With firm resolve, Westheid began his performance.
"The Chaos Tide struck the Qinghui Territory and shattered my dreams of greatness. That day, I abandoned everything—my land, my people, my honor... I fled to the Imperial Capital with nothing, a pathetic disgrace."
Westheid, completely imrsed in the story he was weaving, wrapped his arms around himself and sighed mournfully.
"Even now, looking back on it is a nightmare. The terror and despair of it all wake countless tis in the middle of the night, robbing of sleep."
In truth, it wasn’t quite that bad. While Duke Qinghui was genuinely disheartened, his suffering wasn’t nearly so severe.
Westheid was using hyperbole, and the effect was outstanding.
Reiya quickly comforted him. "That’s all in the past. There’s no nightmare you can’t break free from, West."
She was certainly qualified to say so; the White-haired Dragon Lady herself had fought her way out of an endless nightmare.
"It’s not that simple. I didn’t just lose my ho, my power, and my honor back then. I also lost my future... my life..."
Westheid let out a self-deprecating laugh. He looked up, his indigo-purple eyes filled with a deep, heart-wrenching sorrow.
"I’m dying."
"!!"
Reiya’s breath caught in her throat. She finally understood why those frivolous noblewon constantly ntioned "Duke Qinghui’s lancholic gaze."
’That gaze... It’s practically cheating.’
Even the Silver-haired Princess’s heart, tempered and forged as hard as steel, was pierced in an instant. An irrepressible surge of pity and affection erupted from within her.
Her heart felt like it was being twisted by a knife, and sorrow welled up like a spring.
Reiya couldn’t help but push herself up from the dining table, asking:
"Why?"
Westheid noticed the burning anxiety in Reiya’s rose-colored eyes and was montarily stunned.
’Is the effect of Flawless Face really this terrifying? No, it must be because my base Charm is too high.’
’So this is the Qinghui bloodline?’
’When I think about it that way, the Holy Spirit Ancestor... doesn’t seem so unworthy after all.’
Westheid didn’t answer imdiately. Instead, he stood up, paced around the room a few tis, and let out several deliberate sighs before speaking.
"For the hundreds of years since the Branch of Prosperity system was established, every Autocratic Duke has lived and thrived in their own territory, dutifully guarding the borders. Not a single Branch of Prosperity territory had ever fallen... until I brought this sha upon myself."
"But beyond the sha, no one ever knew the consequences of a territory falling and its Holy Spirit Ancestor being corrupted. I only realized it afterward—if the Holy Spirit Ancestor is fully corrupted, then all the descendants of the Direct Lineage, bound by blood, will also be corrupted and devolve into chaotic servants of disorder."
"COUGH... COUGH COUGH!"
To add to the persuasiveness of his tale, Westheid began to cough up blood at just the right mont.
This wasn’t entirely an act. Ever since the Chaos Erosion began, he had been relying on the Withered Glory Sun to forcefully suppress the discomfort in his body. The mont he relaxed even slightly, the tornt of the erosion would beco unbearable.
"West!"
Reiya imdiately rushed forward to support him and saw the black blood he had coughed into his hand.
It was foul, dark, and thick, like a tangible, writhing malice. Just looking at it provoked a visceral sense of revulsion.
This was the Chaos, a virulent poison to all Order Creatures.
The Silver-haired Princess’s expression was incredibly grim as she helped Westheid to a nearby sofa.
"When did this start?"
"I’ve known for a long ti," Westheid said, "but it only began to flare up recently. That’s why I’ve been so desperate to find aid and reclaim my holand as soon as possible."
"If you hadn’t shared your Talent with , I wouldn’t even be able to stand right now."
Westheid leaned "weakly" against the Dragon Girl’s shoulder and spoke as if in a dream:
"I feel a little better now, at least. I even have the courage to face my nightmares. But when I first arrived in the Imperial Capital, I was utterly desperate. How could a stray dog with nothing hope to reverse a fate of certain death?"
"Fortunately, heaven never seals off all paths. The second awakening of my bloodline Talent gave a new way forward. I’ll do anything to survive—even if it ans forcing a smile for won I don’t like, or spending sleepless nights entangled with them. As long as I can gain the power to live, I’ll force myself to do it, no matter how unwilling I am."
This was, of course, pure nonsense. Back then, Westheid didn’t even have the Heart and Soul’s Gift Talent. He could claim he was numbing himself with a debauched lifestyle, but unwilling?
Then let tell you about the caliber of a dyed-in-the-wool lecher.
But in front of Reiya, Westheid had to appear chaste and unyielding, yet fragile and broken.
His best bet was to awaken Reiya’s maternal instincts.
"...When it cos down to it, maybe I’m just... insecure. To pursue power, I’ll stop at nothing, and I will have no regrets..."
"Because only then can I protect my holand and my people. Only then can I be worthy of the title of Qinghui Patriarch."
Westheid trembled slightly in the Silver-haired Dragon Lady’s arms, his voice deliberately laced with exhaustion and despair.
Reiya listened silently to her lover’s confession, hugging him tighter without saying a word.
’West... he’s just like .’
’We’re both trapped in an abyss of despair, both willing to do anything to grasp that final straw of hope.’
Reiya looked down, gazing at her lover’s face.
His soft, choppy, dark brown hair clung to his handso, heart-stoppingly beautiful cheeks. The young man’s lancholic eyes, glistening with moisture, blinked before he offered a bitter smile.
"I’m sorry, I’ve dumped too much of my negativity on you. You had to see in such a pathetic state."
"West... I never knew you could make an expression like that."
Reiya stared, her beautiful eyes trembling with shock.
The shock she felt was beyond words. In the Silver-haired Princess’s mind, Westheid had always been effortlessly cool and composed, confident and in control.
All difficulties seed to vanish before him as if they were nothing; he could always find a solution. He feared no enemy, always daring to draw his sword with fierce courage.
Reiya had almost co to believe Westheid was omnipotent, and she had developed a sense of admiration and dependence on him.
’But this West... he’s actually sobbing in my arms?’
’He’s been carrying so much pain? Shouldering such a heavy responsibility?’
Reiya bit her lower lip hard, her nails digging deep into her palms.
’Then again, who can truly be perfect? Everyone is flawed.’
Seeing that the mood had been sufficiently cultivated, Westheid rubbed his reddened eyes, sat up straight, and said calmly:
"So, I’m sorry. The mission I carry on my shoulders does not allow freedom. I’m afraid I’ll be a slave to fate for my entire life. Even my own marriage will likely not be mine to decide."
"Reiya, if you wish to bla or resent , I will not say a word in my defense."
The Duke Qinghui had barely finished speaking when the White-haired Dragon Lady could hold back no longer. Fire blazed in her Cang Tong, and a fleeting flicker of Dragon Thunder illuminated the dim room:
"West, what kind of person do you take for?!"
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