When the news spread, it sent shockwaves through the entire Light Clan and the whole Azure Cloud City.
No one had expected it to happen so fast. Least of all Seraphine.
The young lady of the clan sat frozen in her room when she first overheard the whispers.
Her mother, the Fire Empress Valentina, was to be wed again.
And the man she would marry was none other than Dorian—the mysterious cultivator who had appeared out of nowhere just a month ago, whose every visit to the Light Clan drew the attention of disciples and elders alike.
Seraphine could still recall the first time she had seen him.
His presence was calm yet suffocating, like standing before a mountain shrouded in clouds.
His gaze, sharp but unreadable, seemed to pierce through everyone.
She remembered how her mother's expression softened slightly whenever he was around, how her tone, usually cold and commanding, became almost gentle.
And now, he was to become her stepfather.
Her mind refused to accept it.
Seraphine rose from her bed and went to the window.
The night outside was still and dim, the moon hanging pale over the distant roofs of Azure Cloud City.
Her reflection in the glass looked troubled—eyes faintly red, lips pressed tight.
She thought of her father, the man she had never truly known.
She had grown up hearing only stories of him: his bravery, his laughter, his sacrifice.
He had given his life for her on the day she was born, defending both mother and child from the enemies who sought their destruction.
And now, to think that someone else would take his place in her mother's heart—it felt like betrayal, even though a part of her whispered that it wasn't.
Her heart was in conflict.
She wanted to be happy for her mother. Valentina had carried pain and solitude for years.
Seraphine had seen her in the late nights sitting alone by the lotus pond, her eyes distant and lonely, her fiery aura dimmed by grief.
Maybe she deserved a second chance. Maybe Dorian truly cared for her.
But something about him… something in the way he looked at her mother, in the quiet confidence he carried, made Seraphine uneasy.
She could not explain it, yet she knew she needed to understand him—to see with her own eyes what kind of man he truly was.
By the time the first light of dawn touched the city, her decision was made.
"Come, Helen," Seraphine said softly, breaking the stillness of her chamber.
Her voice trembled slightly, though she masked it quickly. "We're visiting someone."
Her maid, half-asleep and still in her night robes, blinked in confusion.
"Now, young miss? It's only four in the morning. The sun hasn't even risen yet."
Seraphine was already moving, tying her cloak and adjusting the small silver clasp at her collar.
"I don't wish to wait any longer."
Helen sighed but nodded. She had served Seraphine since childhood and knew well the stubborn streak that hid behind her gentle appearance.
"As you wish, young miss. Do you want to take the flying boat instead? It would be faster."
"No," Seraphine said after a pause.
"The carriage will do. We're only going somewhere in the city. Besides…" she glanced toward the dark horizon, "I need the time to think."
"As you wish," Helen murmured again and hurried out.
By the time the carriage rolled out of the Light Clan's gates, the world was still cloaked in mist.
The cobblestone streets glistened faintly with dew, and only the faint clatter of hooves broke the morning silence.
Azure Cloud City slept peacefully, unaware that the daughter of the Fire Empress was already moving through its quiet streets, her mind heavy with turmoil.
Inside the carriage, Seraphine sat in silence, her fingers intertwined on her lap.
She watched as the lights of the clan disappeared behind her and the faint outlines of the city emerged ahead.
Her thoughts circled endlessly.
Why him? she wondered. What does Mother see in Dorian?
The carriage wheels turned, carrying her closer to the mansion where Dorian was said to be staying.
Seraphine closed her eyes and exhaled softly. "Father," she whispered under her breath, "forgive me… but I have to see the man who's taking your place."
The wind outside howled faintly as if in answer.
The journey continued in silence, but within her heart, a storm had already begun to brew.
Seraphine's carriage rolled to a stop before a vast courtyard tucked away in one of Azure Cloud City's quieter districts.
The morning mist still lingered over the stone pathway, giving the residence a mysterious, almost ethereal air.
The sound of the horses' hooves faded as Helen hopped down and opened the door for her young mistress.
Seraphine stepped out gracefully, her white cloak fluttering lightly in the cool dawn breeze.
The massive gates ahead creaked open as though acknowledging her presence, revealing a serene courtyard with manicured gardens, a koi pond, and a pavilion that spoke of refined taste and quiet power.
Her eyes soon found him.
Dorian stood by the pond, his black robes fluttering faintly against the wind.
It seemed that he knew they were coming.
His posture was effortless, yet every movement carried authority.
His face—sharp, handsome, and calm—was almost unreal in its perfection.
Even the faint light of dawn seemed drawn to him, outlining his features in a soft glow.
Helen, standing slightly behind Seraphine, couldn't help but blush.
Seraphine herself felt her heart skip a beat.
She quickly shook her head, forcing clarity back into her mind.
No… I can't let his looks distract me. I'm here for answers.
"Good morning, ladies. It's a surprise to see you this early in the day. Please, come inside."
Dorian's voice broke the silence. Deep, resonant, and smooth as flowing water—it carried a power of its own.
