"Are you certain about this?" Liu Ruobing asked softly as she walked beside Jun Haoxuan through the long palace corridor, the lantern flames reflecting gently against the polished jade walls. "An alliance with the wolf beast clan would strengthen us greatly, but they still resent the Azure Dragon Clan despite Shenzhen's marriage to their prince."
Jun Haoxuan walked with his hands clasped behind his back, his golden reptilian eyes calm yet thoughtful.
"I know," he replied. "But it is still necessary."
His voice remained steady as the flowing sleeves of his pale robes brushed against the marble floor.
"The divine beast clans have stood divided for too long. If prosperity is to continue, then broader alliances must exist beyond the Divine Heart Clans." His gaze lowered slightly. "And more than that… I want stability for the children."
Liu Ruobing smiled faintly at those words, pride softening her elegant features. "You truly have become a good ruler, A-Xuan."
