Chapter 114: Will You Marry Me?
Translated by Addis of Exiled Rebels Scanlations
Editor: Karai
After recording the names of the Ancient Earth Artifact Verification Bureau members, Lin Xu told the guide there was no need to accompany him. He would explore the exhibition hall on his own.
The massive interstellar vessel stood fifteen stories high, its surface still marked with scars from space battles and voyages. Lin Xu walked slowly, taking nearly half an hour to circle just one ship. As he moved, his mind was already working through the situation.
If it truly had been the Verification Bureau responsible for concealing the truth of Imperial history through its manipulation of artifacts, then when Marianna reported her unexpected discovery, they must have been the ones to take over the case. And if that were true, it was likely they were also the ones who orchestrated her assassination.
The First Legion oversaw security for the entire Crescent District. With cooperation from the Legion’s commander, it would have been easy to sneak in poison, automated weaponry, and assassins without alerting the search teams. After Marianna’s death, the remaining targets were Lin Xu and Ryan.
Lin Xu suspected the drugging incident involving Mandan in his presence, as well as Lancer’s medication plan targeting Heinrich, might also have been part of the assassination effort—designed to drive a wedge between him and Heinrich.
Lancer’s plan had failed. That omega was now destined to become the perfect scapegoat. On the surface, that’s exactly what it looked like. Lancer’s case hadn’t implicated anyone else.
But other Verification Bureau members had begun to fall—each due to varying legal, political, or economic misfortunes. Someone was targeting them.
And not every bureau member had been affected. Once these individuals were removed, new replacements would surely fill the vacant roles. A new bureau would be formed. Would they continue to pursue Lin Xu and Ryan?
By the time he exited the exhibition hall, the once-clear sky had turned to a leaden gray, thick with storm clouds. Though it had been early summer just moments ago, snowflakes had begun to fall.
The ground still retained the warmth of the earlier climate, and the snow melted as it touched down, becoming filthy slush beneath his feet.
The same tour guide from earlier came jogging up to him, now wearing a thick winter coat and carrying an umbrella. “Sir, take this,” she offered. Lin Xu accepted it with thanks. She then asked if he needed a coat, but he politely declined.
He opened the umbrella and stepped outside. The wind was brutally strong, whipping through the air without direction or rhythm. Snowflakes scattered like shrapnel, and the umbrella offered little defense. Its ribs nearly flipped inside out from the gusts.
Lin Xu folded it up and walked alone along the stone-paved path leading toward the landing pad across the courtyard. On either side stretched a snow-buried landscape, the green grass smothered beneath a thick white blanket—its survival uncertain. The entire area was eerily devoid of other people.
Heinrich had said he would come pick him up. Sure enough, a few minutes after Lin Xu arrived at the pad, a black aircraft emerged from the clouds, descending. It bore the insignia of sword and shield on its hull. When Lin Xu climbed into the passenger seat, he brought with him a blast of cold air and melted snow.
“Are you cold?” Heinrich asked.
“I don’t get cold,” Lin Xu replied, leaning back into the seat and buckling in. His modified body could withstand extreme climates with ease. Heinrich glanced at Lin Xu’s reddened hands, exposed to the wind, and silently activated the heating system. Mermaids didn’t fear the cold—but they still felt more comfortable in warmth.
After a few minutes, the warm air dried the damp chill clinging to Lin Xu’s thin suit. “It wasn’t snowing when I arrived. Ares’ weather changed fast.”
“Ares’ climate is entirely artificial,” Heinrich said, guiding the aircraft upward. “They alter it to simulate different environments for training students at the Military Academy. Look down.”
Lin Xu turned his head. In the snowy expanse below, jagged mountains stretched endlessly, dusted in white. Dozens of mechas moved through the terrain, occasionally erupting in bursts of brilliant light.
“I don’t think you studied at the Military Academy.”
“I didn’t. I just lectured there once. Not that it helped,” Heinrich said flatly.
Lin Xu knew he wasn’t being condescending—just stating a fact. Still, it sounded like he was unimpressed by the rookies at the Academy.
“Simulations will always be just that—simulations. Hearing me talk won’t make a difference.”
The aircraft climbed sharply, the change in pressure making Lin Xu’s ears hum. Below them, the mechas became tiny specks, and the curved line of the planet’s horizon emerged from view.
“Where are we going?”
“Space. And if possible, back to Capital Star.”
Soon, they breached the atmosphere, and the void of space unfolded around them. The nearby star gilded the curve of Ares with a brilliant gold, and as they fully broke free of the planet’s gravity, the light inside the aircraft turned stark white. Shadows grew sharper.
The artificial gravity remained off. Weightlessness lifted them subtly from their seats. The ship’s acceleration eased until it stabilized into orbit. Lin Xu could feel Heinrich had something to say. He turned—and saw those deep golden eyes locked on him. Lin Xu lifted his gaze slightly, waiting.
For once, Heinrich wasn’t in his uniform. He’d changed into the deep blue suit he had bought earlier. Diamond cufflinks gleamed at his sleeves, and an intricate gold tie clip held a patterned finish. Even the buttons were metal. Yet on Heinrich, the ensemble didn’t look flashy at all. Instead, his sharp, sculpted features made the entire outfit feel austere and commanding.
“Lin Xu, I…” Heinrich started, then stopped. He pressed his lips together. His gaze dropped from Lin Xu’s face, his brows drawn slightly in frustration—perhaps with himself.
