It was early morning, one day before Ren Xiyang’s birthday.
Rian was in his quarters. He dismissed his agents, who had just given him verbal reports on various matters in Sedaveria. He returned to his desk and pulled out his special notebook, in which reports from further afield had arrived.
In particular, there were reports from his agents in Angio.
Rian’s aura was sharp and cool as he read through them. His eyes lingered at the end of the reports, organising his thoughts, before he put them away.
For Ren Xiyang, his work was done regarding Angio. Ren Xiyang didn’t need to pay any special attention to Angio; he just needed to be himself, trading with whom he wanted and providing charitable help when his heart said so.
But Rian was still keeping a close eye on Angio.
The situation was becoming increasingly unstable. The common folk started to avoid gathering—or the appearance of gathering—as much as they could. The streets in Angio were becoming quieter, and foreign merchants were starting to pull out.
At this point, his agents were strictly instructed to watch only, and not to make any moves. He didn’t want there to be any evidence of Sedaverian involvement as the situation in Angio deteriorated. He wanted Princess Aurelia and the others to be the ones taking the reins into their own hands and orchestrating the coup.
King Augustus used fear to rule, with his paranoia seeing hints of rebelliousness everywhere that had to be suppressed with violence. But if he kept accusing nobles of rebellion as a means to remind them to keep in line, then eventually, some of those nobles would really start thinking of rebellion.
Like Viscount Amethystus and his faction.
Like Princess Aurelia, who seemed to be an obedient and passive administrator.
The fact that Princess Aurelia had been quietly playing administrator for years meant she had come in contact with virtually all the nobles in Angio, for one reason or another. The groundwork for her faction had been inadvertently growing, whether she realised it or not. Most nobles knew they had to eventually go through her if they wanted a tax break, had a money request, or had conflicts with other nobles that needed to be resolved. She was more reasonable and approachable than King Augustus, and as long as they didn’t have an outrageous request and as long as they made sure to ‘donate’ to King Augustus’s private coffers, King Augustus didn’t care.
Rian didn’t have much evidence at hand, but he had no doubt that Princess Aurelia was slowly amassing power.
Meanwhile, Prince Marcus had gone to chase down Viscount Amethystus with a portion of the Angio’s Capital’s standing army. With a large group of non-mage troops, he moved slower and so it wasn’t surprising that he hadn’t caught Viscount Amethystus. No, ‘chasing after the Viscount’ had been an excuse: Prince Marcus was using this opportunity to gain a foothold with Angio’s military. But he didn’t seem to realise that he was been outmanoeuvred on other fronts.
What Rian found the most curious was the spreading of certain rumours among the nobles and commoners.
King Augustus used fear to rule, but some news was too astounding to stay quiet about for long. That said, certain pieces of information had to have been purposefully released. Rian doubted that Princess Aurelia and Viscountess Venenum had a mole in their tight team of people investigating the underground tower.
You-know-who funded that secret base just outside the Capital.
He even hired a criminal necromancer who famously went on trial over a decade ago.
They experimented on both common people and nobles, and not just criminals. If someone you knew suddenly went missing…this could be why.
He didn’t even spare his dead wife, the late queen.
Rian hadn’t even known this.
King Augustus would likely order the deaths of any rumour-spreaders.
But that would incentivise the people to be more secretive, not to stop spreading the word.
Unless King Augustus completely changed his approach to ruling, his end was estimated to be 90% ensured, by Rian’s calculations.
The political situations in Sedaveria and Angio now were worlds away from how it was at this time in Rian’s first life.
At this time in his first life, both Sedaveria and Angio appeared stable, with life going on as it had been going on for decades. He had been more focused on his upcoming first year at the Imperial Magical Academy, wanting to make a good impression with other noble children and teachers, and studying ahead because he had to be academically and magically the best.
But now, he was meeting with countless more people daily: establishing and maintaining connections, coordinating projects, developing projects, and making money. He still had classes, and he used his first-life’s knowledge to its fullest; but he also had a clear vision and direction.
He was also more handsome, richer, stronger, and more powerful this time, all the things that Ren Xiyang liked about him.
Thinking of Ren Xiyang…
Rian looked out of the window of his study room and gave a love-lorn sigh.
He heard that the Rosewood Group’s big multi-day meeting was good, and Earl Rosewood’s display was spectacular and once-in-a-lifetime.
The thought that he missed out on Ren Xiyang being awesome was extremely frustrating. Listening to his agents’ recounts and Ren Xiyang’s recount just wasn’t the same.
We’re sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our translations keep getting stolen by aggregators so we’re going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.
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Lf tjv fzqilmlais abiv tfg ktja tf tjv qijccfv ab mbwqifaf yfobgf tf kbeiv ifjnf obg atf Ebrfkbbv olfo, jcv yfobgf atf aglq ab atf Lgjec Rjalbc, jcv tf tjv ab obiibk atgbeut.
And of course, he was doing more than he told her. She didn’t know the depth of his preparations for Xiyang’s birthday.
