Chapter 278: I Am Proposing to You

The dusk deepened, and the castle’s spires cast long shadows in the setting sun.

Su Ling stood outside Sista’s room, her hand suspended in midair, hesitating to knock.

“Come in.”

Sista’s cool voice came from inside, as if she had already known Su Ling was standing there.

Su Ling took a deep breath and pushed open the door.

Sista’s room was simpler than she had imagined. Moonlight streamed in through the floor-to-ceiling windows, coating the silver-haired queen in a layer of cold light. She stood by the window, her back to the door, a glass of red wine held between her slender fingers.

“Close the door.”

Sista didn’t turn around.

The lock clicked softly, and Su Ling felt her heartbeat was so loud it seemed the entire castle could hear it. She stood there, twisting her skirt hem, like a child who had done something wrong.

“You know why I called you here.”

Sista turned around. Her amethyst-like eyes looked especially deep in the dim light.

Su Ling nodded, then shook her head, her lips trembling, unable to speak.

Sista walked closer step by step, each footstep seeming to land directly on Su Ling’s heart.

She stopped in front of Su Ling, looking down at her.

“Tell me, how far have you gone with Tii?”

“We’re just…”

Su Ling’s voice was as soft as a mosquito’s hum.

“Just kissed…”

“Just?”

Sista let out a cold laugh and suddenly reached out to pinch Su Ling’s chin.

“You know that as a member of the royal family, my partner must remain loyal to me.”

Su Ling felt her chin ache from the pinch, and her eyes instantly grew moist.

“I… I never intended to betray you…”

“Then why, during the time I was away, did you become so close with her?”

Su Ling’s tears finally fell.

“Because Tii… she needed me…”

“Then why did you let her kiss you?”

Sista’s voice suddenly rose.

“What about me?”

Sista’s voice suddenly softened.

She released her hand and turned to walk toward the window.

“Su Ling, you know how I feel about you.”

Su Ling was stunned.

Sista had always been proud, never so openly revealing her heart before.

“I…”

Just as she was about to speak, the door suddenly burst open.

“Am I interrupting~”

Tii leaned against the doorframe, her green eyes flashing with dangerous light.

“Looks like I came at just the right time?”

Sista’s gaze instantly turned cold.

She knew Tii must have used her position in the Intelligence Department to claim an emergency and have the guards let her through.

“Get out.”

“Oh my, Your Majesty is so fierce.”

Tii exaggeratedly clutched her chest, but strode into the room.

“But sorry, I can’t leave little Su Ling alone with you.”

Su Ling was caught between them, at a loss.

“Tii, it’s not what you think…”

“Then what is it?”

Tii grabbed Su Ling’s wrist.

“Was she forcing you to make a choice?”

A faint magical glow flickered at Sista’s fingertips.

“Watch your tone.”

“Enough!”

Su Ling suddenly pulled her hand free from Tii’s.

“You two…”

The room fell into a brief silence.

Su Ling’s chest heaved violently, tears streaming uncontrollably down her face.

“I’m not an object. You don’t need to fight over me…”

“Su Ling…”

Sista’s expression softened.

Tii, however, suddenly laughed.

“You’re right.”

Her usually flippant expression vanished, and she looked at Su Ling seriously.

“But feelings are inherently selfish. I can’t share you with anyone else.”

Sista let out a cold snort.

“At least on that point, we agree.”

“I…”

Su Ling felt her heart being torn apart.

She loved Sista’s tenderness and strength, and she also loved Tii’s passion and free spirit. And now, she had to make a choice.

“Su Ling!”

Phil’s voice came from the hallway.

The next second, the cat-eared girl rushed into the room, her golden pupils sparkling in the darkness.

“I knew you’d all be here!”

Sista rubbed her temples.

“What day is it today? Is everyone having a party in my room?”

Phil ignored the queen’s sarcasm and ran straight to Su Ling, grabbing her other hand.

“Don’t listen to them! You promised you’d always stay with me!”

Surrounded by the three of them, Su Ling felt it was hard to breathe.

She looked at Sista’s expectant eyes, Tii’s stubborn lips, and Phil’s tightly grasping hand, and a sudden dizziness washed over her.

“I… I need time…”

She said weakly.

Sista sighed.

“How long?”

“I don’t know…”

Su Ling shook her head.

“You’re all very important to me…”

Tii suddenly let go.

“Fine. I’ll give you time.”

She turned and walked to the door, pausing to glance back.

“But don’t make me wait too long, little Su Ling.”

Phil hesitated for a moment, then also let go.

“I… I’ll go too.”

She stood on her tiptoes and quickly kissed Su Ling’s cheek, then ran out, blushing.

The room was left with only Su Ling and Sista again.

Moonlight quietly spilled between them, like an uncrossable galaxy.

“Stay.”

Sista said softly.

“Stay with me tonight.”

Su Ling looked up in surprise.

“But…”

“I promise I won’t do anything.”

Sista walked toward the massive four-poster bed.

“Just sleeping.”

Su Ling hesitated, then followed.

Sista had already taken off her outer robe, wearing only a silk nightgown. She patted the spot beside her.

Su Ling carefully lay down, trying not to touch her.

The bed was soft as a cloud, carrying Sista’s unique cold fragrance.

Su Ling’s tense nerves gradually relaxed.

“Su Ling.”

In the darkness, Sista suddenly spoke.

“If I make you my queen, would you agree?”

Su Ling spun around, nearly falling off the bed.

“Wh-what?”

“You heard me.”

Sista’s voice was calm, without a ripple.

“I am proposing to you.”

Su Ling’s mind went blank.

Becoming queen meant power and status, but also responsibility and restraint.

She loved Sista, but…

“I can’t answer you now.”

She finally said.

Sista was silent for a long time, so long that Su Ling thought she had fallen asleep.

“I understand.”

The queen said at last.

“Sleep.”

Su Ling lay with her eyes open in the darkness, listening to Sista’s even breathing, her thoughts racing.

She recalled Tii’s passionate kiss, Phil’s dependent gaze, and Sista’s warmth lying beside her now.

Every feeling was so real, so strong, that she couldn’t bear to let go of any of them.

Outside the window, the moon quietly hid behind the clouds, and the castle sank into deeper darkness.

The next morning, Su Ling was awakened by sunlight.

She realized she had somehow rolled into Sista’s arms. The queen’s black hair was spread across the pillow like spilled ink.

She carefully tried to pull away, but a suddenly tightening arm stopped her.

“Good morning.”

Sista’s voice was hoarse with sleep.

“Did you sleep well?”

Su Ling blushed and nodded.

Sista rarely showed her lazy side, making Su Ling’s heart beat faster despite herself.