The battlefield stretched endlessly beneath a sky choked with smoke and iron-colored clouds.

Steel clashed against steel. Horses screamed. Flags of Xu and Zhao tore through the wind like broken wings refusing to fall.

Across the shattered plains stood their enemies, Duke Yan’s forces and the Prime Minister’s army pressing forward like a tide that refused to retreat.

This was not just war.

This was the end of something.

Or the beginning of ruins of Yan clan.

Xu Yuexin stood amidst the chaos, her armor already stained of blood, her breathing steady despite the situation around her. Her fan was gone, replaced by a blade that did not suit her delicate appearance, yet moved with deadly precision in her hand.

Not far from her, Zhao Yanzhou cut through enemies like silence given form. Calm. Controlled. Relentless.

Even in war, he never looked disordered.

But then

A sudden shift in the battlefield.

Zhao Yanzhou’s gaze snapped toward her.

Through the noise, through blood and steel, his voice reached his most skilled commrant sharp and absolute.

“Zhao Feng.”

A man moved instantly at his command. His most trusted commander.

Zhao Yanzhou didn’t look away from Yuexin as he spoke again, his voice low but firm.

“Take the Marchioness back.”

The man obeyed him instantly.

Zhao Yanzhou called out for her, "Marchioness!" She moved towards them.

"Go back!" His voice cut through.

Yuexin’s eyes widened slightly.

“What?” she stepped closer through the chaos. “I can fight alongside—”

“Do it.”

His tone cut through hers like a blade.

Then, softer but heavier.

“Just this once… for me. Understand?”

A pause.

The world around them roared.

But between them, there was only silence.

His gaze locked onto hers.

“And don’t,” he added quietly, “not even once… turn back.”

Something tightened in her chest.

She hesitated. Just for a moment.

Then she nodded.

“…Fine.”

And she left.

Ling Feng escorted her out of the battlefield as ordered.

Behind her, the war continued raging but she did not turn back. Not once.

By the time she reached the imperial palace, the sky had already begun to darken.

Reports were exchanged. Orders were given. The emperor’s expression remained unreadable as he listened in silence.

“Stay at the Manor. Do what Marquis' told you to.” was all he said to her.

Stay at the Manor.'

As if she could.

The mansion of Zhao stood quiet when she returned.

Too quiet.

Like the world had forgotten how to breathe.

She changed out of her battle armor into a pale, delicate robe that felt wrong on her skin. Her hands, once steady on the battlefield, now trembled faintly as she sat alone in the vast silence.

Time passed without meaning.

And then her thoughts began to unravel.

"Why did he send me back?"

"Was I… in the way?"

"No… that’s not like him."

Her fingers curled slightly.

"He wouldn’t die. Right?"

But the silence did not answer her.

One hour passed then

two hours then three hours.

Afternoon turned into evening.

And evening turned into night.

Night fell.

The mansion doors finally opened.

Footsteps.

Then more.

Three of Zhao Yanzhou’s commanders entered.

She rose immediately.

“Where is your master?”

Silence.

The men lowered their heads.

Something inside her shifted.

“Tell me,” her voice sharpened. “Where is he?”

One of them finally spoke.

“The battle ended… but we couldn’t find him.”

A pause.

“…We fear he may have fallen on the battlefield. Or been lost. Even if alive his injuries…”

The rest was left unspoken.

Because it didn’t need to be.

Her breath stopped.

Then slowly, she nodded.

“…You may leave.”

The commanders obeyed.

And the mansion returned to silence.

Only then did her strength break.

Her knees gave out.

She collapsed onto the cold floor.

Her voice cracked into the empty hall.

“I shouldn’t have left…”

A shaky breath.

“He knew… I wouldn’t survive there, didn’t he?”

Her fingers pressed against her chest as if trying to hold something together that was already falling apart.

And for the first time—

Xu Yuexin cried without restraint.

Alone.

Helpless.

The doors opened again.

This time—no sound was announced.

No warning.

Just presence.

She looked up through blurred vision.

And froze.

Zhao Yanzhou stood there.

Barely.

Covered in blood and dust, his armor cracked, his posture unstable.

But he was standing.

Alive.

“Yanzhou…?”

