s words, cold sweat instantly beaded on Roviet’s forehead.

He stumbled back several steps, swallowed hard, and didn’t know what to say.

But Mu gave him no chance to speak. Their eyes turned icy.

“You’d resort to such underhanded tricks? Have you forgotten the Beast Clan’s dignity? Get down on your knees!”

Gulp—

Without hesitation, Roviet dropped to one knee at Mu’s reprimand, his face full of terror.

Even so, he still said:

“I know this was wrong and beneath the Beast Clan, but that woman can use forbidden spells. If she keeps learning, we’re sure to lose. And then, Lady Mu, you’ll…”

“So you think I’ll lose.”

“I wouldn’t dare.”

Roviet hurriedly lowered his head again, still trembling with fear.

Even so, for Mu’s sake and for the glory of the entire Beast Clan, he continued:

“I’ll accept whatever punishment comes afterward. Please put the greater good first, Lady Mu. Deal with those two and take the city.”

With that, Roviet directed Mu’s gaze toward Lin Ge and Rosetti.

Rosetti quickly stepped in front of Lin Ge to shield him.

At this point… if they really fought, all she could do was give it everything she had—even if it cost her life.

Roviet smirked. Rosetti tensed, every nerve on edge.

The battle was about to erupt, and yet…

“That’s what he says, Xiao Lin. What do you think I should do?”

“Don’t ask me. This is your family’s business. Don’t go dragging mine into it, Xiao Mu.”

Rosetti: ???

Roviet: ???

—What on earth were those two talking about?

Their conversation was light and playful, with a hint of mischief.

Hearing a conversation that sounded nothing like something enemies would have, Rosetti and Roviet both froze, staring back and forth between the two in utter bewilderment.

It seemed like things were about to get interesting…