Anh Thư reached to take her mask off, revealing a pair of long eyelashes, tall nose, and luscious lips. Her doe eyes lit up in the combinations of relief, confusion, and astonishment at the same time. “ Holy shit...it really is you guys “, the dulcet voice softly mumbled.

Before anyone else could say or do anything, she was quickly tackled to the ground. Nho wrapped her arms around the female’s waist, sniffling softly, “ Thank god, you’re all here or I’ll die out of exhaustion “.

Thư let out a breathy laugh, reaching over to pat her head, “ Die out of exhaustion from socializing or what? “. Phong, on the other hand, was bawling his eyes out, jumbling over his words, an endless shower of snots.

“ H-hell man, I tho-ught I wa-as all alone “, he choked on his sobs.

“ Waaaaaaa- “, The pair of friends cried out of joy as they forgot the presence of the second prince and the main protagonist.

Ly scanned Dương, they were both the same size and had the same responsibilities, but their ways of carrying out their duties were different. Upon feeling a pair of eyes boring at his head, Dương looked over to see make eye contact with the fox, “ Yes? Can I help you? “.

A dark and unsettling smirk sent chills down Dương's spines, he watched speechlessly as the fox floated away, rubbing his arms. “ I don’t feel safe… “.

“ Lady Linh, that demon earlier… “, Kim’s voice was low in volume. ‘Linh’ closed her eyes and nodded slowly, an arm placed on her back.

“ I’m afraid that...the seal is broken, your heavenly majesty “. The second prince’s cool and calm complex, crumbled down, his face filled with worriness. He parted his lips to say something but was quickly shushed by the woman beside him.

“ Let’s take this matter to the royal palace, your heavenly majesty, we can’t- “, they looked back at the group rejoicing over their reunion. “ We can’t discuss this matter here “.

After a while, the coven stood on their feet, Phong sniffled softly as he felt someone’s eye placed upon him. He turned to face the second prince; surprisingly, his handsome face held no signs of amusement but rather one of understanding and perhaps, a slight trace of caring.

Kim wore a small smile of courtesy, “ All of you will be honorable guests to the palace of Vinh Quang. Please allow me to send a signal to the guards, there’s something I would like to share with everyone “.

Thư stared at the glorious, red carriage, she blinked then she blinked again. Speechless, and shell shocked at the fact that her friends casually went on a royal carriage. Nho had a puzzled expression, “ Are you not getting in? “. Dương floated near her shoulders, waiting for her movements.

Ly whispered into Nho’s ears, “ Is she a milksop or something? “, only to be greeted with a smack.

Her hesitation continued for a few seconds before a familiar, dainty voice spoke up.

“ Don’t worry, you’re an honorable guest, therefore you will be treated like one “, ‘Linh’ said as she lent her hand. Anh Thư stared at the fair hand, Pretty, she snapped out of her throat. Slowly but surely, the lass took the offered hand, embracing its warmth and smoothness.

For a moment she swore her heart rammed in her chest, it was a hot second, before the hands parted.

They were riding in a carriage, not just any carriage, but a royal carriage. Phong gazed out the open window, peeking out to let out a relieving exhale. The wind caresses long hairs and fumbles clothes.

Thư stared down at her mask before placing it back on her face. Oblivious to the attention now placed on her.

“ Why do you wear a mask? “, Phong asked. His sudden loud voice startled her, she flinched.

Before the asked one could answer, Dương jumped in, “ She said wearing a mask makes her sexy “.

Upon seeing the two companions snorted in amusement, one let out the loudest laugh while the other one failed to contain it with her fist. Thư's scarlet face was hidden behind her mask, she embarrassingly shouted, “ STOP IT- “.

Anh Thư wished she could strangle her little guide and that annoying nine tailed fox in the corner, stupid fucker couldn’t stop cackling.

“ I’m sorry “, Nho stuttered over her words as she choked back a giggle. While Phong didn’t even bother to hide it.

“ PLEASE- THAT’S TOTALLY SOMETHING YOU WOULD SAY “.

While everyone was consumed with laughter, ‘Linh’ quietly stared at Thư. Her ebony eyes held a knowing gleam.

“ ANYWAYS! “, The liquid elementalist tried to change the subject. “ We made quite a disastrous mess back in the town. Are there going to be any repairs? “.

Phong rubbed his sore stomach, “ I wanted to ask the same thing “.

Ly brushed its fluffy tails around its master’s neck, causing her to shiver, she flicked it away, receiving a whine.

“ I suggest we leave that to his highness, the second prince “, ‘Linh’ replied calmly. The others nodded in agreement. The sky has almost dimmed in its light, like a cold candle, soon the moon looms over the country with its luminosity. What was worrisome and ominous was the color of the moon itself. It was as if someone smeared their blood on a white canvas. A crimson color slashes the dark sky. The sign of a potential doomsday.

All of the laughter and light-hearted atmosphere dispersed into thin air. Everyone looked outside nervously, was such an event supposed to happen in the original novel? Neither of them remembered that Anh Thư told of any scary looking phoenix hybrid terrorizing a town, or the moon turning red all of sudden.