Rian’s heart fluttered at the thoughts of his plans. He couldn’t wait to see Ren Xiyang again.
That evening, Prince Alexius headed to the dining hall with Sir Gerlach Aegean. He greeted various nobles and his Imperial Parents, before taking a seat.
It was when the servants started serving food that he realised that something was wrong.
Alexius frowned and looked around the hall. “Where is he?” He turned to his Imperial Parents, his eyebrows drawing together and his eyes going large and soft. “Imperial Mother, where is my big brother?”
“Your older brother has left the city,” Queen Mira said blandly.
“Pardon?”
“He has taken his personal carriage and departed for the Rosewood fief this afternoon.”
Alexius was stunned. He had seen Rian at their regular afternoon tea! Did Rian leave for the Rosewood fief right after that? They were supposed to travel together to the Rosewood fief tomorrow! Why would Rian leave without him?
—No wait, Alexius knew why Rian would leave without him. Because Rian was an annoying big brother.
“Can I still go tomorrow?” Alexius asked sadly.
“You may attend Earl Rosewood’s birthday. Sir Aegean will accompany you.”
“Thank you, Imperial Mother.” Alexius gave a world-weary sigh and started on his dinner.
Queen Mira glanced at King Edric. King Edric was talking to another noble, apparently not caring about his eldest son’s behaviour.
Queen Mira suppressed her suspicions. For now.
Rian pushed his floating carriage past its safety speed limit to reach the Rosewood fief as soon as possible. His Royal Guards’ galloping horses couldn’t keep up, so a handful of guards squished into the carriage to accompany their prince.
When Rian arrived at the Rosewood manor, it was late. But it wasn’t dark.
Ren Xiyang stood, leaning against the front door, waiting for him. Floating balls of fire lined the path from the gates to the manor, lighting Rian’s way.
Rian’s heart swelled. He jumped off the carriage—he had been sitting at the front, driving. “Earl Rosewood!”
“You’re 18 hours early,” Ren Xiyang said.
“Counting down?” Rian asked, a smile on his lips.
Ren Xiyang rolled his eyes. “Have you eaten?”
“You know that I haven’t.”
“I’m not a mind reader,” Ren Xiyang said drily.
“You can come out now,” Rian called out to those inside the carriage.
The carriage door opened and two servants and four guards clambered out, some of them looking worse for wear.
Rian turned to his two servants—one carriage driver, one manservant. “As usual, set up my suite. You’re dismissed afterwards. Earl Rosewood will help me with other matters if necessary,” he told them. “Guards, you are also dismissed. Earl Rosewood will protect me.”
“Yes, Your Highness,” the two servants said. They took out various suitcases and boxes. Coordinating with some Rosewood servants, the manservant took the items inside, while the carriage driver hopped onto the driver seat and moved the carriage to the carriage parking.
The Royal Guards made a token protest. “Your Highness, we cannot rest easy knowing that you are not guarded—”
“Are you insulting Earl Rosewood’s abilities?” Rian said playfully.
“Never, Your Highness!”
“They’re saying that I’m not your guard or servant,” Ren Xiyang ‘helpfully’ said.
“Indeed, as Earl Rosewood said!”
“What if I pay you, Earl Rosewood?” Rian asked.
“Okay.”
One of the Royal Guards’ expression collapsed. Perhaps he was too travel sick, because he blurted out, “Are we going to be out of a job?”
Rian laughed. “No, not at all.” He stepped over and patted the guard on the back. “Get some rest, Earl Rosewood and I need to convene, and the Rosewood fief is quite safe. Don’t disobey me.”
“Yes, Your Highness,” the Royal Guards said.
Rian motioned for the Royal Guards to head in first. Only then did he and Ren Xiyang head into the manor.
“How much are going to pay me?” Ren Xiyang said.
“You need to wait til tomorrow for your presents,” Rian said.
“Presents don’t count.”
“My presents do. Are you saying that your prince is wrong?”
Ren Xiyang snorted, bumping his shoulder into Rian.
Rian bumped him right back. “Stop being so immature.”
“You stop being so immature.”
“You’re the one being immature.”
“No, you are.”
“I’m the Crown Prince, I’m very mature.”
“Uh-huh.”
They both bickered very immaturely until they reached Ren Xiyang’s quarters.
Rian raised an eyebrow. “Straight to a meeting?”
Ren Xiyang opened the door and pointed at the table. “No, straight to your dinner.”
Rian closed the door and grabbed Ren Xiyang’s arm. With a tug, Ren Xiyang cooperatively stepped into his arms, hugging him back, and leaned in for a kiss.
Rian pressed a finger on Ren Xiyang’s lips, halting him. “I don’t want just a kiss. I want the touch of your magic.”
Ren Xiyang blinked in adorable confusion.
“—Oh handsome darling,” Rian added in a seductive voice.
Ren Xiyang’s face collapsed into a mixture of exasperation and embarrassment. “This isn’t my original body,” he muttered in protest.
