...
After almost an hour of waiting, the Queen finally returned.
Liu Wei stood facing the great hall's door, clearly taking in the beauty of the woman before her.
Wang Zheng was dressed in a long black gown with a sweeping train. A daring side slit exuded an unmistakable sensuality, it almost seemed a sin to breathe the same air as someone so breathtaking. The plunging V-neckline framed a view reminiscent of lush hills, a true vision of paradise.
Liu Wei felt her throat dry and a flush rise over her skin; she hadn't even realized she'd been holding her breath for so long. Drawing a deep, steadying breath, she released all the air from her lungs. Clutching her cup, she brought it to her lips in an attempt to numb her trembling body with alcohol. Her emotions were unsteady, growing increasingly intense and desperate for Wang Zheng.
With a sip of wine, she silently resolved that if anything went wrong, she'd simply blame the alcohol.
The Queen was always surrounded by a throng of people, making it nearly impossible for Liu Wei to get close. Still, she lingered at the edges, quietly listening to the interactions around her. Li Zhang was her closest acquaintance, though not yet a true friend, so the young omega's days often felt lonely and uneventful.
Yet the best part of palace life was catching a glimpse of Wang Zheng almost every day; each sight sent Liu Wei's heart racing and bursting with joy.
Crossing the hall toward the drinks table, the Queen picked up a glass of wine and watched as guests began to approach. Yang Fan was the first, a young alpha eager both to settle a lost bet and to learn more about the mysterious drink the Queen had mentioned earlier.
"Your Majesty, may I accompany you?"
"Of course, after all, you lost the bet. Let's drink together."
The Queen leaned in to whisper something to an attendant.
Moments later, one of them returned with a large glass bottle filled with a deep reddish liquid.
"This drink is one of our country's little secrets; only royalty holds its formula. It's extremely sweet and potent,few can handle too much of it. But please, have a sip with me…"
Glasses were swiftly distributed and filled with the red liquid.
"Let's drink," the Queen declared.
Not wanting to be left out, and unwilling to show any weakness in this competition, the other Bloody Spring participants eagerly joined in. "May we accompany you?" they asked.
The Queen smiled in surprise; they clearly underestimated the strength of the drink.
"Well, sure. Bring glasses for everyone and serve them."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Only Li Zhang declined, being very sensitive to alcohol and fearful that too much might trigger her estrus.
Within minutes, everyone had a small glass of the red liquid. Thanks to her family's tradition as wine producers, Liu Wei's extensive knowledge of alcoholic beverages allowed her to immediately detect the strong aroma of alcohol, subtly masked by sweetness.
The Queen raised her glass, and those around her followed suit, quickly emptying their drinks. In mere moments, a variety of expressions appeared. She laughed heartily, adept at drinking, she barely felt the effects, while the others reacted differently.
"What do you think?" she asked.
"It's really strong…" murmured one guest.
Yang Fan, who prided herself on her drinking ability, admitted, "Sweet, but I can't drink any more…"
Wang Zheng noted that, among all the guests, only Liu Wei hadn't reacted negatively.
"And Miss Liu Wei, what do you think?"
The sound of her name startled Liu Wei, nearly causing her to trip; however, she quickly composed herself and smiled. "Well… may I have another?"
Wide eyes watched as her cup was refilled.
The Queen clearly found the girl intriguing.
"Sure. As many as you can handle," she said, taking the bottle from a servant to personally refill Liu Wei's glass.
The little omega felt her ears burning as she inhaled the sweet aroma again, the alcohol now blending even better, a sure sign she was beginning to feel its effects.
"I can handle more," she murmured.
The Queen smiled and gestured for her to wait a moment as she refilled her own glass and held it up.
"I'll join you for another glass…"
Wang Zheng clinked their glasses together with a small toast:
"…Let's make a toast to great surprises!"
They drank the reddish liquid in one go, locking eyes as they did. Though clearly intoxicated, it was evident Liu Wei was drinking for Wang Zheng.
