For the past few days, Su Yaoyao had been steeped in sorrow over her separation from her Beast Husbands. It was like she was trapped under a gloomy haze, unable to escape.

Time slipped by quietly as she languished in her sadness. Before she knew it, night fell, blanketing the Imperial Palace like a vast swath of black satin.

Alone, Su Yaoyao stared at the empty room. A feeling of wretchedness washed over her heart in waves.

Not long ago, this room was filled with loving traces of her time with Bai Lian, Reg, and Pani. Now, only endless silence and loneliness remained.

Although her Beast Husbands messaged her every day to ease her longing, Su Yaoyao still missed them terribly. The nights were especially lonely, and being by herself was excruciating. Waves of sadness would overwhelm her.

Just as she was wallowing in melancholy, a notification from the Star Network suddenly chimed, shattering the oppressive silence.

Su Yaoyao instinctively opened the Star Network. It was a private message from Lucia, with a location attached. "My book signing is tomorrow. Don’t forget to come, Yaoyao."

Seeing the message, Su Yaoyao was startled. She had completely forgotten that the book signing where she was supposed to meet Lucia was tomorrow.

Su Yaoyao sighed softly and rose to her feet. She walked over to her wardrobe, intending to pick a suitable outfit for the next day’s event.

However, when she opened the wardrobe, her gaze was immediately drawn to the neatly folded royal jacket Augustine had lent her.

She inwardly cursed herself. ’I can’t believe I completely forgot to return his jacket.’

After a moment’s thought, she decided it would be best to return the jacket to His Majesty as soon as possible.

Su Yaoyao gently picked up the jacket and inspected it carefully. After confirming there were no wrinkles or stains, she left her chambers and headed for Augustine’s.

The Imperial Palace was vast, but perhaps by some subtle design, their chambers weren’t too far apart.

Along the way, the dim yellow palace lanterns cast a soft glow, stretching her shadow long and making it sway on the ground, as if sighing along with her own complicated feelings.

Before long, Su Yaoyao arrived at the entrance to Augustine’s chambers.

When the guards at the door saw her, a look of stunned admiration flashed in their eyes. They bowed respectfully, surprised by the Holy Female’s personal visit.

Su Yaoyao gave a slight nod, clutching the folded jacket. "I’m here to return something to His Majesty," she said softly. "Could you please announce me?"

The guard paused for a second, then smiled. "Holy Female, please, go right in. His Majesty has given orders that you are not to be announced and may enter directly at any time."

Su Yaoyao’s heart skipped a beat at his words, and she felt a flicker of surprise.

After a moment’s hesitation, she stepped gently into Augustine’s chambers.

It was her first time setting foot in here. Everywhere she looked, the decor was the height of luxury.

Most of the decorations were crafted from gold, and the walls were inlaid with brilliant jewels that glittered with multicolored light, making her feel as if she had stepped into a treasure vault.

Su Yaoyao mused to herself, ’The legends say Black Dragons love to hoard jewels and gold. Seeing this today, it seems those rumors are true.’

With a nervous heart, Su Yaoyao walked slowly deeper into the chambers.

A faint scent unique to Augustine filled the air—a mix of agarwood and sunlight. It made her recall her time with him in the hot spring, and a faint blush crept onto her cheeks.

"Your Majesty?" Su Yaoyao called out softly. Her voice echoed gently in the spacious, luxurious room, but she received no reply.

She frowned slightly, puzzled. ’Is His Majesty not here?’

She continued further in, passing through a beaded curtain into a more private space.

A massive bed adorned with gold and jewels came into view. The bedding was made of the finest silk, which shimmered with a soft luster in the light.

Just as Su Yaoyao was about to turn and leave, intending to come back later, she heard the faint sound of splashing water from behind a nearby door.

She started, realizing that the door probably led to a bathroom, and that Augustine might be inside. 𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺

Su Yaoyao’s face instantly grew hot. She desperately wanted to flee, but felt it would be rude to just leave like that. After all, she was here to return his jacket.

Just as she was caught in her dilemma, the bathroom door creaked open.

Augustine stepped out of the bathroom with only a bath towel wrapped around his waist. Water droplets trickled down his powerful chest, dampening the carpet at his feet.

His long, silver hair was still damp, draped casually over his shoulders. The moment his wine-red eyes landed on Su Yaoyao, they flashed with surprise, which was quickly replaced by a barely perceptible glimmer of joy.

"Yaoyao? What are you doing here?" Augustine’s voice was deep and magnetic, tinged with a post-bath languor.

Su Yaoyao’s flustered gaze swept over Augustine’s body before she quickly averted her eyes. "Y-Your Majesty," she stammered, "I-I came to return your jacket." As she spoke, she held up the folded jacket, looking like a child who had been caught misbehaving.

Augustine blinked, then his lips curved into a charming smile. "It’s so late, and you came all this way just to return my jacket. Thank you." His gaze lingered on her, making her feel increasingly flustered.

Su Yaoyao kept her head down, not daring to meet his eyes. "I-It was no trouble. It didn’t feel right for me to keep it, so I wanted to return it as soon as possible." She was so embarrassed she wished the ground would swallow her whole.

Augustine slowly walked toward her, and with every step, it felt as if he were treading on her very heart.

He stopped in front of her and reached out to take the jacket. His fingers brushed against hers, and the sudden contact sent a jolt through Su Yaoyao, making her tremble slightly.

As if suddenly remembering something, Su Yaoyao mustered her courage and asked, "Your Majesty, what about the clothes I wore when I bathed in the hot spring?"

A flicker of barely concealed panic crossed Augustine’s eyes. He had, in a moment of passion, completely ruined that outfit. There was no way he could give it back to her.

He cleared his throat twice, trying to cover his unease. "Ahem, I believe the servants may have accidentally thrown it out. However, I have prepared a gift for you." With that, he walked to a nearby wardrobe, opened its doors, and took out a breathtakingly magnificent gown.

The gown was encrusted with countless dazzling jewels. They sparkled under the light with a dreamlike radiance, as if the entire night sky had been woven into the fabric.

Su Yaoyao’s gaze was instantly captivated, her eyes wide with astonishment. "This is too precious," she breathed.