His Contractual Mistress

"The Wu Dynasty is the last dynasty in the history of C Nation." Fred went on. 

"The Shu was a great ally to the Empire, even during the previous dynasties. The small kingdom is a great helper to build the walls. We made a great name back then before the Xing Dynasty was replaced by the Wu Dynasty." 

"Come with me." Fred brought Vincent toward the secret room in the second floor's study room. "Do you remember why I scolded you if you wanted to sneak inside this room?" 

"Yes, dad. I want to see these treasures that our family has kept for hundreds of years." 

"Well, they are not the reason I restricted you from coming in," said Fred to Vincent. He walked toward the vault in this room and opened it after putting up the security code and his eye as identification. "Can you help me, son?" 

Vince rushed next to his dad, then helped him carry a big box. It was heavy as it made the box in gold, then they placed it on the long table inside that room. 

"What is this, dad?" he asked anxiously, as he was curious to know what was inside in the box. It's been thirty years since he lived in this world, but he has never seen this box before.

Fred rubbed his hand on the box as he narrated. "The last Shu survivors carried these treasures when they fled from C Nation after Emperor Wu assassinated all Xing descendants." 

He continued, "They belonged to the Emperor of the Xing Dynasty. When the Emperor learns that someone plans to assassinate him and his entire family in secret, he asks his best blacksmith to forge a sword. The emperor secretly sent out the swords of his daughter, the imperial first princess who married the Prince of Shu Clan to keep it hidden, along with the imperial youngest prince." 

"If the world forgot them one day, these words are proof they were descendants of Emperor Xing, representing the Xing Dynasty."

"The Xing Dynasty is second to the last empire before dynasties completely disappear in the political C Nation." 

"Galvin Huo's ancestor and King Lamandi are indeed descendants of the last empire. After Wu successfully annihilates the Imperial family, many kingdoms keep silent and stay low for years. But they only waited for the time to end the Wu Dynasty; it would happen if they could assassinate Emperor Wu, and indeed, they succeeded. After then, the dynasty ultimately fell and began a new era. The Wu descendants fled and never came back to C Nation. As for the Shu descendants, they remained in P Country and kept the secret of the Xing Dynasty." 

"The Shu Clan, along with the youngest prince Xing, live peacefully under the surname Shen. When the time came, the imperial prince married a Shu maiden, and that marriage continued the bloodline of the imperial family Xing." 

Listening to his dad, Vincent tried to process everything he heard tonight.

"Dad, are you saying now that we are not just indirect relatives of Emperor Xing but direct descendants?" 

"That's right, son. We haven't held the title of the wealthiest family in the world these days. But the blood that runs in your veins once belonged to the Emperor of C Nation." Fred answered, he added.

"As you love a princess from Higher Royal family, it will be difficult for you to win her over. However, they cannot look down on the Shen if they reject you. The Alliance holds all the history of this world. They would recognize these treasures once we presented them to them." 

"Dad…"

Fred looked at Vincent; he extended his hand and patted his shoulder.

"Son, as you are my oldest. I am now passing on the secret of the past Xing Dynasty. And when the time comes, you will pass it down to your oldest son. Your mom entirely takes the responsibility of raising you into a great man so that you will be worthy to carry this secret to the next Shen generation. And yes, I admitted it was a mistake to trust Lan in this lifetime." 

"The Lan family? Are they already involved with us even in the past?"

Fred nodded, he then explained. "Shu's most trusted General is from the Lan Clan. They never left Shu but protected them even from generation to generation. Our family has sworn brothers, and they also know our secret," Fred explained.

"Wow, okay. I understand now. However, in the end, they betrayed us after they take alliance with the Huo Clan against you."

"That's right. Your mom only agreed to honor and protect the secret of the Xing family."

***

After the father and son's private talk, Vince fetched Hailey from the girl's bonding moment to take her to his bedroom. 

Hailey swept her eyes to the entire room. It was vast and neat—perfect space for a muscled man like Vincent. 

"I like your room." Her compliments. "I should order my maids to change my room curtains into metallic and white curtains. My room is pink all over. I haven't thought about changing it since I haven't often stayed in the mansion." 

"I don't mind sleeping in your room with pink decorations. But metallic and white?"

"I just like it!" 

Vince creases his forehead. "Wifey, you don't need to change rooms because of me." 

"Nothing to worry about, hubby. I love metallic brown now!" 

"Really?" 

"Yup!" Hailey nodded in response; she walked around to scan his bedroom.

Meanwhile, Vince is still trying to process in his head why this girl suddenly prefers new colors. She's behaving differently lately. And what she is doing at the moment is one of her unusual behaviors. But maybe she's acting this way because they are not strangers anymore to each other.

He watches Hailey pick up a pillow and sniff it. 

"Why are you sniffing my pillow? You have a real one here." He chuckled, amused by what she's doing on his pillow. 

Hailey sat up and ran toward him. She throws her arms around his waist, then sniffs on his shirt while mumbling.

"This one is better. It's authentic!" she exclaimed; there is a massive smile on her face. She looked like achieving a great reward. 

"Why are you acting too cute lately, hm?" Vince placed a kiss on her lips, to which she immediately responded lovingly. "Let's have a shower together." 

Before Hailey could respond, a knock on Vincent's bedroom door. Both shared a look and wondering who it might be.