Anh Th? stood shivering in the middle of the garden, her eyes fixed on the thick sheets of ice sealing the entire villa. Her hands trembling, she pressed her phone and called Huy.

  ---

  District 8, inside a small four-room house tucked in a narrow alley.

  Morning sunlight poured into the modest but warm little kitchen. On the wooden table, Mrs. Nguy?t carried out a steaming tray of Hu?-style Bánh Bèo, placing it before her husband and son. The scent of seared shrimp, scallion oil, and sweet fish sauce filled the room.

  Mr. Tín took the first bite and nodded approvingly:

  – “This dish is so delicious… I think I’ll have to eat two plates!”

  Huy grinned at his mother’s cooking, holding a spoon to drizzle more fish sauce over the Bánh Bèo, when suddenly his phone buzzed. On the screen appeared a familiar name — Anh Th?. He picked up with a playful tone:

  – “Good morning, love. Calling me this early? Did you already miss me?”

  On the other end, Anh Th?’s voice shook, each word pressed tightly:

  – “Come to my house right now! The whole villa… it’s frozen solid!”

  Before he could ask more, the line went dead.

  Huy froze, eyes wide, the spoon still suspended midair. A few drops of fish sauce splashed onto the wooden table. He stood motionless for several seconds before stammering:

  – “Heavens… how could something so terrifying happen…”

  Mr. Tín frowned, urging:

  – “Why are you standing there like a statue? Eat quickly or you’ll be late for work!”

  Huy spun around, his face pale:

  – “Dad, Mom! Anh Th? just called… she said the entire villa is frozen! She told me to come right away!”

  The cozy warmth in the house suddenly turned heavy. Mrs. Nguy?t’s eyes widened, clutching her dish towel tightly as she whispered:

  – “What… what did you just say? Your in-laws’ villa… frozen over?”

  Mr. Tín sat stunned, his wooden chopsticks clattering onto the table with a sharp clack:

  – “Good heavens… this can’t be real…”

  For a few moments, silence filled the room. The family — descendants of the centipede spirit clan, though not powerful themselves — had heard many old legends. They knew well: to freeze an entire villa of that size… only someone with the power of a Lord, or at the very least, blood of the ancient royal lineage, could achieve it.

  A chill ran down all three of their spines. They hadn’t even seen it firsthand, but just hearing about it made their skin crawl.

  Mrs. Nguy?t murmured softly:

  – “I fear… this time, we’ve truly stumbled into something grave…”

  Mr. Tín’s face tightened as he turned to his son:

  – “Huy, you must be cautious… this matter bodes no good at all.”

  Huy quickly rose, grabbing his jacket and helmet:

  – “I’m going to Anh Th?’s house. I’ll take the day off.”

  Mr. Tín stood as well, urging his wife:

  – “We’ll go too. We must see for ourselves who could have caused this.”

  At the Bình Chánh headquarters, inside a chamber draped in silk, Trang stirred awake. Gentle morning light streamed through the window, glinting off her long, silky black hair that spilled across the pillow like a flowing river.

  Erion set the Black Crystal Mirror aside, leaned down, and pressed a soft kiss on her forehead, his eyes lingering tenderly on her just-awakened face.

  – “You’re awake… Today, I’ll take you out. We haven’t really had private time together.”

  Trang smiled, wrapping her arms around his neck, her eyes sparkling with joy.

  – “Of course… It’s been so long since I’ve gone out to have fun. Let’s make the most of today.”

  But just then, a shrill scream echoed through the corridors.

  – “Who! Who dares to dispel my storm? Who dares to mock me like this?!”

  Lita’s voice, sharp as a blade, cut through the air and even reached their room.

  Erion heard it clearly. The corner of his mouth curled into a half-smile, his gaze cold and filled with disdain.

  – “Seems I’ll have to teach that brat some manners. The more I yield, the more she thinks she can climb over my head.”

  Trang tilted her head, teasing, her eyes glimmering mischievously.

  – “Looks like Trúc Di?n will have his hands full again with that hot-headed princess.”

