After Adink left, Xuemiyya came to Velin's side and admired the ripples on Blue Gauze Lake. "To think a rising star of the Budbol Family would actually leave. What a surprise!"
"It certainly is surprising. When I first met Adink, it was at the victory banquet after the Grand Duke of Gonghan's war for the throne."
"He's very clever and has exceptional strategic foresight, even a little better than my elder brother."
"As for why he gave up competing for the peerage, it's hard not to be curious!"
Outsiders would surely struggle to learn the truth behind Adink's departure from the Budbol Family. It was much like why Velin's second elder sister had gone to train with their maternal grandfather. Aside from the few who knew the precise reasons, most people could only discover the information the Ex Family had deliberately leaked.
After several centuries, those deliberate leaks would obscure the real truth and become the official historical account.
Xuemiyya turned to Velin and asked solemnly, "Velin, would you ever suddenly leave?"
Hearing this, Velin put his arm around Xuemiyya and drew her into his embrace. With a smile, he said, "As long as you're here, and Kyle, Orlando, Hebrew, and Belder are here, I'll never leave Qixing Territory."
"What about you?"
"What do you think?" Xuemiyya looked straight into Velin's eyes and asked with a smile.
The corners of Velin's mouth curled slightly. "Then I'll say it."
"If you dare say anything silly, you'll be sorry." Seeing her husband's expression, Xuemiyya thumped his chest and warned him.
"You wouldn't. There, happy?"
Seeing her husband concede, Xuemiyya smiled again and leaned against Velin's chest, feeling his heartbeat.
Sitting behind them, Kyle could not help twitching the corner of his mouth at the sight, but he still felt no urge to