I Got Cheated On and Ended Up in A Beast World

Morning arrived beneath a wide sky filled with heavy grey clouds.

Snow drifted gently over the Supreme Citadel, covering the steep rooftops, bare trees, and wide stone paths in another fresh layer of crisp white. Despite the cold air, the massive palace was already bustling with activity.

Servants hurried through the endless corridors carrying steaming basins of hot water, freshly pressed winter robes, and quiet trays of breakfast. Along the high outer walls, guards silently changed their morning shifts, their heavy iron boots crunching against the frost.

Inside her quiet courtyard, Lin Wan sat comfortably beneath the shelter of a covered wooden pavilion.

A thick wool blanket rested snugly over her lap as she quietly watched snowflakes flutter down into the frozen pond. The serene garden was completely still, save for the faint rustle of pine needles bending beneath the growing weight of the snow.

Sister Yun walked over from the main chamber and placed a cup of warm, fragrant herbal tea directly into Lin Wan’s waiting hands.

"Drink this, My Lady," Sister Yun offered gently. "It will help keep the morning chill out of your bones."

"Thank you, Sister Yun," Lin Wan murmured softly.

She wrapped both of her cold hands around the smooth ceramic cup, savoring the gentle heat radiating against her sensitive fingertips. The sweet, earthy aroma of brewed roots drifted upward, soothing her frayed nerves.

The older woman stepped closer, studying Lin Wan’s pale face with a careful, motherly eye. "You didn’t sleep well again last night, did you?"

Lin Wan let out a small, helpless smile and glanced up. "Was it really that obvious?"

"You have yawned at least five times since the sun rose," Sister Yun replied, her eyes twinkling with affection. "I counted every single one."

Lin Wan let out a soft, genuine laugh that seemed to lighten the heavy morning air. "I didn’t know you were paying that close attention to me."

Sister Yun smiled warmly, adjusting the edge of the wool blanket over Lin Wan’s knees. "When you care for someone, watching over them becomes a natural habit."

Lin Wan lowered her gaze to the dark tea swirling inside her cup. The gentle laughter faded, replaced by a lingering sense of melancholy. "I kept dreaming all through the night."

"Were they bad dreams?" Sister Yun asked quietly, her tone laced with concern.

Lin Wan nodded her head slowly. "I couldn’t remember all the details after I woke up this morning. Everything was blurry, like looking through thick fog." She paused, her grip tightening slightly around the warm ceramic cup. "But... I do remember one thing clearly."

"What do you remember?"

"I remember searching for someone," Lin Wan whispered, her voice carrying a fragile edge. "I was running through endless snow, calling out, looking everywhere."

"Did you find them in the end?" Sister Yun asked softly.

Lin Wan slowly shook her head. "No. The dream ended before I could ever reach them."

The small, comforting smile on Sister Yun’s face faded away. She reached out and patted Lin Wan’s shoulder gently. "Dreams are just lingering thoughts of the mind, My Lady. They aren’t always real, nor do they predict what is to come."

"I know," Lin Wan acknowledged quietly. "I know they are just dreams." She shifted her gaze toward the distant, jagged mountains rising beyond the high Citadel walls, where dark clouds hung low over the icy peaks. "But sometimes... they feel so sharp. They feel less like dreams and more like lost memories trying to find their way back."

Before Sister Yun could offer another word of comfort, the quiet sound of quick, light footsteps echoed across the courtyard’s stone tiles.

One of the younger palace maids hurried into the pavilion, pausing to smooth down her apron before bowing deeply. "Lady Lin."

Lin Wan turned her head, offering a gentle expression. "What is it, Lian?"

The young maid looked instantly relieved that Lin Wan had remembered her name so easily. "The royal tailor has just arrived at the courtyard entrance, My Lady."

"The tailor?" Lin Wan repeated, her eyebrows drawing together in mild confusion.

"Yes," Lian replied, nodding quickly. "He has brought several trunks filled with new robes for you to inspect."

Lin Wan blinked in surprise. "New robes? But I already have more than enough clothes in my wardrobe. There was really no need for him to make anything new."

Lian smiled awkwardly, shifting her feet. "I told him the exact same thing, My Lady. But he insisted that His Majesty personally ordered him to come here this morning and see to your needs directly."

Lin Wan let out a soft, weary sigh, resting her palm gently against her forehead. "Of course he did."

