My Enemy Is Irresistible - Chapter 2

I fled the bedchamber, badly shaken.

Half a night spent reciting calming incantations, and my dreams were still full of sensual delights.

The next day, I arrived at the Crystal Palace to deal with state affairs, dark circles under my eyes.

My sisters laughed at me without exception.

“A beauty like that throws himself at you, and you push him away?

“Sister, don’t tell me you can’t perform.”

I glanced at my sixth younger sister, who looked all too eager.

“A-Xiao is part of my household, after all.

“If you want him, Sixth Sister, you’re welcome to challenge me for him. Follow the rules.”

Among dragons, strength had always commanded respect.

The rule in the Western Sea was simple: if you wanted someone else’s possession, issue a challenge and fight for it.

I had fought my way to the position of crown princess too.

My sixth sister shuddered under my gaze. Her tail froze in midair.

“You must be joking, Sister.

“I would never dream of taking someone you’re fond of.”

After that little warning, my sisters settled down.

At last, I had time to send people to investigate the merfolk.

Half a month later, my shrimp soldiers and crab generals returned to report no unusual activity among them recently.

Only General Xuan Qing and the crown prince were missing.

I looked at the beauty leaning against a coral formation outside my bedchamber.

Their crown prince had come to us in person, and that didn’t count as unusual?

Xuan Ming had been exhausting every possible means of gathering intelligence these past days.

The day after I pushed him out, he put on gauze that barely covered him and offered himself in my bathing pool.

Another day, after I went to practice my swordsmanship at the Utter Abyss, he blocked my way home, leaning against a railing and singing at the top of his voice.

He pestered me so relentlessly that I took detours around my own bedchamber. And that wasn’t even the end of it.

Somehow, he found piles of pearls and strung them into a necklace three zhang long for me.

He said it was for my true form.

Moved by his sincerity, the clam maids of the Crystal Palace lugged the heavy necklace in and asked to see me.

I threw them out of the study along with it.

Seriously? What scrawny little dragon was only three zhang around?

Who did this merperson think he was insulting?

Xuan Ming had probably never been so neglected in his life.

He bowed in his red robes, looking a little aggrieved.

“If Your Highness doesn’t like it, A-Xiao will leave.”

So he said. His feet, however, seemed rooted to the floor.

His robes were dazzlingly red, every bit as striking as their wearer.

Propping my cheek on my hand, I took my first good look at his clothes.

They said merfolk lived in the water like fish and wove day and night, born masters of making garments.

His attempts to seduce me were so awkward they were funny.

But the clothes he made for the job were rather good.

Xuan Ming flushed, as pink as peach blossoms in the mortal world’s third month. A closer look revealed that he was furious with embarrassment.

“The clothes are well made, yes, but Your Highness needn’t mock me like that!”

Apparently, I had said those last two thoughts aloud.

I waved a hand. “If you’re awkward at it, practice more.”

Xuan Ming stood stock-still, turning red from head to toe.

I picked up a memorial, hiding the smile tugging at my lips.

So there was something besides sword practice that could feel this satisfying: teasing an enemy.

Lowering the memorial, I looked Xuan Ming over from head to foot.

He turned his face away under my scrutiny.

“What is Your Highness thinking now?”

I leaned calmly back in my throne.

“That I want your clothes.”