"Cassian!" Liliana looked confused. Why was he suddenly in the Hall of Tai? Was he really here to catch her?
She was about to turn and run.
Prince Allennon's eyes flicked between Cassian and Liliana. These two knew each other. And Father looked slightly unhappy. He slowly withdrew the hand he had just reached out to Liliana and bowed. "Father."
"You may rise."
"Thank you, Father." Prince Allennon straightened up and stepped back slightly, standing a little closer to Liliana.
Cassian's dark gaze passed over the two standing so near each other. A faint ripple appeared in his eyes but disappeared quickly.
He had already made a decision. He must not waver. Just seeing her had made him lose his composure. That wasn't how an emperor should behave.
So he stepped back.
Prince Allennon stood beside Liliana. Cassian stood across from them, with only a table between them.
The atmosphere between the three felt strangely tense.
Liliana had no idea about the subtle shifts between the two men beside her.
She was wondering whether she should try to touch Cassian or just run away while she had the chance.
In the silence, a calm and warm voice came to her ear. "Your servant greets Your Majesty."
Arthur had arrived silently from the side hall.
"You may rise," Cassian waved his hand.
Maybe he didn't want Arthur to find out about the little ghost girl, so Liliana was completely ignored.
"How have your lessons been lately?" Cassian asked his son and Arthur. While they talked, Liliana quietly slipped away.
A teacher meeting the father of the student—she had no reason to stay. Standing there would just be awkward. She felt a sudden wave of frustration. Her soul in this body could only be seen by Cassian and Prince Allennon. No one else.
And she couldn't leave the palace. Every day she just counted time on her fingers, unable to touch anyone, not even having a phone. It was so boring.
Liliana felt a bit hopeless. Maybe she should just let Cassian capture her already. She was starting to give up.
Back in the Hall of Tai, after asking Arthur about the prince's studies, Cassian left. He didn't ask a single question about Liliana and Prince Allennon.
Liliana squatted down to watch ants moving their nest, wondering how much money she could get if she sold this slab of white jade under her feet.
Forget it. Either way, it was a dead end. Better to take a chance. What if she could really touch something this time? If not, she'd probably just get captured anyway.
Cassian returned to the Imperial Study also because the eunuch had reported that the Grand Seer had urgent news. So he didn't linger at the Hall of Tai. He had clearly seen what happened when he opened the door earlier between Prince Allennon and the little ghost girl. A slight bitterness filled his heart.
In the Imperial Study, Gabvriel was already waiting.
"Your servant greets Your Majesty."
"Why didn't your master come?" Cassian looked at the elegant young man before him.
"Master had an urgent matter. He told me everything that must be conveyed." Gabvriel stood below the steps, as if he could ride the wind and leave at any moment.
He pulled a black wooden token from his sleeve and handed it to the eunuch beside the emperor.
"Your Majesty only needs to give this to that non-human being."
"If this doesn't work, do you realize the punishment could be grave?" Cassian looked at him. His expression was calm, not like the old Grand Seer at all.
"I understand," Gabvriel replied.
Cassian took the black token from the eunuch and rubbed it lightly. The token was pitch black with no markings, giving away nothing about its use.
Could this really destroy the little ghost girl? he wondered.
She had already made up her mind, so why did her heart ache when she saw him with Prince Allennon today? Why did it sting that she wasn't the only one who could see him?
By the time Liliana returned to the Chutai Hall, only Prince Allennon was there. He was sitting on the bed where the two of them usually slept together.
"Liliana," he called gently. He had heard his father, Cassian, call her "Liliana" earlier today. The two clearly knew each other. When did they meet? Wasn't he supposed to be the only one close to her?
Strangely, even though they weren't biologically related, father and son were having the same thoughts at that moment.
Liliana looked at Prince Allennon's cautious expression. "If you want to ask something, just ask." She never intended to keep it from him forever. It was just that explaining things was troublesome, and she didn't feel the need to confess everything.
"I…"
"Liliana, the Imperial Observatory said there might be heavy rain tonight," he changed the topic in the end. Liliana hadn't told him anything. She must have her reasons.
He didn't expect her to be completely uninterested in his connection with Cassian.
"After it rains, the weather will get even colder."
"Mm." Prince Allennon nodded, looking especially obedient.
Liliana had to admire how accurate ancient people were when predicting weather. That night, it really did rain heavily, with loud thunder rumbling in the skies.
Prince Allennon wasn't afraid, but Liliana was. The night she was abandoned and thrown into the orphanage had also been during a thunderstorm. Even though her childhood memories were blurry, she still remembered how the lightning lit up her terrified face.
That's why she always got scared during storms. Back in the orphanage, she had other kids to sleep with. Later on, in school dorms, there were always roommates nearby.
"Prince Allennon, are you asleep?" she whispered carefully as she floated to his bedside.
Prince Allennon had excellent night vision, and he could see that she looked uneasy.
"Liliana."
The sky lit up suddenly, followed by a loud crack of thunder.
Liliana had only come over hoping he'd sleep beside her. She didn't expect a thunderclap the moment she arrived.
Boom.
She jumped and immediately hugged Prince Allennon tightly.
He seemed surprised too, but Liliana didn't care. She wrapped her arms around his waist and curled up in his arms, pressing her ear to his chest, trying to block out the sound of thunder.
She had touched him. She even hugged him on her own.
Prince Allennon placed one hand gently on her soft hair and the other around her slim waist, patting her gently like he was comforting a child.
Another loud boom, and Liliana flinched with her eyes tightly shut.
Just then, as the lightning lit up the room, Prince Allennon saw her face clearly.
It was a face that stirred the heart, pale with a soft pink glow. Her lips were light cherry-colored, plump and delicate. Her long lashes trembled slightly, making her look weak and obedient. Her beauty was natural and radiant, like spring blossoms.
He thought that even the famously stunning Princess Yao'an didn't come close to this girl in his arms.
He felt a bit happy, happy that Liliana looked just as beautiful as he had imagined in his dreams. But he also felt a bit uneasy. She was more beautiful than he had imagined. There would definitely be many people trying to steal her away. He wondered if Cassian had ever seen her face.
He stayed in the same position, gently brushing his lips over the top of her soft hair.
"Don't be scared. I'm here."
He didn't know how much time passed. The thunder slowly faded, and the girl in his arms had fallen asleep, tears still on her cheeks.
Prince Allennon stared at her delicate face, heart racing. Without thinking, he slowly lowered his head, wanting to taste those soft lips.
Just when their faces were about to touch, his arms suddenly felt empty.
Liliana had turned back into a spirit.