Kent leaned back in his chair, his expression unreadable as he reached for his own glass of wine. He swirled the liquid slowly before taking a measured sip. When he finally spoke, his voice was calm, but there was a sharp edge to it that didn’t go unnoticed. Explore stories on empire
“You should first tell me what exactly you want from me. Then we can talk about your offers.” He said, his eyes narrowing as he set the glass down.
Lily’s smile widened, and she leaned forward slightly, her eyes glinting with a mixture of amusement and approval. “Straight to the point, I like that. Very well. I need you to act as my husband, at least for a while.”
Kent, who already knew what she was going to ask, acted a little surprised. “Your husband?” he echoed, his tone skeptical. “And why would you need that?”
Lily’s gaze sharpened, and for the first time, a hint of frustration crept into her voice. “It’s the only way for me to avoid a prearranged marriage with the Lin family on the 7th realm. My family has made a deal with them, one that I have no intention of honoring.”
She took another sip of wine, her eyes never leaving Kent’s. “In exchange for your cooperation, I will provide you with all the resources you need for your cultivation. I can ensure that you receive a spot in the Trident Summit, which will be your key to entering the Spirit World.”
Kent remained silent, weighing her words carefully. The Trident Summit was a highly competitive event, and only the most powerful and influential were granted entry. It was an opportunity that could change his fate, but he decided to talk a little more before jumping into an agreement without fully understanding the consequences.
“What’s in it for you? Why go through all this trouble?” Kent asked, his voice steady.
Lily’s expression softened slightly, and she leaned back in her chair, her gaze drifting toward the horizon once more.
“Freedom,” she said quietly, her voice tinged with a vulnerability that surprised him. “The Lin family is powerful, but their methods are… ruthless. I won’t be chained to them, not when I have the means to forge my own path.”
She turned her gaze back to Kent, her eyes once again filled with that steely determination. “I’ve seen what you’re capable of, Kent. I know you have the strength to help me. And in return, I can offer you a future, one that is far greater than anything you could achieve on your own.”
Kent studied her for a long moment, his mind racing with possibilities.
After a long silence, Kent finally spoke, his voice low and resolute. “I’ll agree to your terms, but I need time to say goodbye to my close ones. I won’t enter into this lightly, and I expect you to hold up your end of the bargain.”
Lily nodded, a satisfied smile playing on her lips. “Of course, It’s a promise. I won’t go back on my words, even my family won’t like it. But I expect you to stand strong as the Lin family will use their devious methods against you.”
Kent smiled at her words and finished the wine in one gulp. “I will be taking my leave now. In a few days, I will meet you at the Inter Realm teleportation point.”
Lily accompanied Kent to the entrance and waved her hand in goodbye. Unknowingly, she felt curious about Kent’s attitude.
“I really wonder what his face looks like behind that mask.” Lily muttered while staring at the leaving back of Kent.
Lily, who was still staring at the Kent throne, didn’t see her sister approaching from behind.
“Did he agree?” Thea asked, her voice filled with a hint of amusement. She came to a halt beside Lily, her gaze searching her sister’s face.
Turning towards her sister, Lily nodded, her expression calm and assured. “Yes, he did,” she replied, her tone even. “I didn’t expect him to agree so easily, though. Perhaps the allure of visiting the Spirit World was too great for him to resist.”
Thea nodded, understanding the delicate balance she needed to maintain. “And what about the Lin Family? They won’t take this lightly.”
Lily’s expression darkened, a cold resolve settling over her features. “Let them try. Till now, I’m afraid of the Lin family. With Kent on our side, they won’t dare make a move without thinking twice. But I’m more worried about facing the Patriarch. Uncle Ryon won’t easily accept what we are doing.”
“It’s okay. We already took the step forward. Now, there is no looking back.” Thea replied in a confident tone as a sly smile played on her lips.
The sisters continued to discuss their plans late into the night, their voices low and filled with determination.
–
Later that day…
Kent stood outside his magic castle, watching as the last of his close friends and allies departed for the Golden Bamboo City. The morning sun was just beginning to rise, casting a warm glow over the desert landscape.
Sophia, Lucy and Amelia, were among the last to leave, their faces filled with a mixture of sadness and affection.
“Kent, you better come visit us soon,” Sophia called out, her voice wavering slightly as he mounted her beast.
“We won’t eat if you leave without saying goodbye.” Lucy spoke while caressing his cheeks.
Better than these two, Amelia stood with a stoic face, covering all her feelings behind a stern face.
Kent gave them a small smile, nodding in acknowledgment. “There are things I need to take care of first. But, I promise I’ll visit as soon as I can,” he replied, his voice steady despite the emotions swirling within him.
Fatty cried out from a distance, understanding the weight of Kent’s responsibilities. “Take care of yourself, Master. We’ll be waiting for you.”
With that, Fatty and the others rode off, their figures gradually disappearing into the distance. Kent watched them go, a sense of solitude settling over him as the dust from their departure hung in the air.
For a moment, he simply stood there, alone in the vastness of the desert. The events of the past few days weighed heavily on him. He knew what he had to do now. To forge some allegiances and to finish a few things he left in the middle.
–
Note: Thank You “@VoidStalker @aaaninja @CatServant” for the sweet Gifts. Thank you so much guys.
Your’s PeterPan 😉