The sound alone sent a faint shiver down Seraphine's spine.
Helen, beside her, swallowed hard, her hands clasped tightly together.
There was something about him—an invisible pull that made even the air around him feel heavier.
"Th-thank you, Senior," Seraphine managed after a long pause, realizing belatedly that she had been staring.
She composed herself and followed as Dorian led them into the main hall of the residence.
The interior was simple yet elegant—jade vases, ancient paintings, and a low table set with a tea service that filled the air with the aroma of mountain herbs.
Dorian motioned for Seraphine to sit, while Helen respectfully stood a few steps behind her mistress.
Without a word, Dorian poured tea into a small porcelain cup and gently slid it across to Seraphine.
The faint curl of steam rose between them, and for a brief moment, their eyes met.
Seraphine felt an inexplicable pressure in her chest, as though the very act of being seen by him stripped her bare.
"I'm listening, Seraphine," Dorian said at last, his tone even but curious.
"I assume you have something important to discuss, given that you came here at such an hour—and in such a… clandestine manner."
His gaze was calm, yet it carried an undercurrent of power, like still waters concealing a deep current beneath.
Seraphine swallowed hard and nodded.
"Yes, Senior. You're right. I wouldn't have come here if it weren't important." She drew in a breath to steady herself. "Forgive me for being so direct, but this is something I need to know."
Dorian raised an eyebrow slightly, intrigued. "Go on."
Seraphine hesitated only for a heartbeat before speaking the question that had been haunting her since the day she heard the news.
"Do you… really love my mother?"
The silence that followed was heavy.
The faint rustle of leaves outside filled the room, and even Helen seemed to hold her breath.
Dorian leaned back slightly, his expression unreadable. Then, a faint smile curved his lips.
"Love is a strong word," he said slowly. "I desire your mother, Valentina, because of her great beauty and the strength of her character. She is a woman unlike any other. As for love…" he paused, his eyes narrowing ever so slightly, "I believe it will come in its perfect time."
His words hung in the air, calm yet unsettling, neither entirely cruel nor tender.
Seraphine lowered her gaze, her hands tightening around her cup.
There was something in his answer—something that made her heart grow colder instead of calmer.
Seraphine refused to let his words be the end of it.
Her brows furrowed slightly as she leaned forward, determination flickering in her eyes.
"But shouldn't love be the reason for marriage?" she pressed, her voice trembling only slightly.
"The only real reason for it? Without love, what meaning does marriage even have?"
Dorian looked at her with a faint amusement, though there was a glint of something darker—perhaps pity, perhaps condescension—hiding behind his calm smile.
"Ahhh… your precious innocence is showing, Seraphine," he said softly, his voice as smooth as silk yet cutting in its honesty.
"If you hadn't been so talented in the Dao of the Sword, your fate would have been no different from countless other women born into power. Beauty in the hands of the weak is a curse, not a blessing."
He stood up and walked slowly toward the window, his hands clasped behind his back.
The lantern lights outlined his tall frame, giving him the air of someone who had seen far more of the world than she ever could.
"You see," he continued, "in this world ruled by strength, love is a luxury only a lucky few can afford. Most people marry for alliance, for bloodline, for survival. Love,"—he turned slightly, meeting her gaze again—"is a fleeting dream, one that rarely survives the cruelty of reality."
Seraphine sat silently, her lips parting slightly as his words sank in.
She had always known that the world was harsh—that strength determined one's worth—but hearing it spoken so plainly, with such certainty, felt like a blade through her heart.
"…So that's how you see it," she murmured, her tone heavy.
Dorian smiled faintly. "Hmmmm…"
There was nothing more she could say.
The idealism she had clung to since childhood felt fragile now, almost naïve in the face of his calm certainty.
"Thank you for your time, senior." Seraphine finally rose to leave, Helen quickly followed, offering a polite bow toward Dorian.
He inclined his head slightly in return, his expression unreadable.
As they stepped outside, the fog of confusion only thickened in Seraphine's heart.
Is love truly a luxury? she wondered as the carriage carried her away. Or is it something only people like him choose to abandon?
She glanced back one last time.
Through the open gate, she could still see Dorian's silhouette standing by the window—composed, distant, and utterly unshaken.
In the end, Seraphine left with more questions than answers.
But time, indifferent as ever, moved on.
A month later, the wedding between Dorian and Valentina was held with grand ceremony.
The Light Clan was adorned with lanterns that glowed like falling stars, and guests from all over Azure Cloud City came to witness the union between the Fire Empress and the mysterious cultivator who had conquered her heart.
Seraphine stood quietly among the crowd, watching her mother walk down the aisle in crimson robes that shimmered like living flame.
Her heart ached with conflicting emotions—grief, confusion, and a faint, reluctant acceptance.
And when the night deepened and the celebration faded, the newlyweds retired to the private chambers prepared for them—a room meant for absolute intimacy, where two powers, both fierce and unyielding, would finally share the same space as husband and wife.
"Come, wife. It's time to go to bed." Dorian summoned.