Tanya didn’t understand what she was up to, her clear eyes reflecting uncertainty, yet a smile curved at her lips, momentarily making her beautiful smile overshadow all the flowers around.

"You're too kind, sister."

Evelyn’s tone became even softer, “With such good fortune, I can’t help but envy you, even more than I do.”

On the surface, Evelyn's words seemed like polite flattery, but to the ears of the crowd, it subtly implied that Vivienne's success was merely due to luck.

Tanya’s lips curled coldly, her voice even and unflinching, “Yes, I too didn’t expect to outshine your luck.”

Her words dripped with mockery.

Evelyn's brows furrowed, “Vivienne, you’re not planning to take advantage of me, are you?” The speaker was King Aureliu, his chin adorned with a humorous patch of beard, thanks to Alexander having trimmed a bit off.

Tanya considered her options. King Aureliu was less intimidating than Evelyn, Evelyn held a higher rank beneath her, and snubbing her wouldn't cause much trouble. However, if it were King Aureliu, that would be a different matter.

King Aureliu's lips twisted into a cold smile, the heat in his gaze from before had transformed into a chilling hatred, as if he wanted to swallow her whole.

This made Tanya uneasy.

Fortunately, Heliam spoke up first, “King Aureliu, let’s set aside the matter of Vivienne for now. Are you threatening my beloved?”

Heliam raised an eyebrow, a cold smile on his lips, his handsome jawline appearing even more refined under the starlight.

“She insulted my Southlander first!”

“Your Southlander deserves only the contempt she receives!”

Two voices rang out in succession. Tanya fixed her gaze on Heliam, whose striking features, backlit by the light, reflected a hint of brightness in his narrow peach blossom eyes, resembling the brightest star in the sky.

King Aureliu’s face stiffened, veins throbbing on his forehead. “What did you say?”

“I made myself clear. If King Aureliu can’t hear, I don’t mind calling for a royal physician to check your ears.”

Heliam’s words once again shocked everyone.

It was the first time a monarch had argued with another country’s king over a concubine.

In an instant, gazes turned towards Tanya, filled with newfound eagerness—some envious, others hiding suppressed jealousy that threatened to burst forth.

“Heliam, do you really intend to stand against me for a mere woman?”

King Aureliu's cold stare seemed ready to pierce through him, his jaw clenched tight, eyes like a predatory bird's, menacing and cold.

“I remember just a moment ago, King Aureliu was competing for my woman. How now does he wear a different face? Is this the true nature of Southlander?”

Heliam’s disdain felt deeply rooted, an obvious irritation to Evelyn.

“Your Majesty, Southland has done nothing to offend you. Why such words?”

Evelyn stepped forward gracefully, bowing, finally dropping her pretense of meekness, coldness emanating from her eyes.

“Nothing to offend? Your self-reflection is lacking.” Heliam’s lips curled in a mocking smile. From Tanya’s angle, he appeared like the most exquisite sculpture, his cold smile giving off an air of desolation.

This side of Heliam was one she had never seen before.

“As for Daisy, if you believe you’ve done nothing wrong to her, then what of the poison in your palace? It was clearly you who poisoned yourself, yet you placed the blame on Vivienne, making Daisy take the fall.”

“You dare assert that Southland is powerful enough to pressure me? Evelyn, I believe you don’t know how to meet your end.”

Heliam’s final words were pronounced deliberately, and as his tone descended, Evelyn’s complexion turned increasingly pale.

She likely hadn’t anticipated that Heliam would know so much about her past actions.

Tanya’s gaze remained fixed on Heliam. Despite being a man, his long, dense eyelashes fluttered like fans, brushing lightly against Tanya’s heart.

“So handsome…” she finally managed to exclaim after a long silence.

Heliam paused, his eyes returning to her delicate face, now filled with curiosity and depth.

Realizing she had spoken out of turn, Tanya quickly lowered her head, her cheeks flushing a soft pink.

Heliam’s smile deepened, clearly pleased by her surprise.

King Aureliu's anger flared, “At such a moment, you still dare to flirt before the emperors of various nations?” His voice sounded as if it were forced through his throat, lips curling into a sinister smile.

Silver glinted ominously from his sleeve.

Unexpectedly, Heliam leaned down towards Tanya’s opened, rosy lips, preparing to place a kiss.

At that moment, King Aureliu’s hidden dagger lunged forward.

Clang—

A faint sound rang out as a shard of broken blade grazed Heliam's handsome face, leaving a barely visible but crimson cut.

