Chapter 54 Do Not Show Favoritism

The kitten’s gaze visibly flickered away for a fleeting moment.

A prolonged silence settled over the air.

At last, the little cat leaped down from the bed and shifted back into its human form.

Nian Tu’s heart skipped a beat, suddenly pounding violently.

The man standing before her possessed a pair of deep, sapphire-blue eyes, his gaze upon her both elegant and profound.

Though she did not recognize the royal garments he wore, she could unmistakably sense a breathtaking aura of nobility radiating from him. It was as if a prince from the fairy tales she used to read in her childhood had stepped out of her imagination into reality.

The man knelt on one knee, his tone sincere, "I am deeply sorry, though I had no intention of deceiving you."

His eyes could not conceal the profound affection within them, "Even though I lost my memories from the period when I lost control, I have missed you constantly..."

Without even needing to ask, he was certain that the female in his heart could only be her.

Nian Tu experienced a sudden flash of realization.

So he had lost control earlier; no wonder she had mistaken him for an ordinary little cat.

Instantly, she could not help but recall the days they had spent together—how she had held the kitten in her arms day in and day out, eating and sleeping side by side, personally feeding it, bathing it, and kissing its face, its paws, and its belly...

Why, just moments ago, she had even buried her face right in that cat belly!!

The tips of Nian Tu’s ears grew hotter and redder by the second. She opened her mouth, too paralyzed by shame to utter a single word.

Yet the man continued to gaze at her unflinchingly with those affectionate blue eyes, making no attempt to hide his adoration.

Nian Tu felt so awkward she wished she could crawl into a crack in the ground.

She could never have imagined that Marshmallow was actually a beastman, let alone such an extraordinarily handsome man with such refined temperament.

Everything she had previously done to the little cat now felt uncomfortably like sexual harassment, and the victim was currently looking at her with tender devotion, seemingly expecting her to take responsibility.

Yet all she had ever wanted to do was pet a cat!

The trope of a pet turning into a lover was something she loved reading about in manhua, but when it actually happened in reality and fell upon her own shoulders, the flavor changed entirely.

The spacious lounge held only the two of them, so quiet that they could hear each other's breathing.

Nian Tu was never one good at refusing others, and faced with those familiar blue eyes, she found it even more agonizingly difficult to open her mouth or say anything at all.

The image of the little white cat shedding tears was still fresh in her mind, and she was terrified that the moment she spoke, she would end up making the man before her cry.

Yet, yet—what if he suddenly confessed his feelings? She couldn't possibly just agree to it!

From beginning to end, the only thing she had ever liked was a little kitty...

Nian Tu curled her fingers tightly into fists, her gaze darting everywhere until she suddenly caught sight of a figure walking toward them. Feeling as though she had spotted her savior, she cried out, "A-Zhan!"

Unable to get an answer from the Second Prince regarding Nian Tu’s whereabouts, Felix, Xion, and Lu Zhan had split up to search for her. Felix headed toward the Crown Prince’s bedchamber, Xion went to the medical ward, and Lu Zhan hurried to the lounge.

There were easily over a hundred lounges of various sizes here, but fortunately Lu Zhan was lucky enough to find Nian Tu after checking only a dozen or so.

Following the sound of Nian Tu’s voice, he caught sight of the scene unfolding over there. With a ringing sound in his ears, Lu Zhan hurried forward in long strides, inserting himself between the two of them.

Their gazes clashed coldly. As if their auras were naturally opposed, an instant flash of hostility ignited between the two males.

Only then did Lu Zhan get a clear look at Tan Konglin’s face.

So it was His Royal Highness the Crown Prince...

Even if he was the Crown Prince, he had no business taking advantage of a vulnerable situation to intentionally spend time alone with a female!

Furthermore, he had looked as though he harbored improper intentions toward Nian Tu just now.

Lu Zhan’s gaze turned icy, and he did not offer a bow of greeting to Tan Konglin.

He walked straight toward Nian Tu, bent down to pick up her shoes, meticulously helped her put them on, and then scooped her up into his arms by the waist. Leaving behind a cold parting remark, he said, "Farewell."

Feeling her body lighten, Nian Tu hastily wrapped her arms around Lu Zhan’s neck and gave a flustered wave of goodbye to the man.

Tan Konglin watched helplessly as they moved away.

The young female’s voice drifted back from farther and farther away, "Put me down quickly! I can walk by myself..."

Several panting royal physicians arrived belatedly. Seeing the Crown Prince standing there alone, they asked in bewilderment, "Your Highness, where is the patient?"

