Chapter 160: Chapter 160: I Will Always Be By Your Side

"Your Highness," the manager replied, his voice low, "the Second Prince of the Sea Clan hasn’t been back since yesterday."

"What?" Su Yaoyao’s eyes widened in surprise as a profound sense of disappointment washed over her. She couldn’t believe Noah wasn’t here.

Su Yaoyao sighed softly and turned to leave.

Roland followed silently behind her and said softly, "Your Highness, perhaps the Second Prince has already returned to the Sea Clan. Come to think of it, his permitted stay in the Imperial City was almost over anyway."

"No, he wouldn’t," Su Yaoyao said quickly, a hint of stubbornness in her voice as if she were trying to convince herself. "If he were leaving, he would have told me."

But the image of Noah’s dim, sorrowful eyes when he was angry and hurt involuntarily surfaced in her mind, and a sharp pain lanced through her heart.

’Maybe he really was so hurt that he’d go back to the Sea Clan without a word...’

At this thought, Su Yaoyao’s steps grew heavier. The worry and guilt in her heart intensified, threatening to swallow her whole.

"Yaoyao!"

Su Yaoyao spun around at the sound of her name. It was Lucia.

Lucia’s vivid red lips curved slightly upward, like a stroke of bright cinnabar, adding a touch of allure to his handsome face.

His fiery red hair was wild and untamed, like a burning flame, glinting captivatingly in the sunlight. His narrow, golden pupils were like deep, dark pools, faintly glimmering with a mysterious light—a single glance was enough to drown in them.

He was dressed in casual clothes, simple yet stylish, which perfectly outlined his tall, slender figure. Every movement exuded a unique charm, so handsome it was impossible to look away. 𝓯𝙧𝙚𝒆𝙬𝙚𝒃𝙣𝙤𝒗𝓮𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

"I can’t believe it’s really you." Lucia had recognized her just from the back; he had seen her walking away far too many times, the image seared into his heart on each occasion.

"Yeah, just out for a walk," Su Yaoyao responded, a note of exhaustion unwittingly creeping into her voice.

"Can I join you, then?" A flicker of anticipation crossed Lucia’s eyes.

"Don’t you have work to do?" Su Yaoyao asked, her mind still consumed with worry for Noah.

"I just changed careers, so it’s not like I’m swamped with offers," Lucia said enthusiastically. "But I did just do an interview about my career change. You have to promise you’ll watch it when it airs!"

"Okay. And I’m really sorry about last time, for leaving so suddenly." Su Yaoyao recalled their last unpleasant parting, and a pang of guilt pricked at her.

"Then make it up to me by keeping me company this time. Let’s take a walk together," Lucia said softly, his voice laced with a gentleness that was impossible to refuse.

"Okay," Su Yaoyao agreed, feeling resigned. She simply couldn’t refuse the sincerity in his eyes.

Roland frowned slightly, thinking to himself, ’Another rival. I can’t help but sweat for His Majesty.’

Lucia and Su Yaoyao walked side by side, while Roland followed silently behind them.

Su Yaoyao walked with her head down, staring at the ground. She was completely listless, her mind still filled with images of Noah, unable to muster any interest in her surroundings.

Lucia noticed her strange mood and asked with concern, "You seem upset."

"Mhm," Su Yaoyao affirmed quietly.

Seeing Su Yaoyao’s listless and worried expression, Lucia felt a wrenching pain in his heart.

After a moment’s thought, a smile gracing his features, he gently took Su Yaoyao’s hand. His gaze was full of tenderness and anticipation. "Yaoyao, I’m taking you somewhere."

Lost in her worries about Noah, Su Yaoyao instinctively wanted to refuse, but when she met Lucia’s affectionate and sincere gaze, she ultimately gave a small nod.

Lucia led Su Yaoyao to a quiet seaside pier.

The wooden pier snaked along the coastline, its timbers giving off a faint, fresh scent.

Waves lapped gently against the shore, sending up crystalline spray that glittered like crushed diamonds in the sunlight.

In the distance, where sea and sky met, the azure heavens and the deep ocean merged into one, creating a dreamlike vista.

Elegant parasols and comfortable lounge chairs were spaced out along the pier, with exquisite tea sets resting on small adjacent tables.

Lucia held Su Yaoyao’s hand as they strolled along the pier, a gentle sea breeze teasing strands of their hair.

As Su Yaoyao gazed at the vast seascape, the gloom in her heart seemed to dissipate slightly on the gentle sea breeze.

Lucia guided Su Yaoyao to one of the lounge chairs and sat beside her, then skillfully began to prepare some tea.

Before long, the rich aroma of tea filled the air. Su Yaoyao took a small sip, and as the pleasant fragrance lingered on her palate, her mood began to lift.

Once Su Yaoyao’s expression had visibly softened, Lucia asked gently, "Yaoyao, are you willing to tell me now what’s making you so unhappy?"

Su Yaoyao lowered her gaze, a flicker of guilt in her eyes. "I got into a fight with a friend," she said, her voice slightly hoarse. "I lost control of my emotions... and I slapped him."

Upon hearing this, Lucia replied without hesitation, "Then your friend must have gone too far. Yaoyao, you’ve always been so kind and gentle. You’d never resort to violence unless you were thoroughly provoked."

Su Yaoyao shook her head, her face a mask of helplessness and anxiety. "What should I do? He seems to be avoiding me, and I can’t find him anywhere."

Seeing how frantic she was, Lucia felt a sour pang in his heart. Still, he forced a smile and asked softly, "This person... is he very important to you?"

Su Yaoyao considered this for a moment before slowly nodding, her voice firm. "Yes."

A wave of disappointment washed over Lucia. Yet, he knew perfectly well that for a female as outstanding and captivating as Su Yaoyao, being surrounded by rivals was only to be expected.

A warm smile remained on Lucia’s face as he gently squeezed her hand and offered soft words of comfort. "Perhaps you should both have some space. If he truly cares for you, he’ll come find you eventually."

Su Yaoyao nodded thoughtfully and whispered, "Mhm."

"And I," Lucia added, lifting her hand to his lips and pressing a reverent kiss to its back, "will always be by your side."

The moment his lips touched her skin, Su Yaoyao felt a jolt of electricity shoot from the back of her hand through her entire body.

Her heart lurched as if plucked by an invisible hand, and it began to race uncontrollably.

Just then, on the shore not far away, Noah’s eyes fell upon the scene.

His eyes instantly turned bloodshot, burning with flames of rage and jealousy. He ground his teeth, clenching his hands into fists so tight his knuckles turned white.

He stared dagger-like at their joined hands, as if he could burn them apart with his gaze alone.

’Sister...’