Her voice broke.

She rush towards him. Just then his strength gave out.

He fell forward.

Straight into her arms.

She caught him instantly.

Her arms locked around his neck, holding him tightly like if she loosened even slightly, he would disappear again.

For a long moment, neither of them spoke.

Only breathing.

Then she pulled back slightly, tears still clinging to her lashes.

“Your body is so cold....Are you conscious?” she whispered. “How many fingers am I holding up?”

She raised three fingers.

He blinked slowly.

Then, even in that state he smiled faintly.

“Three fingers of my… beautiful wife”

A pause.

Then—

A light hit to his chest from her trembling hand.

“You… still dare to joke at a time like this?”

But her voice broke at the end.

And she held him tighter.

That night, she did not leave his side.

She cleaned his wounds.

Changed the bandages.

Applied medicine with hands that refused to stop shaking.

Only when exhaustion finally claimed her did she fall asleep beside him, her fingers still loosely holding his hand.

Dawn came.

He woke first.

Completely conscious. Almost fully healed.

And for the first time, noticed everything.

The bandages. The medicine bowls. The blood-soaked cloths carefully replaced.

And her—

Swollen eyes. Exhaustion. Tired.

Understanding hit him slowly.

Lost in admiration.

He had just slightly moved his finger.

She stirred.

Then immediately sat up.

“Don’t move,” she said quickly. “The bandages still need changing.”

She tried to stand—

But was pulled back.

In a single motion, the world shifted.

She found herself on the bed.

And him above her.

Too close.

Her eyes narrowed slightly, but her tone remained calm.

“I don’t remember this being appropriate, Your Lordship.”

He didn’t move away.

Instead—

“Neither do I,” he replied evenly.

A pause.

Then his gaze deepened slightly.

“But Mrs Zhao… you did say I can do anything.”

A faint smile.

“…after marriage.”

She exhaled softly.

“You’re really shameless.”

“Because of you,” he said simply.

A silence settled between them.

Heavy. Familiar. Unspoken.

Then—

He leaned in bit gently at her neck.

Not cruel. Not violent.

Just deliberate. Intentional.

A mark of presence rather than pain.

She didn’t move.

Not because she couldn’t—

But because she knew resisting would only make it worse.

After a moment, he pulled back slightly, breath warm against her skin.

“Just this once,” he murmured.

“My lady.”

He kissed the same place he bit softly, lingering longer this time.

Her fingers tightened slightly on his shoulder.

Her breath unsteady, but her voice still controlled.

“…You’re the one who started it.”

A pause.

Then she shifted, turning the moment back on him.

Her arms slid around his neck, pulling him closer.

Her lips brushed near his ear as she spoke softly:

“Endure it yourself, my lord.”

And then—

She bit him back.

Not violently. Not recklessly.

But enough to leave a clear, intentional mark of her own.

For the first time—

His breath hitched.

His grip on her waist tightened instinctively.

And the silence between them changed.

Not into words.

But into something neither war nor politics could easily undo.

“WHAT!? Marriage?!?”

Xu Yuexin’s voice echoed through the entire Xu Manor, sharp enough to make even the birds outside flutter away in shock.

Xu Zhenrong, the Marquis of Xu Clan, calmly took a sip of tea as if he had expected this reaction.

“Yes,” he replied slowly. “Especially granted by His Majesty, on the insistence of the Empress.”

At the mention of the Empress, Yuexin froze slightly.

The current Empress was not her blood relative but in all meaning that mattered, she was closer than family.

Yuexin dropped to her knees immediately in front of her father.

“Father… please cancel the marriage. Please, do it for me.”

Xu Zhenrong sighed.

“And what am I supposed to do to cancel an imperial decree? Fight the emperor?”

Yuexin’s expression shifted.

Without hesitation, she grabbed the sword resting beside her father’s seat and raised it toward her neck.

“Then I shall behead myself.”

Silence.

Then—

A chuckle.

Xu Zhenrong leaned back, entirely unconcerned.

“My dearest daughter,” he said, amused, “I know you too well. You value your life far too much to do that.”

Yuexin lowered the sword immediately, annoyed.

“…Sometimes I hate that you know me so well.”

