Free Web NovelChapter 92: Chapter 92: When the Plot Finally Triggered
The atmosphere in the hall was already thick with tension, but it turned into a recipe for disaster as the paths of the two females crossed.
Shao Yuyan was storming back from the podium, her face twisted in a scowl because she had not hit that perfect S rank. She felt like everyone was mocking her in their hearts.
As she stepped down, she saw Lin En walking up.
Lin En looked so simple, so humble, and yet she had the audacity to capture Shao Han’s attention.
The Princess’s jealousy boiled over. As they passed each other on the narrow high platform, Yuyan did not just walk by. She accidentally leaned into Lin En, giving her a hidden shove with her shoulder.
Lin En, who was already nervous and shaking, had no balance. Her foot slipped off the edge of the high platform.
"Ahhh!" Lin En let out a piercing scream as she tumbled into the empty air.
The entire hall gasped. A female was falling!
In this world, females were as fragile as glass and as precious as diamonds. If a female fell from that height and injured herself, it would be a scandal that could start a war.
The noble Orcs in the front rows scrambled to move, but they were too far away.
Yue Yue stood up so fast her chair nearly flipped. "Lin En!"
But before any of the guards or the nearby Orcs could even take a step, a golden blur streaked across the vision of everyone in the hall.
Shao Han had been watching Lin En with a gaze so focused he saw the Princess’s shoulder move before she even made contact.
His body reacted with the speed of a lightning bolt. He did not think. He simply leaped from his high throne, his powerful SS rank muscles propelling him through the air like a predatory hawk.
He caught her mid air.
The impact of her small body hitting his chest made a soft thud. He wrapped his massive, armored arms around her, protectively tucking her head against his shoulder to shield her from the wind.
He landed on the marble floor with a heavy boom, but he did not stumble. He stood there, tall and imposing, holding the trembling Lin En in a princess carry.
The hall went deathly silent.
Lin En was gasping for air, her eyes wide with terror. She looked up and saw a pair of fierce, golden eyes staring down at her.
She realized she was being held by the First Prince of the Sand Empire, the man she had just been fangirling over. Her face went from pale white to a burning beet red in a split second.
"Are you hurt?" Shao Han asked. His voice was deep and rumbling, sounding more like a protective growl than a question.
Lin En could only shake her head, her voice stuck in her throat. She clutched his leather armor with her small hands, her heart beating so fast she thought it might explode.
Up on the platform, Shao Yuyan was frozen in shock. She had expected a servant or a low level guard to catch the girl, or for her to just get a minor bruise. frёeωebɳovel.com
She never imagined her cold, indifferent brother would literally fly across the room to save a nobody from the Southern Border.
Yuyan’s face turned ugly with rage. She had wanted to humiliate Lin En, but instead, she had just turned her into the heroine of a romantic fairy tale.
She looked at the way her brother was holding that girl, with a gentleness he had never shown her, and she felt like she wanted to scream.
Yue Yue, watching from above, let out a long breath she did not know she was holding.
Wow, she thought, the plot is really moving now. The male lead finally has his female lead in his arms. But as she watched the romantic scene, she felt a cold shiver run down her spine.
The junior priest was clearing his throat, looking at the list. With Lin En safe, the schedule had to continue.
"Lady Lin En," the priest called out nervously. "If you are able, please proceed with the test." ƒгeewebnovёl.com
Shao Han did not let her go immediately. He slowly set her on her feet, but he kept one hand on her waist to steady her, ignoring the scandalized looks from the other noble Orcs.
"Go," he whispered. "I am right here."
Yue Yue was practically vibrating in her seat. Her eyes were wide as she looked at the couple.
Oh my God, she screamed in her head. The legendary Hero Saves the Beauty trope. It actually happened right in front of me.
She watched with an awestruck expression as the First Prince stood there like a mountain, his massive arms wrapped around the tiny, blushing Lin En.
The height difference was so perfect it looked like a scene from a top tier romance novel. Yue Yue’s inner fangirl was hooting and cheering so loud she was worried she might accidentally shout out loud.
Look at those golden eyes. Look at that protective grip. They are a perfect match, she thought, her eyes sparkling. Lin En, you lucky girl. You just bagged the most powerful man in the room by falling off a stage.
She was so caught up in the drama that she completely forgot where she was. Her stomach gave a little rumble, and she sighed, wishing she had some snacks.
A bit of dried fruit or some sunflower seeds would have made this show even better. She was watching the live action version of the story the system had made her watch.
However, as she leaned forward to get a better look at the Prince’s intense expression, she felt a sudden, cold draft.
The hall was still silent, everyone’s attention focused on the Prince and Lin En. But the schedule was the schedule. The temple servants were already moving to get things back on track.
The junior priest, feeling the pressure of the Prince’s heavy aura, quickly looked down at his scroll to distract himself. He cleared his throat, the sound echoing through the quiet hall.
"Now that Lady Lin En is safe," the priest stuttered, "we shall continue. After her results are announced, we have the final participant of the rite."
He looked toward the high seating area, his eyes landing directly on the purple haired girl who was currently smiling like a dork at the romantic scene below.
"Lady Yue Yue of the Inner Sanctum, please prepare yourself!"
"What Inner Sanctum? She is from the Main Lan Empire, all right. Who messed up her information?"
Yue Yue’s smile froze. Her inner hooting stopped instantly. It was like a bucket of ice water had been dumped over her head.
She had been so busy enjoying the drama that she forgot she was the woman everyone was dying to see.
If she stepped onto that stage, the show would turn from a romance into a thriller very quickly. She felt the egg in her belly give a tiny, heavy throb, as if to remind her, Mommy, do not forget about me.
"Lady Yue Yue?" the priest called again, more insistently, wanting to remind her to get ready.
