He couldn't possibly truly love you.
Neglecting you, abandoning you, hurting you...
Xia Sang's words echoed in her mind.
She had finally gotten rid of her, but the restless air in her heart still hadn't dissipated.
She was so afraid of being hurt.
Was her love with Luo, calm and uneventful, real? Why would such a perfect man fall in love with her?
Luo's tenderness, Luo's affection—so precious—why were they all poured out on her alone?
Such love, sweet as candy, like a fairy tale story, so unrealistic.
If it weren't for Xia Sang, she had never truly considered whether she and he... were the two destined to be together until the end.
Asking herself this for the first time, she felt so uncertain.
A wry smile, she was ultimately from a different world than him. What could she use to strengthen this fragile love?!
Perhaps leaving now could preserve the most precious, beautiful memories for both of them.
Ivina sat quietly by the bedside, rising slowly after a long time. Her slow movements and sorrowful expression seemed like she had made a resolute decision.
Yes, love without hardship is shameful. Sacrifice, letting go, and even giving up are the natural course of love. That's how she thought.
"Xia Sang, come with me for a walk outside." She knew he had been waiting outside the door for her answer.
Shaking her head helplessly, she knew that leaving here meant returning to Niditara's control. Leaving the other world sooner and returning to her own life... She hoped her choice was the right one.
She had never properly walked these paths. Looking back, the first time she came to the palace, she had been carried in by Luo Wuli. Thinking of this, she couldn't help but smile.
"Gla. Visata Witch." The man bowed politely, leaving Ivina feeling a bit flustered.
Looking up, she saw a pair of orange-red eyes and dazzling blonde hair.
"Pujiao? What are you doing here?" She felt a bit apologetic. It seemed that in their few encounters, he had always been the one to initiate the greeting.
"Cough cough," Xia Sang deliberately reminded Ivina that, given her status, she should not address the count by his first name.
But Ivina, for some reason, turned back in confusion.
Then, Pujeao and Ivina's gaze focused on Xia Sang.
"Slave Xia Sang bows to Count Pujeao."
Pu Jieao paid no attention. He had grown accustomed to Ivina's disregard for etiquette. In his eyes, Ivina was a charming and peculiar young woman, someone worth pondering.
"I have come here to discuss the issue of the border between my tribe and the Underworld. I did not expect the witch to be in such a good mood, taking a stroll outdoors. It truly delights me to see you." Pu Jieao nodded joyfully.
Of course, he was not at all surprised to see the witch, who was the queen, in this palace. What astonished him was her attire, which was far more luxurious than that of a vampire noble.
It seemed that the king truly paid her a great deal of attention.
The underworld? That term sounded familiar. She had heard it in Lo's study. "Then, why did you come here specifically? Was it to discuss with Lo..." Recalling Pu Jieao's betrayal at the coronation ceremony, Ivina cautiously softened her tone.
"Lo?" Unbelievable, she had dared to call Dandel by his name! In tens of thousands of years, no one had ever done such a bold thing!
Pu Jieao widened his eyes in astonishment.
Ivina was about to nod when Xia Sang interrupted anxiously, "Master, it's getting cooler outside. Shall we return now?" Xia Sang promptly draped a velvet shawl over Ivina's slender shoulders.
Ivina complied and prepared to leave. After all, since the coronation ceremony, she had always felt that Pu Jiao was not a good person.
"Then, Pu Jiao, I'll be going now." She lowered her head, her lustrous black hair naturally sliding over her delicate face, causing Pu Jiao to stare at her in fascination.
"…Alright, I hope to see you again next time, Gra. May I call you that? Gra."
"Whatever you like. I'm not used to being called a witch either." Ivina smiled faintly.
Once she left this place and fulfilled the contract, she would never see this blond man again.
Yes… it was time to leave. Thinking of this, she felt a pain she couldn't hide.