  ---

  In the grand hall of the headquarters, the sound of Lita’s Lolita shoes clacked sharply against the marble floor, accompanied by her piercing screams.

  Din was sprawled across a velvet sofa, snoring, his voice groggy and annoyed.

  – “If you can’t sleep, at least let others rest… We were all up till dawn last night. Could you have some decency?”

  Lita spun around, her eyes blazing with fury.

  – “Silence! Who are you to speak as my equal?”

  At that moment, Yin emerged lazily from a side hallway, draped in a silk robe. He let out a long yawn, his deep voice steady.

  – “Din is a vampire count over eight hundred years old, princess. You… are younger than even his great-great-grandchildren.”

  The atmosphere in the hall tightened. Soft footsteps resounded as the Demon King Satan appeared, majestic atop the staircase. His amber-gold eyes burned with warning. He cleared his throat lightly, but the sound reverberated like thunder.

  – “If you continue without respect… showing insolence toward your elders… I will cast you back into the Shadow World immediately, and place you in a far stricter school of discipline.”

  Lita’s face paled, but her stubborn nature flared even stronger. She screamed louder, stomping her heels against the marble floor.

  – “No one has the right to command me! I am the princess of the Royal Realm!”

  Erion’s imps, yawning after a sleepless night, were also roused by her shouting. One of them grumbled lazily:

  This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.

  – “Princess, we were up all night too. And that storm failed because your power was weak, not because anyone interfered.”

  Lita’s eyes blazed, her face flushing red like a tomato.

  – “How dare you call me weak! I’ll make you regret those words!”

  Sparks cracked and snapped in the air, lightning crackling so fiercely that even the priceless wooden furniture trembled.

  The sharp click of heels echoed against the marble floor from the side corridor. Trúc Di?n stepped out, looking more awake now, though still carrying the weight of an uneasy rest. His eyes glimmered with irritation.

  – “What’s with all the screaming? With that kind of temper, no prince would ever dare come near you.”

  Lita instantly spun around, her blue eyes blazing as she shot him a daggered glare.

  – “As if you’d ever be in line, so don’t even dream about it.”

  Trúc Di?n smirked, glancing back at her coolly.

  – “We’ll see about that.”

  The hall was strung taut with tension when from behind, the old Grand Thái S? appeared. Regal in a Gothic black gown embroidered with silver patterns, she held a phoenix-feather fan inlaid with jade. Her voice, raspy yet authoritative, carried through the chamber.

  – “Back then, Princess Trang and Erion were the same. Always bickering, always at odds. And now? They’re heading out on a date.”

  Her words froze the entire hall for a moment.

  Standing just behind Trúc Di?n, the wizard V?nh stroked his beard with a mischievous glint in his eye.

  – “Love is unpredictable. The princess speaks so boldly… but whether her actions match her words is another matter.”

  No sooner had his words faded than laughter rippled through the hall, echoing off the lofty vaulted ceilings.

  Lita’s face turned scarlet, torn between embarrassment and anger. She bit her lip, her eyes darting nervously, while Trúc Di?n coughed lightly, feigning distraction to conceal his triumphant smile.

  At that moment, from the grand double-spiral staircase, Trang and Erion descended together. Erion had resumed his disguised appearance: fair, radiant skin and amber-brown eyes that gleamed with magnetic allure.

  The Demon King Satan, seated upon his redwood throne, cast a stern side glance downward. His voice was solemn.

  – “So early in the morning… and you plan to take my daughter somewhere?”

  Erion lowered his head slightly, his voice calm, though his eyes flicked toward Lita, sharp as blades.

  – “I intend to take Trang out. It’s been too long since she’s had a chance to relax. We’ll be back before nightfall.”

  Trang rushed forward, clinging to her father’s arm, her eyes sparkling with both innocence and determination.

  – “Don’t worry, Father. If I’m with Erion, no one will dare harm me. Please let me go!”

  Inside, Satan was overjoyed — he could see clearly how the two Black Diamonds had bonded tightly together. But outwardly, he kept his airs, his tone half stern, half teasing.

