Quan Ji walked up to him, her eyes sparkling, the corners of her mouth curving into an expectant smile: "What do you want to say?"

Jun Chenlan was first taken aback that his thoughts had been seen through, then his ears turned red as he stared intently at Quan Ji's face, his voice still steady as a bell, bringing peace to the heart.

You looked beautiful just now.

Quan Ji was happy inside, but she still didn't miss any opportunity to tease Jun Chenlan, asking in return, "Aren't you beautiful at other times?"

“Beautiful.” Jun Chenlan was not good with words, but he would not hide his true thoughts. “You are the most beautiful scenery I have ever seen, no less beautiful than any starlight or crystal.”

Quan Ji was slightly taken aback by Jun Chenlan's words, then her beautiful eyes sparkled, "You speak such sweet words so fluently. Before me... have you said these kinds of things to other women?"

"No!"

Jun Chenlan was resolute and immediately refuted the question the moment it was raised, showing none of her usual innocent and oblivious nature.

He pounded his fist on his chest, knelt down on one knee like a paladin performing a sacred ritual, and looked up. His long, silver-gray hair was tinged with a pale orange-gold in the glow of the sunset.

His gaze, subtly revealing piety, fell upon Princess Quan.

The two seemed like opposing magnetic poles, drawn to each other as they gazed at one another.

Quan Ji smiled, half of her face bathed in the soft light of dusk, her coldness largely vanished, making her appear like a noble and unapproachable goddess who was also exceptionally loving towards her people.

Why did you suddenly kneel down?

Jun Chenlan's expression was extremely serious as he said, "In the Xingyuan Empire, a man can only have one partner, and even the king cannot disobey this rule."

“I grew up in this kind of environment and know how painful separation is, so... I always tell myself that from beginning to end, one person is enough.”

Quan Ji understood Jun Chenlan's meaning; her friend Lan was explaining to her that he didn't have an ex-girlfriend.

She thought it was quite cute, and didn't try to hide her feelings, bursting out with a "pfft".

"There's no need for such a grand ceremony."

Jun Chenlan shook his head and asked Quan Ji, "Have you ever heard the story of the knight and the princess?"

Quan Ji shook her head. "No."

These beautiful fairy tales had nothing to do with her from the day she was born.

She doesn't believe in fairy tales, nor is she interested in them.

A smooth-sailing life and a perfect ending—these are the beautiful dreams that people weave so that children can sleep peacefully and have high hopes for the future.

That's all.

Beautiful and peaceful—those are things that have nothing to do with Princess Quan.

But Quan Ji didn't intend to dampen Jun Chenlan's enthusiasm. "Tell me about it?"

A glimmer of light instantly appeared in Jun Chenlan's eyes, unable to conceal his excitement and "innocence".

"In the fairy tales of the Star Abyss Empire, every knight will only ever protect one princess."

"As long as the princess lives, the knight is the best sword in her hand."

"If the princess falls into an eternal slumber, then... the knight will lay down his sword and stay with her until the end of his life."

He was a knight, and his mistress was a princess.

Hearing Jun Chenlan's words, Quan Ji couldn't help but soften her eyes, her voice dry as she said, "But I've never been the kind of Narcissus princess who lives in a castle and only needs to be happy."