Chapter 632

There was a reliable way to confirm whether the person before her was truly Shirley.

Shirley had asked Jasmine to fetch some peanuts for her. Jasmine was aware of Shirley’s peanut allergy, though it wasn’t severe, and upon realizing what Shirley had in mind, she quietly arranged for someone to caramelize peanut candies. This had to be done discreetly, without attracting attention.

The royal banquet concluded perfectly after an hour.

After Martin’s loss, he returned, enduring whispered mockery about his overestimation of his abilities, and was cautioned to temper his actions and avoid being too reckless.

Martin seethed with frustration. After pulling Shirley off the stage, he swore to make those who had mocked him tonight regret it.

When Henry left, Shirley couldn’t help but feel a sense of emptiness.

Sean appeared again, biting his lip and hesitating before speaking, “Your Highness, do you have feelings for Mr. Jean?”

Shirley, unfazed, responded with a faint smile, “Isn’t it obvious enough?”

Sean was momentarily silenced. “Then why… did you agree to dance with me?”

Shirley gave him a candid response. “It was just a dance. I didn’t mean anything more by it.”

Sean lowered his gaze, realizing Shirley indeed held no romantic interest in him. The kiss between Henry and Shirley earlier had clearly shaken him. “I wish you happiness, but I won’t give up. If Henry dares to hurt you, I will continue to pursue you.”

Shirley offered a polite smile in return. Sean was a genuinely sincere person, but it seemed only Henry had truly caught her attention. After all, Sean had met her two years ago, and at that time, she felt nothing. Even now, there was no change.

Soon after, Jasmine found her in the meeting room, offering a piece of peanut candy. Without hesitation, Shirley popped it into her mouth. The familiar taste of peanuts filled her senses, but moments later, the allergic reaction began to take hold. Her skin itched, and red spots appeared across her arms. Seeing this, Jasmine was certain that the woman before her was Shirley. Shirley’s appearance could change, even her chest, but that was due to Edison likely administering something to her.

After all, Anna had mentioned that Shirley had been feeling unwell recently, often suffering from pain. It seemed likely that this was a side effect.

Once certain, Jasmine breathed a sigh of relief. It was clear that Henry and Shirley were destined for each other. In such a vast world, within the grand Kingdom of Xyperia, it was remarkable that their paths had crossed.

“You should tell Shermaine about your condition as soon as possible. Let her come and examine you,” Jasmine suggested.

“Shermaine?” Shirley asked.

“Boa Hanks.”

In Xyperia, Shermaine went by Boa, though both Jasmine and the Queen knew her true identity. Upon hearing the name, Shirley felt a faint sense of familiarity and, instinctively, trust. Her mind began to wander, remembering fragments of information about her. However, thinking too much made her head throb. The blood clot pressing on her nerves was slow to dissipate, and the doctors had strongly advised against surgery, deeming it far too dangerous.

Since she trusted her, Shirley decided to put her thoughts aside and replied, “There’s no need to rush. Martin has backing. This reckless man couldn’t have come up with the plan to pursue the proxy presidency on his own. There must be someone behind him.”

Jasmine nodded. “I’ve heard Henry and my husband discuss it. They’ll help investigate quietly.”

Shirley nodded in agreement. This way, she could focus on dealing with the king–level mutant and the increasing frequency of black hole appearances. She needed to identify the cause and find a solution. As for the black hole, no progress had been made yet. The empire’s tech department was still clueless. With the war raging, their first attempt to approach the black hole had nearly been disastrous. The area was a hotspot for mutants. A slight mistake could lead to irreparable consequences. If they could eliminate the king–level mutant, things would become much simpler, as it currently commanded thousands of mutants. Each time it attacked, others followed suit.

“Also, regarding my cross–dressing, I’ll speak with Henry personally. Please don’t tell him just yet.”

“Alright,” Jasmine agreed readily, sensing that Henry might retreat into himself tonight. After all, what stood before him was Vivianus, not Shirley. He was in love with a man, not Shirley, though in truth, they were the same person.

Jasmine hadn’t expected that after Shirley’s memory loss, her personality would become far more relaxed. She was no longer as strict with herself as before.

After Jasmine left, Shirley called Henry.

Henry answered after a brief pause, his tone deliberately neutral. “Is there something you need?”

Shirley raised an eyebrow, her fingers lightly tapping the surface of the table. “Nothing in particular. Just missed you,” she said, a teasing smile playing at the corner of her lips. “The kiss earlier… it was quite nice. What did you think, Henry?”

