Many years later, I still couldn’t understand. I had seen countless beauties, hadn’t I? How did I end up choosing someone who was quite fair-looking to marry? And surprisingly, she wasn’t affected by the “tragic ending of a hasty marriage”? Until I had that dream.
On a scorching summer day, with cicadas chirping, a carriage was steadily making its way to a mountain temple when suddenly the horses were startled and began to run amok, ultimately causing the carriage to tumble down into the valley towards the lake below.
Nelson was filling a water jug and preparing to leave when he suddenly witnessed the scene of the carriage and its occupants plunging into the lake, accompanied by a woman’s scream. Without a second thought, he jumped into the lake to save them. The carriage was already damaged and in ruins, the water tinged with blood. A woman in a yellow dress had her eyes tightly shut, blood gushing from a wound on her forehead, likely sustained during the fall into the lake. Seeing this, Nelson hurriedly brought her to the surface.
It was only at that moment, as he dragged her out of the water, that he clearly saw the woman’s face. Despite her disheveled hair and clothing, her pale complexion and the gruesome wound on her forehead could not hide her beauty. Even Nelson, known for his flirtations among the flowers, was momentarily stunned. He thought, perhaps this is what a lotus emerging from the water looks like? Just then, the girl, who should have been unconscious, fluttered her eyelashes and clenched her fist in the water.
“Miss, miss, wake up.”
Her tightly closed eyes slowly opened, revealing lingering fear within them. “Thank you, Nelson, for saving me.”
Her voice trembled with fear, yet it was still easy to discern its original clarity and sweetness.
“You know me?”
“Your name is well-known in the capital.”
Nelson felt embarrassed and lowered his head, a hint of red flashing across his ears.
“What is your name, and which family do you belong to? Given your condition, I should take you home!”
The girl furrowed her brows, hesitating for a moment before speaking. “My name is Nia Jazz, and my father is the Prince of Windsley, James Jazz.”
“The daughter of the Prince of Windsley? I haven’t heard of the Prince having a daughter named Nia Jazz.”
“I am a illegitimate daughter,” Nia Jazz said gloomily.
“I’m sorry, I won’t tell anyone.”
Nelson, the illegitimate son of the Minister of the Interior, the fourth son of the Alonso family, was a well-known playboy in the capital, often seen in the brothels and known as the most charming man in the city.
Nia Jazz, the illegitimate daughter of the Prince of Windsley, was regarded as a disgrace by her father and the people of the royal household, and no one in the capital knew of her existence. The two, who should have had no connection, crossed paths due to that accident, often meeting for outings and developing feelings for each other. For Nelson, each meeting was filled with anticipation and joy, while for Nia Jazz, each meeting was a calculation and a burden of guilt.
No one knew that Nia Jazz’s biological mother was an assassin from the V-Bond Tower, the most notorious assassin organization in the Kingdom of Susex, known for its cold-blooded cruelty. Those who entered the tower were bound to be slaves of the organization for generations, regardless of their background.
To prevent traitors, every person in the tower was implanted with a curse, which was passed down through generations without fail. Those cursed appeared no different from ordinary people, but when given a mission, they would stop at nothing, regardless of their mental state. Nia Jazz’s mission was to kill Nelson. To fulfill this mission, that encounter and the carriage’s loss of control were all orchestrated by Nia Jazz. Every subsequent meeting was also part of her plan to complete the mission, but she never expected that she would truly fall in love with him.
“Prettier, this bouquet of flowers is freshly picked, just for you,” Nelson said, running towards Nia Jazz with a beaming smile, holding a bouquet.
“Beautiful flowers for a beautiful person, a perfect match.”
Nia Jazz accepted the flowers, her face adorned with a happy smile, yet no one could see the helplessness and pain hidden deep in her eyes.
“Let’s get married!” Upon hearing this, Nia Jazz abruptly turned to look at him.
“You know my flirtations and debauchery are not truly who I am; they are forced upon me.”
“Now is the perfect time for a playboy to marry an illegitimate daughter; no one would oppose us.”
“If only it could be so.”
Nia Jazz’s gaze was melancholic, lost in thought, while Nelson remained immersed in his joy, oblivious to her unusual demeanor. “Alright, I will propose on an auspicious day. I will love you, respect you, and protect you for a lifetime.”
