Chapter 14

Chapter 14: His Highness

Xia You's fingers awkwardly intertwined in front of him as he stood before Lu Yinghuai, his eyes rimmed with red, finding himself speechless.

It felt as if something soft and fluffy had lodged in his heart, seeming like a cloud but upon a closer look, it tasted like the cotton candy he'd only seen others enjoy but never had himself.

Shortly after, Xia You watched as Lu Yinghuai browsed the trending topics on StarNet and accessed his social media profile, pondering the compatibility report Xia You had shared hours earlier.

Xia You, who felt elated when he had posted on StarNet, now humbly lowered his head, his toes anxiously scraping the inside of his shoes.

The rich fragrance of roses enveloped and wafted around them.

Lu Yinghuai, who had rarely spoken on the StarNet social platform, deliberated for a moment, first following Xia You, then sharing Xia You's most recent post.

He didn't comment further.

Relieved, Xia You suddenly remembered, "Oh no! The butler just took away the drugged dish!"

It was evidence!

Lu Yinghuai tapped on the screen, saying, "Anything you've used won't leave the banquet hall before you do."

Xia You instantly recalled the two officers following him.

At first, he thought they were ordinary soldiers, but it was Wei Cheng who informed him that both were close guards who had once served by the Marshal, holding genuine ranks.

An officer's words held considerable weight.

At that moment, Xia You remembered what Meng Wenxuan had said. So, he had not only brought the Marshal's leopard to the Duke's residence but also the Marshal's personal guards.

No wonder Duke Xia was so amiable today...

Speaking of which, how should he make a bold statement when he returns to the banquet, in a way that's both decisive and cool?

A gleam of mischief danced in Xia You's eyes, filled with anticipation.

"Do you like lions and tigers?" Lu Yinghuai, seated across from him, suddenly inquired.

"Huh?" Xia You looked up in confusion, only to meet Lu Yinghuai's screen, which he had turned to face Xia You.

On Xia You's social platform, apart from sharing snippets of his daily life as a young master, the majority of posts were collections of various fierce beasts, with lions and tigers being the most prevalent.

What Lu Yinghuai was currently viewing was an image of a roaring lion that Xia You had previously purchased from Li Xu.

Xia You laughed sheepishly, "Well... I do love fierce beasts. But my absolute favorites aren't lions or tigers. It's just that not many can capture or depict the majestic side of these beasts, so my choices are limited."

Lu Yinghuai hummed enigmatically and further probed, "Then, Xia You, what's your favorite animal?"

The Marshal's tone seemed a tad whimsical.

Xia You immediately pointed towards the majestic black panther seated at the entrance of the rose garden, whose very silhouette commanded respect, "Of course, it's the black panther!"

Xia You had never seen a portrait or photograph of the black panther, considered the most mysterious jungle predator, before. Now that he could personally interact with one, his fondness grew exponentially.

Desiring to spend more time with the panther in the future, Xia You spontaneously showered it with unwavering praise.

"Yuan Yuan's fur is understated yet luxurious, smoother than the finest silk from nobility. Its tail is long, like a whip. When it wraps around my wrist, I feel an unparalleled sense of security!"

"During a hunt, when Yuan Yuan approached me with a crocodile and a roe deer in its jaws, it was utterly magnificent!"

"And, Yuan Yuan licks my cheek to comfort me. Once, I acted spoilt, and it willingly wore a muzzle, which it dislikes, just to accompany me to the Duke's residence..."

Xia You's enthusiasm knew no bounds when speaking of the panther. Only when he noticed the subtle change in the man's expression, with the tips of his ears turning a shade of red, did he halt, cautiously saying, "Marshal, I merely adore Yuan Yuan. I have no intention of taking it away from you. I just thought, um..."

"Given the Marshal's busy schedule and my free time, I could help the Marshal... take care of the panther... or something."

As Xia You observed Lu Yinghuai's increasingly complex expression, without understanding the reason, his voice dwindled, and he dared not continue.

"...Marshal?" Xia You sneaked a glance at Lu Yinghuai.

The young man's ardent and sincere admiration left the usually reserved Marshal a little overwhelmed.

Even though this admiration was directed towards "Yuan Yuan," still...

Lu Yinghuai glanced at Xia You, a hint of a smile tugging at his lips, but he refrained from revealing the truth about the spiritual entity.

If he were to regress due to his spiritual disorder, becoming forever trapped in a spiritual form, he wouldn't be much different from a wild black panther.

Given the young man's affection, there was no need to rigidly keep him at a distance.

After all, there's a significant chance that the one to remain in this world might indeed be the black panther, Yuan Yuan, rather than Lu Yinghuai.

Knowing that someone adores Yuan Yuan so much, Lu Yinghuai feels that the fate of his consciousness fading and merging with the spiritual form doesn't seem as tragic anymore.

Lu Yinghuai raised a hand to his lips, coughing lightly, "There's no need to address me formally."

"Hm?" The sudden shift in topic made Xia You pause, then hesitantly reply, "But calling you by your name feels too informal... I really can't do it."

Lu Yinghuai chuckled, a rare mischievousness in his expression, "Don't you want to take care of Yuan Yuan? We should have a unique way of addressing each other, signifying the closeness that allows us to jointly own a... well, companion."

