章 1: The Prince Of Capital, Zayn Welston (Prologue 1) 3K Words
In a large, luxurious mansion, a handsome man stared into the red eyes of a beautiful woman who held him tightly, a fruit knife piercing his chest.
"Why did it have to end like this, Charlotte? There's no engagement between us anymore," the man said, enduring excruciating pain.
"Oh, my honey, Zayn~. Because I can't have you, I won't let other women have you either, my Zayn," the woman replied with a flirtatious smile, her deep-red eyes revealing her intense love for him.
The man had not expected a woman who had always been cold and had rejected the advances of any man to have such a twisted mind.
"There's no turning back now, Charlotte. This is the end," the man said, his voice weakening.
"No! No! I'll never sever the ties between us! Even if death comes, I'll always chase you." The woman shouted, pressing the fruit knife deeper into her chest.
"You can only be mine alone, honey~," she whispered, as the man's life slowly faded away.
...
Two hours ago...
"Ckckck! As expected of the protagonist! His plot armor is really impressive! He always wins, no matter how strong his enemies are. This plot is so cliché, hahaha. How did this novel become one of the top-ranked popular novels? It seems like people's tastes are getting worse."
A handsome young man shook his head and sighed softly after reading one of the popular novels.
His name was Zayn Welston, and he was a wealthy second-generation individual.
He possessed a strikingly handsome face, jet-black hair as dark as night, and eyes that sparkled like sapphires, capable of driving any woman insane with his mere presence.
His parents, Richard and Carla Welston, were the richest people in the country.
However, his true background was that of the number one family in the capital: the Welston family.
Naturally, his status and appearance stirred jealousy in others.
In particular, his extraordinary talents in various fields, including musical instruments, martial arts, shooting, business, and various other abilities, were mastered to extreme levels.
Because of this, he had earned the title of "Perfect Prince" in the capital city.
He was also the embodiment of the ideals and dreams of potential husbands for all women in the capital, whether from prestigious families or ordinary backgrounds.
*KNOCK KNOCK*
Suddenly, there was a knock on the door.
"Big brother! May I come in?" A soft female voice came from outside Zayn's workspace.
"Come in." He closed his novel and reclined in his chair.
He noticed a girl in a white dress.
"What's going on, my dear little sister?" Zayn smiled warmly and opened his arms to embrace her as she stood before him.
"Big brother!!"
Suddenly, the girl jumped up and embraced Zayn.
Her name was Chloe Welston, and she was Zayn's younger sister. Chloe possessed striking beauty with an oval face, a petite nose, and eyes as blue as the ocean.
Her white hair resembled freshly fallen snow in winter.
Despite wearing a loose dress, it couldn't conceal her graceful waist curve and her ample chest.
Chloe wasn't related to Zayn by blood; she had been adopted by his father and mother when she was just three years old.
Zayn loved her dearly and always spoiled her because she was his only sister.
"Big brother, I've missed you so much," she said in a spoiled tone, snuggling into Zayn's arms.
Zayn, accustomed to his beloved sister's behavior, didn't pay much attention to it and inquired, "So, why did my lady miss me? Didn't we meet this morning?" Zayn smiled softly and affectionately ruffled her hair.
He chuckled and teased her.
"Huh, can't I meet you if I miss you?" Chloe replied, sounding a bit gloomy.
"Hahaha, it's my fault. I'm sorry, okay? And don't frown, or your beautiful face might turn into a frog." He laughed and gently pinched her cheeks.
Upon hearing the comment about looking like a frog, Chloe became a little angry and puffed out her cheeks.
"If I turned into a frog, would you still love me?" she suddenly asked.
"Of course, you'd still be my sister," Zayn replied with a smile as he affectionately stroked her head.
"I don't want to just be your sister," Chloe said in a quiet, sullen tone.
"Hmm? What did you say?" Zayn asked in confusion.
"Ah! N-nothing! By the way, Big Brother, tomorrow is my 17th birthday!" She suddenly changed the topic, sounding a bit flustered.
"Of course, I remember that! So, do you have a wish or something else?" Zayn asked curiously.
"Um? Yes! I have one wish," she said, her eyes filled with excitement.
"What is it? I'll grant all your wishes," Zayn replied, raising one eyebrow with curiosity upon hearing her request.
"Really? Would you grant every one of my wishes?" Her eyes glistened, and she smiled mysteriously.
"Of course, just tell me what you'd like," Zayn replied, patting his chest confidently.
"Hehehe, if you say so, I want..."
Knock! Knock!
Before Chloe could finish her sentence, there was a sudden knock on the door.
