Chapter Text
In the first place, it wasn't in Stelle's mind to get married. All she wanted was to have fun and enjoy her life since she don't believe in Romance.
Stelle is currently walking down the corridor of her family's mansion when she spot a middle-aged man with a thick white hair playing chess. His hair is tied into a ponytail with a red ribbon.
He noticed someone staring at him due to his sharp golden eyes.
"Ah, you've finally arrived, my lady."
Stelle's body became stern. "Who are you? A thief?"
"Is my manner of speaking, my appearance, or my facial expression the same as a thief?" He chuckled at your question.
"I'm not a thief. I'm the master of this house. You are the young lady who was arranged to be married to me today, I guess?"
Stelle was shocked, "I-Im Sorry, young master! I-i didn't know you before!" I said, bowing my body as i realized he's the heir to the famous Xianzhou Family.
"There's nothing to worry about." He smiled gently.
"You have made the right decision. I'm a calm and generous man, and I'll treat you with great importance."
His words sounded kind and nice, although he looked quite indifferent due to his facial expressions.
"What brings you here to Astral mansion.. Young master? Did my father invited you?" It's sounded impossible for Stelle because her family actually feared his family.
He smiled.
"Your father invited me here today since he wants you to marry me. Are you surprised?" There was a small spark in his golden eyes that could be described as coldness.
She blinked her eyes quickly, "is this supposed to be funny?"
"You still didn't believe my statement?" He chuckled.
"If I was joking around with you, I'm pretty sure your father would have my head." His statement was quite true since he sounded cold and indifferent now.
"Impossible! You know how my father is afraid of your family." She dominantly said. Trying not to be annoyed by his dry jokes.
"Is your dad really afraid of my family?" He raised his eyebrows in disbelief.
"I didn't think he would have that characteristic, although your father looks wise. Anyway, it's already been arranged."
His expression was now as indifferent as his voice, although he had a hint of satisfaction in his cold eyes.
"Arranged? What has been arranged?!"
He smiled and looked down at Stelle for a few seconds before answering her question.
"Your father and I arranged this marriage to create a pact between our families, since he wanted our families to be close." He chuckled.
"I didn't know he was desperate for that pact."
His voice was gentle and soft in tone.
"Why a pact? My family is already rich." She said as she walks towards him
"Yes, your family is rich, but my family has something more valuable than your family." His voice became harsher, and he looked at Stelle coldly.
"We have the strongest military power, which no other country can defeat. Your father wants the alliance to be stronger against our enemy states," He said, now looking Stelle in her eyes as he spoke.
"Are you going to obey your father or not?"
"Although i kinda hate that old man.. But i admit i really have to obey him." She cleared her throat. She looked at the chest board.
"You're playing chest alone?"
He smiled and looked down at the chessboard. His golden eyes were slightly glowing now.
"The truth is this chessboard is very similar to our country's political arena. Chess represents warfare and politics in this world. The pieces represent the power of the kingdom or the state. If you play chess well, it means you will be a great leader," He said as he picked up a black rook on the chessboard and began to move it around.
"Why do you say that? Do you have foresight abilities or something?" She said calmly, she kept seeing him moving the chess pieces
"Some people do say that i looked like i have a foresight abilities with my golden eyes." Jing Yuan's voice was now softer now.
He moved the black chess piece onto the board, and started to explain the move he just made.
"For example, the bishop symbolises the priest in the religion of our country. When it moves diagonally, the bishop can go forward and backward. It means the political power of our country's religious class. Do you understand what I'm trying to say?"
"Our country is fucked up." She jokingly said, im starting to get sleepy by his voice
"Don't be vulgar." He glared at Stelle for her vulgarities. He kept his golden eyes on her for a minute, and then started to speak again.
"The pawns are the peasants of our country," He said while moving another black piece.
"The rooks symbolise the military power, the bishops symbolise the political power, and the queen, which is the most important," He glanced at Stelle,
"symbolises the royalty, and thus the most important symbol in every country."
Stelle thinks a while before she realized, "You're trying to be the Ruler right? You want to be a symbol of royalty and thus be the most important symbol in every country.." she guessed as she glared sharply at him
"Your guess is correct." He smiled. He seemed to be impressed by Stelle's smartness for a moment, although he quickly covered up his facial expression by frowning.
"Don't say it too loudly, though, that's a bit... embarrassing."
"Huh? Why are you even embarrassed? She said, that's a really bold move for a rich kid with a large inheritance."
"Well, it's always better to keep that goal in your mind and work towards achieving it rather than bragging about it." He put down a black chess piece and looked back at Stelle with his golden eyes.
"If you can get something through hard work, then why not?" He smiled.
"Do you understand my point?"
"And how exactly are you gonna achive your goal?" She asked, voice sounding serious.
Stelle is waiting for his response, not expecting any satisfactory answer.
"There is one way to achieve my goal," He said calmly.
"Do you have any ideas?"
His golden eyes were still staring at her. Stelle felt like being hypnotized for a second or more due to his captivating eyes.
"Ah, it's easy to win a war in a peaceful way or through diplomacy," He spoke softly before smiling.
"Do you understand what I'm trying to say?"
"You wanted to establish a cooperation with me?"
"Correct, my dear princess!" He smiled gently.
"Let's cooperate with each other instead of fighting each other, and you will achieve a higher status."
His words sounded kind of ironic in Stelle's ears despite his smiling expression. Was he trying to seduce her, or was he just testing her? It seemed hard to tell since his golden eyes kept staring at her.
"Uhh.. i don't have experience in diplomacy and politics.. i always avoid it." Stelle have to be honest to him.
"Don't worry, I'll teach you everything you lack so that in the future you'll be able to rule the kingdom efficiently," He said with a comforting smile on his face.
"If we work together, you'll be able to become the most important person in the world. In fact, I already know that your intelligence is far beyond your age," He smiled again.
"You'll become a greater leader than your father."
"How? You know he's ruthless." She roared
"Oh, how ruthless he is..." He chuckled at her.
"But you can't defeat someone ruthless with ruthlessness. You have to be more cunning and stronger."
He smiled again; his voice was now softer than ever.
"Of course I'll help you with everything! I'll train you to be the greatest leader in your family's company." He said as he picked up a black chess piece and moved it around.
"..." i looked down to the floor. Thinking about his words
"how does being cunning can defeat a ruthless leader?"
"A ruthless leader has his own flaws, and a cunning king can exploit those flaws, such as his greediness, his lust for power, or his lust for something else..." He chuckled.
"Do you know what I'm trying to say?"
His golden eyes were now glowing even more prominently, and he kept staring at her.
"You're going to make me your pawn? Is thay what you want?" Her golden eyes also glowed. Feeling anger building in my heart
"Oh, you got it right again..." His voice was starting to sound harder again.
"What are you going to do about it, River?"
He raised an eyebrow and glared at her as he spoke quietly; after a moment, he let out a cold chuckle.
"Is there anything you can do?"
"I refuse then. Is that a deal? I already refuse in front of your face."
"Oh, are you playing hard to get?" He smirked, and his golden eyes were now glowing brighter as a hint of satisfaction appeared on his face.
"That won't change anything." His voice became harsher again as he continued to stare at her.
"Your father won't allow you to reject me, so do you want me to force you to accept my proposal?"
"What are you exactly trying to do?" She rolled her eyes in annoyance
He smiled brightly, suddenly she felt like a shinning aura came from his soul. "Marriage."
"Who are you gonna mary?"
"You." Suddenly his sound became godly.