Boundless Cultivation - Chapter 40 - Forming Plans

[COMPLETE] Can a royal Romeo and Juliet find their happy ending?

Ayleth, Princess of Zenithra, is secretly trained in hand-to-hand combat, and collects swear words she doesn't know how to use. During the Festival of Peace, in which every royal son on the continent will be at the castle for a month, she is instructed by her parents to find a husband. Yet, Ayleth has never even been kissed—until the very first ball, when she meets the man in the Lion mask.

Etan is a seasoned warrior, and the Prince of Summitras. He attends the Festival hoping to find a powerful wife who will help him conquer the dark sorcery of their bloodsworn enemies, the Kingdom of Zenithra. But at the very first ball, he discovers the masked woman who captures his heart is the Heir to the evil empire.

Ayleth and Etan face an impossible battle. Will their love survive? Or will their parents' dark dealings keep them apart forever?

[Mature content. No sexual violence.]

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“You…” She stepped back. Then back again, her mouth dropped open. “You… You cannot be…”

“I am,” Etan said, and his hair raked back as he pushed his mask off his handsome face. So handsome her heart raced.

His hair was ebony black, his skin a warm brown that threatened to fade in in the winter months. He stared at her with glittering green eyes, over high cheekbones and a noble nose, his jaw tight and shadowed this late in the day. His chin was high over the pillar of his neck that she’d just touched with its hard lines and steel strength, so different to her own. And his chest... She gasped and covered her eyes. She’d humiliated herself revealing her stupid, childish curiosity.

“No, Ayleth. This changes nothing.”

“How can you say that? It changes everything!” She was horrified to realize she was crying.

“Ayleth, please.” His voice cracked on the plea and she stared at him, shoving her mask up and off, despite how it would pull her hair out of the beautiful twist the maid had managed for her.

His eyes locked on hers and she couldn’t think. She couldn’t breathe.

She had met her One. And he was the son of her bloodsworn enemy.

She stared at him as he stepped forward again, offering both hands, palm up. “Touch me,” he whispered. “Hold my hands. This is real, Ayleth. I don’t know how it happened, but this is real. Please don’t deny it.”

She couldn’t resist. She raised a trembling hand to his cheek, letting her palm catch on the scruff of his jaw. He blew out a breath and put his hand over hers, and that jolt that happened whenever they touched shivered through her again.

“Please, Ayleth.”

“I cannot deny it,” she whispered.

King Grey has unrivaled strength, wealth, and prestige in a world governed by martial ability. However, solitude lingers closely behind those with great power. Beneath the glamorous exterior of a powerful king lurks the shell of man, devoid of purpose and will. 

Reincarnated into a new world filled with magic and monsters, the king has a second chance to relive his life. Correcting the mistakes of his past will not be his only challenge, however. Underneath the peace and prosperity of the new world is an undercurrent threatening to destroy everything he has worked for, questioning his role and reason for being born again. 

I made a game.

“Hurry up and take them off!” she demanded with her eyes tightly closed.

His eyebrows lifted up. “No! Only my wife can see me naked!” he replied firmly.

Opening her eyes, she complained, “But you said I could look for the marks?”

She saw a playful smile on his face and she could tell that something cunning was brewing in the man’s mind.

She growled, traces of impatience evident on her beautiful face.

She had been trying to coax him, to seduce him to get her wish, but somehow it all ended up with her naked and him enjoying the view.

“Fine! I will be your wife! Happy? Now just strip out your clothes!”

Her words made his full lips curve into a cunning but alluring smile. He immediately reached into his drawer and grabbed the marriage contract he had prepared in advance and said, “I need to be sure before I let you take advantage of my body. So, if you will just sign here, now!”

Her jaw dropped hearing his conceited words. 'That sly wolf.'

She looked at the paper and her eyes widened. It was really a marriage contract.

“You’ve got to be kidding me?” she unconsciously uttered.

“Well, I told you. I’ve never been more serious in my life. I have been waiting for you to accept my marriage proposal but you are always insisting on seeing me naked. I’m a bit conservative in this matter, you see. I think I already told you numerous times that I will only allow my future wife to see my nude body.”

She picked up the pen and scribbled her name and signature on the contract and then handed it to him.

“What are you waiting for now? Just strip, will you?”

Hearing her command, he smiled viciously, and stepping closer to her he whispered, “Huh! Why don't you do the honors and satisfy yourself? This body and my whole existence are now all yours!”

“.....”

Brione Yu had everything one could ever want. She had always been an over-achiever who was good at everything she did. She was famous in the entertainment industry as a phenomenal model and actress.

She had everything which included a special person on whom she could rely for anything. Her best friend… her first love… Gavin Wu.

But she had lost him before she could confess her true feelings to him, that she was ready to take a chance and turn their friendship into love.

While she was missing him and longing for him, she had an unexpected encounter with a recluse Prince. He was the heir to the throne, in a foreign country. He was a cold and ruthless man who was feared by many. There were rumors that he was cursed and so he rarely came out of his palace which was situated on a secluded island.

But Brione could not explain her attraction for this Prince? Why did he remind her of Gavin every time she set her eyes on him?

The Prince resembled Gavin substantially but their characters were contradictory.

Was fate playing some kind of cruel game with her? Or was she being played by the Prince?