Greed and amazement flickered in the Third Prince’s eyes.
He immediately straightened his robes, put on his most self-important, elegant smile, and stepped forward to greet her.
The moment he saw Su Nian, an undisguised look of avarice flashed across his face.
“Respected Saintess, you have finally arrived.”
The Third Prince’s voice was deliberately lowered to sound refined and gentle.
He had been waiting on the platform for a long time.
“Witness your glory, and witness… what lies between us…” As he spoke, he boldly reached out, attempting to touch the back of Su Nian’s hand, which was encased in a white lace glove.
“This tower was built by me, for you. It shall stand here for all eternity.”
This ambiguous gesture immediately triggered a stir among the crowd below.
Su Nian’s brow furrowed almost imperceptibly.
The moment before he could make contact, she took a subtle half-step back, perfectly avoiding his wandering hand.
“Your Highness.” Su Nian’s voice was as cold as an icy spring, devoid of any warmth.
That single phrase caused the smile on the Third Prince’s face to freeze instantly.
“I have come to bestow blessings upon the people. Let us begin at once.”
Having been rejected in public, his face turned various shades of red and white, looking incredibly unsightly.
Seeing the situation, the master of ceremonies standing nearby hurried forward to smooth things over.
“Your Highness, the hour has arrived. The people are waiting for the Saintess’s blessing.”
Suppreessing his fury, the Third Prince managed to squeeze out a strained smile, “Of course. The welfare of the people is of the utmost importance.”
Su Nian did not spare him another glance, walking straight to the edge of the platform.
She pressed her hands together and began to chant the holy incantations of Light Magic.
As the incantation echoed, a soft white light began to emanate from Su Nian’s body.
The radiance grew brighter and brighter, gradually spreading from her and enveloping the entire top of the tower in a holy glow.
The citizens below knelt in unison, bowing their heads in devotion.
“Thank you for your grace!”
“The Saintess is a goddess!”
“May the Holy Light protect us!”
“Thank you for your grace!”
Waves of prayer echoed throughout the square.
As the Holy Light intensified, people looked toward the Saintess Tower from their windows.
They carried tired bodies, the torment of illness, and a longing for a better life.
The Central Square was already packed with people, and beyond that, a blessing for millions officially began.
She could clearly perceive the existence of every life below; their fatigue and pain began to recede.
Su Nian closed her eyes, feeling the flow of Light Magic within her.
As the Holy Light spread, the magical radiance cascaded outward from the top of the tower.
It first covered the square, then the surrounding streets, and finally spread to every corner of Academy City.
Hunched old men straightened their backs, and sickly children regained color in their faces.
Warriors and mages who already practiced martial arts or magic felt their constitutions and magic power grow slightly stronger due to the blessing.
“My back doesn’t hurt anymore!”
“The child’s coughing has stopped!”
“My magic power has become stronger!”
Exclamations of surprise rang out from every corner of the city.
For a time, countless people viewed this blessing as a miracle.
Its impact was no less shocking than the moment Su Nian had repelled the Demon Race in mid-air or pushed back the falling Floating Fortress.
Su Nian opened her eyes, a hint of exhaustion flashing through her sky-blue pupils.
A blessing spell on such a massive scale consumed a significant amount of energy, even with her Demigod-level strength.
But seeing the smiles and tears of gratitude on the faces of the people below, a warm current surged in her heart.
This was what she truly wanted.
To use her power to protect these ordinary but precious lives.
Besides, her magic power would recover eventually.
Even if she felt a bit weak… it didn’t matter.
Her husband… would protect her.
“Saintess, you truly are…” The Third Prince took the opportunity to step forward, wanting to invite her to see the Giant Dragon.
“I am leaving,” Su Nian interrupted.
“Wait!” the Third Prince shouted urgently, “Saintess, I — “
“The ceremony is over.” Su Nian cut him off, turning to summon the Azure Dragon.
She leaped onto the dragon’s back, and the Azure Dragon soared into the sky.
***
After the ceremony ended, Su Nian returned to Shadowmoon Manor.
She couldn’t wait to return to that man’s side.
Of course.
She was happy to be admired.
As the high and mighty Saintess, she enjoyed being respected by everyone and being the hero who saved the city and protected the people of Academy City.
However, every time she returned to Chu Tian’s side, she no longer held that specific mindset.
Instead, she had a need to gain a different kind of emotional harvest…
The contrast.
The more of a contrast there was between her private self and the noble Saintess she portrayed in public, the more of a unique thrill she felt.
That feeling of being cold, proud, powerful, and noble on the outside, yet acting spoiled and shameless in her husband’s arms… was wonderful!
The moment Su Nian stepped through the manor gates, she felt this psychological shift.
Just moments ago on the Saintess Tower, she was the Saintess whom everyone looked up to, her every move carrying the hopes of ten thousand people.
But now, she only wanted to shed all her disguises and return to her truest self.
“Miss, you’re back,” Emma greeted her, “The Master also just returned; he is in the study right now.”
“Mhm.” Su Nian nodded, her face still maintaining its cold exterior, but her heart had already begun to race.
On the way to the study, a bold idea popped into Su Nian’s head.
If she acted even more outrageous, making the contrast even more extreme, would it be more interesting?
