Chapter 97 – The Cloudstone That Altered Fate

Lin Wei lay on the bed, pondering seriously.

He felt that this wouldn’t do.

He thought it was unreasonable for him to feel guilty.

“My mage has no flaws to criticize. I should be boasting about him to my father, not avoiding him,” he thought to himself. “If he dares to say that neither of us can produce an heir for the Tidis family, I’ll pull out the contract between the Empire and the Magic Association—strictly speaking, I’m no longer considered a member of the Tidis family!”

Lin Wei was now very satisfied with The Contract and decided to forget his previous opinions about it.

“I’m taking you to meet my father!” He tugged at the mage’s arm and sat up from the bed. “I’m going to officially tell him!”

Unfortunately, he was ruthlessly pushed back down. “Sleep first.”

Although this was entirely out of concern for Lin Wei’s current state—his mental energy was completely drained, and he had just gone through a tense escape; he really couldn’t afford any more strain—the mage’s decision was absolutely correct. Because at that moment, the Duke was sharpening his longsword.

“Sidney… what’s wrong?” The Duchess, awakened by the Duke’s return, asked with concern.

She was familiar with her husband’s habits—whenever he faced a troublesome situation, the Duke would sharpen this sword he had carried for over twenty years to calm himself.

“Nothing,” the Duke replied, but then added, “Helena, what do you think of those young people from the Magic World?”

“They’re all fine young people,” the Duchess couldn’t help but smile. “It turns out the world of mages isn’t as strange as we imagined.”

“That white-robed mage?”

“Yes, I remember him. I like him very much!” The Duchess, for some reason, became slightly excited, her tone cheerful. “He’s so handsome, not just in appearance—though he rarely speaks, he doesn’t lack grace and manners. I think he’s from the north; his eyes remind me of the snowy plains of my homeland.”

The Duchess continued, “Since you’re asking, you must have noticed too. He and Lin Wei are undoubtedly the best of friends. Every gesture between them shows it. Lin Wei never had any close friends in the Imperial Capital, which always worried me—but now I can finally rest easy.”

The Duke: “…”

“Sleep first,” he said, tucking the blanket around his wife.

On the other side, Lin Wei, having failed to resist, was tucked back under the covers.

He was very angry at the mage’s domineering behavior and intended to turn his back and sleep. But after some thought, he wasn’t quite willing to do that, so he opted for a compromise—closing his eyes and facing the ceiling.

After a while, he suddenly spoke again, “Hey.”

“Hmm?”

Lin Wei propped himself up and took out a mithril chain with a white pendant from a hidden compartment in the headboard. Under the candlelight, it shimmered with a faint five-colored halo. “For you.”

“A cloudstone?”

“Exactly,” Lin Wei burrowed back under the covers and said, “My father originally wanted me to wear this so that my magical talent wouldn’t be detected during the test.”

He draped the chain around Duan Yu’s neck and continued, “I didn’t want to, so I secretly took it off and hid it. That’s how I ended up going to the Magic Academy.”

The mage’s eyes showed a hint of surprise, clearly unaware that Lin Wei’s seemingly natural enrollment in the Magic Academy had such a backstory.

Lin Wei noticed this change in expression and blinked. “So, you almost only had Haitie as your classmate.”

Duan Yu looked at him. “What would you have done instead?”

“Stayed in the Imperial Capital as the Young Duke, then inherited the family,” he glossed over the matter of the Imperial Mage Corps and said lightly, “If, after a few years, the Emperor decided to do something big, like wage war on the Magic World, I’d meet you on the battlefield.”

Duan Yu knew he wasn’t finished and listened quietly.

“Of course, I wouldn’t be a match for you… but luckily, I’d have an army, so you wouldn’t be able to do much to me either. We’d fight for a long time without a clear winner, which would be very boring, and one side would eventually throw out a forbidden spell, and we’d both die.”

He reached out and touched the mage’s slightly drooping eyelashes. “Of course, if the Emperor loved peace and didn’t declare war on the Magic World, we’d never meet—which do you think would be better?”

“Neither,” the mage caught his wrist, stopping Lin Wei’s restless hand from wandering down toward his ear.

“I’m sorry,” the mage’s gaze, usually indifferent, was now almost tender.

The flickering candlelight in the ancient castle illuminated the intricate and beautiful patterns on the walls, blending with the moonlight. He said, “Thank you.”

Lin Wei smiled smugly, lifting his chin proudly. “You’re welcome.”

He leaned in, wrapped his arms around the mage, and kissed his cheek, then moved down to his neck, lightly licking and nibbling.

—This was undoubtedly a suggestive hint, but the hint-giver was a bit too exhausted. The bit of energy he had mustered up since midnight quickly dissipated once he relaxed, and he became drowsy, barely able to keep his eyes open.

Lin Wei felt the mage’s slightly unsteady breathing and chuckled softly before leaning against his chest and falling into a deep sleep.