"Moreover, when you return to the banquet hall, you'll be approached and probed by both the noble descendants sent by the Senate and others from the Duke's residence."

"Xia You, the Marshal's spouse wouldn't refer to their husband as 'Marshal'."

That logic does seem sound.

But...

Xia You opened his mouth, wanting to speak several times, but he just couldn't bring himself to say Lu Yinghuai's name.

After digging deep into his memories from his past life about noble etiquettes, an idea struck him, and he looked eagerly at Lu Yinghuai, "I've got it!"

Lu Yinghuai tilted his head slightly.

"Can I call you 'Your Highness'?" The young man's eyes sparkled like stars, transparently revealing his emotions, "In the royal traditions, queens address their husbands this way. Though you're a Marshal, you're also a prince, aren't you?"

Lu Yinghuai: "Hmm..."

Xia You looked anxious.

Whether he could spend every day with Yuan Yuan hinged on this very moment!

"Agreed." Seeing the eager look in the young man's eyes, Lu Yinghuai finally suppressed his playful side and chuckled, "Indeed, no one has ever addressed me that way."

The young man certainly found a unique title.

"It's a deal!" Xia You wished he could rush over and shower the black panther with affectionate kisses, "When the Marshal is busy, Yuan Yuan will be mine."

Lu Yinghuai nodded in agreement, then added, "But remember, he's still a wild beast. Don't indulge him too much."

"Of course."

Xia You readily agreed aloud, but in her heart, she wondered—

What ill intentions could a big black panther possibly have?

All it doesn't like is wearing a bite inhibitor; it enjoys cuddling close, right?

Even the Marshal seems to adore it so much that he would wish to embrace the black panther every night.

Imagine waking up nestled within the panther's fur early in the morning— isn't that a heavenly experience?

Hmm, once she finishes dealing with the duke's matters, she can return to the Marshal's residence and pamper the panther.

From a distance, Xia You glanced at the silhouette of the big black panther. Suddenly, she felt that the Duke's residence, which she had once held so close to her heart, wasn't as significant as she thought.

Even without the Duke's residence, Xia You still had places to go; a home to return to.

Lu Yinghuai noticed the eagerness in Xia You's eyes and chuckled, "Go ahead; I'll wait for you here."

With joy, Xia You responded and turned, her exit accompanied by the fragrant scent of roses.

The big black panther, which had been waiting outside the rose garden, followed Xia You for a few steps. Upon seeing her suddenly stop, it murmured softly and looked up at her.

Standing not far from the rose garden, Xia You could faintly see Lu Yinghuai still seated on the same bench. His posture and angle had barely changed.

After a moment's hesitation, she ran back.

Lu Yinghuai, who was about to open some military documents, looked up with a hint of surprise, "What's the matter?"

Xia You took a deep breath, mustering her courage, "Your Highness, are your legs uncomfortable? My psychic energy has recovered well. I can help soothe you with it!"

Fearing rejection, Xia You almost blurted everything out in one breath.

For a moment, Lu Yinghuai was slightly taken aback.

After a brief pause, he nodded slightly, speaking calmly, "Due to a psychic disorder, I've confined most of my turbulent psychic energy to my legs. While this renders me unable to walk, it ensures maximum clarity and calmness of mind."

Recalling the way Lu Yinghuai walked when he first arrived, Xia You anxiously asked, "But now—"

"I'm using an assistive device," Lu Yinghuai slightly lifted his pant leg, revealing a metal brace snug against his shin. "The Science Academy always comes up with odd inventions; some turn out to be handy."

Xia You pursed her lips. Although Lu Yinghuai quickly pulled his pant leg back down, she had caught a glimpse of the horrifying bruises left by the assistive device on his leg.

If this assistive device truly works, why did the former Marshal use a wheelchair?

And the slight instability in his psychic energy when His Highness sat down earlier...

Xia You gazed at Lu Yinghuai's leg, whispering, "Should I... soothe it for you?"

"It's not a rejection," Lu Yinghuai said, patting Xia You's head gently, his touch reassuring, "The protective measures here are not adequate, and I've recently experienced an unstable phase. My psychic energy is aggressive right now; it's not the best timing."

"Can we try later?"

"...Yes!"

Xia You nodded emphatically. Her earlier intention of playing the grieving husband disappeared, replaced by a firm resolve to help Lu Yinghuai in any way possible.

After speaking, seeing the young man still standing there, seemingly wanting to say more, Lu Yinghuai gently urged him with a soft gaze.

Hesitating slightly, Xia You quietly asked, "Your Highness, why use the assistive device?"

Was it to dispel the public speculations about the Marshal's inability to walk?

Lu Yinghuai paused, replying softly, "I've been delayed for quite a while. When meeting you for the first time, I felt I should at least walk to you."

Xia You had stood by Lu Yinghuai during his most vulnerable moments. However, Lu Yinghuai wished that when Xia You truly saw him for the first time, she would see the once radiant and dynamic Marshal of the Empire.

For a moment, Xia You was stunned. It took her a while to gather herself, her cheeks flushed as she hurriedly left the rose garden once more.

Watching her dash off, Lu Yinghuai felt a stir in his heart. He followed her with his psychic form, his gaze deep and steady.