Death... and me

Rean scratched the back of his head as he followed Qia. While they walked, she began to talk through Spiritual Sense Message.

"What's wrong with you? I have the feeling that you've been avoiding me for some time already."

Rean immediately denied that notion.

"Why would I do that? We already confirmed that we would accept this fake marriage thing since it would benefit both of us. If we didn't find each other in the last few days, that was just a coincidence."

Obviously, that wasn't. But Rean wouldn't say that.

Qia narrowed her eyes before looking back at him.

"Was it because of what I did?"

"What you did?"

Rean pretended to think about that question.

"What did you do exactly?"

"That day before I left, I k-k-kissed you, remember?"

Rean nodded as if he had been enlightened.

"Oh! That's what you are talking about. Don't worry, I know you did that for the sake of practice. Besides, I also did the same thing to you, so I guess it isn't a big deal. Don't worry, I won't have second thoughts just because of that. I know you have no feelings towards me either. It's just..."

"Just what?"

Rean then scratched the back of his head as he said.

"Well, you are a beauty yourself, so you made me feel a little flustered there."

At the same time, Rean was thinking.

'It is really hard to keep a balance between showing interest in her as a woman while keeping feelings like love out of the picture.'

Qia was taken aback by those words. However, Rean did quite well since that was the reaction she was looking for. She then looked away as she proclaimed.

"O-Of course! I also felt somewhat embarrassed, even though it was just practice. You would need to be a stone to not feel anything..."

Qia then glanced at Rean at the corner of her eyes.

"So... How was it exactly? I mean, the feelings..."

Rean felt like crying. It was so obvious that she wanted something extra other than just what he said. It would be hard to keep a status quo like that.

"Ahem... That's quite a difficult topic to comment on, you know?"

Qia didn't care.

"Of course I know! You think it isn't hard for me? Still, it is for the sake of practice for the marriage ceremony. Since I'm making this much effort, you should do the same. So... how was it? Did you like it?"

[Hoho~! Now, that's what I call a trap question. Go ahead, show me what you can do!]

'Shut up!'

Saying he didn't would once again hurt the girl's pride. Saying that he liked it would also be bad since it would increase her interest in him. What to do, what to do...

'It would be bad if she forced herself over me again if I showed no interest...'

"Ahem... Of course, I liked it. No man in this empire would not like a beautiful woman's kiss, right? Especially since it was a princess' kiss. That's everyone's dream. That was a great feeling."

Rean tried to make it look as if it was a general response. Still, Qia would get the 'liked' answer that she wanted.

[Hey, that was too sly!]

'Hmph! Don't compare me with the ice block! I know how to think about others' feelings, alright?'

Sure enough, Qia nodded, satisfied.

"Hahaha! Exactly! It seems like you finally understood the treasure you got in your hands."

Rean couldn't help but think that Qia was quite narcissistic. Well, any prince or princess would always think about themselves as someone more important. Still, since she accepted that answer, then that was fine.

'Alright, this should keep our status quo while not offending the girl. Rean, you are just way too good! The ice block would never manage to do such a thing.'

Or so he thought, however...

"Si-si-since that's the case... Let's pra-practice again!"

"Eh?!"

Rean almost vomited blood. There went the status quo Rean worked so hard to keep.

It turned out that the one who liked it the most was Qia herself. In fact, she had been thinking about it ever since they separated that day. Everything up to this point was so that she could do that again. The best thing was that since Rean was already publicly her fiance, there would be nothing wrong with it.

'It's just for practice. Yes, definitely! I absolutely have no other intention other than practicing.'

Qia kept saying that to herself even though any idiot could tell it was a lie.

As for Rean...

[Hahaha! Go, go, go! Show all the passion! Let your bodies talk for you! That's how a romance story should go on! By the way, when can I see the real thing?]

'Can you fucking shut up?!'

Rean then looked at Qia.

"Ahem... That's not a good thing to do, right? Others will think that we're showing off."

Rean and Qia were still in front of the Formations Guild Entrance, so others could see the two. In fact, they caught some attention since their engagement news was still fresh. Seeing the new couple, which involved a princess, naturally pulled many eyes towards them.

Only then did Qia notice that Rean was right. She was so focused on the 'practicing' part that she forgot the environment.

"Anyway, I still have many things to do, so we can practice another time, princess."

Rean immediately took that chance to escape, so he turned around and began to make his way out without even waiting for an answer. However, something told Qia that if she let Rean disappear again, it would be almost impossible to catch him again before the exam starts.