Soon after, Li Zhang approached and clapped her hands excitedly, "You're really good at drinking."
Liu Wei smiled. "Well, my family is a major wine exporter—we've been drinking from a very young age…"
"Really?"
"Yes, we learn to appreciate it early on."
"I see. So you all become wine sommeliers."
"Yes, though no one can match my mother's refined palate."
Wang Zheng enjoyed listening to the lively exchange and watched the interaction between the two omegas with satisfaction. It was rare for her not to be the center of attention; conversations typically revolved around work, skills, or tastes, rarely focusing on personal matters. As Liu Wei fiddled with her small cup, the Queen dared to ask,
"Would you like one more?"
The girl's eager nod surprised the Queen, for fear that she might later feel very ill.
"Good…" the Queen said as she refilled both glasses and joined Liu Wei for yet another small toast.
As they drank, Wang Zheng observed Liu Wei's graceful movement as she lifted her glass and gently brought it to her lips. The little princess sipped with a smile, and the Queen felt her own cheeks warm and her heart race as she watched the young omega's increasing intoxication and deepening blush. She sighed inwardly.
Hours passed, and the festivities continued, guests still drinking, eating, and laughing merrily. The Queen moved fluidly among the party, never lingering in one place, always mingling. Meanwhile, Liu Wei sat at a table with Anna, enjoying a small dessert.
Anna looked worried; Liu Wei's flushed face was clear evidence of overindulgence."Are you okay?".
Though well-versed in drinking, Liu Wei admitted, "I'm feeling dizzy."
"Do you want some fresh air?"
After finishing her piece of cake, Liu Wei stood up. Despite a slight stagger, she soon found her balance. "Yes, but I can go alone."
"Okay," Anna replied, watching her with concern.
Liu Wei didn't have far to walk before finding a quiet spot. The wide palace balcony offered a privileged view of the garden and pool. After a few steps, she discovered a small bench and sat down, taking a deep, calming breath. Her thoughts were abruptly interrupted by a velvety, husky voice, the Queen had followed her.
"Aren't you having fun?"
Wang Zheng looked just as breathtaking at the end of the party as she had at its beginning, elegant and enchanting.
"Yeah, the feast is wonderful… I'm just a little high from the alcohol," Liu Wei replied.
The Queen, having anticipated that the omega might feel unwell, asked, "I see. Do you need anything?"
Liu Wei shook her head.
"Good. You're a fine drinker, few can keep up with me."
Liu Wei blushed, her face warming further. "I'm glad I made it."
The young omega's radiant smile made Wang Zheng's heart melt.
The Queen then sat beside Liu Wei. It wasn't long before she detected a delicate hint of mint in the air, now as sweet as honey. The change in the pheromone was striking, and the Queen was both surprised and delighted; the scent was sweet and addictive, leaving her craving more.
Liu Wei, too, detected a trace of sweet pineapple and sighed softly, "Your pheromone is so sweet."
Discussing pheromones was highly intimate, and for Liu Wei to comment so boldly suggested she had had quite a bit to drink. Amused and intrigued by the girl's candor, the Queen asked, "Do you like it?"
Liu Wei nodded enthusiastically. "I do! It feels like I'm on a tropical island."
The Queen laughed at the comparison. "Really?"
"Yes. It feels like a vacation, relaxing, stretching your legs, and drinking pineapple juice."
Though the remark was ambiguous, referring to a person's pheromone rather than mere fruit juice, the Queen felt nothing but a surge of warmth. "Good," she murmured.
After a brief pause, Liu Wei tried to rise and return to the hall, but her legs were too weak, and she stumbled. A pair of warm hands caught her at the waist, preventing her from falling, a sensation both hot and comforting.
"Aren't you too dizzy to walk?" the Queen asked from behind, her hot breath brushing against Liu Wei's neck and shoulder. Liu Wei felt her strength fading.
"Well, maybe…" she murmured.