Xu Zhenrong smiled faintly.

“You should be grateful,” he added. “Your future husband is Zhao Yanzhou.”

Yuexin froze.

Then crossed her arms.

“That’s exactly the problem.”

“Oh?” her father raised a brow. “Most noble ladies would kill for this marriage.”

“Yes,” she replied flatly, “and I would gladly gift him to other noble ladies.”

Xu Zhenrong chuckled. “Zhao Yanzhou is the heir of the Zhao Clan. Northern military, influence, status—”

“Cold, arrogant, rarely seen in public, and admired by noble ladies who don’t even know him properly,” she interrupted calmly.

A pause.

Xu Zhenrong stared at her.

“…Perfect for you, isn’t he?”

He added casually, “The Empress does have a sharp eye for matchmaking.”

Yuexin immediately protested.

“Father, how in the world is that ‘perfect’ for me?”

Xu Zhenrong leaned back.

“He is only a year or two older than you. And you are already twenty, at marriageable age.”

Then, with a teasing glance—

“Besides, aren’t you the same? Rarely seen in public. Some even call you the ‘cold heiress.’ I have met him once, he has virtues of a gentleman.”

Yuexin stomped her foot.

“Father!”

At that moment—

A voice interrupted from the doorway.

“Elder sister… are you finally getting married?”

Xu Tianhao, her younger brother, leaned casually against the frame, clearly enjoying the chaos.

Yuexin slowly turned toward him.

“…Do you want to die?”

He grinned. “No. But I would love to see you try that sword trick again.”

She reached for the sword instantly.

“Come here.”

Xu Tianhao ran.

Yuexin turned back toward her father.

“Even my younger brother who is four years younger than me dares to mock me about marriage.”

Xu Zhenrong chuckled.

“Well that's why you should marry for the sake of yourself.”

She replied annoyed, "I will go to the palace to convince empress mother to cancel the wedding."

Then he added, almost casually:

“And don’t forget, once the Empress decides something, there is only a one percent chance she changes her mind.”

Yuexin narrowed her eyes.

“…Then I will get that one percent.”

That same day—

She stormed into the palace.

“Empress Mother!!”

Yuexin pushed open the doors dramatically and rushed inside, immediately sitting beside the Empress with full desperation.

“Please! Cancel the marriage!”

The Empress remained calm, composed as ever.

“No, Yuexin.”

Yuexin froze.

“Don’t you love me?” she asked dramatically.

“I do,” the Empress replied gently. “That is why this is for your own good by choosing best choice.”

“But I don’t want ‘the best choice’!” Yuexin protested. “I want my own choice!”

The Empress tilted her head slightly.

“And what is your choice?”

“To not marry him.”

“Do you dislike him?”

“…Yes.”

“Have you met him?”

Yuexin paused.

Then shook her head.

The Empress lightly tapped her forehead.

“Then how can you dislike him?”

“I don't know?....”

A quiet sigh.

The Empress leaned slightly closer, her tone lowering.

“It is not only for your future. It is for the empire.”

Yuexin’s expression changed slightly.

“…Duke Yan?”

The Empress nodded faintly.

“Your marriage strengthens Xu and Zhao. Southern and Northern military united. That is stability.”

Yuexin opened her mouth then closed it again.

The Empress’s voice softened but carried finality.

“Zhao Yanzhou is not a bad match.”

Then

A pause.

“And you will marry him.”

No room for argument.

Back to Xu Manor:-

Yuexin returned looking utterly displeased.

Xu Zhenrong glanced at her.

“So?”

She exhaled.

“…She didn’t change her mind.”

Xu Zhenrong smiled faintly.

“As expected.”

Yuexin couldn't think of a single plan to escape this marriage.

At Northern Military Territory:

The northern wind was sharp, cutting across the training grounds as soldiers moved in perfect formation.

Steel clashed. Orders rang out. Discipline ruled everything.

At the center—

Zhao Yanzhou stood unmoving, watching.

Cold. Composed. Untouchable.

“Marquis,” a familiar voice called lazily.

Zhao Zixuan approached, hands behind his back, clearly in no hurry.

“Master wants you back at the Zhao Manor.”

Yanzhou didn’t even turn.

