Chapter 186
"He noticed that you were becoming tired of eating the same meals," the cook added.
Lin Wan became completely quiet, her hand pausing in midair as she processed the words. She was deeply surprised that a powerful king like Cassian would notice such a small detail about her daily life. Sister Yun noticed her sudden silence and stepped closer, calling her name softly.
"Is everything alright, Lady Lin?" the older woman asked. Lin Wan quickly forced a small, faint smile. "Yes, it is nothing. The pastries are truly wonderful." She thanked the busy cooks before leaving the warm kitchen. As they walked back through the quiet stone corridor, Lin Wan remained unusually silent, her eyes fixed on the floor as she walked with slow steps.
Finally, Sister Yun broke the silence. "You are thinking about His Majesty, aren’t you?" Lin Wan walked a few more steps before answering. "I do not understand him at all," she admitted softly. "He keeps me trapped here as a prisoner, yet he pays attention to small things I never even speak aloud. How can someone be so cruel and so attentive at the same time?"
Sister Yun smiled gently, her eyes filled with wisdom. "People are rarely simple, Lady Lin. Sometimes, those who seem the most heartless are the ones who feel things the most deeply." Lin Wan did not answer, her mind still filled with confusing thoughts. Meanwhile, far outside the Citadel walls, the Silver Leopard army finally came to a halt before a wide, frozen river.
The thick ice stretched out as far as the eye could see, gleaming coldly under the dim sky. Several scouts had already crossed the frozen surface safely on foot.
Wang stood near the snowy riverbank, his arms crossed as he carefully studied the surroundings. Wei Xiang landed gracefully beside him. "The river is completely stable and free of any hidden magical formations," the young Roc reported.
Wang remained motionless, his eyes scanning the empty ice. "The lack of defenses here makes me highly uneasy," he said in a low voice. "Cassian would never leave such an important path completely unguarded unless he wanted us to cross easily." An elder approached them with a map. "Our engineers have verified that the ice is indeed thick enough to support the entire army."
Wang nodded his head. "Order the warriors to begin crossing the river before sunrise. We must move quickly under the cover of darkness." After the elder left to deliver the orders, Wei Xiang remained standing by Wang’s side. He looked out over the cold, empty ice before quietly asking, "What will you say to her first when we finally find her?"
The sudden question caught Wang completely off guard. He remained silent for several long seconds, his fingers tightening around his belt as he thought about his beloved mate. "I do not know," he admitted honestly, his voice dropping to a rough whisper. "I have thought about that moment every single night, but the words always seem to escape me."
Wei Xiang looked ahead, a sad smile touching his lips. "I have imagined our meeting many times as well, but whenever I try to think of what to say, my mind goes completely blank." Wang’s voice softened as he looked at the young man. "She will probably be very angry with us for letting her get captured in the first place," he noted.
"She has every right to be angry with us," Wei Xiang agreed, closing his eyes against the cold wind. "But I do not care about her forgiveness right now. I only want to see her safe and warm again." Wang slowly nodded his head, a quiet understanding growing between the two powerful males over their shared love and fierce desire to protect the same female.
Night fell once again inside the Supreme Citadel, bringing a peaceful silence to the stone fortress. Cassian walked down the corridor toward Lin Wan’s tower, carrying several important scrolls in his hand.
A bowing Shadow Guard opened the heavy wooden door for him, allowing the King to step inside the warm room without making a sound. Lin Wan was already fast asleep.
The unfinished blue baby shirt and a threaded needle rested gently on the heavy blanket beside her quiet form. Cassian walked closer to the bed, looking down at her peaceful face for a long moment.
He carefully picked up the tiny shirt, inspecting the uneven stitches with a critical eye. A faint, genuine smile appeared in his golden eyes.
