The Bigshot Married Himself to the Heiress

She must stay here, the child in her belly is her lifeline. She absolutely cannot let anyone know that the child is not Kiya’s.

Gulit gently shook his head.

The surroundings were silent, but Kiya’s presence made it impossible to relax for a moment.

After a long period of silence, Gulit raised his eyes to look at Kiya, who was staring at him with a deep and oppressive gaze. Gulit quickly lowered his head.

"Sultan, I’ve told you everything I know, there’s really nothing else..." Gulit said sincerely.

Kiya looked at Gulit’s calm face and slowly said, "Gulit, as long as this child is a boy, I will make him Sultan!"

Such a promise, how could it be possible?

Gulit immediately expressed he had no such ambition, "Sultan, the future Sultan is Prince Dylan, neither I nor the child in my belly have such ambition."

"You can have this ambition!"

Gulit lifted his head to look at Kiya, whose face was calm and revealed no emotion.

For a moment, Gulit couldn’t fathom his thoughts.

"It’s late, let’s sleep."

Gulit was startled again, thinking about sharing a bed with Kiya, he stood there awkwardly.

Kiya ignored Gulit and got up to leave the room.

"Sultan, where are you going?"

"To sleep!"

Gulit watched Kiya’s back, moved his lips, but didn’t have the courage to speak words of retention.

It turned out she had overthought; Kiya had no intention of sleeping with her.

Gulit touched her own face; she wasn’t ugly, but compared to the Princess Consort’s enchanting beauty, her face held little interest.

A maid entered to attend to Gulit’s rest, and Gulit lay in bed feeling lost and unable to sleep, tossing and turning.

...

Kiya quietly returned to Paige Desmond’s bedchamber to rest; he couldn’t sleep elsewhere.

The dressing table was covered with the skincare products Paige Desmond liked to use, periodically replaced with new ones.

He always uncapped all the skincare products to let their scent spread, making the room carry some of Paige Desmond’s fragrance.

"Sultan, the Princess Consort has entered the palace."

Kiya had just lain down when Gavin came in to report. Kiya abruptly sat up and hurried out without even wearing shoes.

"Where is she now?" Kiya asked excitedly.

"She’s in Oni’s morgue," Gary said sadly.

It turned out she didn’t come for him, Kiya couldn’t help feeling disappointed.

"When the Princess Consort leaves, bring her to me." Kiya commanded.

"Yes."

...

The morgue was located in an inconspicuous corner of the Imperial Palace, where the temperature was very low. Paige wore a thick cotton coat when she walked in, yet still felt cold.

"Princess Consort..."

"Paige, I am called Paige." Paige emphasized once again.

"Yes!"

The staff pulled open a large drawer, and Oni lay inside.

Those who suffocated to death had distorted facial expressions and bluish-purple skin; Paige looked at Oni but only wanted to cry.

"Oni..." she whispered her name, but the vivacious and cheerful Oni could no longer respond to her.

"I’m sorry..."

Paige’s tears fell onto Oni’s face for Oni’s abruptly halted life.

The lonely life in the Imperial Palace was bearable thanks to Oni’s companionship, allowing Paige to endure day by day.

She always wanted to properly thank Oni but never imagined Oni would die because of her.

Paige stayed in the morgue for an hour, leaving at two o’clock.

Gavin stopped her, saying, "Princess Consort, the Sultan is waiting for you in your bedchamber."

Paige’s eyes were red, she said nothing, yet walked towards her bedchamber.

Gavin was stunned, not expecting her to be so compliant.

At this moment, the entire Imperial Palace quieted down, with only the patrolling soldiers around. Gavin had already reassigned the patrol personnel from Paige’s path, so she encountered no one along the way.

"Paige!"

Kiya was dressed in a white robe, looking at Paige. His eyes sparkled, but upon seeing her red eyes and tear-stained face, the spark dimmed.

"The dead cannot come back to life, don’t be sad anymore." Kiya comforted.

"Sultan, what do you intend to do with those two in the Imperial Palace?"

"How would you like to handle it?" Kiya inquired.

"Give those two to my brother!"

"Alright."

After saying her piece, Paige said to Kiya, "Sultan, it’s late, you should rest, I must leave."

"Paige!" Kiya called after her, but Paige did not stop as she continued to walk outside.

"Don’t go!" Kiya chased after her, hugging her from behind, "Don’t leave."

"Sultan, what do you want to do?"

Kiya held her tight, having originally not planned to tell her so soon, but he couldn’t help it now.

"I have a decision to tell you."

Paige wasn’t interested, dismissively asked, "What is it?"

"I don’t want to be Sultan anymore."

Paige was shocked, turning to look at Kiya. Seeing his serious expression without any hint of joke, she knew he was sincere.

"Kiya, what nonsense are you speaking? How could you not want to be Sultan?"

"I’ve thought about many things these past days, realizing that compared to responsibility, ambition, and ideals, you are more important.

You don’t want Dylan to be a little prince, you don’t want to live in the Imperial Palace, so I won’t be Sultan anymore.

You enjoy traveling; I could accompany you on your journeys. Wherever you’d like to go, I’ll go with you."

Paige really didn’t expect him to say such things; she looked at him dumbfounded, knowing he was serious, yet feeling emotionally complex about how to respond.

"The Queen Mother won’t agree."

"My mind is made up, no one can stop me."

"As long as you’ve thought your matter through, and don’t regret it in the future." Paige didn’t show much interest in Kiya’s affairs.

Kiya saw her expression, feeling even more deeply saddened. He cautiously asked, "If I don’t become Sultan anymore, would you consider remarrying me?"

Paige didn’t answer, remaining silent.

In the silence, Kiya grew more uneasy, finally playing dirty, "If you don’t speak, I’ll take it as your agreement."

"You..."

"It’s very late, you should go." Not wanting to hear her rejection, Kiya released her, turning away and walking inside.

Paige watched his back, stood still for a while, then turned to leave.

Kiya stood behind the pillar, watching her leave, slowly stepping out.

Gavin overheard their conversation, "Sultan, do you really not plan to be Sultan anymore?"

Kiya didn’t say yes.

Gavin grew anxious, "Sultan has ruled Abyanabad for 600 years, never has there been abdication. The Queen Mother won’t allow such a thing to happen."