Wang Zheng smiled softly; Liu Wei's incredibly sweet scent captivated her, and the Queen secretly admired the young omega as she was gently guided back to the bench. Liu Wei looked visibly nervous as she took a deep breath.
"You're so strong… You took down that alpha with ease," she remarked in awe. In a bold, unceremonious gesture, the young omega reached out and touched the Queen's abdomen, a move that even surprised Wang Zheng.
The Queen felt her body heat up; standing before Liu Wei with her painted red ears fully visible, she murmured, "Maybe I'm just lucky…"
"It's not luck, you're truly remarkable," Liu Wei replied, locking eyes with Wang Zheng as a strange, indescribable feeling stirred within her.
As the minty fragrance grew sweeter, transforming from a sharp, bitter note into something reminiscent of light, festive candy, the Queen leaned in and whispered,
"You're beautiful, strong, and smart… If you were an alpha, you'd have a trail of omegas behind you…"
Liu Wei looked up in surprise, catching the Queen's smile as a gentle caress brushed her cheek. Gently, Wang Zheng bent down so that they were finally eye to eye, standing on equal ground.
The Queen tucked a small lock of Liu Wei's hair behind her ear and leaned closer, whispering,
"I already have many omegas behind me…"
Liu Wei trembled, her heart pounding as the Queen's face drew near. She longed to kiss her, to taste those red lips.
"…I don't like being compared to alphas very much. I can have whoever I want if they return my feelings, and I've never needed to be an alpha to be good at what I do."
Her tone carried a hint of bitterness and sorrow, as if burdened by guilt. She wanted to pull away, to say goodbye, but Wang Zheng gently intervened: "Stay."
Wang Zheng then rose and walked a short distance toward the palace entrance, calling over an official, "Please call Miss Liu Wei's maid and tell her that she needs help getting back to her room."
The man nodded briskly, "Yes, Your Majesty."
Liu Wei felt a flush of embarrassment over the Queen's earlier words, her cheeks burning anew. Soon, Wang Zheng approached again, bending down close to her.
"Miss Liu Wei, it's getting late and I must leave. I hope you're alright".
The Queen smiled gently once more, lightly touching the young omega's flushed cheeks. "You should rest and get ready for our date. Don't forget to surprise me, I truly want you to dazzle me more than anyone else," she whispered, her husky, velvety voice laced with desire.
Wang Zheng then rose and soon saw Anna approaching. "Have a good night".
Liu Wei watched the Queen's retreating back with a smile, feeling her cheeks grow even warmer. Inwardly, she thought, That woman is too dangerous.
Shortly after the Queen's departure, Anna appeared with a worried look. "Miss Wei, your face is so red… Do you have a fever?"
Liu Wei stood and took a deep breath. "I'm fine…I just drank too much."
Later, as Liu Wei finished drying her hair, most of the drunkenness now fading, she changed into her silk pajamas, feeling much more comfortable after shedding her heavy dress. Yet she couldn't stop replaying the Queen's words: I really want you to surprise me, and I want you to achieve that more than anyone here. Everything about Wang Zheng seemed enviable, her personality, her physique, her skills, and, of course, the memory of those intoxicating pheromones lingered. Liu Wei felt a familiar warmth rising within her as she sighed in defeat. In that moment, she understood the truth of the feeling, it was love.
As she finished packing her things to go to bed, a soft knock sounded at her door. Giving a brief command for the visitor to enter, she watched as the door slowly opened to reveal her maid. Anna carried a small tray with a single glass.
"Miss Liu Wei, are you feeling better?"
"Yes, thank you."
Anna placed the glass on the small table in the room. "Your Majesty asked me to deliver this… honey water."
Liu Wei's face lit up with delight as she smiled broadly.
"Well…I'm fine now. You may go, thank you."
"Okay, good night," Anna said before hurrying out, leaving the room in peaceful silence.
Liu Wei looked at the glass and smiled happily.
Well, I'm going to try to surprise the Queen.