The Princess And The Lord-Chapter 1419: The Long-Awaited Moment

As the discussion came to a close, everyone quietly dispersed, returning to their respective duties to prepare for the arduous tasks and missions that lay ahead. Even Leon had to depart immediately for Sciron, where a mountain of responsibilities awaited him after his extended absence of several weeks.

Meanwhile, within the solemn confines of the Privy Chamber, Zhao Li Xin gently held Lory’s hand. His voice calm but firm, he turned to the Archknights and requested them to remain behind.

In a calm yet resolute tone, Zhao Li Xin said, "May I ask all of you to remain for a moment? There is something important I need to share with you."

Everyone turned their eyes toward Zhao Li Xin, curiosity flickering in their gazes as they wondered what important matter he wished to share. Without a word, they quietly returned to their seats, a sense of anticipation settling over the room like a gentle fog.

"What is it?" Lory asked, her voice soft but laced with curiosity.

A faint smile curled on Zhao Li Xin’s lips as he gazed deeply into her violet eyes.

There was an emotion in his expression that was rarely shown; it was an enthusiastic mix with excitement."I’ve reached Sovereign level," he said calmly. "This is the right time... I can finally save your brother."

Lory’s lips trembled, her eyes widening with disbelief and barely contained excitement. "Re... really? You mean, right now?"

Fredhardt, Fargo, and the others stood frozen in shock, their mouths slightly agape. The silence was brief but deafening. Then, as realization set in, a wave of joy and hope rippled through them. Their eyes lit up, and their expressions brightened like a sunrise breaking through storm clouds.

Fargo stepped forward quickly, almost stumbling in his eagerness. "You can save Luc now? REALLY!"

Zhao Li Xin nodded with unwavering confidence. "Yes. At this level, I have enough power to burn the parasite within the King’s body."

Jay let out an incredulous laugh, his joy overflowing. He gave Clift a playful punch on the arm. "Great —This is great!"

Even Clift, usually composed and impassive, couldn’t contain himself. A genuine smile broke across his face, his eyes trembling with emotion.

Fredhardt’s cool and composed façade crumbled instantly, replaced by a flash of unrestrained joy—but only for a moment. Almost immediately, he reined in his excitement, returning to his usual rational demeanor. As someone who had always prioritized logic over emotion, he swiftly shifted into preparation mode.

"That’s good news," he said, his tone steady once more. "What do you need? Should we prepare a special room, arrange medical support, or what do you need?" Fred tried to be calm, but his voice slightly trembled with impatient.

Zhao Li Xin turned his gaze toward him. "Have you repaired the cryo room?"

Everyone paused, taken aback by the specific question.

Fredhardt was the first to recover. "Yes, it’s fully functional. In fact, we’ve reinforced and expanded it. It’s stronger and more secure than before."

Zhao Li Xin nodded in approval. "That’s good."

Then he turned to Lory, his expression turning serious. "I’m going to need your help."

Lory straightened instinctively, her back rigid with determination. "Of course. What do you need me to do?"

His voice grew heavy with gravity. "To destroy the parasite, I have to burn it from the inside. That means your brother’s body will suffer severe internal injuries. The moment I extract the parasite, you must use all of your power to heal him immediately. If you hesitate, even for a second, he may not survive the damage."

A heavy silence settled over the room. The excitement vanished, replaced by dread and tension.

Lory’s shoulders trembled slightly. Fear crept into her heart, her fingers clenching into fists so tightly her knuckles turned white. Zhao Li Xin reached out and gently wrapped his palm over her clenched hand, grounding her.

"Don’t be afraid," he said softly. "We won’t fail... we never have, not when we’re together. This time will be no different."

Lory took a shaky breath. The storm of emotion in her eyes slowly calmed as his words sank in. She gave a small nod, her voice steadier now.

"You’re right... We’ve never failed when we fight side by side."

"You’re Lory’s husband?" Stephan suddenly cut through the tense atmosphere like a blade through paper.

He eyed Zhao Li Xin up and down with a scrutinizing gaze, the way a father might assess a potential son-in-law. His expression was unreadable—somewhere between suspicion and curiosity.

Fredhardt rolled his eyes but didn’t say a word. Fargo and the others simply grinned and shrugged, silently refusing to get involved in whatever was about to unfold.

Lory suddenly realized with a jolt that she hadn’t introduced Zhao Li Xin to Stephan yet.

"Uncle Stevie, this is my husband—Zhao Li Xin," she said quickly, then turned to Zhao Li Xin with a bright grin. "Li Xin, this is Uncle Stevie—the one I always told you about."

Zhao Li Xin gave a small nod. "Your father’s Archknight?" he asked, seeking confirmation.