“Why? Is there an important event?”

Zixuan circled him slowly, like he was inspecting something entertaining.

“More like it.”

A pause.

“But Master ordered me not to tell you.”

Yanzhou finally glanced at him.

A glare.

“Speak.”

Zixuan replied immediately dramatically.

“If I do, Master will kill me.”

“Then I’m not going.”

Zixuan turned as if to leave, smirking.

“Alright. Don’t blame me if you miss your life-changing moment.”

That made him pause.

Yanzhou turned fully this time.

“…What? Life changing moment?"

Zixuan grinned.

“That’s why congratulations in advance, my lord.”

Yanzhou glared.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“It’s better you don’t know.”

Thud

Zixuan clutched his shoulder.

“You hit me again?!”

“Stop spouting nonsense. Get my horse. I will go myself then.”

Zixuan laughed.

“Yes, yes. As you command.”

Back at Zhao manor:-

The moment Yanzhou stepped into the main hall, the atmosphere changed.

Formal. Controlled.

His father, Zhao Guangming, stood waiting.

“Why did you call me back?”

His father glanced at Zixuan.

“You didn’t say anything, did you?”

Zixuan immediately raised three fingers.

“I swear on my life, master.I didn’t.”

“Wait outside.”

Zixuan obeyed but left after giving Yanzhou a very teasing look.

Then—

Silence.

His father turned back to him, smiling.

“Why wouldn’t I call you back? Especially when your wedding is approaching in few days.”

Yanzhou froze.

“…What? My wedding?”

“Yes, your wedding.”

“I refuse.”

His father laughed.

“You cannot refuse. It is an imperial decree.”

Before Yanzhou could respond

A gentle but excited voice entered.

“Finally!”

His mother stepped in, beaming with joy.

“Heavens have truly blessed us. Xu Yuexin, what a perfect daughter-in-law.”

Yanzhou’s expression darkened slightly.

“I am not interested.”

His father crossed his arms.

“You rejected every proposal before. Now the Emperor himself has granted this marriage. It's a golden opportunity.”

His mother nodded eagerly.

“I heard she is elegant, virtuous, and incredibly beautiful. Really perfect for you.”

Yanzhou exhaled slowly.

“…Rumors are unreliable.”

His father smirked.

“So are your excuses.”

A pause.

Then—

“Don’t even think about going back north.”

Silence.

Yanzhou’s gaze shifted slightly.

Then he nodded.

“…Understood.”

And turned to leave.

Outside the Hall

Zixuan was already waiting. Of course he was.

He leaned casually against a pillar.

“Well?”

Yanzhou walked past him.

“I will be serving a new Marchioness soon,” Zixuan added, clearly enjoying himself.

“Be quiet.”

“Oh? Are you nervous?”

No response.

Zixuan smirked wider.

“I heard she’s beautiful. Maybe you’ll finally—”

Yanzhou stopped walking.

Zixuan froze.

Slowly, Yanzhou turned his head.

“…Finish that sentence.”

Zixuan raised both hands.

“Nothing, nothing. I value my life.”

Later that night:-

Yanzhou stood alone in the courtyard.

The moonlight fell across the stone floor, quiet and distant.

Marriage.

A political alliance.

Xu Clan. Zhao Clan.

Southern and Northern military combined.

He understood the reason.

Of course he did.

This wasn’t about him.

Or her.

It was about the empire.

A faint pause.

“…Xu Yuexin.”

He spoke the name once.

Testing it.

No emotion.

Just acknowledgment.

Zixuan Interrupts Again.

“Thinking about your future wife already?”

Yanzhou didn’t turn.

“You’re noisy.”

Zixuan stepped closer, grinning.

“I’m just curious. What kind of lady could actually match you?”

A pause.

Yanzhou finally replied—

Calm. Flat.

“She won’t.”

Zixuan blinked.

“…That confident?”

Yanzhou walked past him.

“She’ll either be troublesome…”

A slight pause.

“…or irrelevant.”

Zixuan laughed.

“Oh, I can’t wait to see which one she is. But who knows she might be opposite of both.”

Two people.

One imperial decree.

Neither willing.

Neither aware—

That their lives were about to become…

completely entangled.