Conqueror's Holdfast, the king's bedchamber, late at night.
All was silent.
Inside the bedchamber, soft candlelight and the flickering glow of the coals in the fireplace divided the vast space.
Bare-chested and wearing only loose silk trousers, Liu Qian stood before the enormous floor-to-ceiling window, his back to the door.
Outside, silvery moonlight spilled over the boundless, ink-black sea in the distance.
Just then, a soft knock sounded at the door.
Liu Qian raised his brows slightly. Who would come looking for him so late?
"Come in," Liu Qian said calmly.
Chai Yi stood at the door, her heart pounding so hard it nearly burst through her thin clothing.
She had taken special care to bathe and change that night, applying precious scented oils she had obtained from merchants from Qarth.
Most importantly, she had taken off her usual fitted leather armor and changed into a dress that made her cheeks burn.
The candlelight outlined her tall, graceful figure.
It was an almost transparent black lace gown from Myr, a secret weapon the maids had pressed into her hands with knowing smiles.
Beneath the gossamer-thin black lace mesh, her full breasts stood proudly.
Her cheeks burned, her breathing was rapid, and her fingers unconsciously twisted the edge of her lace skirt.
She took a deep breath and stepped into the king's bedchamber.
Liu Qian finally turned around slowly.
When his gaze fell on Chai Yi, a flicker of astonishment crossed his eyes, unmistakable for the first time.
The exiled princess of Kakosa stood before him, now clad in alluring black lace.
Moonlight and candlelight intertwined over her, the lace mesh casting hazy patterns of light and shadow across her curves, blending sensuality and softness in a breathtaking way.
Liu Qian's astonished gaze left Chai Yi barely able to breathe.
Summoning