Chapter:4 Destined to married

The morning sun filtered through the carriage as it rolled gently along the dusty roads. Zhe Tian sat opposite Yue Qingyue, his thoughts a tempest of confusion and shock. The revelation of another fiancée had left him speechless.

"You seem troubled," Yue Qingyue said, breaking the silence.

"Troubled?" Zhe Tian let out a hollow laugh. "I just found out that I have another fiancée, someone I've never met, and apparently, this was all decided before I was even born. How do you expect me to feel?"

Qingyue raised an eyebrow, amused by his reaction. "I thought you'd be used to surprises by now, Zhe Tian."

He sighed, leaning back against the carriage wall. "Tell me more about her. Your… elder sister."

Qingyue's expression softened, and a small smile touched her lips. "Her name is Yue Qingyi. She's the most beautiful woman in the Scarlet Moon Empire and perhaps in the entire lower realm. But more than her beauty, she's known for her grace, intelligence, and strength. She's… everything a man could dream of in a wife."

Zhe Tian frowned, his curiosity piqued. "If she's so perfect, why would she agree to marry someone like me? A cripple?"

Qingyue's smile grew wider, though there was a hint of sadness in her eyes. "Because she loves you, Zhe Tian. Even though you've never met her, she's always held you in her heart."

He stared at her, struggling to process her words. "How can she love someone she's never met?"

"She has met you," Qingyue said gently. "Or rather, she met you when you were just a baby. Do you want to hear the story?"

---

Zhe Tian nodded, and Qingyue began her story.

"When you were just a month old, my sister accompanied our father to the Azure Flame Empire. It was during one of these visits that she met you. At the time, you were fast asleep in your crib, but something about you caught her attention. As she watched, you began trembling and crying in your sleep."

Qingyue's voice softened, her eyes distant as she recounted the memory. "No one could calm you down. But when my sister touched you, you immediately stopped crying. Not only that, you reached out and hugged her hand tightly, refusing to let go."

Zhe Tian listened intently, his heart aching at the thought of his infant self seeking comfort from someone he didn't even remember.

"She ended up staying with you all night," Qingyue continued. "You refused to let her go, and she had no choice but to lie beside you in your crib. From that day forward, she developed a special bond with you. Even though you were just a baby, she felt like you were destined to be a part of her life."

Zhe Tian's lips parted slightly in shock. "And that's why she agreed to the engagement?"

Qingyue nodded. "It's more than that. There was a prophecy that two sisters of the Scarlet Moon Empire would marry the second prince of the Azure Flame Empire. Our families believed in it so strongly that they arranged the engagements before you were even born."

"Destiny," Zhe Tian muttered, his voice heavy with disbelief.

Qingyue placed a hand on his arm, her touch warm and reassuring. "My sister has always believed in you, Zhe Tian. Even now, she speaks of you with such love and admiration. You mean more to her than you could ever imagine."

---

Zhe Tian remained silent for a long moment, his mind racing with thoughts and emotions. Finally, he looked at Qingyue, his gaze steady.

"I've changed, Qingyue," he said quietly.

She tilted her head, her expression curious. "Changed? How so?"

He hesitated, unsure how much to reveal. "I've found a path for myself. A path I must walk alone. To do that, I need to gain strength and experience. That's why I left the palace. That's why I must keep moving forward."

Qingyue studied him, her eyes filled with a mix of understanding and concern. "And what if I want to walk that path with you?"

He shook his head. "You can't. Not yet. I need six years. Six years to find my place in this world, to build a foundation strong enough to stand on. Only then will I be worthy of you and your sister."

Her lips trembled, but she nodded. "Six years, then. I'll wait for you, and I know my sister will too."

Her words struck a chord in Zhe Tian's heart, and for the first time, his hardened exterior cracked. Tears welled in his eyes as he looked at her.

"Does your sister truly love me that much?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

Qingyue smiled, her own eyes glistening with unshed tears. "She does. More than you could ever know."

---

Moved by her sincerity, Zhe Tian reached out and gently tapped her forehead. A faint golden glow emanated from his fingertip, and a delicate dragon mark appeared on her skin before fading into invisibility.

Qingyue gasped, touching her forehead with wide eyes. "What… what was that?"

"That," Zhe Tian said softly, "is the Dragon Sovereign's Love Mark. It signifies that you belong to me. It will remain hidden until the day we consummate our bond, but even now, it will protect you from harm."

She stared at him in awe, her cheeks flushed. "You… you're serious, aren't you?"

He nodded, his expression solemn. "I've chosen my path, and I've chosen you and your sister. But I need time to become the man you both deserve."

Without another word, he cut the tip of his finger and stored a single drop of golden-silver blood in a small vial. Handing it to Qingyue, he said, "Give this to your sister. When she applies it to her forehead, the same mark will appear. It will connect us, no matter where we are in the world."

Qingyue accepted the vial, her hands trembling. "You truly are different, Zhe Tian."

---

Zhe Tian smiled faintly, a rare softness in his eyes. He leaned forward and pressed a gentle kiss to her lips. Qingyue froze, her heart pounding in her chest. Before she could react, he stepped back and vanished into the horizon.

His voice echoed from the sky, carrying a promise that filled her with both hope and sorrow.

"Wait for me. I will come back."

Qingyue stood there, tears streaming down her face as she clutched the vial to her chest.

Before his departure, Zhe Tian's final words lingered in her mind: "I am the Dragon Sovereign. When I return, Yue Qingyi will be my Dragon Empress, and you, Yue Qingyue, will be my Dragon Queen."

---

As the sun rose higher into the sky, Qingyue wiped her tears and smiled through her sorrow. "I'll wait for you, Zhe Tian. We both will."

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