The disappearance of a single palace maid wasn’t a matter that drew much attention. After all, individuals of this status could be replaced with ease.

However, as more and more palace maids vanished over the course of a year, a light investigation was eventually carried out, and the results that came from such investigations were that all the missing palace maids had been charged with delivering meals to the 46th prince at some point.

Other than this commonality, bite marks of a beast could be found throughout the imperial palace’s grounds whenever a palace maid does go missing. But despite some earnest searching, no beast was found—regardless of where one looked, whether that be within the palace grounds, or near it.

Suspicion was naturally directed at Bujian Yue, as he was the only commonality that could be talked to in this case.

However, when a palace maid had gone missing, while Bujian Yue was placed under watch—keeping themselves within the confines of their private residence, the majority of these suspicions were settled.

As for the remaining few who continue to believe otherwise—

“…Do you all think the 46th prince might be a practitioner of curse arts?”

Seated around the same table, a palace guard had asked this of his peers.

Currently, these individuals are all gathered at the canteen, which is situated just outside of the palace’s gateway.

“It’s commonly known that the 46th prince doesn’t leave his private residence because he’s blind. Where would he even learn curse arts from? Even if he had a book on the subject, he can’t possibly read it.”

“…True.”

Seeing the frown on the palace guard’s face, another palace guard asks—

“Why are you so keen on finding the culprit behind the disappearing palace maid case?”

“One of those palace maids who went missing was…- She was important to me.”

Towards the palace guard’s reply, several of his peers from the nearby tables all laughed aloud, while one of them says—

“Ah, the classic two palace employees falling in love nonsense? Ai, I suggest you don’t bother with relationships like this.”

“Why?”

“Within the palace, all the palace maids—who have served for a year, it’s theorized that 99 percent of them has slept with either the emperor, or some official of importance. If it isn’t one or the other, then it’s the princes. Besides, knowing that they’d have a high chance of sleeping with someone of great rank, why would they look to a lowly palace guard for love?”

“…”

“Way to ruin a newbie’s dreams, old man…”

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Picking up a toothpick, another palace guard remarks—

“Speaking of the 46th prince, have you all heard that there’s been talks of wedding him off to a princess of another star region?”

“Ah? What sort of nonsense is this? Even if he’s a prince, he’s still just a little blind man…”

“Shhh, lower your voice. Insulting royalty is still punishable by death—even if the royalty possesses disability.”

“So which star region is it?”

Turning to the table of the palace guard, who had brought this matter up, the others strained their ears, to which, the former answers—

“Língchén (凌晨) Star Realm.”

“…It’s probably just some low pecking order princess—someone with no real authority, right?”

“I heard the official say it’s Princess Xiao Kui.”

“Ah, Lín Xiǎo Kuí? (霖小葵)”

As several palace guards widened their eyes, one of them asks—

“Uh? Isn’t she the most beloved daughter of the Lingchen Emperor?”

“Ai, we’ll find out soon enough. A matter of this nature can’t possibly go unannounced if it’s true.”

“Is this the so-called heaven leaves no hopeless paths? Even a blind man can marry a princess of high status now? Shit, hell must have frozen over…”

“If you’re so envious, why don’t you become a blind man as well?”

“Ai, who would want to live in complete darkness their entire life? A princess is good, but without good eyes, you can’t possibly hope to enjoy them.”

Following this remark, laughter erupts from all tables.

………

“…”

Seated in the center of his private residence at this time, Bujian Yue raises a frown.

Although much of the suspicions surrounding him had dissipated, the fear of jinxing themselves had caused the newer palace maids to refrain themselves from touching his meals.

(Ai… This won’t do.)

Although having a full set of meals daily is nice, Bujian Yue still finds the act of devouring another practitioner to be the most efficient means of cultivating.

That being the case—

(I, Bu-mou may be blind, but I am nevertheless a reasonable person. I can’t just go around eating people left and right…)

Bujian Yue tends to find the smallest offense an excuse that he could use, to righteously devour the offender.

“…Hmm.”

Just as Bujian Yue is contemplating, a palace official opens the door to his room, and says—

“46th prince, I’ve come bearing good news for you.”

“Good news?”

“Lingchen Star Realm’s ninth princess, Lin Xiao Kui wishes to marry you.”

Blinking his blind eyes, Bujian Yue asks—

“What reason would a princess have to marry a little blind man?”

Clearing his throat, and suppressing the urge to chuckle, the palace official replies—

“I’m afraid I wouldn’t know. His majesty has issued an order that you’re not allowed to refuse the matter. Later tonight, a few palace maids will come and escort you to a new residence.”

Considering how far Bujian Yue’s residence is from the center of the palace, along with the fact that cleaning will be necessary, the emperor and the other officials figured that it would be better to just move the former to a new residence—one that would befit the flower vase husband of the Lingchen Emperor’s most beloved daughter.

“I see.”

Having nothing else to really say, or discuss with Bujian Yue—after informing the former of their engagement partner’s status and standings in the Lingchen Star Realm, the palace official leaves.

Following the palace official’s departure, Bujian Yue thought—

(A political marriage, is it?)

The reason a person of high status possesses many offspring is to use them as tools to tie one’s household to another household of great status most of the time.

But this engagement with the ninth princess of the Lingchen Star Realm, something about it smells like iron.

(There’s no reason for an emperor’s most beloved daughter to marry a blind man—for there are much better candidates available. Hmm, my age right now should be around eight as well. The actual marriage probably won’t happen for another ten or so years.)

Tapping his index finger against his knee, a random thought manifests in Bujian Yue’s head, and towards it, he can’t help but laugh aloud.

(Ai… Did I go insane? The fact that I can so readily think of doing that… The value of numerous human lives, I wonder when did they start to mean so little to me? If I said that I had once saved a world… Would anyone believe me? At the very least, I—myself wouldn’t.)