For example… that maid outfit in her Storage Space.
Su Nian instantly thought of the book she had borrowed from Amy, ‘The Overbearing Knight’s Forced Love for the Little Maid’.
In the novel, the female protagonist was a maid sent by her foster parents to be an undercover agent by the knight’s side.
She was seen through by the knight, who grabbed her by the throat and threatened her.
In the end, of course, the knight realized his true feelings and forcefully claimed the heroine.
Oh my god!
How… how could she have such thoughts?
Wearing a maid outfit in front of Chu Tian, or even role-playing…
Su Nian stopped in her tracks, covering her burning cheeks with her hands.
That would be too… too stimulating, and too shameless.
Would she still look like the Saintess who saved the people from the Demon Race and showered them with blessings?
‘No, no!’ Su Nian whispered to herself, ‘That’s too much…’
But her footsteps did not stop; instead, they quickened.
Unknowingly, she arrived at the door of the study.
Su Nian pushed the door open.
Chu Tian was processing some documents and looked up when he heard the sound.
“You’re back?”
“Mhm!” Su Nian walked over and naturally draped her arms around Chu Tian’s neck.
As soon as her arms touched the man’s broad shoulders, her body subconsciously relaxed.
The tension she had carried all day vanished the moment she touched his familiar warmth.
“You’ve worked hard.” Chu Tian put down his pen and pulled her into his lap, “Are you tired?”
“A little bit.” Su Nian rubbed against his chest.
“But I’m not tired anymore.”
She buried her face in the side of Chu Tian’s neck, greedily breathing in the refreshing scent that belonged only to him.
The “Star-Moon Saintess” who was normally high and mighty and worshipped by thousands had completely shed all her disguises, reverting to her truest self.
“What, you’re not tired just because you saw me?” Chu Tian teased with a light chuckle.
“Of course. I’m very happy to see my husband, so I’m not tired at all.”
Su Nian nodded vigorously, completely unafraid of Chu Tian’s teasing.
Feeling the man’s warm embrace and scent, a “wonderful” feeling began to make her a bit addicted.
Being close to her husband was truly wonderful.
Su Nian’s cheek pressed against Chu Tian’s chest, where she could clearly hear his steady, powerful heartbeat.
That rhythmic beat gave her an inexplicable sense of peace.
This sense of contrast was truly marvelous.
Just a moment ago on the Saintess Tower, she was a sacred and inviolable existence.
Thousands of people knelt piously at her feet, and even the Third Prince did not dare to cross the line.
But now, she only wanted to curl up in this man’s arms, throwing all the dignity of a Saintess to the back of her mind.
The more she thought this way, the more a strange sense of excitement welled up in Su Nian’s heart.
This extreme contrast made her heart race for some reason.
She suddenly remembered her bold idea from before…
‘The maid outfit.’
Su Nian’s thoughts began to wander.
She would wear that black-and-white maid outfit, bow respectfully in front of Chu Tian, and call him in a soft, sweet voice…
‘Master.’
A bold image appeared in her mind…
‘I’m already fantasizing about wearing a maid outfit and calling Chu Tian “Master”… just imagining it makes my face burn. I was performing holy blessing magic in front of the whole city today; this contrast is way too big! But… why is my heart racing? Why is there this strange sense of excitement?’
Su Nian peeked up, observing Chu Tian’s profile through the gaps in her eyelashes.
That handsome, well-defined face looked exceptionally charming under the dim light of the magic lamp.
If… if she really put on that maid outfit, how would Chu Tian react?
Would he lose control like he did when he saw her wearing black stockings?
Thinking of the burning, fiery gaze in Chu Tian’s eyes at that time, Su Nian felt her breathing become rapid.
‘No, no! This kind of thought is too shameful! I am the Star-Moon Saintess! How can I think about such messy things!’
But deep in her heart, a tiny voice was whispering: ‘It’s not like any outsiders will know… And you definitely did things like this before you lost your memory…’
‘Chu Tian is your husband; what’s wrong with doing this for him?’
Su Nian shook her head vigorously, trying to shake off these shameless thoughts.
The image of her wearing a maid outfit, holding a tea tray, and saying, “Master, please have some tea,” to Chu Tian refused to leave her mind.
The extreme contrast of going from a high-and-mighty Saintess to Chu Tian’s exclusive little maid made her heart race infinitely.
It was truly stimulating.
Su Nian bit her lower lip, seriously considering the idea.
Anyway… they were lovers, so anything was normal.
And hadn’t she taken the initiative to wear black stockings before?
By comparison, a maid outfit didn’t seem that unacceptable…
“What is my wife thinking about?” Chu Tian’s voice rang in her ear, laced with a faint smile.
Su Nian shuddered, nearly jumping out of her skin.
“No… nothing!” she denied hurriedly, her voice trembling slightly.
“It’s… it’s just a little hot!” Su Nian explained stutteringly.
“I… I’m going to take a shower!”
She jumped out of Chu Tian’s arms and made a decisive escape toward the bathroom.
Although she had run away for the moment, the thought in her heart grew stronger and stronger.
Should she… try it tonight?
Anyway, Chu Tian was her husband… there was nothing wrong with having a few secrets and little romantic games between the two of them, right?