Falling Sun Peak...

Ninth Prince Edward Smith’s residence...

The stone house on Falling Sun Peak was dark except for a single lamp, and even the lamp seemed reluctant to be there.

Edward Smith, ninth prince of the Imperial family, pressed his forehead on the table surface.

A rare aged wine bottle present before him... but he has no appetite to open the bottle.

His personal, loyal servant lady Lassie crouched beside him with a spoon full of food. She had been trying to feed him for forty minutes and was running low on patience.

"Just one bite," she said. "Young master, your body needs—"

"I don’t want it.. leave," Edward said without lifting his head from the table.

"You haven’t eaten since yesterday morning."

"I can’t eat." He lifted his head just enough to show the specific red-eyed misery of someone who had been cycling through the same memory on repeat.

"How can I eat?! After what happened at the Octopus House— I still can’t look at myself in the mirror!! That bastard Tony hit me in front of everyone!! EVERYONE!! Do you understand what that means?! I am the ninth prince of the Imperial family!! And he just—" his fist came down on the table with a loud bang.

"Young master." Lassie set the spoon down and straightened up, folding her hands in front of her chest. "You are the ninth prince of the Imperial family. But right now you are sitting in the dark crying like a looser.

But that fellow Tony Clark has already moved on and is busy causing chaos across Nine Lotus academy." She held his gaze. "That is not the behavior of someone who wants to becomes the head of the Imperial family."

Edward stared at her with an ugly look.

"Don’t lecture me!! Answer my question!!" He straightened up and slapped the table. "I brought nine Grandmasters from the family specifically to deal with Tony at the Herb Mountain!! We had the perfect opportunity— he was alone, collecting herbs, completely unaware!! I gave the order to move and you stopped me!! WHY?!"

Lassie’s jaw tightened. She reached over, picked up the food plate she had set aside, and threw it against the wall.

"Phat..."

The jade plate broken into pieces and food scattered all over. Neither of them looked at it.

"Because I told you already— Tony is hiding his strength!!" she said, matching his volume.

"We sent a snow leopard to the Herb Mountain to handle him quietly. Make it look like an accident. That leopard is a ghost beast— it kills Grandmaster rank opponents without difficulty!!" She leaned forward over Edward.

"But he turned it into a pet, Edward. In one afternoon... He rides it through the academy like it’s a horse!!" She leveled a look at him.

"So tell me— can the 9 grand masters stand against someone who tamed a ghost leopard barehanded?! We would have lost nine people and tipped our hand completely, and Tony Clark would still be walking around on that leopard!!"

Edward was quiet for a moment. The logic was difficult to argue with, which made him angrier.

"Then what’s the plan?!" he demanded. "I can’t eat, I can’t sleep, I can’t cultivate properly while that man walks around this academy like he owns it!! When does something actually happen to him?!"

Lassie pulled her chair close and sat down, lowering her voice.

"I already set the plans into motion. Yesterday, the Healing Tower has already issued a clarification about the ICU incident," she said. "Tony’s reputation survived it. But there’s another way." She held his gaze steadily.

"I have arranged for a girl to enter Tony’s treatment room at the right moment and make an accusation. She will accuse him of raping. Given what people already half-believe about Tony, it will stick." She folded her hands. "The academy will have no choice but to act. Tony Clark will be removed, disgraced, and the Clark family will spend the next year managing the fallout." 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝙬𝙚𝓫𝒏𝓸𝓿𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝙤𝓶

Edward’s expression shifted— the red-eyed misery giving way, slowly, to something that looked almost like appetite.

Edward’s lips curled into a slow, satisfied smile as he listened to her plan.

"Good... very good," he said, voice dripping with approval. "You never disappoint me, do you? That’s exactly why I like you so much."

As he spoke, he stepped forward, his hand already reaching toward her waist.

But Lassi moved first with a serious look.

"Don’t forget your promise, Edward." She replied sharply. "If you want a woman for pleasure, there are plenty of servants outside. Use any of them." Her gaze did not waver. "You promised to marry me. Until that day comes, don’t touch me. Understand?"

For a brief moment, silence thickened the air.

Then— Edward’s expression darkened.

Annoyance flickered first. Then irritation... Then something colder.

Inside, his thoughts twisted. ’Marriage?!’ He had never meant it. To him, Lassi was useful, capable servant. A perfect pawn. A temporary shield... and A future scapegoat.

But this... distance... this constant refusal— It irritated him.

"Lassi," he said slowly, his voice turning sharp, "why are you avoiding me on purpose?" He stepped closer again, eyes narrowing. "I said I’ll marry you. Don’t you trust me?" His tone hardened further. "Or should I start doubting you instead?"

A dangerous glare. "Tell me... has my eldest brother already bought you off? Is that why you’re acting like this?"

Lassi’s brows tightened. "Don’t speak nonsense," she replied immediately. "I am loyal to you, Ninth Prince. Always."

Edward studied her for a long second. Then he let out a short, cold laugh. "Loyal?" he repeated. "Then prove it. Instead of hiding behind words... go do something useful."

He leaned slightly forward, his voice lowering. "Go to the Healing Tower. Enter Tony’s treatment room. Accuse him of raping."

Lassi’s expression froze.

Edward straightened, indifferent. "If you can do that, then I’ll believe your loyalty. Otherwise... don’t bother showing your face to me again."

Without waiting for her response, he turned and walked away, his robe swaying behind him.

His footsteps didn’t slow.

His mind had already moved on— while his eyes searched for obedient servants, to a night free of resistance.

Behind him, Lassi remained standing where she was... Still... Silent. But her clenched fists trembled slightly at her sides.

-

Note: Thank You @CainBR for Golden Tickets! Thank You so much!