Three days had passed since Jalen's reckoning with the other states. He could have returned to Alina in less than an hour if he were alone, but for Princess Rena's safety he restrained his speed. Using flash reverse only in short bursts, he cut the distance carefully, allowing her rest and sleep like any mortal. Thirty million square kilometers became a journey of three days.
Jalen strode into the throne hall. Next to him were Prince Rayan and Princess Rena Yale.
"Go greet your new master," he shoved Rayan forward.
Rayan stumbled, fell to his knees, and pressed his forehead to the polished floor in the direction of where Ameer was seated on his throne, looking down, surrounded by three of his six royal guards: Will, Raye, and Tobias. Also that half-stepped transcendent from Tulsa who goes by the name Frost was present.
"This humble servant greets Lord Emperor." Rayan's voice shook.
Ameer was a bit stunned, but he didn't let it show. He remembered the arrogance of this prince the first time they met. Now the same man bowed like a stable boy.
"Why surprised?" Jalen asked, his tone sharp. "Arrogant nobles belong on their knees, tasting the dust they once scorned. If you so wish, you can make him a eunuch for however long he lives and have him serve in your royal internal court."
The words made Rayan stiffen. His shoulders trembled, his breath caught, but he did not dare object. His pride was gone, crushed beneath Jalen's will. Rayan's forehead pressed against the floor so hard it left a faint mark, his pride bleeding away with every heartbeat. Cold sweat trickled down his temple, and his chest tightened as the weight of submission sank deeper. He once regarded this young emperor as a puppet, not to mention he's way weaker than he is, and now shame burned hotter than fire, leaving him hollow.
"Presuming you have a royal harem of beautiful women in the future," Jalen teased, his lips curling.
Ameer blushed, his face reddening. "Master, I—"
Jalen interrupted, his hand gesturing toward the young beauty at his side. "This is Princess Rena Yale. I brought her here for you two to get acquainted."
The princess stepped forward, her robes plain, her eyes cautious. She lowered herself respectfully. "Greetings, Your Majesty. My name is Rena Yale. Pleased to meet you."
"Um…" Ameer stuttered as he rose to his feet. "Greetings, Princess. I'm… Ameer Ron. A pleasure to meet you." His voice faltered, betraying his nerves. He was no fool—he understood exactly what this meant. His master was deliberately pairing him with a woman. Yet he didn't know how to feel about it; uncertainty tangled with embarrassment, leaving him awkward and tense.
Jalen reached into his pocket world and withdrew a scroll and a flask filled with medicinal pills. He handed them to Rena. "This bottle contains pills that will unclog your meridians and dantian, making cultivation possible. Take one each night for the next month, and your condition will be resolved. This scroll holds a technique aligned with your qi affinity. Begin practicing it afterwards—under the supervision of a trained expert, of course, before attempting it alone."
The words left Elder Frost stunned. Was such a thing even possible? Will and the other royal guards shared the same disbelief. A person born with Rena's condition usually died if they attempted cultivation remedies, and even those who survived rarely lived long. It was always considered safer to let them remain mortal.
Rena's eyes widened. For a heartbeat she was frozen, unable to believe. Then she dropped to her knees, tears streaming down her face. "Thank you, senior."
She had always longed to cultivate but was told she had no affinity for it, that she's an average mortal despite being born from two cultivators. Her father had considered her a shame to the family, locking her away to hide her weakness, a taint to the family name. Now, with this gift, she could finally walk the path she had dreamed of. She clutched the scroll and bottle with trembling fingers, her tears soaking the parchment as she silently vowed never to waste this gift. Her heart raced, disbelief and joy colliding, and in that moment she swore to devote herself to cultivation and to the man who had freed her from despair. The years of being hidden away, treated as a blemish, dissolved like mist before sunlight.
"If you want to thank me," Jalen said, his voice firm, "then take care of Ameer. He's shy and inexperienced when it comes to women, but he has a kind heart."
Ameer wished the ground would swallow him whole, though even in the cultivation world such miracles were rare.
Rena blushed, her cheeks burning.
"Of course, I'm not forcing anything," Jalen continued. "If you two do not grow to like each other, so be it. But I doubt that will be the case. When a man and a woman spend time together, things are bound to happen."
"Master…" Ameer murmured, embarrassed, his voice faltering.
Jalen waved his hand dismissively. "Ameer, be a gentleman and show the princess to her quarters so she can freshen up. Afterwards, take her for a walk around the palace."
"Sure, Master," Ameer answered tensely. He moved to Rena's side in a swift motion, his words stumbling over themselves. "Um… you heard the master. Let's go to your room, and then… maybe a walk. If you'd like."
"I'd love to," Rena whispered, her cheeks flushed. She slipped her hand into his, and Ameer immediately noticed how soft and delicate her touch was. Up close, her beauty struck him with unexpected force—the gentle curve of her face framed by silken strands of hair, eyes luminous yet cautious like moonlight on still water, lips soft and trembling with shyness. She carried herself with a quiet grace, her plain robes unable to conceal the elegance in her bearing. His heart raced, his throat tightening as he began to notice her in ways he had never truly seen a woman before.
"What are you waiting for?" Jalen's tone snapped Ameer back into reality. "Go already."
"Right!" Ameer stammered, leading her out of the throne room. Will and the other royal guards could barely contain their grins as Raye and Tobias followed close behind.