  – “Very well… but be back early.”

  He tilted his head, his gaze like a spear aimed at Erion.

  – “If my daughter so much as loses a strand of hair, I will hold you accountable.”

  Erion gave a faint smile, saying nothing more, simply taking Trang’s hand and leading her out. But just before crossing the gate, he deliberately raised his voice, every word laced with arrogance so that Lita would hear.

  – “That storm was far too weak. I brushed against it and it vanished. If you wish to challenge me… you’ll need at least a few hundred more years of training.”

  His words cut straight into Lita’s pride like a knife. Rage boiled within her, her fists clenched tight, but deep down she knew Erion’s strength was real. All she could do was swallow her fury, her eyes blazing as she silently vowed not to let this go.

  The imps chuckled, one of them covering its mouth as its eyes gleamed.

  – “By the time the princess has trained for a few centuries… our General will have already surpassed that by leagues.”

  Din winked.

  – “You’re too cruel. Don’t tease her — our princess is fragile and delicate, after all.”

  Laughter resounded across the hall, ringing bright to herald a new day — one filled with cheer, energy, and just a touch of mischief.

  At that moment, the villa in District 2 was still shrouded in icy mist, as though drenched in liquid nitrogen. Thick layers of frost blanketed every windowpane, every roof tile, even the branches and blades of grass — transforming the residence into a colossal ice palace in the heart of Saigon. The blazing morning sun overhead could not pierce through; every ray was bent and reflected back, as if an invisible barrier of sorcery encased the entire estate.

  In the courtyard, Mr. D?ng’s family, his three closest friends, and neighbor Mr. Tài huddled together, shivering as their breaths turned white in the frigid air. From a distance, the rumble of a motorbike engine drew closer.

  A gleaming scooter pulled up, Huy at the wheel, followed by his parents — Mr. Tín and Mrs. Nguy?t — on their old Dream motorcycle. The moment they stopped at the gate, the family froze in astonishment.

  Before their eyes, the once-familiar villa now stood as a frozen citadel, with white mist drifting like something out of an ethereal realm.

  Mr. D?ng shuffled forward cautiously across the slippery ground to greet his in-laws, his voice trembling from the cold.

  – “How did you know about this and come here so quickly?”

  Mr. Tín’s eyes widened in disbelief.

  – “Th? called Huy. She said your villa was… frozen solid. Once we heard, we rushed over straight away. But what kind of bizarre phenomenon is this?”

  Mrs. Nguy?t clasped her hands together, blowing into them for warmth.

  – “Never seen anything like this before. It’s truly chilling.”

  The three old friends stepped closer, their sharp eyes sizing Huy up from head to toe. C?u D?ng quickly introduced them.

  – “These are my three closest friends, also longtime business partners. All of them are well-known, successful men in the industry.”

  He then gestured toward his in-laws.

  – “And this is my second set of in-laws—Th?’s husband’s parents.”

  The three men gave curt nods, to which Mr. Tín and Mrs. Nguy?t responded politely. But Huy, awkward and self-conscious, scratched his head.

  – “Um… hello, uncles.”

  Deep nodded slightly but shot him a dismissive glance.

  – “Yes, hello. I heard you… got the girl pregnant, didn’t you? When it comes to love, one ought to take it slow. Rush too much, and you’ll regret it.”

  Ti?n cut in immediately, his tone laced with hidden sharpness.

  – “We’ve been on the battlefield of business for decades. Tricks like ‘snatch and grab’ don’t slip past us easily.”

  Huy’s face flushed crimson as he stammered, unable to argue. Mr. Tín and Mrs. Nguy?t lowered their heads in shame, for they knew well their son had “taken a shortcut” in his relationship. The air grew thick with embarrassment.

  At last, Tu?n spoke up, his tone gentler.

  – “Enough. Since his in-laws came all this way, let’s invite them inside.”

  C?u D?ng nodded, gesturing toward the doorway.

  – “Very well. But I’ll warn you, it’s freezing inside. Both heaters are running at full capacity, yet it barely makes a difference. Are you sure you can endure it?”

