Liliana was speechless, frustrated, and on the edge of collapse. No words could describe her feelings. It was like a puppy finally allowed to jump on the table to eat a piece of meat, only to have it snatched away just as it reached her mouth.
Liliana suddenly woke up in her soul form. Had she just fallen asleep?
She had actually fallen asleep! That truly shocked her. Ever since she became a ghost, even though she pretended to lie down like a normal person every night, it was only to close her eyes and rest. She never felt tired, but now she couldn't remember the last time she experienced real sleep.
She sat up and stared at Prince Allennon like a predator locking onto prey.
Prince Allennon blushed slightly, perhaps embarrassed that she might have seen what he just did. His voice came out hoarse. "Liliana, you're awake."
"How many times have I told you, call me Sister." Liliana was clearly insistent on this point. The fifteen-year-old boy in front of her always reminded her of the little girl from the orphanage, who also used to follow her around sweetly calling her "Sister."
"Liliana, I think I just touched you," Prince Allennon said, changing the subject. If she was willing to let him kiss her, maybe... he could hold her in his arms while whispering "Sister" in her ear.
"That's right," Liliana replied, lowering her head until their faces were nearly touching. Prince Allennon's face flushed even deeper. He remembered that stunning glimpse of her just moments ago. His fingers clenched the brocade quilt beneath him, leaving wrinkles in the fabric.
Liliana didn't notice what he was thinking. Her mind was entirely focused on figuring out how to touch him.
Could it be the thunder? Maybe natural forces helped her? But no, she had touched Cassian twice before, and there was no thunder at those times.
Was it her movement? She tried grabbing his sleeve, his collar, then tried lying in his arms again like she had earlier. All of them failed.
Her movements, full of cautious tests, left Prince Allennon's face burning red. Did Liliana know how intimate her actions were just now? She pulled at his sleeve and collar, and she even tried to lie in his arms. So Liliana didn't want to leave his embrace either. She must like him too. Yes, they were definitely in love with each other!
Despite living in a technological world for many years and reading countless books, Liliana couldn't find an answer based on physical or weather-related reasons. Then a thought flashed through her mind.
Could it be... her emotions?
Yes. The two times she touched Cassian, and just now when she touched Prince Allennon, her mood was either tense or scared. So maybe when her emotions were unstable, she could actually touch things.
After a night of heavy rain, the weather had gotten colder. Liliana sighed. Time passed quickly. It might be winter soon. Maybe she would even get to see Prince Allennon's coming-of-age ceremony. She had never witnessed such a grand event before.
In the imperial study, a eunuch walked in carrying a stack of documents. "Your Majesty, these are marriage records of eligible women from all over the country."
Cassian put down the wooden token he had been holding and casually flipped through the documents on the table.
Ever since he was told he had to marry, the ministers had been quiet in court, but they had shifted their focus to the inner palace.
In the Great Zhou Dynasty, women were already scarce. If someone's daughter could marry into the royal family, they would rise to power. As long as the emperor didn't change the surname of the dynasty, their position would be secure.
So they all started offering their daughters. Some were biological, some were adopted from collateral branches of the family, and some were adopted from commoner families just for this purpose.
Cassian was fully aware of these schemes.
The girls in the documents came in all shapes and sizes — some curvy, some thin, some tall, some short. Though varied in body type, most were plain-looking.
Cassian flipped to a page with a girl dressed in blue. Her figure slightly resembled Liliana's, and her face was delicate and neat.
He gave it a glance, then remembered something he hadn't finished saying before. What exactly did Liliana look like?
She hadn't come to see him for many days. And that wooden token the state priest gave him, he had meant to give it to Liliana long ago but kept putting it off.
"Your Majesty."
Liliana floated in through the wall. Ever since becoming a ghost, she rarely used the front door. The roof, the wall, even the chimney — she always picked the most unusual way in.
She had already tried many times with Prince Allennon. She tried holding his hand, getting closer, even scaring him a little. But maybe because he was much younger than her, nothing worked. She never felt anything for him. His face turned red like a monkey's butt, as if she had done something wrong to him. She really couldn't bring herself to keep trying.
So she came to Cassian instead. About that day when Cassian said he would take her in, she had made up her mind. Even if it meant her soul would disappear, she had to take the risk. She couldn't have everything. Besides, he hadn't taken her in even after so many days. Maybe he didn't know how.
When she came through the wall, Cassian was looking at a book of drawings of women.
"Cassian, are you choosing a wife?" she floated behind him and joked.
"This girl looks nice. She's pretty and has a slim waist," she said while looking at the page.
Cassian had already sent Eunuch Kerian away without her noticing.
Not as slim as yours. Cassian suddenly remembered the feeling of her waist that day in the cave. It was soft, smooth, and smaller than a handful.
He coughed. "What are you doing here?"
He quickly closed the book, feeling caught off guard. He didn't know why he felt nervous.
"Tsk. So stingy. I just wanted a quick look," Liliana said with a smile. No wonder he was the emperor. A classic romance story male lead. So possessive. She hadn't even gotten a good look at the girl's face before he closed the book. If he married her in the future, who knew what he'd be like.
Seeing Liliana so relaxed made Cassian unhappy.
"I came because I need your help," she said.
"What is it?"
"Cassian, do you know what it means to like someone? How do you fall in love?"
Cassian looked at her floating in front of him. Her voice was innocent, but the question was bold and honest.
"You don't get it. I've been single for twenty-six years and have never felt love. It's not working. Or maybe you could make me feel afraid? That kind of deep fear might help too."
She spoke so seriously that Cassian didn't hear the rest of what she said.
All he heard was: "Cassian, like, love, fear."
Did Liliana like him? Was she afraid of not getting love?
The Qi family really did have a strong imagination.
"Why are you suddenly asking this?" He picked up a brush and tried to copy some scripture to calm down. But his fingers were shaking, showing his nervousness.
"Cassian, if I feel strong emotions, I'll be able to touch things. To put it simply, I could touch you."
"Can you help me feel strong emotions?" Liliana's voice was soft and almost begging. "Even if someone takes me away afterward, I don't mind."
Mini scene:
A normal romance drama: Boom boom boom. Thunder rumbles.
Male lead: scared
Liliana: "I'm so scared. Terrified."
Prince Allennon: "Don't be afraid, wife." (Thanks, heavens)
Cassian: Like... try... (She wants to fall in love with me)