"This is absolutely terrible," he whispered softly to himself, shaking his head. "The stitching is completely crooked." He gently smoothed down the soft blue fabric, his voice dropping to a low murmur. "But I suppose the babies will have to wear it anyway because you made it for them." He carefully placed the tiny shirt back down on the blanket, making sure not to wake her.
As he turned to leave, his eyes caught sight of a small wooden toy lying on the floor near the bedside table. It was a tiny, roughly carved fox, crafted by one of the palace artisans for a young child.
Cassian bent down and picked it up, placing it gently beside the unfinished clothes. He walked out of the room, ordering the guard to increase the patrols.
The guard frowned, adjusting his heavy spear. "Has something happened, Your Majesty?" Cassian looked toward the dark northern mountains, his expression cold and unyielding. "The enemy is drawing closer to our borders. We must be prepared for anything." High above the Citadel, snow began falling once more, leaving only three days before the two sides would finally stand face to face.
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The next morning arrived with a heavy, relentless snowfall. Large, thick snowflakes drifted slowly from the dark gray sky, covering the mountain paths and turning the entire world into a vast sea of endless white.
Inside the stone walls of the Supreme Citadel, servants hurried through the cold halls, carrying wooden buckets of hot water and baskets of burning charcoal to keep the drafty palace warm.
Inside her quiet bedroom, Lin Wan slowly opened her eyes to the dim morning light. She stretched her arms carefully, then rested both of her hands over her stomach to offer a soft greeting to her babies.
"Good morning, my little ones," she whispered.
A sudden, gentle kick answered her touch under the heavy blankets. A wide, warm smile spread across her face as she felt the movement.
"Oh, so you are awake already," she laughed softly as another distinct kick came from the other side of her stomach. "You are becoming more active every single day."
A polite knock came at the door, and Sister Yun entered the bedroom carrying a tray of warm food. Two young maids followed close behind her, carrying several steaming dishes that smelled wonderful.
Sister Yun placed the wooden trays on the table near the fireplace. "The royal physician left very strict instructions before he departed yesterday. He said you must eat much more to keep your strength up."
Lin Wan let out a dramatic sigh, sitting up slowly. "But Sister Yun, I already eat so much. I feel like I am eating all day long."
The older woman smiled warmly and walked over to help her out of bed. "You have to eat even more now. Look at the table."
Lin Wan walked over and looked down at the feast. There was a large bowl of warm fish soup, several soft steamed buns, roasted sweet potatoes, fresh winter fruit, and a cup of warm goat’s milk. She blinked in surprise, her eyes wide.
"This is enough food for five grown people," Lin Wan noted.
"You have three growing babies to feed, Lady Lin," Sister Yun corrected gently, arranging the utensils. "They need the strength."
Lin Wan laughed, sitting down in her chair. "They are still very small, you know."
"They may be small, but they are also very hungry," Sister Yun replied with a chuckle.
The two younger maids giggled softly at the comment, adjusting the curtains to let in the pale morning light. Lin Wan finally picked up her spoon, shaking her head with a smile. "Very well. I surrender to the feast."
After she finished her breakfast, Lin Wan wrapped herself in a thick cloak and walked slowly through the inner garden.
The fresh, powdery snow reached just above her ankles, crunching softly under her boots.
Two heavily armed Shadow Guards followed several steps behind her, while Sister Yun walked quietly by her side.
Lin Wan looked around the empty garden, noticing the lack of activity. "It is unusually quiet in the courtyard today."
"The soldiers are changing their defensive positions," Sister Yun explained, looking toward the distant battlements.
Lin Wan stopped walking, her heart tightening. "They are preparing for the battle, aren’t they?"
Sister Yun did not answer her. The heavy silence in the cold air was more than enough of a confirmation for Lin Wan.
Lin Wan let out a quiet, tired sigh, watching her breath turn into steam. "I wish I could stop all of this from happening."
Sister Yun turned to look at her, her eyes filled with gentle curiosity. "What would you do, Lady Lin, if you actually had the power to change things?"