  Mr. Tín forced a stiff smile, pretending it was nothing.

  – “It’s fine, we can manage. Nothing to worry about.”

  Noticing M? Linh’s slightly haggard face, Mrs. Nguy?t leaned forward, concern in her voice.

  – “Are you well, sister-in-law? You seem a bit unwell.”

  M? Linh quickly covered, unwilling to let anyone suspect what had happened the previous night.

  – “Thank you, it’s nothing. With Th?’s morning sickness being so severe, I’ve been worrying too much about my daughter and grandchild. Lost some sleep, that’s all.”

  The group entered the living room together. The icy air bit into their skin, chilling them to the bone. Even the moment a hand brushed against the wooden chair, a thin layer of frost immediately formed. The two heaters glowed red-hot, working relentlessly, yet warmth was nonexistent.

  Huy, shivering, glanced at the frost-covered window, muttering to himself.

  – “Why doesn’t sunlight come through? So strange…”

  Mr. Tín, standing beside him, leaned in with a grave whisper.

  – “This is the work of a Lord-class power. Not only freezing everything, but even blocking sunlight — as if to turn this villa into an eternal ice palace. Whoever did this… is no ordinary being.”

  The sleek Bentley Bentayga rolled out of the Bình Chánh headquarters, cutting through the illusionary barrier. Erion sat behind the wheel, the corners of his lips curved into a smile of pure happiness never seen before. His sharp, handsome face radiated like it was glowing under the morning sun.

  Beside him, Trang was equally overwhelmed with joy. Her fingers lingered over the necklace—its heart-shaped pendant, a flawless black diamond he had gifted her the night before.

  – “Today, forget all work. The whole day belongs to just us,” Erion said gently, his eyes soft as he glanced at her.

  – “It’s been so long since I’ve had such a carefree day… thank you so much,” Trang replied with a shy nod, her cheeks blushing pink.

  Outside, the sun had risen high, painting the sky a deep blue adorned with drifting white clouds, as if heaven itself had blessed the lovers with a rare moment of peace.

  Meanwhile, at the frozen villa, the atmosphere was the complete opposite. Everyone sat huddled together, their bodies trembling in the bone-piercing cold.

  Deep cast a sidelong glare at Huy, his voice sharp as a blade:

  – “So, when exactly do you and your family plan to hold the wedding? I consider D?ng’s daughter like my own niece. If you don’t arrange a proper ceremony, I won’t sit idly by.”

  Sitting next to him, Ti?n’s face was grim, his eyes burning with hostility:

  – “Well? What are you planning to do about it?”

  Mr. Tín answered slowly, his tone steady yet firm:

  – “We’ve already discussed this carefully. Of course, the children must have a proper wedding. No parent wishes for things to turn out this way, but since it’s happened, we’ll take responsibility.”

  C?u D?ng maintained a Hollywood-like composure, speaking with deliberate calm:

  – “You’re right. It’s already done, so now we must plan for them.”

  M? Linh, however, couldn’t hide her sharp tongue:

  – “The wedding must be arranged quickly! If Th?’s belly grows too big, what face will my family have left?”

  Mrs. Nguy?t, on the other hand, spoke sincerely, her gaze directed toward her in-laws:

  – “We’re planning to see a fortune teller today, choose a good date, and let you know.”

  Huy, trembling like a leaf, stammered nervously:

  – “But… with the house still frozen, how can my family hold the bridal procession here?”

  The room fell into silence. At last, Mr. Tài spoke, his voice tinged with helplessness:

  – “If D?ng’s house is still frozen by then… the ceremony may have to be held somewhere else.”

  Deep frowned, after a moment’s thought:

  – “But the ancestral altar is here. How can the bridal procession be done anywhere else?”

  Anh ?ào glanced out at the frost-covered garden, blanketed in white like a Nordic fairytale:

  – “I think by tomorrow the ice will melt, just like last time.”

  Everyone turned their gaze to the wintry garden, silently hoping that everything would return to normal soon — so that Anh Th?’s wedding could take place.