Pain stabbed through Janice’s body, tears welling up in her eyes. The sharp aches radiating from her arms and calves suddenly sharpened her senses, pulling her out of the fog.
"Janice..." A familiar voice called out nearby, making her jump. She struggled to open her eyes wider, trying to make out the room’s details. But all she could see was a blurry shadow lying on the floor.
"It’s . Don’t make a sound!" Manfred’s low voice ca from sowhere close, as he tried to inch closer to her. She was tied to the bed, but it seed like whoever had done this didn’t intend to harm her — that realization gave Manfred so small comfort.
"Manfred? How did you end up here too?" Janice’s voice trembled, a flicker of hope shining through the fear. She had been with Manfred before all this — how had things spiraled so badly?
"I’m scared, Manfred..." Janice’s body was frozen, unable to move, but she breathed heavily. Suddenly, her baby inside kicked strongly, as if to prove it was still there. Instead of pain, Janice felt a rush of excitent — Manfred was here, and her baby was alive!
"Don’t be afraid. They probably won’t hurt you. Just stay still, alright? Are you feeling unwell anywhere?" Manfred guessed they were still on the plane. And if his assumptions were right, those people were heading for Australia. Their target was clearly Janice. This had to be connected to Charles.
"I’m okay... just... it feels stuffy, and I’m a bit nauseous." Janice clenched her stomach, the long lack of oxygen making her feel queasy. But in a situation like this, she barely cared about herself anymore.
"You have to hold on. Charles will co for you, Janice. Don’t be afraid. Think about the baby..." Manfred’s weak body inched forward despite being tied up. Even if they were free now, escape seed impossible.
"Yeah, I know, Manfred. What about you? Are you alright?" Janice closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Then, the sound of footsteps outside the door jolted her awake.
"Don’t move. Stay quiet!" Manfred hissed sharply, his instincts on high alert. Until they knew who those people were, he wouldn’t let them get into danger.
"She’s awake!" ca a voice from outside, speaking fluent English. A sudden light flooded the room. Janice instinctively opened her eyes and saw two dark figures step inside — both blonde with green eyes, expressionless like mummies. Without a word, they untied her and dragged her out.
"Let go! What do you want from ?" Janice glanced back at Manfred, who suddenly collapsed without warning. Whatever they gave him must have knocked him out.
"She’s Charles, the Night Asura’s woman. Pregnant, too — that’s even more useful for Your Excellency!"
"Keep a close eye on her. The plane is about to land!"
"Your Excellency is waiting. As for that man — lock him up first! That woman is the perfect leverage against Black Hawk!"
Hearing their words sent a wave of panic through Janice. Charles’ na confird her worst fears — he was doing sothing dangerous, and now they were using her as a bargaining chip.
If she were alone, she could take risks without worrying about him. But now, with a baby inside her, she dared not move recklessly.
The repeated ntion of "Your Excellency" sent chills down her spine. Who was this mysterious figure? And what was the deal with Black Hawk?
After being released, Janice wasn’t hard but instead taken to a spacious, brightly lit room. Anxiety and fear weighed down on her as she closed her eyes. In the haze, she swore she saw Charles’ towering figure — like a god — appear before her. He had co to save her.
"Charles..." she whispered, breaking out in a cold sweat. Sitting up, she realized she was sowhere else now. The room around her was richly decorated in classical European style, like a grand castle. She hugged herself tightly, catching a pale, bloodless reflection in the full-length mirror — that face... it was hers.
"Where’s Manfred?" Janice looked around but found no sign of him. This eerie place felt surreal and unsettling.
"Beautiful lady from the East, a pleasure to et you. I am the Silver Emperor. You may call ... Silver Emperor." A whisper like a ghost suddenly sounded in Janice’s ear.
Looking up, she saw a tall figure enter — dressed in a black robe. His sharp features were cloaked in shadows, but even in profile, Janice was frozen by the cold aura he radiated.
"Silver Emperor..." Janice repeated softly, eyes wide. Could this be the ’Your Excellency’ they had been talking about? Who was this man?
"What do you want from ?"
Realizing the danger she was in, Janice instinctively took a step back. Shadows cloaked beneath the black robe shifted with him. His voice was low and hoarse, yet laced with a magnetic charm that echoed eerily in the room.
Suddenly, his hand shot out to grab her chin, forcing her to look up. The ghostly, alluring face ca fully into view—those deep erald eyes burning with a seductive, almost hypnotic glow made Janice shiver uncontrollably.
His features were sharp and striking, a fierce mix of bloodlines—handso yet haunting. Even when he smiled, there was an oppressive chill that crawled down her spine.
And yet, he spoke fluent Chinese.
"Do you know?" The Silver Emperor sneered, clearly savoring the smoothness of Janice’s delicate skin under his touch. "Only two kinds of people in this world have seen my true face."
"One kind is the dead."
A cold light flickered in his green eyes. When they locked onto Janice’s fearful gaze, his pupils flared with a bloodthirsty excitent. An Eastern woman—aside from his mother and another woman—Janice was only the third he had ever seen.
"What..." Janice’s heart jolted. She pushed back with her hands, trying to avoid his grip, but the shadows around her tightened like a cage. One arm pulled her back forcefully. His sensuous lips brushed her ear as he whispered, "The other kind... is my woman."
The burning sting of his words slithered like poison through her, making it hard for Janice even to breathe. She struggled desperately to break free. This man was far too dangerous—her fear deepened with every second.
"So, beautiful lady," his sultry face hovered inches from hers, "which kind will you choose to be?"
His breath was so close, so suffocating, Janice realized there was nowhere left to run.
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