An hour later, Shen Zhiyi leaned back on the sofa in the outer hall, her hair disheveled, biting her fingertips.

The skirt hem is stacked.

It made her look like a butterfly fluttering its wings among flowers.

Her eyes swept over the desserts and dishes on the table.

Then he caught sight of Samus kneeling before him, head bowed in submission, and his cheeks flushed red.

She didn't know that this was what he wanted to eat...

"Is it... all done...?"

Her voice trembled slightly.

My leg shook uncontrollably and kicked the table.

The teacup on top wobbled and tipped over, spilling tea onto the table and dripping down the edge, soaking into the carpet.

Samus raised his eyelashes and glanced at the two patterns on the carpet that were gradually deepening in color.

He let out a low, deep sigh.

“Princess, the carpet…” he paused, then added, “is all wet…”

Shen Zhiyi closed her eyes, her cheeks flushed.

"It's alright... I'll just have someone come and change the clothes when the time comes..." Her voice trembled slightly, "It's just that... you won't have any black tea to drink later..."

She sighed with some regret.

"I added the best honey, it's very sweet."

Samus's eyes darkened.

"Is that so?" His voice, like sandpaper, rubbed against her intricate palace dress and reached her ears. "But I've already tasted something sweeter."

He licked his lips.

“Besides…” Samus raised his hand and pointed to the perfectly intact teapot, “there are plenty more there, aren’t there?”

He lowered his head again and sighed softly, "Too much..."

"There's simply not enough to finish it all."

Shen Zhiyi raised her hand to cover her eyes.

He's not only become bolder, he's also become very wicked...

A maidservant outside the door announced the news.

"Princess, Colonel Leo requests an audience."

Samus's eyes darkened, and he bit his lip hard.

Shen Zhiyi stared wide-eyed, her arms hanging limply, her gaze unfocused as she stared at the crystal chandelier on the ceiling.

After a while, I heard Leo's urgent voice coming from the doorway.

"Princess, Leo has come to apologize to you!"

Please grant Leo an audience!

Samus slowly raised his head. "Does the princess want to see him?"

Shen Zhiyi kicked him in the chest.

"How can I possibly meet you looking like this?"

Samus's golden eyes flashed slightly as he grasped her ankle and weighed the situation, saying, "Princess, you have already offended the Astoria family at the banquet for my sake. If you don't accept that lion's apology now, you might completely offend them."

"I don't want the princess to suffer any loss because of me."

He put her feet down and helped her to her feet.

He gently brushed aside her sweaty bangs and straightened her crooked crown.

Fortunately, the princess is still very beautiful.

Shen Zhiyi's heart skipped a beat.

She looked down at Samus, who was still kneeling in front of her, and gently touched his face with her fingertips.

"How can I refuse when you're so considerate of me, the princess?"

She rubbed his moist lips with her thumb, coughed lightly, and said, "You should tidy yourself up too. How can you see guests looking like this?"

He had fair skin, except for his rosy lips.

It looked like they had just haphazardly tasted berries.

There were marks on his forehead, the tip of his nose, his face, and even his chin.

Samus lowered his head and curled the corners of his lips into a smile.

"I won't see that lion."

"You're not here?" Shen Zhiyi asked in surprise.

"Princess?" Leo's voice came from outside the door, followed by many pleading words.

Shen Zhiyi glanced at Samus, rubbed her temples, and said loudly, "Come in."

The words were spoken.

The person who was just kneeling in front of him suddenly disappeared.

Even their aura was completely concealed.

Her thighs tightened.

Shen Zhiyi's pupils contracted sharply, and she hurriedly straightened her skirt and sat up straight.

Leo strode in, and upon seeing Shen Zhiyi, his eyes lit up. He bowed apologetically and said, "Princess, Leo has come to apologize to you."

"Please forgive my disrespectful words and actions at the banquet just now."

"I shouldn't have provoked your beast husband."

"I have no intention of disrespecting you. Please believe in Leo's sincerity, Princess."

As if dissatisfied with what Leo said, Samus suddenly clung to her.

Black scales clung to the skin.

Shen Zhiyi shifted her body uncomfortably.

Pointing to a single sofa not far away, he cleared his throat and said, "Colonel, please have a seat."

Leo's eyes lit up.

The princess is willing to accept his apology!

He sat down happily, and his gaze fell on the overturned teacup on the table. He immediately reached out and righted it.

"Princess, should I have someone come and tidy up?"

"No need," Shen Zhiyi waved her hand. "There are empty cups over there. If the colonel would like some tea, please help yourself."

She didn't call him a maid; it seemed she didn't want him to stay too long.

Leo knew perfectly well what was going on, so he went straight to the point: "I sincerely apologize to the princess, so I would like to invite her to join me at the auction in Ice Crystal City in two days."

"I will bid the most expensive item for the princess as a sign of my sincerity."

"I hope the princess will do me the honor of traveling with Leo."

His gaze swept over the crown on her head.

The moonsapphire on this piece is of better quality and appearance than the ruby ​​set I gave her.

No wonder the princess didn't want to wear the jewelry he gave her.

He will definitely get the best for the princess at this auction.

I hope to win her heart back.

Shen Zhiyi bit her lip, lowered her head, and gripped the hem of her skirt tightly with her fingertips, as if she was trying her best to endure something. Her eyelashes fluttered and trembled, and even the roots of her ears were tinged with red.

My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!