Henry’s heart skipped a beat at her words, the tension in the air palpable. It felt like Vivianus was testing him.

“You really want to get involved with me, don’t you?”

“Do you?” Shirley’s response was playful, her voice light.

“I don’t,” Henry replied, his tone more serious. “I was just going along with it. It didn’t mean anything.”

Shirley let out a soft laugh, her expression a mixture of amusement and intrigue. “You might want to reconsider. If you’re really interested, you can always come find me. I can share a secret with you.”

Henry didn’t reply immediately, instead muttering, “I’m hanging up now.”

Shirley noted how quickly the call ended, her mind working through his reaction. She couldn’t quite gauge his feelings. If he were open to it, that would suggest he liked her, but if he wasn’t, it meant his feelings were more superficial. If they were shallow, then she had no interest in pursuing it. And besides, he might not even be attracted to her at all.

Men were complicated that way. Even if they were indifferent, a little provocation could stir something within them. And it was clear to her that Henry had some level of affection for her.

The next morning, Shirley set about reorganizing the empire’s government. After giving Jasmine instructions to keep a close eye on things, she returned to Norham City.

The war in Norham City flared up once again.

For an entire week, Henry stayed away from Norham City, retreating to a hotel in Linus City. During this time, he had vivid dreams that felt wild and untamed, as though he were a different person, one unrestrained by anything. When he finally woke up, he was surprised by the intensity of those dreams.

Henry got out of bed and drank some water, attempting to steady his mind. The feelings were subtle but undeniable, and he knew that if they persisted, they would only grow stronger. What troubled him most, however, was Vivianus‘ identity. He wasn’t sure if he truly wanted to be with him, nor did he understand the consequences of being involved with another man.

Henry spent hours online, searching for answers. But as he read through articles about same–sex relationships, he found himself still uncomfortable. Though he supported discreet relationships, before meeting Vivianus, he had always considered himself indifferent to sex, believing he was attracted only to women. Yet, when it came to Vivianus, everything changed.

A few days ago, the king–level mutant, along with several epic–level mutants and hundreds of others, had returned to cause chaos. Henry had been concerned for Vivianus, but the man had stood strong, leading the military to victory. Still, when Henry saw Sean involved in the battle, a knot of frustration formed in his chest.

Henry shifted his focus back to Martin. The man was clearly a simpleton, large and brutish, but the recent stirrings suggested there was someone backing him. He had watched for days, but Martin was careful, as though the person behind was someone he couldn’t reveal easily.

Henry squinted, deep in thought.

In Wallington, Danielle had followed Shermaine’s method to heal her uterine injury. After a month, she went for a follow–up examination. The gynecologist was surprised by her progress, noting that the injury had healed significantly. “With your current condition, you can now have children.” Danielle’s face lit up, overwhelmed with joy.

Ross, who had accompanied her, heard the doctor’s words as well. His throat tightened, his expression turning serious. After leaving the hospital, Danielle was eager to share the news with Shermaine. She could have a child now. It was a huge milestone in her life.

Ross, driving, broke her thoughts. “No need to tell her in person. You can just share it in the group.”

“Right.”

Danielle immediately sent her report to the group chat. Janice was the first to respond. [Looks like I’ll be a great- grandmother next year!] The message was followed by a cheerful smiley face.

Ruth chimed in. [It’s great to hear that the injury has healed, but do take care of yourself.]

[Got it.] Danielle replied.

As they conversed, Danielle realized Ross wasn’t taking her home but heading somewhere else. She raised an eyebrow. “Where are we going, honey?”

“Hotel.”

Danielle’s face flushed. “Isn’t it a bit inappropriate, in broad daylight?”

Ross remained silent, pulling into the hotel entrance. Without a word, he led her inside. In the presidential suite, after swiping the keycard, Ross immediately lifted her up. The room’s curtains were drawn, with only faint beams of light filtering in.

He gently placed her on the bed and leaned down to kiss her. “Danielle, do you prefer boys or girls?”

Danielle wrapped her arms around his neck. “I like both.”

Ross smirked. “Then it’s a girl.”

Danielle laughed softly. “No, I want a boy. A daughter might compete with me for you. You are mine alone.”

Though, a son might try to do the same, like George.

Her thoughts drifted, and before she realized it, her mind was empty as Ross took the lead.