"Um? Come in," Zayn turned his attention toward the door and said, a hint of curiosity in his voice.
"Excuse me, Young Master." A young and exceptionally beautiful maid named Mira entered his workspace.
She was not only Zayn's personal maid but also his childhood friend, having been with him since the age of five.
She had received training from the head maid to serve as both Zayn's maid and guard.
Mira possessed striking beauty, with an oval face and flirtatious purple eyes.
Her long black hair was neatly tied up and draped over her shoulder.
Her waist was slim, and her ample bosom drew the attention of anyone who glanced her way.
Now, as she looked at Zayn, her eyes were filled with love.
"Mira? Did something happen?" Zayn was a little startled, but then smiled.
"Huh. I almost had my brother, but this woman got in my way," Chloe said, her eyes narrowing.
Mira, seeing her plan succeed, smiled a little and approached Zayn.
"Young Master, do I appear bothered to you?" Mira asked, her smile charming but her words carrying a hint of mockery directed at someone.
She also seemed to pay no attention to Chloe, who stood beside Zayn.
Feeling ridiculed and ignored, Chloe clenched her fists, and her eyes became gloomy.
"Hahaha, of course not, Mira. Anytime you want, you can come to my room." Zayn released Chloe's hug and affectionately stroked Mira's head.
Chloe noticed her big brother leaving her embrace to caress Mira with affection, and she glared at Mira with resentment.
Mira paid no mind to Chloe's hateful stare, as they were accustomed to vying for Zayn's affection.
"As you wish, Young Master," Mira responded with great happiness, her eyes forming crescent moons.
She had been in love with Zayn since she was a child, always harboring the dream of becoming one of Zayn's wives and, eventually, the leader of his wives.
Polygamy was common in large families, particularly in the Welston family, which was the most influential family in the capital.
Zayn's father and grandfather, however, had each married only one woman.
This was one of the reasons Zayn's father had only one younger brother and one younger sister.
Since Zayn's father was the heir to the Welston family, Zayn, as the sole son of his father's bloodline, was the next in line to inherit the Welston family.
Therefore, in order to continue the Welston family lineage, it was expected that Zayn would be married to more than one woman by his family.
"So, did something happen?" Zayn asked with a gentle smile.
"Yes, Young Master. Lady Charlotte said to inform you that she has something very important to discuss with you, and she will arrive in an hour," Mira explained softly, her eyes showing a hint of concern.
Upon receiving the news of Charlotte's impending arrival, she felt a sense of unease for some reason.
A foreboding feeling crept over her, as if Young Master would be leaving her forever.
She was perplexed by this intuition but had always trusted her instincts.
From a young age, she possessed the ability to sense impending danger that threatened her and her young master.
However, Mira still couldn't discern the source of her uneasy feeling, and she refrained from sharing it with her young master.
Instead, she silently held onto her feelings and heightened her guard around him.
"What brings her here?" Chloe, who had been listening, interrupted their conversation to ask Mira.
Chloe had a strong aversion to Charlotte.
Charlotte was not only Zayn's fiancée but also someone Chloe despised even more than Mira did.
Despite her disdain for Mira, they had known each other since childhood.
In contrast, Charlotte had suddenly entered their lives as Zayn's fiancée.
To Chloe, this intrusion was unforgivable, as it meant taking someone they held dear away from them.
Chloe harbored resentment toward any woman who came too close to her beloved brother.
Furthermore, aside from Charlotte, there was another woman from one of the six major families who was very close to Zayn.
Because their family ties were so close, Chloe viewed the other woman with wariness, recognizing that she had a significant chance of becoming her beloved brother's wife.
This was a looming threat in her eyes.
"I don't know," Mira responded, shaking her head with a hint of concern.
She had a bad feeling about Charlotte, even though she didn't harbor as much dislike as Chloe did.
Mira was skilled at concealing her true feelings.
Zayn wasn't surprised by Chloe's reaction upon learning of Charlotte's impending visit.
He was well aware of Chloe's deep-seated animosity toward Charlotte.
However, he found himself in a dilemma about how to make Chloe accept Charlotte, even though he knew it was nearly impossible.
When his parents had arranged his engagement to Charlotte, Chloe had vehemently opposed it.
She had even locked herself in her room for a week, refusing to speak to her parents.
But, for some reason, after his mother had a private conversation with Chloe, she stopped locking herself away and began to smile once more.
Even Zayn noticed that Chloe had become even more spoiled than usual.
