Chapter 1: When the butterfly landed.

Thud. Thud. Thud.

His feet slammed against the packed sand as he ran, kicking up dust in his wake. The wind howled across the canyon—

FWOOSH

—Ripping at his robes and tossing strands of dark hair into his eyes. "There! He's over there!"

CLANG— CLANG—CLANG!

The guards' armor rattled behind him like an angry drumbeat, echoing off the rocky walls. Bai Xingyu didn't look back. He didn't need to. He could hear how close they were getting. Too close.

Pant...Pant...Pant.

His breath came in shallow gasps. His heart beat so fast it felt like it might break through his chest.

BAM!

He stumbled into a sandpit and nearly fell face–first, but caught himself just in time. He muttered a breathless curse under his breath.

"Stupid desert... Stupid guards... Stupid palace..."

CRACK!

A loose rock tumbled down from above, narrowly missing his head. He scrambled forward, ignoring the burning in his legs.

"Don't let him escape again!, Prince or not— Grab him!"

WHOOSH.

A net flew pass him and missed— but barely. His heart leapt in panic. "No— No, No, No—"

THWACK!

He turned the corner only to get slammed by the guards sliver shield.

He hit the ground hard as the dust raise in the cool breeze as two more men run towards Bai Xingyu as they tackled him from behind. Their heavy hands pinned his shoulder like an anvil. As they raise him up and brought his back to the palace.

CRASH!

The palace doors slammed open as the guards shoved Bai Xingyu inside. His knees hit the marble floor with a painful thud, wrist bound in front of him with red silk— to delicate for a punishment. Too humiliating for freedom.

He looked up with defiant eyes, sweat clinging to his neck, only to see his father King Xun, and the trembling hands of his mother Queen Meihua.

"I told you he would run. He's not cut out for this mission, My King." The Queen whispered coldly.

"I wasn't running away!" He spat. "I was—"

"Enough, with this nonsense!" The king voice cut like a blade. "Your lucky your still alive, Be grateful that I did not have killed you when you were young like a child. That's why your brother will always be my favorite."

Bai Xingyu fist clenched. "Why can't you let me be free ?"

"Because you're useful. You think I would have let you live if you won't useful. Nonsense." The king said flatly. "The dessert kingdoms are watching. Word of the diamond Emerald's theft has reached even our isles. And now—"

He paused. A thin smile played on his lips.

"—They pay a great price to see the world in peace. You shall go to the kingdom of Zharayn. You should face king Li Huaiyan."

Bai Xingyu blinked "What ?"

"As his bride."

Silence the word echo like thunder.

"WHAT DO YOU MEAN HIS BRIDE !?" said Xingyu.

The queen stepped forward without eye contact. "You will go disguised as a woman. He will not expect a threat. And while you are in his palace you will locate were the diamond Emerald is and return home."

Xingyu mouth opened. But no words came out.

"This is madness." He whispers to himself. "Your sending me to seduce a monster—"

"No, We're sending you to get the diamond Emerald."

"You want me to lie and say hi am a woman and get myself in more trouble you know he's powerful. What if I die ?"

"We don't care about that. All we care about is getting the diamond Emerald Back. End of discussion."

BOOM!

The palace shook.

A stained glass window shattered as a guard burst through the thron room. The guards face was covered in Crimson red and hair had sand.

"Your majesty, the outter gates has fallen."

"What ?" The king roared, standing up. "Who dears attack the kingdom of Lioraé ?"

"We don't know they were no flags. Only vails and golden masks." The guard say calmly with a smirk.

"Why are you smiling in this situation ?" Asked the king.

The guard turned his gaze to Xingyu and smiled.

"For someone so soft, you run so fast princess ~" say the guard.

The room went silent.

To be continued...

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***