Stephan stepped forward, extending his hand for a handshake, his tone suddenly formal and heavy with authority.

"My name is Stephan Knoxville. King Marcus’s Archknight and, more importantly, guardian to both Lory and Lucas."

There was an unmistakable weight in his voice—part declaration, part warning.

Zhao Li Xin caught the protective undertone immediately, recognizing the subtle threat in Stephan’s words. But instead of feeling offended, he felt a surprising warmth. It was comforting to know there was still a father figure in Lory’s life who cared for her deeply. At the same time, he found Stephan’s attempt at intimidation somewhat amusing.

So this is what it feels like to meet a father-in-law.

"I’m Zhao Li Xin," he said, clasping Stephan’s hand firmly. "I’m glad to finally meet you, Mr. Knoxville."

Stephan raised an eyebrow, his gaze still sharp and probing. "Before you met Lory... have you ever been in a serious relationship?"

Zhao Li Xin answered without hesitation, "No."

Stephan blinked, clearly skeptical. A man with looks like that, charismatic, smart, and there’s a mysterious air around him that could make any woman drawn to him. Therefore, Stephan had trouble believing it. "Really? What about girlfriends?"

"Never," Zhao Li Xin replied, again without missing a beat.

"Never?" Stephan narrowed his eyes. "What’s wrong with you?"

If Bei Li Yan heard this, he would say, ’Ah, where do I begin?’

However, Zhao Li Xin didn’t flinch. His expression was unwavering as he calmly answered, "I don’t know, mostly because I thought no one was worthy of my time."

Stephan tilted his head, almost amused now. "Oh? And what about Lory then? Is she worthy of your time?" He asked the question, half-expecting a dramatic or cringeworthy answer, just for the fun of watching the reaction.

But Zhao Li Xin’s response came with a tone that left no room for jest. "Absolutedly," he said firmly, his voice resonating with conviction. "She is worth dying for."

The room went quiet, everyone’s face turned serious, only Lory, who got her face turned red as a ripe tomato.

Stephan paused, stunned by the seriousness in Zhao Li Xin’s eyes. There was no hesitation, no embellishment, just raw, unshakable truth. That wasn’t just some romantic line. Zhao Li Xin meant every word.

In that moment, Stephan saw through him. This was the kind of man who, once he gave his heart, gave everything, his loyalty, his strength, his trust, even his life if needed.

Dangerous, yes... obsessive even. For most women, a man like this could be overwhelming, to the point of terrifying.

But for Lory? No, Stephan thought. This was exactly the kind of man she needed—not someone who would stand beside her only in times of peace, but someone who would stand before her when chaos and despair came crashing down. And for a descendant of Lucient, such storms came often.

Lory needed a man who trusted her completely—unwavering and resolute, someone who would remain steadfast in the face of uncertainty, turmoil, and loss.

Stephan glanced at their handshake. "Nice grip," he remarked dryly.

"You too, sir," Zhao Li Xin replied with a faint smile.

"Uh-huh," Stephan muttered, not releasing his grip. He tightened it slightly, watching to see how Zhao Li Xin would react.

Zhao Li Xin remained perfectly calm, his expression as unreadable as ever. The handshake turned into a silent test of wills. Neither man showed any intention of letting go.

Lory frowned, puzzled by the awkward tension. Fargo chuckled quietly and shook his head, clearly enjoying the show. Jay smirked, waiting for the next move, while Clift blinked, wondering what was going on with this unnecessarily prolonged handshake.

It was Fredhardt who finally broke the standoff. "Are we heading to the cryo room now, or do you two plan to walk there hand-in-hand?"

Zhao Li Xin, who was still unfamiliar with such social nuances in this world, glanced at Stephan in all seriousness. "Should we?"

Zhao Li Xin thought that, though he did not like it, he would endure it for his beloved wife.

Stephan immediately let go of his hand and stepped back. "No!"

He rubbed his hands together the slipped his hands in his pocket, "Let’s go, it’s time to wake the Sleeping Beauty." he walked toward the door.

Everyone exchanged a small smile before quietly following Stephan. Lory gently wrapped her hands around Zhao Li Xin’s arm, subtly checking to see if he was bothered by Stephan’s behavior. But Zhao Li Xin responded with a reassuring smile, clearly indicating that Stephan’s actions didn’t trouble him in the slightest.

Lory exhaled a soft sigh of relief. Zhao Li Xin had never been a particularly social person, and she had worried he might feel uncomfortable with Stephan’s straightforward attitude. Thankfully, that wasn’t the case. Her Lord had changed—more than she ever expected.

"Let’s go," Lory said brightly, swinging his arm playfully.

"En?" Zhao Li Xin replied briefly, yet his eyes gazed at her with unmistakable affection.

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