A woman was seen walking along the garden path leading to a building. She wore a pale blue and silver Celestial dress. Her hair was styled in an elegant Celestial fashion, accessorized with silver and pale blue hair pins.
Silver charm bracelets adorned her right wrist, while a differently designed silver bracelet circled her left. These bracelets were her favorite. She had never once been seen without them. The one on the left was given by her older brother, Shu Yuan. And the one on the right was given by Xuan Tian as an engagement gift.
She walked gracefully, neither fast nor slow. Her pace was just right. Everything about her was just right—perfect. Not a hair out of place. Her makeup matched perfectly with her icy blue eyes, enhancing her flawless, smooth, jade-like face.
The flowers in the garden were in full bloom, similar to roses in the Human Realm. Their fragrance was light and fresh. These flowers were called Frost Roses. Her parents planted these right after Shu Yuan was born.
Shu Yue arrived at Shu Yuan's door and opened the door without knocking. She was the only one who could do that without fearing the wrath of Young Lord Shu, the Head of the Noble House of Shu.
"Ge." She called.
Shu Yuan was sitting on his chair behind his table, reading reports, when Shu Yue entered. He lifted his head, looking at her, and smiled. Then his eyes fell on the charm bracelets on her right wrist. His heart ached.
She's not mine. She can never be mine. Get hold of yourself, Shu Yuan!
"Ge." Shu Yue repeated when she saw Shu Yuan didn't respond.
Shu Yuan blinked, and his smile broadened. "I heard you the first time."
Shu Yue smiled lightly. "You looked distracted. Are you okay?"
She walked to the marble round table in the middle of the room.
Xiao Hua, her personal maid, followed her in. She was carrying a tray of food.
Shu Yue placed the food onto the table and turned to Shu Yuan, who kept his eyes on Shu Yue.
"Let's eat."
Shu Yuan put down the reports he was reading, walked over, and sat.
Xiao Hua moved to serve Shu Yuan.
"Thank you," said Shu Yuan she put the chopsticks down.
Xiao Hua's ears turned red and she took a step back, standing by.
The two siblings began to eat.
"Hmm, this is delicious! It tastes different than the usual. You changed the cook?"
"Yes, I did. I made these."
Shu Yuan stopped eating and looked at her. "You made these?"
Shu Yue nodded. "I did."
Shu Yuan put down his bowl and chopsticks, and reached for Shu Yue's delicate hands.
"You okay? You didn't burn your hand? Why did you cook? We have a very skillfull cook. Let him cook. Don't do it again." Shu Yuan fired his concerns.
Shu Yue took her hand back. "I'm perfectly fine, Ge. The cook supervised me. He made sure I wasn't injured. Besides, I practice ice magic. Regular fire can't hurt me, let alone a small fire from the stove."
Shu Yuan wasn't convinced. "Why did you suddenly cook? You never like going near fire. Any fire."
Shu Yue smiled bashfully, not answering.
Xiao Hua answered for her. "My Lady learned to cook for the General."
Shu Yuan stopped eating for the second time. "Really?"
Shu Yue's cheeks were getting redder. It was a stark contrast to her otherwise very light skin tone, but she didn't deny it.
Shu Yuan's heart sank. The food in his mouth no longer tasted as delicious.
"You… for the General… you would go near fire… for him?"
Shu Yue looked down and answered with a small voice, "It's only natural. I will be his wife."
Now her cheeks were getting red.
Shu Yuan noticed all these and his heart was set ablaze, but he didn't show it.
"Even if you're his wife, you don't need to cook. He's the General. He has to have a cook."
Shu Yue looked at Shu Yuan. "Ge, that's the thing. He doesn't. I asked Commander Fang. He said the General doesn't have a cook."
Shu Yuan looked at Shu Yue, displeased. "His cultivation is among the highest. He doesn't need to eat. You're wasting your time!"
Xiao Hua was startled and took a step back.
Shu Yue was unperturbed. "But I'd like to cook for him."
"You!"
Shu Yuan stopped himself. He tried to calm down. He put down both his bowl and chopsticks.
He took a big breath and tried again.
"Shu Yue, you do realize that your marriage is a political one? This is Tianjun's way to balance the power in his Court? It is not a real marriage."
Shu Yue put her chopsticks down. "Ge, I am fully aware of that. You don't need to remind me again. I know."
"Then why…?" He couldn't understand her reasoning.
Shu Yue looked straight at her brother's eyes. "Because I love him."
Shu Yuan's eyes widened with shock. His mouth gaped open.
"Love?! LOVE?"
Shu Yuan exploded. "What do you know about love?! He does not love you! Xuan Tian is a cold, cruel, rigid man who is not capable of feeling love! He killed for a living, Shu Yue! Do you know how many people he had killed? Not only that, he slaughtered them! Open your eyes! You're supposed to be smart!"
Shu Yue pursed her lips together. "He may not love me now, but he will. And he may have killed thousands. Slaughtered them like you said. But those are demons. He killed them to protect Celestial. Us! And he most definitely is not a cold, cruel, and rigid man like you accuse him to!"
Shu Yuan stood up so fast, his chair fell to the floor loudly.
"You also know that he doesn't love you! What makes you think that he will? He is the Great General of Celestial Realm! The most powerful Celestial after Tian Xu! He is Tian Xu's dog! Have you forgotten our vengeance?!"
Shu Yue also stood up, facing Shu Yuan, unafraid.
"No, I have not. How could I if you keep reminding me every time I'm talking to you? Xuan Tian may be the most powerful Celestial after Tian Xu, but that doesn't mean he is also heartless like him. I have seen Xuan Tian's gentle heart."
She turned to leave, but stop and turned again.
"It is you who have forgotten something, Ge. Xuan Tian saved me. Five years ago, he came to save me even though he was injured. If it wasn't for him, I would've died in Yongxi Chasm."
She turned away abruptly and left the room without saying anything else.
"Shu…" Shu Yuan couldn't finished it, his arm extended toward Shu Yue.
Shu Yue had already left with Xiao Hua trailing behind her.
Shu Yuan put down his arm.
"Yue'Er. You can't." He whispered.
"You can't love him. He'd killed…"
Shu Yuan's voice trailed off. He pinched the bridge of his nose and crunched his eyebrows together.