THE CHANGE

Silence, a dark shroud engulfed the room, tension so thick, stifling and tangible plunged the room into a wordless war of dominance. There was something wrong for the plot to start derailing so early in the game. Was the prince also a bug? But if so, should he not have stopped her before she was brought inside the estate. As myriad thoughts flashed through her mind in an instant, she decided the follow the original script.

"Your Highness, please forgive me for my deceit as I only did what I did because I love you too much! My sister would not bring you any benefits, your highness. My father has long abandoned her, and he treasures me. If we are together, my family will be behind you all the way to the throne. I believe, you are best suited to inherit our kingdom from the Emperor! Please forgive me as my only sin was my love! Give me a chance to be your wife my prince and I will not disappoint you!" her voice was sweet like the scent of cherry blossoms in spring, trembling as tears ran down her soft, silk-like cheeks, enchantment evident in her every tone and shudder.

There was still no expression on his face as he seemed to consider her passionate declaration.

"You're lying. Although all your expressions seem to be real, your eyes are too cold for a woman supposedly in love with me. There is no love there, only a cold calculation. If you continue with this farce, I will just throw you in front of Father Emperor for deceiving the throne. If the truth satisfies me, we may still come to a truce, otherwise…." A murderous expression flashed through his eyes and she could feel his blood-thirst, like a solid object pressing on her chest, trying to stifle her breath.

She was indifferent to it. Her acting dropped and her face resembled a thousand-year-old ice statue, as she remained impassive to his obvious threat. A spark flashed through his eyes as he saw her composure, the look in her eyes reminiscent of a person far in his past.

"Either you're too clever to be tricked or my acting is really too bad. For my sake, I shall take it that you are just a difficult bastard. Since you're an intelligent man, I shall say it directly – I'll help you take the throne and you only need to help me when I request it, and I shall ensure my demands will never be too excessive. We will be husband and wife only on paper and you need not monitor my movements. Anytime I think I'm followed by any shadow guards; I shall finish them. I shall also not interfere in your personal life. Since Minan does not have the concubinage system, I shall not complain even if you have lovers outside. It is of no import of me. It is a win-win situation for both of us. Will you accept this deal or...?"

An amused expression flashed across his face and he suddenly grinned, the smile transforming his face; the already excessive handsomeness becoming almost unreal.

"Well well, you sure flipped your attitude faster than a book! But, who told you I wanted the throne. I'm not interested in scrambling for that blood covered seat, with those idiots who call themselves my siblings; nor toadying to that paranoid old man, my father. You seem to have gotten the facts wrong before jumping on this pirate ship my lady. I do not think there is anything you can offer me as an enticement when the throne itself is not much of a lure." His sarcastic smile seemed to blind her as shock reverberated through her at his declaration. How could this be! Ning Xiao was the main antagonist against Jiu Yun near the end of the novel! Without him as the emperor of Minan; as the man who wanted to destroy Jiu Yun and obtain Xu Qingyu from the latter, the story would end right away!! This world was too fucked up. The villain didn't want to do his job, the heroine became an inconsequential maid and the female villain became the protagonist. What the heck was happening!?

"WHY!?WHY!?WHY GIVE UP!? You will be killed by your brothers anyway. They will not believe your statement. Even I feel doubtful." she screamed; shock was evident even in her lackluster eyes.

" Why are you so agitated. It's as if you're the one prevented from sitting on the throne. If they kill me, then let them do so. Its just death after all. Everything is too boring; these petty political games are too dull to entertain me. Only death can bring that flash of colour in my black and white world; theirs or mine, it doesn't matter. Is your interest in the throne for the position of empress? Is that why you came to me? If so, you have made a mistake and maybe, there is still time to rectify this. Run back to your father's home before someone finds out who you really are. Go and find some of my other brothers to entrap rather than me. Your deception can be forgiven but no further. Leave, now." The laughter faded away from his voice, and his face turned stone cold as though a switch had been flipped.

His words brought a spark of recognition, as she had heard something along the same lines many decades ago. "Run from me, little ice cube. In this bored, dull world of mine, only death brings a flash of colour in these shades of black and white; yours or mine, it doesn't matter to me. Run, Now." He had warned her, but she hadn't; run that is. She wasn't going to start now.