Lucas turned suspiciously toward Zhou Mingkai, who was curled up in a trembling ball.
At that moment, Zhou Mingkai was suddenly struck by a flash of inspiration.
For the sake of his brother’s lifelong happiness! For the sake of allowing the Marshal and his wife to enjoy their golden years surrounded by grandchildren! For the sake of the hopes of tens of millions of Imperial citizens! For the sake of the Empire’s outstanding next generation!
He carried the hopes of millions upon his shoulders—
“Oh, my God.” Zhou Mingkai squeezed out a few tears and clenched his fist, thumping it against his chest. “What a beautiful love story! What a heartbreaking unrequited love! Secretary Luo, you’ve suffered so much…!”
Lucas, meanwhile, seemed to be thinking about something. His face expressionless, he turned and walked away.
He was still the same iron-willed, ferocious General, devoid of emotion and unmoved by anything.
However, as he stepped over the threshold onto the balcony, he suddenly missed a step. His whole body lurched, and he nearly fell.
Zhou Mingkai: “……”
Zhou Mingkai looked up at the moon, pretending he hadn’t seen a thing.
Lucas snorted coldly, his expression terrifying as he viciously stomped on the step before striding away.
Zhou Mingkai hurried after him.
Meanwhile, the two people on the balcony had clearly failed to notice what was happening over there. Lilia was staring at Luo Ran in utter disbelief.
“You—you…! Do you believe I’ll tell everyone right now?!”
“If Your Highness wants to tell them, then go ahead. There’s nothing I can do about it.” Luo Ran lowered his eyes, looking utterly pitiful.
Truthfully, Luo Ran dared to say such things because he wasn’t afraid of the princess spreading the story.
Lilia had already established a deeply ingrained reputation for being arrogant, impulsive, and foolish. Few people would take her words seriously.
Even if she really did tell everyone, the people who believed her would be the CP fans, while those who didn’t would assume it was just another piece of fan content created for their entertainment. Everyone would have a laugh and move on.
“Th-then… I don’t mind that you like the General! Anyway, he doesn’t like you, so I can just steal you away from him!”
Luo Ran: “……”
Luo Ran was once again curious about how the Luobing royal family had raised their princess. The other princes who were in charge of affairs in Luobing seemed perfectly normal.
However, Luo Ran had a second trick up his sleeve.
“Your Highness, are you really planning to steal someone away from the General?” Luo Ran raised an eyebrow.
“Ah…?”
Lilia’s eyes widened. “Y-you said it was an unrequited love! Are you and the General… already together?”
Luo Ran said nothing. He neither denied nor confirmed it, but Lilia took his silence as an admission.
No way…?
“Waaah! You shameless thing!!”
Lilia burst into tears and ran off.
How could she possibly compete with Lucas for someone…?! He was the General who had turned her own country into a vassal state!
Watching the princess storm away in fury, Luo Ran finally breathed a sigh of relief.
The princess probably wouldn’t ask the Empire to hand him over anymore.
Having resolved the problem, Luo Ran returned to the banquet hall. He searched around but couldn’t find Lucas anywhere. Just as he was about to ask someone, he ran into the star of the banquet and birthday boy himself—the First Prince, Zhou Mingyu.
“What a coincidence.” Zhou Mingyu smiled warmly. “Has Secretary Luo run into some trouble?”
“Your Highness.” Luo Ran bowed respectfully before asking, “Do you happen to know where the General is?”
Zhou Mingyu paused. “I’m sorry, I haven’t seen him.”
“All right…” Luo Ran wondered whether Lucas had gone upstairs with Zhou Mingkai to drink and play shooting games in one of the private rooms.
Zhou Mingyu then teased him, “There are so many beautiful women here. Perhaps the General would feel more at ease if you didn’t follow him around.”
Luo Ran merely smiled.
“Since we’ve run into each other, would Secretary Luo care to dance with me?” Zhou Mingyu gestured toward the dance floor.
Luo Ran remembered that Zhou Mingyu had invited him to be his dance partner once before. Being invited again now came as a surprise.
The prince certainly wasn’t short of dance partners, so why was he so insistent on inviting Luo Ran?
“To be honest, it’s a little embarrassing.” Zhou Mingyu shook his head and joked, “Perhaps it’s because I’ve reached this age and am still single. My family is always trying to find ways to get me acquainted with outstanding Omegas and Betas. At banquets like this, I practically become a delicious piece of meat surrounded by a pack of hungry wolves.”
Luo Ran understood.
Zhou Mingyu was the First Prince and the most likely candidate to inherit the throne. Becoming his consort now—and eventually the Empress in the future—would be an honor beyond measure.
No doubt countless people were fighting tooth and nail to become Zhou Mingyu’s dance partner, competing with one another out of jealousy and using every possible means to get close to him. Zhou Mingyu must have grown thoroughly sick of it, which was why he had decided to use Luo Ran as a shield.
Zhou Mingyu confirmed Luo Ran’s guess with a helpless smile. “That’s why I invited you to be my dance partner. You’re the General’s secretary, so the others wouldn’t dare say anything. Unfortunately… you rejected me without the slightest hesitation. I was rather hurt.”
“I’m sorry.” Luo Ran smiled. “I didn’t realize… that you had to deal with this sort of trouble.”
“Well, now you know.” Zhou Mingyu extended his hand toward Luo Ran and bowed slightly, his manners impeccable.
“Then, handsome gentleman, may I have the pleasure of a dance?”
Luo Ran smiled and placed his hand in Zhou Mingyu’s.
After Zhou Mingyu had explained things so thoroughly, Luo Ran could hardly refuse. Besides, Lucas didn’t need him to take care of anything at the moment, so he accompanied Zhou Mingyu to the dance floor.
The lighting was soft, and the music was gentle.
“Secretary Luo, you dance very well.” Zhou Mingyu rested a hand lightly on Luo Ran’s waist and smiled. “It’s a pity you rarely show off your skills.”
Luo Ran lowered his eyes. “You flatter me.”
“Sometimes, I can’t help feeling envious of the General. Having a secretary like you must not only make his work much easier but also make his daily life far more pleasant.”
Luo Ran replied, “Your Highness’s secretary graduated from the Royal Academy as a professional secretary. She must be much better than I am.”
“How could that be?” Zhou Mingyu smiled and shook his head. “Back then, Shuangye competed with you for the position of the General’s secretary and lost to you. Even now, she still admires you quite a bit. She brings you up in conversation with me from time to time.”
Luo Ran immediately froze.
“Back then…” Luo Ran asked to confirm, “You mean when General Lucas was recruiting a secretary?”