“You’re handsome inside,” Rian said very smoothly. He removed his finger from Ren Xiyang’s lips and pressed the hand over Ren Xiyang’s chest. “You have the most beautiful heart.” He stared into Ren Xiyang’s eyes.
Ren Xiyang’s cheeks reddened. “Y-you…Why are you here early for, really?”
Note, they were still hugging each other.
“Do you like your early birthday surprise?” Rian fluttered his eyelashes.
Ren Xiyang narrowed his eyes. “If I didn’t know better…”
“What is it?”
“You’re here early because you didn’t want to come along with Alexius, isn’t that right?”
To avoid answering, Rian leaned into and plopped a kiss on Ren Xiyang’s lips. “Now, what was it about dinner?” he asked, releasing Ren Xiyang.
Ren Xiyang gave him a I-know-what-you-just-did-there look, but he led Rian over to the table. “Dinner for you, a late snack for me,” he said.
“Did you make it?”
“No. You were a surprise, remember?”
Rian made a face. “Curses! Well, I trust your Rosewood chefs.” He sat down to eat–he was really hungry, after travelling and expending magical energy to make the carriage go faster.
“I also have more product ideas,” Ren Xiyang said as he watched Rian eat.
“Yes?”
“Remember my duel with Vitus Natrium?”
That triggered mixed feelings in Rian. “Your cooking duel with Baron Natrium, yes.”
“As you may recall, my old world had many technologies and tools developed to make it easier to cook. We’ve developed some products so far, including consistent heating elements and blenders. But there are many more products we could make. Depending on whether we want to market to individuals, or for commercial and large-scale use, there are different things we could make.”
“Whichever you prefer,” Rian said.
“—And if you’re okay with it, we can pick a few and ask if Vitus Natrium wants to collaborate with us.”
Rian’s gut reaction was no, you can only collaborate with me!
His second thought was to suppress that feeling of jealousy and approach it more rationally: this could be a good opportunity to develop stronger ties, and realistically, he and Ren Xiyang were already very busy.
His third thought was that he could take advantage of Ren Xiyang’s ‘if you’re okay with it’ phrasing…
“I will agree to collaborate with Baron Natrium if…”
Ren Xiyang nodded absently.
“…we sleep together tonight.”
Ren Xiyang froze.
(See, it wasn’t Rian being stunned for once, Rian could make Xiyang speechless too!)
“I haven’t been in your bedroom as your lover, yet. And we’ve never had the opportunity to sleep in the same bed overnight. I’m tired and I want to hug you all night and be the first person you see on the morning of your birthday.” Rian tilted his head and smirked. “What were you thinking, dear?”
BL Palace’s Grand Banquet 2023, happening Saturday 12th August.
Yes, what were you thinking dear?🤭
😏😏😏😏😏
A very interesting chapter! Thank you very much!
Ryan and Ren are so cute♥
I’m waiting for Ren’s birthday!
Rian*😅
Thank you for reading 🥰🥰🥰🥰 hehe writing their interactions is fun for me~
Hahaha… Being intimate is important~ There’s something called the Cuddle Hormone (oxytocin, also Love or Feel-good hormone), which releases at any skin contact with another person. Any skin contact. 🙂
Thank you for the chapter!
😏😏😏😏 hehe, in short, cuddling feels good~
thinking about yellow stuff
😏😏😏😏😏😏😏😏😏😏😏😏
Wow, that was sudden! 🤣
Thank you for the update.
Hey, these two don’t waffle around that much, keep to agendas and plans, and are quite direct 🤭🤭🤭🤭
Dear, my, my, my! I know what I was thinking! I like this birthday already…🥰🥰🥰 Thanks for the sweetness ❤️
hehehehehehehee 😏 thank you for reading!
Oh dear, I froze too😔…got me excited for a sec there.
😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆 now let me write the next chapter…
Thanks for the chapter! Sneaky Rian.
Thank you for reading! Super sneaky~
Ahhhhh~~~
🌹🌹🌹 Thanks for the chapter, and the story so far!!! I just binged the story up to here and I have to say that I am so impressed with this novel. Genuinely intellectual characters so supportive of each other (and especially RXY’s transition) has made this novel one of my all time favorites! Thank youuuuu
I’m so glad you found this binge-able so far!!! Thank you 🥰🥰
I loved that last sentence 😂 😏 I really enjoy the scenes where the two of them interact and tease each other.
Reading this chapter, I realized that I prefer to learn about the developments in Angio through Rian’s eyes and reports instead of “being there” 🤷
Hehe, then I better show them teasing each other more~
With Rian’s POV, you get Rian’s reactions 🤭 It’s more high-level and a lot faster to ‘tell’ rather than ‘show’
I think a lantern festival would be romantice. A walk in a field filled with fyerflies.
😍😍😍😍😍 that sounds romantic indeed!
Smooth mofo. The force is strong in this one. Tysm for the chappyy
Rian can be super smooth if he wants!
🥰🥰🥰Thank you))
Thank you for reading!