Beast?

At dusk, in a private booth of a tavern.

"Only an engagement?" Chen Rui raised his cup with a smile.

Compared with the major personnel changes in the Imperial Capital, the news of Samuel and Joanna's engagement seemed insignificant. Of course, to the two "parties involved," this was what mattered most. After countless hardships, the two of them had finally become lovers united in marriage.

Samuel hurriedly rose to his feet and drained his cup in one gulp. "The family has its rules. After the engagement, there must be at least three months before the wedding can officially be held."

"Sit down. I told you, don't be so restrained." Chen Rui waved a hand at Samuel. "What I hate most are those long-winded rules."

Samuel sat back down and smiled. "If Your Highness returns to the palace now, the marriage alliance with Princess Lambis of the Blue Radiance Empire will surely be restarted. Princess Lambis is hailed as the most dazzling pearl of the Blue Radiance Empire. Back then, countless people envied that marriage alliance. I can guarantee that the 'rules' Your Highness will have to go through for that marriage will be far more numerous than mine."

Princess Lambis? The most dazzling pearl? Chen Rui frowned, then shook his head dismissively. What was a princess worth? This guy even had empresses—two of them, at that. What kind of onion was Lambis supposed to be?

"This is for you." A sheathed longsword appeared in Chen Rui's hand, and he passed it over.

Samuel accepted the sword respectfully. The moment it landed in his hand, the touch of its dark crimson sheath alone gave him an extraordinary feeling. At Chen Rui's signal, Samuel gently drew the blade, and a chill immediately washed over him, making him shudder. The entire sword had