"Wait!"

Rean had a bad feeling and was just about to rush out when suddenly, someone appeared right in front of him! Rean was still in the Initial Stage of the Core Formation Realm. So for him to not see the guy to the point of bumping on him, one could already imagine how much faster than Rean he was.

*Bang!*

Rean hit the man's body and bounced back. As for the man, he didn't even budge. Rean immediately understood that the guy's cultivation was much higher than his own with just this single contact. Rean then finally got up as he looked at the man in front of him. Not only that, but a woman gracefully walked to the man's side as she smiled at him.

Right after, Qia arrived by his side, which made Rean afraid that she would try to kiss him again. However, Qia ignored him. Instead, her eyes were glued at the two figures stopped in front of her.

"Mom, Dad!"

Rean was taken aback by those words.

'Mom, Dad? Then these two are...'

Sure enough, they were the Fifth prince's son and daughter-in-law. Also known as Qia's parents!

Rean then quickly bowed as he introduced himself.

"Ahem... Nice to meet you, Sir Nivol, Lady Ariana. I'm Rean Larks. I wanted to go visit you two to make the engagement official, but the Formations Guild Exam took all my time recently."

As much as he wanted to leave, he had to keep the pretense that he wanted to marry Qia. Since he was going to marry Qia, Rean did his homework, so he knew who her parents were. That was also for the sake of entering the Imperial Palace in the future together with her.

Qia's master arrived right after.

"Nivol, Ariana, what do you think? He looks like a nice boy, don't you think?"

Ariana then got close to Rean as she examined him from top to bottom.

"Oh... Very good indeed. Definitely no older than sixteen but already in the Core Formation Realm. Not only that, but he's also a rare element user. I'm puzzled how he could cultivate this fast and keep such a strong foundation since there are no such things as Light Element Cultivation manuals. Still, whatever the reason is, he really did a great job. Besides..."

Ariana then looked at Qia.

"Qia, you really choose quite a cute boy. His snow-white hair and eyes are surprisingly beautiful too. I have to admit, you lucked out to find someone like him. However, mommy didn't know you liked younger boys."

Qia's face went red as a tomato.

"Mom, that's not why I chose him!"

Rean was also quite surprised by the compliments.

"Thank you, Lady Ariana. However, the real lucky one was none other than me. I've never thought Qia would accept my feelings."

Qia couldn't help but feel a little happy when she heard those words. However, she still thought that Rean was saying that for the sake of appearance.

Rean then turned in Nivol's direction. However...

*Grab!*

Nivol suddenly held Rean's shoulder. Following that, he began to squeeze without care. Naturally, Rean immediately felt the pain. Rean then began to sweat as he looked at Nivol, who had quite a dark expression.

'Did I do something for him to hate me that much?'

[Hahaha! Are you that idiotic? Did you forget that the story going around that Qia might be pregnant because of you?]

'Ah!'

Sure enough, that was true.

"Boy. Let's leave the fact that you took my daughter's virginity aside for now. I do feel like cutting you in pieces, but what is done is done, and you accepted the responsibility of marrying her. However, why do I feel like you tried to flee from her just now?"

Rean's sweat turned cold.

'So you do want to cut me in the end...'

Ariana nodded as she looked at her daughter.

"Did something happen, Qia?"

Qia didn't dare to lie to them as she explained.

"I thought we could have a k-k-kiss... But I believe Rean felt somewhat embarrassed to do it in front of everyone. I-I... I was too harsh. I should have thought about the environment. Rean was right to not want to show off in front of others. Sorry, Dad, Mom."

Rean sighed in relief. At least her parents wouldn't have the wrong idea.

Ariana looked at her daughter with surprise, though. She did know her and how prideful she was.

'For her to ask this boy such a thing by herself, she must like him quite a lot. Sigh... isn't my daughter way too lucky? Even though it's just a political marriage, she still found something that interested her. That's quite rare.'

Rean then quickly confirmed.

"Exactly. I was just thinking about the Imperial Family's face. After all, I'm just a nobody compared to Qia, who's a princess."

Still, Nivol didn't let it go.

"And do you think that rejecting my daughter's request will be good to the Imperial Family's face? That's a good opportunity. You got engaged, so no one has any right to say anything about your mutual love. Go ahead and kiss her. Or could it be that you don't want to?"

Rean and Qia were taken aback. Neither side thought Nivol would make such a request.