A few moments later, an elderly man with silver hair and a neat beard entered the pavilion, carrying a large, polished wooden chest. Two younger assistants followed closely behind him, carefully carrying another velvet-lined trunk between them.

The old tailor bowed respectfully, lowering his head until his long sleeves touched his knees. "This humble one greets Lady Lin."

"You must be Master Fu," Lin Wan said politely, motioning for him to rise.

"I am deeply honored that My Lady knows my humble name," Master Fu replied, his eyes shining with pride.

Lin Wan smiled gently. "Please don’t stand on ceremony with me, Master Fu. The weather is far too cold for lengthy greetings."

Master Fu motioned to his two young assistants. They immediately set the wooden chest down on the pavilion’s stone table and carefully unlatched the heavy brass locks.

Inside the trunk lay several beautifully folded robes, arranged with meticulous care. Some were colored a pale, serene sky blue, while others were dyed in a soft, delicate lavender.

There were also brilliant white robes made of rich, heavy silk, intricately embroidered with subtle silver plum blossoms along the hemlines and wide sleeves.

Lin Wan looked at the display, genuinely taken aback by the exquisite craftsmanship. "They are... absolutely beautiful."

Master Fu smiled proudly, smoothing his white beard. "I crafted each piece personally, choosing only the finest, softest fabrics available in the imperial storehouses."

Lin Wan reached out, her delicate fingers lightly touching the sleeve of a lavender robe. The silk was unbelievably light and smooth, feeling almost like liquid against her cool skin, far softer than any garment she had worn since arriving at the Citadel.

As she lifted the top layer slightly, she noticed something else. "They are all... quite a bit larger than my usual size."

Master Fu nodded understandingly, his expression entirely respectful. "They were custom-designed specifically to accommodate your current condition, My Lady."

Lin Wan felt a slight flush of embarrassment warm her pale cheeks. She instinctively lowered one hand, resting it protectively over the small, growing curve of her stomach. "I see."

"The waistlines are also fitted with hidden silk ties inside," Master Fu explained enthusiastically, stepping closer to demonstrate how the inner ribbons worked without disrupting the outer silhouette. "That way, the robes can be easily adjusted to expand as needed, ensuring you remain perfectly comfortable during the coming months."

Lin Wan looked at the thoughtful details, a sincere, appreciative smile touching her lips. "Thank you, Master Fu. You have clearly put a great deal of thought and effort into making these."

The old tailor looked genuinely delighted by her praise. "It was His Majesty’s explicit request, My Lady. He specifically instructed me not to use any heavy, stiff brocades or coarse metallic threads. He said that heavy fabrics would only weigh you down and make you uncomfortable throughout the day."

Lin Wan became completely quiet, her smile faltering slightly. Beside her, Sister Yun glanced at her with a quiet, unreadable expression.

Master Fu continued, entirely unaware of the subtle shift in the air. "He also specifically requested that I use lighter, softer colors for your wardrobe this season."

Lin Wan blinked, her dark eyes lifting to meet the tailor’s gaze. "Lighter colors?"

"Yes," the old man nodded, his voice softening slightly as he recalled the King’s precise words. "He said..." Master Fu hesitated for a brief second, as if wondering if it was appropriate to repeat the Sovereign’s personal remarks. "...He said that darker colors do not suit your smile."

The quiet pavilion suddenly became deathly silent.

The gentle patter of falling snow seemed to grow louder in the quiet courtyard. The young maid, Lian, quietly lowered her head, staring intently at her own shoes, while Sister Yun stood perfectly still, unsure of what words could possibly bridge the sudden, heavy awkwardness.

Lin Wan looked down at the soft lavender silk beneath her fingertips. A wave of conflicting emotions coursed through her heart. She slowly and carefully folded the robe back into its original position inside the wooden trunk.

"...Thank you for your hard work, Master Fu," she said softly, her tone calm and completely guarded.

Master Fu bowed deeply once more, oblivious to the emotional current beneath her quiet words. "It is my absolute honor to serve you, My Lady. If any of the garments require adjustments as the weeks pass, please send word, and I will return immediately."

After the tailor and his young assistants gathered their tools and left the courtyard, the pavilion remained enveloped in a thick, lingering silence.

Sister Yun watched Lin Wan carefully as the young woman remained staring at the closed wooden chest.

Finally, Sister Yun broke the quiet, her voice remarkably gentle. "The King notices many things about you, My Lady."