“I…”
“Mm?” Lin Xu now only saw the crown of Heinrich’s head, his silver hair catching the starlight—almost glowing. Heinrich licked his dry lips. The hand that had been resting on the control stick reached out and gently took Lin Xu’s left hand. Lin Xu’s hand was cold. His palm and fingertips bore the calluses of hard use. The slight friction between their skin gave off a faint warmth, like ice rubbed against ice.
Heinrich slowly ran his fingers over each of Lin Xu’s, one by one. Under the light of the stars, those pale fingertips looked nearly translucent—but with every gentle squeeze, the tips flushed with color.
“Xu… I…”
“…Go ahead,” Lin Xu said softly.
“I…” Heinrich looked up and into Lin Xu’s mist-gray eyes. His thoughts settled, allowing him to string together his words coherently. But the moment he opened his mouth, his voice came out hoarse.
“Lin Xu, would you… marry me?” Heinrich had never seriously considered the idea before. When Grand Duke Chu had pressured him to enter a political marriage, Heinrich never saw himself bonding with anyone but Lin Xu. Still… he hadn’t thought it would happen this soon. He didn’t know what Lin Xu would think. He’d simply chosen the right scale and waited for the right moment.
But at the banquet, when Ryan had brought up the story of Guy and Alonso, a vivid image had suddenly taken root in Heinrich’s mind—a future he couldn’t shake. Heinrich felt Lin Xu’s left hand tense in his grip. Lin Xu’s lips parted slightly, but no answer came right away. That was rare for him.
Lin Xu usually had an arsenal of social skills at the ready. In recent years, if he hadn’t wanted to talk to someone, he had a thousand ways to deflect—withdraw into his shell, bristle like a porcupine, bury his head like an ostrich. But at this moment, all logic and calculation abandoned him. His emotions went utterly blank. Not even indecision remained.
“Now?” Lin Xu’s eyelashes fluttered slightly with the question.
“…That’s up to you.”
“All right, let’s go to the marriage registry now.” Lin Xu accepted instantly. His blank mind hadn’t found a single reason to say no. Heinrich was momentarily stunned. He stared at Lin Xu, saw that he was serious, and moved to release his hand so he could operate the controls of the hovercraft.
But just as he let go, something struck him—he’d forgotten something important. The realization jolted him so hard that Marshal Chu’s aircraft nearly stalled in space for the first time. Heinrich reached into his coat pocket and pulled out a silver-white ring that shimmered with delicate luster. Taking Lin Xu’s hand again, he slid the ring onto his finger. It fit perfectly, locking into place on Lin Xu’s ring finger.
“This is… dragon scale?” Lin Xu asked, running his fingers over the ring’s surface.
“Yeah. Dragon scale.”
Lin Xu realized Heinrich had prepared a ring for him—but didn’t have a second one.
Controlling the magic at his temples, Lin Xu grew mermaid scales near his ear. He plucked a suitably thick, pitch-black scale and let his claws emerge as he began carving and shaping it into a ring of his own.
As Heinrich flew them toward the registry on the capital planet, he kept stealing glances at Lin Xu’s progress. Each time Lin Xu looked up, Heinrich immediately straightened his posture as if he hadn’t been doing anything at all.
By the time the hovercraft touched down in the registry’s parking bay, Lin Xu had finished polishing the black ring. He slid it onto Heinrich’s finger himself.
—
Leo had been feeling like something was off with his father these past few days. It all started the night they’d met Lin Xu at the banquet. First came the blank, dazed expression and incoherent muttering. Then, everything about his behavior changed.
The nobility’s affairs in the Censorate were always known to the emperor and crown prince. Rowen had even asked Leo to offer them minor assistance when needed. But the imperial family never directly intervened—they always kept their distance. Yet now, look what has happened. Disaster had struck the Raymond and Paris families out of nowhere.
Leo had no idea how to face the nobles now showing up at his residence, begging for help. The entire campaign against the nobility had clearly been orchestrated by the emperor himself. And how could Leo possibly go against his own father? But he didn’t understand why the emperor was doing this.
The emperor had always known about the nobles’ filth—that knowledge was a bargaining chip that maintained royal power. There was no need for confrontation. They could coexist, even cooperate. This move, however, had blindsided the aristocracy entirely.
Leo’s thoughts were a mess as he followed the attendant through the garden and into the emperor’s study to report the nobles’ reactions. The emperor was flipping through a paper book as Leo entered, listening to the report while turning yellowed pages. When Leo finished summarizing the situation, he asked, “Do you still want the Censorate to keep monitoring Lin Xu?”
“No. No need to assassinate him,” Alfred said, setting down the old imperial record book and looking at the young man who was technically his many-times-great-grandson.
“We’re not going after anyone else who knows something?” Leo asked. “That’s fine, I suppose. We’ve never known how much Lin Xu and Kalt actually understand—maybe it’s nothing.”
“Ryan Kalt…” Alfred tapped the desk, rummaging through Loewe’s memories. “Leave him be. But Lin Xu… He’s dangerous. He always knows more than anyone else.”
“Should I send an assassin?” Leo asked.
“No. No.” Alfred suddenly laughed, leaning back in his chair. The more Alfred spoke, the more unfamiliar he seemed to Leo. Rowen had always appeared calm and gentle. Leo had never seen him laugh like this—like a gambler who had just hit the jackpot.
“Lin Xu can’t be killed.” Alfred chuckled and sighed. He didn’t like people trying to hurt Lin Xu with blades or schemes, which was why, once he had all the information he needed, he immediately took care of the Censorate agents involved. “He can only be exiled—by others, or by himself. Either works.”
Author’s Note:
There, our baby won’t be a child born out of wedlock now~ 💍