When he asked his mother about their conversation, she smiled mysteriously and spoke playfully, "I struck a deal with Chloe, and in return, she promised not to react like this in the future."
"As for the details of the deal, well, that's a secret, hehe. You'll find out in due time."
Zayn could only shake his head and smile softly because he had grown accustomed to such interactions with his mother.
Zayn often noticed Chloe's underlying resentment toward Charlotte, despite her adept efforts to conceal it.
"Okay, okay, don't be upset like that, and remember your promise to Mom?" Zayn gently stroked her head, using the agreement she had with their mother to soothe her when she became upset about Charlotte.
Although he didn't know the details of the agreement between them, Zayn frequently used this excuse to diffuse Chloe's anger when it came to Charlotte.
And as expected, Chloe immediately softened, wrapping her arms around Zayn.
"Big brother, I'm sorry. I promise I won't get angry again. Please don't tell Mom, okay~?" Chloe acted spoiled, rubbing her head against Zayn's chest.
Zayn, being embraced tightly by Chloe, felt a large, soft object pressing against his stomach.
His height of 1.97 meters contrasted with Chloe's 1.68 meters.
He couldn't help but think inwardly, "This girl is growing up well and healthy."
"Okay," Zayn replied, hugging Chloe back and gently patting her head.
Mira, observing Chloe's affectionate hug with Zayn, couldn't help but feel a pang of jealousy, and she clenched her teeth.
However, she swiftly composed herself, recognizing her current role as Zayn's personal maid and guard.
Perhaps, in the future, she would be by Zayn's side not as a bodyguard or maid but as one of his loyal wives.
After savoring the hug with Zayn, Chloe released her embrace and couldn't resist sticking out her tongue to mock Mira.
Mira paid no attention to Chloe's teasing and kept her gaze fixed on Zayn, awaiting his next instructions regarding Charlotte's arrival, despite the traces of jealousy in her eyes.
Zayn sensed Mira's jealousy and couldn't resist teasing her with a wink.
Mira's face turned crimson, her blush spreading up to her ears, and she lowered her head in response.
Sensing the awkward atmosphere, Zayn quickly changed the subject.
"So, Charlotte is on her way? Hmm. Alright, I'll greet her in the living room," Zayn said, rubbing his chin thoughtfully and offering a slight smile.
Charlotte Bailey, his fiancée and guest—Zayn believed he should extend a warm welcome to her, despite their engagement being arranged by their families and beginning without love between them.
Zayn was making an effort to develop affection for Charlotte.
He took every opportunity to ask her out, call her, and engage in activities to foster a deeper connection between them.
Yet, Charlotte, for some reason, always appeared distant and maintained a simple, cold demeanor, even though she never rejected his advances.
Zayn, with a high level of emotional intelligence, suspected two possible reasons for Charlotte's coldness: either she had no desire for the engagement or it was simply her nature.
Given how she had been treating him, Zayn leaned toward the belief that Charlotte disliked the engagement.
As a result, Zayn felt that Charlotte might not be particularly enthusiastic about their relationship, and he was willing to let it develop naturally.
To be honest, Zayn wasn't fond of Charlotte's chilly demeanor, but he had decided not to dwell on it any longer.
Moreover, he understood why his parents had arranged the engagement in the first place.
It all stemmed from the Bailey family's fortuitous acquisition of a large tract of land outside the capital.
Unbeknownst to them, the government had development plans for one of the nearby towns, and the land the Bailey family had purchased was in the midst of them.
Over 50% of the land in that town now belonged to the Bailey family, who sought to expand their business into other towns.
What's more, their land acquisitions had all been in strategically valuable locations within the town.
Purchased at relatively low prices, the sudden government development plan had caused land prices in the town to skyrocket.
The Bailey family, with its newfound property wealth, became renowned, and numerous prominent families sought to buy land from them.
Even the Welston family, the foremost family among the six major families in the capital and the leaders of the group, was among those vying to make land purchases.
The Welston family had attempted to negotiate with the Bailey family, offering various incentives in exchange for a portion of the land in the town.
However, Charlotte's parents, who controlled the Bailey family, had not agreed to any of these offers.
Instead, they had one particular demand: they wanted the "Prince of the Capital," Zayn, to become betrothed to their daughter, Charlotte.
In return, they proposed a collaboration to develop the town's land together.
After the government completed the infrastructure, the Welstons would receive 80% of the income from the town's progress.
Initially, the Welston family resisted and even used their considerable influence to pressure the Bailey family into yielding some land in exchange for something else.
However, the Bailey family stood firm in their insistence on the engagement between Zayn and Charlotte as the sole agreement they were willing to accept.
