[King...]
[King... where are you...]
[King... where are you... We've been waiting for you...]
"Ah!"
The same voice as before rang through Mo Xie's mind, like a sharp arrow piercing his soul. Pain seized him, and he clutched his head with both hands.
"L-Little Evil, what... what's wrong?!"
Seeing Mo Xie in such agony, Asharuiya's face filled with worry. She hurriedly caught him as he began to fall, letting his strong body lean against hers.
His face was deathly pale, his brows drawn tight, and pained groans kept escaping his lips. Each one felt like a needle through her heart.
But she had no idea what was happening. How could she help her dear little brother?
After a while, the distant, ethereal voice in his mind finally vanished. Mo Xie breathed a sigh of relief.
That voice again. Is it so desperate for me to reclaim the Underworld King's authority?
Thanks to Ling's explanation, he no longer feared the voice, but the way it forced itself upon him still left him uneasy.
He relaxed his tense body and looked up. Seeing the worry on Asharuiya's face warmed his heart, and he smiled to reassure her.
"Don't worry, sis. I'm fine now."
"You little rascal, don't think you can fool me. Did you look fine just now?"
Asharuiya gave his chest a reproachful slap. But when she saw the cold sweat on his forehead, she took out her personal silk handkerchief and gently wiped it away, looking every bit the devoted wife.
Mo Xie froze at her tenderness, staring blankly at her exquisite, captivating face.
Then crisp footsteps sounded in the distance, breaking the intimate stillness.
Mo Xie's guard shot up. He quickly pulled Asharuiya behind him and fixed his gaze on the shadows.
The footsteps drew closer. Beneath the moonlight