Time: May 31, 2046.
Location: The palace at Russell Manor, on the outskirts of Halifax City.
09:17.
Third floor, inside a spare bedroom on the north side.
The room was a standard square, with floor-to-ceiling windows on the east side. A double bed with white gauze curtains stood in the center of the north wall.
Besides that, the room had a wardrobe, vanity, private bathroom, and all the other furnishings one would expect in a palace bedroom.
And at this moment, on the bed...
"Uh..."
William, his hair somewhat disheveled and his face etched with exhaustion, pushed away the blankets and sat up. Even though it was not the dry winter season, William's lips were still pale and cracked, and the dark circles beneath his eyes were severe.
He stared blankly for a moment, his eyes somewhat unfocused.
Then, just as he was about to turn and get out of bed, hoping to make a quick "escape" from the room, he found his movements obstructed.
Feeling the force pulling downward, William looked down and only then realized that a pair of snow-white arms had somehow wrapped themselves around his waist, seemingly intent on stopping him from getting out of bed.
"Ah..." William sighed involuntarily and turned to look at the "person" behind him, his tone carrying a hint of pleading.
"Serena, you should know there's a saying in Huaxia: 'Land won't be ruined by plowing; only the ox can be worked to death.'"
"Heh-heh~" As William's words fell, a coquettish laugh came from Serena behind him.
The next moment, Serena, still beneath the blankets, wrapped both arms and legs around William like a water snake. With a powerful tug, she pulled William back into the bed.
With a muffled thud, William's fairly muscular body was dragged back onto the bed