The Welston family had to be cautious in their approach, as continued pressure would risk tarnishing their reputation and providing their adversaries with an opportunity to attack.
Eventually, due to the land's vital importance for the Welston family's development, they reluctantly accepted the Bailey family's proposal.
Additionally, they believed Charlotte was a suitable match for their son, Zayn, possessing the talent to stand beside him.
As Charlotte's arrival neared, Zayn remained uncertain about her purpose.
"I hope there are no issues," Zayn muttered to himself.
Gazing out of the open window, his black eyes seemed capable of absorbing anything.
The gentle aura he usually exuded was now replaced by an air of dominance.
While Zayn often displayed a gentle demeanor toward those around him, he had an underlying strength and depth when dealing with others.
As the sole heir to the number one family in the capital and a person of extraordinary talent, he was far from simple.
Especially concerning the Welston family's well-being, Zayn would not remain passive.
The sudden arrival of Charlotte had sparked a sense of crisis, much like what Mira had sensed.
However, he suspected that Charlotte's arrival might be related to the Welston family as a whole rather than just him.
Chloe and Mira keenly sensed the heightened tension in the atmosphere, contrasting with the previous tranquility.
While Mira, who had been trained since childhood to be Zayn's personal guard, could withstand the strong pressure and aura emanating from him, Chloe, who had never practiced martial arts, struggled to catch her breath, and her complexion turned pale.
Zayn quickly regained control of his aura, and the atmosphere returned to a more relaxed state.
He immediately turned his attention to Chloe, whose face still bore a pallid expression, and enveloped her in a comforting hug.
"I'm sorry, Chloe; I didn't mean to, and are you okay?" Zayn apologized sincerely to Chloe, holding her gently.
In Zayn's embrace, Chloe gradually calmed down, finding solace in his comforting presence.
Chloe didn't say much and simply replied, "Mmm~"
Unbeknownst to Zayn, Chloe's eyes emitted an intense wave of infatuation.
Seeing Chloe regain her composure and return his embrace, Zayn breathed a sigh of relief and turned his gaze toward Mira.
"I apologize for my carelessness earlier, Mira," Zayn said softly, extending an apology to her.
Mira smiled and gazed at Zayn tenderly.
"It's alright, young master; there's no need to worry."
However, just like Chloe, Mira's eyes betrayed a deep infatuation when she felt Zayn's dominant side.
Both had the same thought: "So incredibly handsome!"
Zayn's gentle appearance was undeniably handsome, but his transformation into a dominant presence had a profound impact, inciting a desire to be captivated by him in both Mira and Chloe.
Zayn felt relieved that they were both fine.
When it came to the safety of the Welston family and those closest to him, Zayn would instinctively react this way.
Especially with Charlotte's impending arrival stirring up an unknown crisis, Zayn was on edge and needed to stay alert.
After all, Charlotte was his fiancée, and it wouldn't be polite to neglect her due to vague feelings of unease.
Zayn glanced at the clock and estimated there was still some time before Charlotte's arrival.
"Mira, could you prepare some tea and snacks in the living room for Charlotte and me? There's still some time before she gets here. I'll wait for her in the living room as well."
Zayn addressed Mira softly.
"Of course, young master. I'll make the arrangements," Mira replied before leaving the room.
As Mira moved to exit, Zayn playfully pinched her cheek and expressed his gratitude.
"Thank you, Mira."
"Y-young M-master!" Mira was taken aback by Zayn's gesture, her face turning as red as an apple, and she quickly fled the room in embarrassment.
Chloe, having observed Zayn playfully pinch Mira's cheek, couldn't help but feel a surge of jealousy, though she opted to keep her feelings to herself.
In her mind, she knew she was the ultimate winner here.
As soon as Mira exited the room, Chloe embraced Zayn from behind.
"Well then, big brother, I'll be on my way too. You go ahead and sort things out with Charlotte," Chloe said in a soft tone, though a hint of jealousy crept into her voice when she mentioned Charlotte's name.
"Sure thing. You wait for me, and shortly after, we'll discuss what gift you'd like, okay?" Zayn patted her head and offered the assurance with a light-hearted tone.
"Okay, I promise~" Chloe released her hug and promptly left the room.
But just as Zayn was about to leave, Chloe reappeared, planting a kiss on Zayn's cheek and whispering, "I love you, big brother~," before swiftly exiting once more.
Zayn, taken aback by the unexpected kiss, simply smiled and chose not to say anything else.
"This little girl is growing up," Zayn thought to himself as he left the room.
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