Before drifting off, he thought, “Not continuing… that’s a pity, but it’s fine. We have plenty of time.”

The starlight that night had inexplicably dimmed since midnight, and the celestial vault pressed down heavily, muffling all sounds.

But he was wrong. Perhaps the journey had been too smooth, or perhaps Adrishig’s confidence had made him overconfident. He didn’t know that the fate written in the stars no longer left them much time—this was something Lin Wei would only realize after this night.

The starlight faded, and the sunlight outlined the grand and majestic silhouette of the Imperial Capital. Morning arrived as promised.

Lin Wei’s soul and mental energy were too depleted, and the rest he got was too short, so it took him a while to fully wake up after opening his eyes.

The servants of the Tidis family knew that two people had slept in the bedroom that night. According to the rules, they couldn’t enter to serve without being summoned. So during this period when Lin Wei wasn’t fully awake, it fell to Duan Yu to dress him in the clothes the servants had prepared earlier and help him wash up.

However, the mage’s feelings about the intricate clothing and accessories of the Imperial nobility were similar to Lin Wei’s feelings about magic arrays—he was truly inexperienced, and at one point, he even got the order wrong.

The two looked at each other, and Lin Wei laughed, taking the clothes and slowly dressing himself.

The court tailor, who only served the royal family and hereditary nobles, was well-versed in the Young Duke’s measurements, and every detail was meticulously crafted.

The collar, at an elegant height, covered half his neck, the sash accentuated his waist perfectly, and the hem of the black morning coat extended downward, its exquisite tailoring outlining his long, straight legs, tucked into brown boots.

A silver chain with tassels adorned his chest, and the violet-engraved buttons complemented the color scheme.

—Even in a magic robe, the Young Duke of the Tidis family would inadvertently exude an elegant arrogance, and now it was even more pronounced. Just by appearance alone, he was indeed a proper young nobleman.

After everything was in place and he checked himself in the mirror, the Young Duke finally fully woke up and went back to demand a good morning kiss, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

The morning light bathed the top of the carriage. The Imperial Capital wasn’t yet bustling, and the slightly cool morning breeze brought a sense of quiet. The flaming roses blooming in the Imperial Palace were adorned with crystal-like dewdrops, resembling small, round crystals.

As Lin Wei stepped down from the silver step of the carriage, he squinted slightly, the sunlight seeming too bright.

The Imperial guards had already been informed of the Emperor’s appointment with the Young Duke of Tidis and the guests from the Magic World that morning. The two passed through flower beds, streams, and layers of palaces without hindrance, arriving at the door of the Emperor’s bedroom—the old Emperor’s physical condition didn’t allow for much movement, so the meeting was set in his bedroom.

A personal guard stepped forward to knock on the palace door, but Lin Wei suddenly frowned. “Wait.”

He whispered, “Why is the door still closed at this hour?”

There were inner chambers within the palace. Even if the Emperor shouldn’t be exposed to drafts, the servants would have opened the outer door in advance when meeting someone… especially since the etiquette for receiving ministers and nobles differed.

He said to Duan Yu, “Listen to what’s happening inside.”

The communication and fusion with the elements not only granted elemental mages immense power and long lives but also gave them keen senses.

Duan Yu closed his eyes, extending his perception and mental energy.

“Crying,” he said. “A woman’s.”

Lin Wei’s expression changed abruptly.

“And?”

“Conversation. Men’s. At least three. Can’t make out the words.”

Lin Wei closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and when he opened them again, his gaze was steady.

He took out paper and a pen from his space ring, quickly wrote something, folded it into two parts, and had a bat-like magical creature deliver them.

Then he said, “Knock.”

The guard’s hand trembled slightly.

“Announce us, as if nothing’s wrong,” Lin Wei said.

The guard slowly knocked three times and said, “The Young Duke of Tidis and the guest from the Magic World are here for the appointment.”

After a while, a palace maid respectfully opened the palace door.

The walk through the outer chamber was eerily silent.

Someone must have already informed the inner chamber, as the Empress opened the door. Her face was haggard, her eyes red, as if she had just been crying.

“I’m sorry, His Majesty is temporarily unable to receive you,” the Empress said.

“Pardon the intrusion,” Lin Wei performed the noble salute to the royal family. “We will leave immediately and await His Majesty’s next summons.”

He was about to turn around when the Empress, as if struck by some mental shock, trembled and said, “Lin Wei…”

Lin Wei steadied her slightly unsteady figure, gently patting her back. Softly, he asked, “I’m here, Grandmother Isis. What’s wrong?”

The Empress and Lin Wei’s grandmother were as close as sisters, and Lin Wei had often called her that as a child to show affection.

Hearing this familiar address, the Empress’s emotions finally spilled over, and she began to sob quietly. “Lin Wei, he was fine last night…”

She suddenly turned to Duan Yu, her gaze intense. “Mage, I know your world has many miraculous methods—could I ask you to go in and take a look?”