Holding a silver sword, Alexander gripped the hilt tightly, the moonlight casting a cold glimmer on the blade, blinding Tanya momentarily.

With tightly pressed lips and a cold expression, Alexander appeared like a block of ice, ready to strike down anyone in his path.

“King Aureliu… is attempting to assassinate Heliam…”

“It was Sir Alexander who saved the emperor!”

Two voices from the crowd shifted everyone's attention to the two standing tall.

Heliam’s expression was dark, half of his face obscured in shadow, revealing no emotion.

Alexander, clad in silver armor, stood proudly under the cold moonlight, his handsome features sculpted as if crafted by the finest artist.

In Alexander's eyes lay a long-simmering killing intent, cold enough to deter anyone from approaching. His narrow gaze was fixed tightly on Heliam's icy face.

“Bring it on,” Heliam said softly, also locking eyes with Alexander. “Execute King Aureliu.”

The two stared each other down for a moment before Alexander's deep voice casually broke the tension.

“Do you dare to kill me? What gives you the right to kill me?” A hint of panic flickered in King Aureliu's eyes as he took several steps back. “You can't kill me! If you do, all the people of Southland will turn against you. You will die! Heliam! You'll suffer even more than I will!”

As soon as his words fell, Alexander moved in a flash, leaping just inches in front of him. With a swift motion, the silver hilt of his sword struck down, severing half of King Aureliu's arm.

“Ah—” King Aureliu screamed, terror flashing in his eyes.

Before him, Alexander appeared like a demon emerging from a hellish battlefield, his expression cold and devoid of any emotion. King Aureliu collapsed to the ground, his pupils violently constricting.

“You can't kill me! You can't! If you do, Vivienne will belong entirely to Heliam, and then she—”

Before King Aureliu could finish, Alexander's sharp blade struck his face again, swiftly carving a long wound.

Bright red blood bizarrely oozed from the wound, his lower lip bitten tight in fear as if facing the most terrifying nightmare.

“Evelyn! Evelyn!” With no way out, King Aureliu's gaze fell upon Evelyn, standing to the side, filled with desperation. “Help me, Evelyn! I’ll take you back to Southland. I’ll take you away.”

Evelyn finally snapped out of her daze from Alexander’s cold demeanor.

She had killed before, but she had never witnessed something so terrifying.

His expression was devoid of any emotion, ruthlessly intent on slaughtering the man before him.

This act seemed to be driven by one person alone.

Feeling awkward, Evelyn hesitated. “King Aureliu… I’m afraid I can’t comply. Having married His Majesty, I’ve become part of the harem. How can I be associated with Southlanders? Moreover,” she glanced away, “I don’t want to go back.”

Hope drained from King Aureliu's eyes inch by inch. Suddenly, a cruel smile curled at his lips as he glared at Evelyn. “Evelyn, you bitch! Now you say you won’t go back, but who was it that begged me day and night in letters to take you back to Southland?”

“A bitch that I’ve had my way with. If I die, I’ll drag you down with me!” King Aureliu shot up abruptly, rushing to Evelyn’s side. He seized her long sleeve with his bloodied hand, and Evelyn screamed in shock.

In an instant, King Aureliu collapsed to the ground.

Alexander sheathed his bloodied sword, retracting it smoothly.

A hint of panic flickered in Evelyn's eyes as the last drops of King Aureliu's blood splattered onto her purple cloak, staining her fair skin as well.

She kicked away the hand of King Aureliu that had held her, hurriedly kneeling before Heliam.

“Your Majesty, spare me! Spare me! King Aureliu is a madman! You can't trust anything he says! Please believe me!”

Evelyn desperately bowed her head, the twisted face of King Aureliu lingering in her mind as fear washed over her, making her knocks on the ground more forceful.

Heliam stood before the throne, his expression unreadable, lips pressed together. Moonlight poured over his shoulders, his dark eyes reflecting a stillness that betrayed no emotion.

The atmosphere became eerily quiet, leaving only Evelyn’s mournful pleas.

Tanya’s heart raced, her gaze darting to Alexander’s.

His eyes were deep like stars, his handsome face set in cold lines, no longer bearing the arrogant smile, replaced instead with a chilling intent to kill.

It seemed he had also noticed Tanya, his gaze flitting over her delicate features for just a moment before moving away with indifference.

Tanya wanted to approach him, to ask what was happening, but at that moment, Heliam spoke up.

The candlelight from within Nebula Tower cast a seductive glow over his face, the depths of his eyes reflecting endless coldness.

He parted his lips slightly.