Tan Konglin reined in the bleakness in his eyes, his expression slowly returning to a calm composure as he waved a hand to dismiss them, "It's already resolved."

It wasn't until she had been carried quite a distance away that Nian Tu suddenly realized she had forgotten to ask that man his name.

Though the phenomenon of a beloved pet turning into a human was slightly startling, the joy of reuniting with Marshmallow was genuine and undeniable.

After all, what a remarkably adorable little cat he had been! Even knowing he was a beastman, she could not resist that kind of cuteness.

If he couldn't be a pet, perhaps they could be friends...

Lu Zhan acutely sensed Nian Tu’s distraction.

Was it because of the Crown Prince?

With his gaze darkening slightly, Lu Zhan halted his steps, lowered his head, and took Nian Tu’s soft little hand in his, "Might I have the honor of dancing the first dance with you, my dear Lady Nian Tu?"

His articulation was gentle yet ambiguous, and the word "dear" rolling off his tongue possessed an extraordinary, alluring charm.

Nian Tu’s attention was instantly yanked back to the male before her.

With her earlobes tinged with a faint blush, she raised a hand to rest upon Lu Zhan’s sturdy shoulder, tacitly accepting the invitation.

Beneath the brilliant lights, numerous young and vibrant figures were spinning and swaying across the dance floor.

Nian Tu silently blended into their midst, believing herself to be inconspicuous, unaware that countless gazes were instantly captivated by the fluttering hem of her dress.

The males were so mesmerized they could not tear their eyes away.

"Who is she?"

"The next dance—I am definitely going to ask her!"

"I'm going to go get her contact information..."

Not only the males, but even the females kept staring intently at Nian Tu.

"That dress... could it be a work by Master Coleman?"

Coleman’s design style was intensely distinct and difficult to imitate, yet not hard to recognize.

Fine clothes make the person, and the already pretty young female looked even more radiant and dazzling against the backdrop of such exquisite attire.

Not only was the dress crafted by Coleman, but Nian Tu’s dance steps had also been personally taught by him, blending elegance with a lightness entirely her own that made it impossible to look away.

Swaying from the edge of the dance floor all the way toward the center, Nian Tu was gradually getting into the rhythm when she unexpectedly felt a pair of large hands settle onto her waist.

The next second, she was spun around and swept directly into another broad chest.

"Xion?!"

Startled, Nian Tu only breathed a sigh of relief once she recognized the face before her.

Of course she didn't mind dancing with Xion, but her dance with Lu Zhan wasn't finished yet...

Nian Tu turned her head to look at Lu Zhan.

True to form, Lu Zhan’s expression was rather displeased.

"How about I dance with you for the next one instead?" Nian Tu negotiated with Xion, attempting to get him to hand her back to Lu Zhan.

Instead, Xion reached up to cup her cheek, his amber eyes concealing a deep possessiveness, "Niannian, don't play favorites."

"Your first dance cannot be spent with him alone."

Two males fighting over a female and switching partners midway through a dance was not an uncommon scene, yet it was one everyone loved to watch.

Felix appeared alongside the Emperor and Empress. The Emperor smiled as he watched the unfolding scene, casting an amused glance at Felix and teasing, "Ah, the young ones certainly have energy..."

Felix calmly nodded, maintaining the demeanor of a magnanimous elder, though the hand hidden behind his back was quietly clenched into a fist.

He had no intention of competing with Xion right now, but Nian Tu’s next dance—that he was determined to secure.

Standing beside the Empress was a young female in a red dress. Linked arm-in-arm with the Empress in an affectionate manner, she was the Empress’s niece, Duan Qianqian.

Her gaze carried a shy, timid bashfulness as it quietly lingered on Felix.

Having admired the Marshal for many years without ever receiving a response, her affection for Felix had never truly faded.

What could not be obtained was always the best. Toward the males who fawned all over her, she instead felt a profound lack of interest; although she had reluctantly taken on a few secondary husbands, she grew bored of them after a short while and once again set her sights on Felix.

As an unmarried female, she technically shouldn't have attended this ball, but having heard that Felix might participate, she had brazenly pulled strings through the Empress to sneak in.

Watching Xion and Nian Tu embracing in the middle of the dance floor, Duan Qianqian felt a ripple of excitement stir within her, imagining the faces of Xion and Nian Tu replaced by those of Felix and herself.

She cast a bewitching, watery glance at Felix, "Lord Marshal, do you not plan to ask me for a dance?"