The bells of Fallen Town rang early that morning, a rare occurrence that drew the townsfolk into the streets. The reason soon followed: a column of Imperial banners and armored riders approaching with disciplined thunder.
At their center rode none other than the Empress of Hong Chen.
Mayor Huo Jin nearly fainted as he scrambled out of the gate with trembling knees. Never in his modest tenure had the ruler of the empire herself stepped foot in his town.
"Y-Your Majesty!" he stammered, falling to his knees as the procession halted.
The Empress dismounted gracefully, her expression calm and imperial. "Rise, Mayor Huo. Today, I come not as sovereign but as witness to your loyal service. Fallen Town has flourished under your stewardship. The empire rewards diligence."
Gasps rippled through the crowd as attendants brought forward chests of gold and fine silk. The mayor's confusion only deepened. He was no great statesman, only a man who signed reports and quietly prayed his crops survived each season.
But he knew better than to question a gift from the dragon throne.
Bowing low, he accepted. "This humble servant thanks Your Majesty for her boundless grace."
The crowd cheered, though whispers spread: why Fallen Town? Why here, a forgotten border town? Why reward a simple mayor?
The Empress's lips curved faintly. Because this town is not ordinary.
---
The Return of the "Merchant's Daughter"
Later that afternoon, a familiar figure walked up the dirt path to the farm.
Once again, she wore the guise of a merchant's daughter—her royal aura suppressed beneath plain robes, her attendants disguised as simple guards.
But on the farm, there was no deception. Garfield was chopping firewood with his monstrous strength, Fei was meditating bruised and bloodied beside a collapsed wooden golem, and Blanca was sweeping the yard while humming.
All three paused, glanced at her… and then looked away as if nothing was out of the ordinary.
She froze mid-step.
They knew.
Her carefully constructed disguise was transparent here, like sunlight through glass. And still, no one spoke. They simply… accepted it.
For the first time in years, she felt awkward.
Then Blanca tilted her head, snake-like eyes gleaming with mischief. "Ohhh… mistress, welcome back. Did you miss master so much you had to sneak here again?"
The Empress's face heated instantly, red climbing her neck. "I-I…!"
Blanca covered her lips with a hand and giggled. "Don't worry, I'll keep your secret safe. I understand. A woman must be bold to chase love."
Garfield coughed into his fist, very poorly hiding his smirk. Even Fei cracked one eye open, muttering, "So this is why master smiles differently some days."
"Y-You all—!" The Empress tried to gather her composure, but her ears betrayed her, flushed scarlet.
And then, of course, Lai stepped out of the field.
---
Tea at the Table
He carried a basket of freshly harvested cabbage, set it down casually, and greeted her with that disarming smile. "Ah, the merchant's daughter returns. Care for tea?"
Something about his tone—so ordinary, so natural—made her pulse stutter. She nodded before her mind caught up.
They sat beneath the shade of a peach tree. Lai poured steaming tea into porcelain cups, his movements unhurried, unpretentious. To him, this was just another afternoon. To her… it was a battlefield.
She tried to speak of mundane things. Trade routes. Harvest yields. Court rumors. Yet every time his gaze lifted to hers, her words faltered, her heart betraying her composure.
"Your Majesty—ah, pardon. Merchant's daughter," Lai said with the faintest curve of lips, "how fares the capital?"
She nearly choked. He knew. He had always known. Yet he toyed with the charade, letting her pretend, giving her the dignity to wear her mask.
"It… fares well," she managed. "Though pests trouble the farmers."
He raised a brow. "Pests, hm? Troublesome things. Easy to crush if you know where to step."
Their eyes locked over the rim of their cups. The words were simple, yet she felt the weight behind them—a reminder that for him, pests could mean locusts, or armies, or entire sects.
Her chest tightened strangely. Fear. Admiration. And something more dangerous she dared not name.
---
Blanca's Mischief
Blanca peeked from the doorway, whispering loud enough for all to hear, "Master and mistress are having a tea date~"
The Empress nearly dropped her cup.
Lai only chuckled softly. "She has a lively imagination."
But when their fingers brushed as he refilled her tea, her heart leapt. And for a fleeting instant, she wondered—perhaps it wasn't imagination at all.
---
Reluctant Departure
As dusk painted the sky, duty called her back. She rose reluctantly, smoothing her robes, forcing her imperial composure to return.
"I… thank you for the tea," she said formally, though her voice betrayed softness.
Lai gave a casual wave. "Come again. The farm is always open."
It was such a simple farewell. Yet as she walked away, her chest felt unbearably heavy.
---
Cliffhanger — A Snow White Beauty
At the town gates, her carriage waited. She mounted, but as the procession prepared to leave, her eyes caught movement.
A lone figure entered Fallen Town from the northern road.
A girl—no, a beauty like fallen snow. Skin pale as frost, hair cascading like silk, eyes colder than glaciers. With each step, frost crackled beneath her feet, though the day was warm.
The Empress's breath hitched. For reasons she could not explain, her heart pinched.
Who is she?
The carriage rolled forward, but the image burned in her mind. A snow-white beauty, walking into Fallen Town… and toward him.