Without any words or notices, the group already knew something was wrong.

If the sky wasn’t in the color as it is now, they would have gaped at the palace, but it was still glorious in some way. The royal family was powerfully influenced, spreading their prosperity across the whole country and it’s border. A monarch so impressive, with an emperor said to have immortal blood, and two remarkable princes that will soon take the throne and exceed in ruling.

A neat guard in his attires bowed before his honorable guests as they awkwardly bowed back. “ The emperor expects everyone in the meeting room. This way, please “. Nho widened her eyes upon hearing the word “emperor” along with two more pairs of eyes threatening to escape their sockets.

Dương mumbled to his master, “ Saintess, I’m afraid I can’t be in the meeting room with you “.

The fox’s sharp ears caught it and nodded.

“ Me neither, we’ll be outside waiting for you both “.

Nho and Thư wanted to ask why but it would be weird since the guard can’t see them except the rest of the group. They only nodded for now, figuring to ask later.

The Earther scratched his head, Am I the only one without a little guide beside me right now?.

Linh walked with great confidence and elegance, her restful composure kept on at all times. “ Woah “, Phong gaped at the hallway and the palace’s wall while the others admired its art style quietly.

Thư had a habit of daydreaming, the walk towards the meeting room was longer than expected, when everyone stopped in their tracks. She immediately bumped into ‘Linh’, panicking, she bowed repeatedly. “ Oh my god, oh my god, e-excuse my clumsiness, my lady “.

“ Your imperial majesties, I present the second prince’s honorable guests! “.

The door slowly opened, ‘Linh’ whispered something only Thư could hear, “ It’s okay, the miss’s body was too soft to hurt me anyways “. Anh Thư flushed in a deeper red color behind her mask as everyone entered the room lit with candles.

The two small creatures slowly withdrew their presences, standing to the sides.

Nho took a deep breath.

The emperor is surely a man carved from many old stories. His age lines symbolizes years of wisdom, the long white beard tells ancient mythologies, the crinkles of his skin unfolded themselves in old age.

Sitting beside him were the two infamous princes. Lý Kim resembled a more unapproachable beauty, his icy facade helped to balance the mood, while his older brother;Ngô Vàng had a more bright and extroverted handsomeness to him.

Thư expected ‘Linh Đa' to sit beside one of the princes, she almost flinched when the mentioned woman casually sat beside her.

Phong was never the type to be quiet, he was always outspoken, however he was not a fool. In the presence of the emperor, speaking in his manners would result in death. Phong stared at the ground, however, never shaking off the feeling of someone watching him. He averted his eyes to meet with a pair of dark eyes of the second prince. Kim quickly looked away upon being caught staring.

Everyone tensed up when the emperor cleared his throat, the trio strengthening their backs all sudden. “ Forgive me for the impolite introduction, I am aware that we have honorable guests brought by my son, but I’m sure you lads and lasses are aware of the recent event. It is unfortunate to hear of the atrocities it had left behind. The demise of Lady Trân was tragic and we will be sure to attend her mourning family and proper funeral.

Thư let out a small gasp, Lady Trân has passed away? The villainess in the original novel? The emperor continued, “ The vengeful demon burned her body into ashes when the unexpected lady was out in her garden. It then later flew to the town, I believe this creature knows exactly what it’s doing “.

Anh Thư literally had a mental crisis internally, the novel never had demons, none of that! And the fact that the villainess is dead-

“ I’m afraid the seal that protected us from the dark realm has been broken “.

HAS THE GENRE SOMEHOW CHANGED FROM HISTORICAL ROMANCE TO THRILLER??

Everyone went quiet, the emperor asked, “ Vàng, any sightings of the fallen girl? “.

“ No trace of her anywhere, father. It was as if she disappeared in thin air “, The first prince replied. It sent a sweat down Thư's back, she grabbed her hand tightly, this caught Nho’s attention.

Tuyết Nho set a hand on the other female’s thigh, patting it as a way to calm her down.

“ We have to find her, she might be the one who broke the seal “, Thư could not bear listening to the conversation any longer.

In her raging mind and racing heart, she heard a sweet voice echoed across the room. “ I believe we can still find a seal without capturing her, your heavenly majesty “.

Everyone’s attention was on ‘Linh’ as she proclaimed, “ To seal the realm, we need the blood of a saola, a rhinoceros rat snake, and the nine spurs of a rooster. As what we were instructed by the god of judgement in his prophecy “.

The emperor silently pondered for a moment before he asked, “ How do we find those rare creatures? “.

‘Linh Đa' smiled, “ With the help of our honorable guests of course, your heavenly majesty! “. She clapped happily, the trio was sweating balls in confusion. Are they being used right now? Or did the second prince invited them here for this only purpose?

“ Very well then, we will depend on you. “, The emperor had a chilling smile as he looked at the trio. “ Please make sure to do your best “.

Phong gulped.