The metal stairs were a bit slippery underfoot, carrying a bone-chilling coldness that forced her to slow down and tread carefully.
The staircase was spiral, descending downward, and the view gradually opened up.
The first floor came into view.
A spacious living room, furnished with dark leather sofas and a metal coffee table, the style rugged and minimalist, a continuation of the upstairs bedroom’s aesthetic.
Beside it was the dining hall, a long table large enough to seat over a dozen people, likewise combining metal and solid wood.
Further off seemed to be the direction of the kitchen, where a faint sound could be heard.
The entire first floor was expansive, but with little furniture, it felt rather empty, further emphasizing the cold, sturdy fortress-like nature of this building.
Sunlight streamed through the bulletproof glass windows high above, casting several bright patches of light on the floor, yet it could not dispel the faint air of killing intent and chill that hung in the atmosphere.
Everything here was utterly different from the exquisite splendor of the Wucheng Imperial Palace in her memories, and equally far from the warmth and comfort she had imagined a “home” would be.
Mu Xi stood barefoot on the icy, smooth cement floor, the hems of her pajama pants a little too long, dragging slightly on the ground.
She stood on the last step of the staircase, looking around this unfamiliar and oppressive space with a hint of bewilderment.
Her small figure, dressed in soft pink pajamas, with delicate bare feet, stood within this cold, hard world of steel and concrete, creating an extremely striking contrast.
Like a tender flower that had accidentally fallen into a steel forest, fragile, yet carrying a strange, out-of-place beauty.
The two servants following behind her watched her back with complicated expressions.
Once again, they felt that intense visual impact.
‘Did a girl like this truly belong here? In this Stone City, filled with power, conflict, and cold metal?’
Mu Xi stood in the center of the empty living room, the icy cement floor seemingly drawing the warmth from the soles of her feet.
She took a soft breath, the pink pajamas gently swaying with the motion, like a delicate petal trembling in the cold wind.
There was no music, no audience, only two quiet servants standing not far away, along with the invisible surveillance cameras scattered throughout every corner of the room.
She knew a pair of eyes was watching her through those cold lenses.
Ye Lan’s eyes.
This awareness did not cause her the slightest discomfort.
Instead, it was like a silent invitation, or rather, bait she had cast out of her own accord.
She wanted Ye Lan to see, to see her as she was now, to see a Mu Xi no longer bound by hatred.
Her fingertips lightly touched the sash of her pajamas, untying it, then tying it again.
A small motion, yet it was like some silent declaration.
Barefoot, she slowly raised her arms, like a butterfly emerging from its cocoon, gradually unfolding her body.
She began to dance.
There were no prearranged steps, no specific style, just her body moving freely with the rhythm of her heart.
She was like a wisp of smoke, drifting and elusive in the cold air; like a supple strand of waterweed, swaying gracefully in invisible currents.
The sharp edges of the metal coffee table and the hard lines of the dark sofas became the backdrop to her dance, further highlighting her lightness and elegance.
She closed her eyes, feeling the rhythm of her body, the trajectory of her fingertips cutting through the air, and each subtle contact between the soles of her feet and the icy ground.
The two servants held their breath, their gazes completely captivated by Mu Xi.
They had never seen such a dance, or rather, they had never seen such a person.
In Stone City, this world forged of steel, everything was tough, practical, and full of strength.
Beauty seemed to be a luxury, even an unnecessary existence.
And Mu Xi, like an elf fallen from another world into the mortal realm, carried an innate elegance and beauty that shattered Stone City’s inherent coldness and oppression.
Every movement she made was like silent language, conveying something soft, something fragile, yet carrying a breathtaking vitality.
They suddenly understood why their Sovereign was so infatuated with this girl.
It wasn’t merely her beauty, but an indescribable allure, a quality that could soften and stir longing deep within one’s heart.
Like seeing a blooming flower in the midst of the desert, or feeling a trace of warm sunlight in the dead of winter, precious and miraculous.
The dance came to an end.
Mu Xi slowly withdrew her movements, her long lashes fluttering gently as she opened her eyes.
Her gaze was clear and calm, as if the person who had just been dancing was another soul, briefly borrowing her body.
She said nothing, only tilting her head slightly to look toward the floor-to-ceiling window.
Sunlight filtered through the bulletproof glass, draping a bright golden veil over her fair features, making her delicate face appear even more refined, her skin like jade.
Then, she parted her lips and began to sing.
There was no accompaniment, no embellishment, just a pure, clear voice echoing through the empty living room.
Her voice was not high-pitched, but carried a soft, ethereal quality, like a mountain spring flowing gently, yet capable of nourishing a parched heart.
The servants could not understand the content of the song.
It seemed to be an ancient language, carrying a mysterious rhythm.
But the barrier of language could not block the emotion contained within the melody.
It was a faint melancholy, tinged with a hint of relief, like one who, after enduring a long night, had finally welcomed the light of dawn.
The two servants were completely immersed in the song.
They felt as if they were standing by a tranquil lake, listening to the wind rustling through the reeds, watching moonlight shimmer across the water’s surface.
All their fatigue and anxiety dissolved in the singing, leaving only a pure, serene beauty.
They looked at Mu Xi, at this girl standing at the heart of a steel fortress, yet seeming so out of place with everything around her, and a feeling they could not put into words welled up within them.
It was pity, it was awe, tinged with a faint trace of worry.
Could such beauty truly survive in this cold, cruel world?
Could she really adapt to everything in Stone City?
Or was she fated to be nothing more than a fleeting dream, destined to shatter and vanish?
The song ended, and Mu Xi stopped.
The living room fell back into silence, as if time itself had frozen in that moment.
She turned to look at the two servants, a faint smile on her face, yet a subtle hint of inquiry hidden in her eyes.
“Did it sound good?” she asked softly, her voice gentle, yet carrying an unshakable certainty.
The elder servant was the first to snap back to reality, hurriedly stepping forward and speaking with reverence and excitement: “Miss Xi, you sang beautifully! Like… like a celestial maiden from the heavens!”
The younger servant nodded eagerly, her eyes full of admiration and longing: “Yes, yes! I’ve never heard such a wonderful song. I feel so light and at ease now!”
Mu Xi looked at their sincere expressions, the corners of her mouth curving slightly, her smile deepening.
“Is that so? That’s good.”
She said no more, only turning to walk toward the floor-to-ceiling window, gazing into the distance.
The buildings of Stone City reflected cold light under the sun, and beyond lay the rolling, endless expanse of the desert, bleak and vast.
Her gaze was calm and distant, as if she were admiring this land, or perhaps looking through it toward somewhere far beyond.
The servants stood quietly behind her, not disturbing her thoughts.
This seemingly fragile princess held within her depths a strength far more resilient than her appearance suggested.
Just then, the communicator in the corner of the living room suddenly rang, breaking the silence.