Lin Xue dodged the arrow with swift precision, leaping into the air before landing gracefully behind the assassin who had fired it. Before he could react, she pulled an arrow from his own quiver and drove it into his throat. His eyes widened in disbelief as he collapsed, killed by his own weapon.
Lin Xue dusted her hands and wrinkled her nose in disgust. "I hate blood."
She turned to leave, only to find several swords pointed at her neck. Her heart pounded, but she kept her composure.
"I'm not an assassin! Didn't you see me kill one?" she protested.
A deep, husky voice answered, smooth yet laced with danger. "That doesn't prove your innocence."
The unfamiliar voice sent a strange shiver down her spine. It was not fear that stirred within her, but intrigue. She stepped back slightly from the cold steel and met the speaker's gaze.
Lin Xue's breath caught. The man before her was strikingly handsome, with sharp, well defined features and a piercing gaze that commanded unquestionable authority.
For a moment, she found herself staring. She quickly snapped out of it. This was hardly the time to admire a handsome man. One wrong move, and her head might be the next to roll.
She assessed her situation carefully. The bodyguards were formidable, but she was confident she could defeat them if necessary. The young man standing before her, however, was another matter entirely. Fighting him would come at a considerable cost, and she had no intention of leaving the forest injured. She needed a different approach.
"I was merely watching your fight," she explained calmly. "Is that a crime?"
Her unwavering gaze met his without the slightest hint of submission.
The bodyguards exchanged astonished glances. Even the young man regarded her with newfound interest. She was the first woman, perhaps the first person, to look him in the eyes without trembling. His own siblings avoided his gaze, while strangers often quivered in his presence. His authority was so overwhelming that few dared challenge him.
Yet this girl stood before him as though his reputation meant nothing.
He studied her, curiosity deepening. She had shown no hesitation when killing an assassin, nor had she faltered when surrounded by armed men. Who exactly was she?
Before he could ask, a sudden movement caught his attention.
SWISH!
An arrow tore through the air, aimed directly at them.
Acting on instinct, the young man caught Lin Xue by the waist and pulled her against him, narrowly avoiding the attack.
His bodyguards immediately rushed after the hidden shooter, leaving the pair alone in the depths of the forest.
As the danger subsided, something unusual caught their attention. A glowing mark had appeared on each of their foreheads.
Lin Xue stiffened as realization struck her. She slowly lifted her head to stare at the young man, only to find him equally stunned as he examined the mark on her forehead.
An oppressive silence settled between them.
"Why do you have a mark on your forehead?" she demanded, disbelief evident in her voice.
The young man said nothing at first. Did she genuinely not understand what the mark meant? He was certain of its significance. This girl was destined to become his wife.
At last, he sighed. "For the same reason you do."
Horror spread across Lin Xue's face. She clutched her forehead as though she could wipe the mark away, then stamped her foot in frustration.
"I don't want to get married! I'm too young!" she complained.
She rubbed her forehead furiously, glaring at the mark. "Stupid mark! Go away!"
Her dreams of freedom, adventure, and an exciting life before marriage had been shattered in a matter of moments.
Just then, familiar voices echoed through the trees.
"Young miss!"
"Young miss!"
"Young miss!"
"Young miss!"
Lin Xue's eyes widened in alarm. Oh no!
She spun around, then turned back to the young man with sudden urgency.
"I need to change back!" Her expression grew serious as she met his gaze. "Meet me here tomorrow. We need to talk."
Without waiting for his response, she turned and hurried away.
The young man watched her retreating figure, amusement flickering in his usually cold eyes. He lifted a hand to scratch his brow, a lazy smirk forming on his lips.
"My Empress," he murmured.
Meanwhile, four young maidservants huddled together a short distance away, their faces pale with fear as they debated what to do.
"Should we approach him?" the girl in pink whispered, trembling.
"What if we die today?" the one in blue muttered, stealing a nervous glance at the man.
"He's looking at us," the girl in yellow whispered, shrinking back.
The girl in red drew a deep breath, gathering what little courage she had left. "We have no choice."
She stepped forward cautiously, her voice faltering as she addressed him.
"Mi Mister, have you seen a young girl? She's short, wears a purple outfit, has a ring, and…" Her words trailed off as she turned helplessly toward her companions. "What else?"
"She has big eyes!" the girl in yellow blurted out.
The one in pink frowned. "Are you sure? When she smiles, they look small."
"No, wait! Small eyes and small lips!" the girl in yellow corrected herself hastily.
The maidservant in blue swallowed nervously before adding, "To be precise, she looks about fifteen."
A sudden burst of laughter interrupted them.
The four girls spun around to find Lin Xue standing nearby, waving cheerfully.
"I'm here!" she called, still laughing at their description.
Relief washed over the maidservants. Tears welled in their eyes as they hurried toward her and wrapped their arms around her.
"Young miss!" they cried together, embracing her tightly.