"My eyes won't burn anyone again… if I keep them closed in front of the world," the prince said quietly, the weight of the words sinking like stone.
The emperor's scoff cut through the air like a blade. "Yes. Keep them shut forever. Bury them, seal them whatever it takes. Your gaze should never fall on another soul, or else…"He paused, his voice tightening.
"…or else their world will turn to dust…"
The prince's hands clenched faintly at that fingertips tightening around the mask.
The emperor stepped closer, now just behind his shoulder.
"You've grown silent these days. Locked away, brooding in shadows. Do you think silence will rewrite the past? Or earn you forgiveness?"His voice turned sharp, cold. "You wear that mask to hide what? Regret? Shame? Or are you still hoping foolishly that I'll accept you as something other than cursed?"
The prince didn't answer instead he exhaled, steady and soft.
A silence stretched.
Then, suddenly, the emperor asked, tone clipped, "Is it true? That someone managed to push you in the last internal trial?"
A faint crease appeared between the prince's brows, slightly caught off guard by the shift in subject.
"Daiyuri," the emperor added, watching him carefully. And there the change. The flicker in his expression, the prince's features softened.
The emperor caught the change instantly, his eyes narrowing.
"Is it really true? Or did you play your tricks again, as always?"
"Daiyuri… she really is someone capable of standing against me. That day, I didn't even hold back."He turned slightly, "But… is that what brought Your Majesty here today?"
The emperor didn't answer immediately. His gaze lingered on the prince's reflection, his jaw tightening for a moment as if weighing what to say.
"That's one of the reasons," he said finally. "But the main reason I came here personality is to tell you…it's been decided." He took a step closer. "You will make an appearance on your birthday—at the Ivory Lotus Bloom Ceremony."
The prince's expression remained composed, "I thought I was to remain unseen," he said softly.
The emperor exhaled, "This isn't for you, It's pressure from the nobles… the commoners… the sects. The people are demanding to see their prince. Their hope. The one they call…." He paused, gaze hardening slightly. "….The Gilded Thorn of the Divine Lotus"
The prince gave a faint, unreadable smile. "So I am to be displayed."
The emperor didn't respond. Then, almost idly, he added, "And speaking about Daiyuri… perhaps, with proper guidance, she may even reach the highest rank before you. If she has the strength within her and unlike you, she doesn't carry… danger with her."
The prince's fingers drummed once against the side of the mask, thoughtful.
"She might," he admitted, "if she's given access to the right techniques… exposed to the proper challenges. But even then—" he paused, "—to face what's coming, even she alone won't be enough."
The emperor narrowed his eyes. "And you believe you are?"
"I believe," the prince said, carefully, "that even the strongest blade dulls when left in isolation. And even the most gifted flame needs wind to become a wildfire."
The emperor scoffed. "Spare me your riddles. You think we haven't tried? You think the realm is lacking just because you've been ignored away?"
"Not lacking," the prince said, voice quiet but sharp. "Misguided. Limited. For years, Your Majesty has trusted only the known… the established bloodlines, the most powerful clans, and the favored sects." He turned slightly, just enough to show his side profile, "But what if you've overlooked those hidden beyond tradition? What if someone stronger has already bloomed among the commoners unseen, untested not because they lack the power, but because they were never given the chance… or never sought it?"
The emperor folded his arms. "You're suggesting—?"
The prince stepped forward once, his composure unwavering. "A test. An open entrance trial—on the day of the Ceremony. Not just for the sects. Not just for the clans. For everyone. For the unseen. For those hidden in the crowd."
The emperor arched a brow. "And then what?" He turned his back with a scoff. "You truly believe that someone a commoner without a drop of noble blood, without any ties to the great clans—could rival the power born of sacred lineages?" His voice grew sharper. "For centuries, it's been the same bloodlines who've carried the divine spark. Strength passed down through ancestors chosen by the heavens themselves. And you think someone outside that legacy could possess it?"
"Your Majesty…..even the lotus finds its bloom in murky waters. Why not give them the same chance? Announce that during the Ceremony, any blessed commoner may step forward and face the trials regardless of name, clan, or blood. If they pass, they earn their place in the sect by proving their worth and can cultivate to strengthen their spiritual powers."
The emperor's gaze narrowed, unreadable.
"You speak as if it's that simple. But opening the gates to everyone… it invites chaos. It threatens tradition. The sects won't approve. The clans will see it as an insult."
"Your Majesty, if we can find even one person capable of facing the threat that's coming—isn't that reason enough to take the risk?"
Silence stretched between them, taut and unyielding.
The emperor regarded him for a long moment. "And if no one proves worthy?"
"Then you've lost nothing," the prince replied calmly. "But if someone does… then you've gained more than you could have planned for."
The emperor was silent, his expression unreadable.
The prince lowered his voice, deliberate now, "You said yourself many times, you won't gamble the realm on someone cursed by fate. Then find someone better, Let the heavens choose them."
"…Fine," the emperor said at last, his voice rough and low. "Let the entrance trial be held during the ceremony. We'll see if the heavens still bother to bless anyone with that kind of strength."
The emperor said nothing more. He turned, his cloak sweeping behind him, and strode toward the doors with the same slow, deliberate steps. He paused just before crossing the threshold, casting one final glance over his shoulder. His expression was unreadable.
Then, without another word, he stepped out.
THUD.
The heavy doors shut behind him, the sound echoing through the vast chamber and the Silence returned.
The prince, still standing before the mirror, slowly opened his eyes once more. His expression had shifted no longer calm, In its place burned something colder and sharper. His eyes, no longer veiled, glinted with fire beneath still waters.
He leaned in slightly, his reflection narrowing into focus, He stared into it and murmured,
"If the heavens won't choose them… I will."
______________
Zuzu paced back and forth, his brows furrowed deeply as he stared at the delicate hairpin in his hand. He had already circled the room thrice, and yet, his frustration only grew heavier with each step.
Seated lazily by the window, Daita watched him with an unreadable expression, one hand supporting his chin, the other tapping against his knee. Finally, he shook his head.
"I did what you told me," Zuzu muttered, breaking the silence. "I went out and asked every woman I could find on the street. Every single one. I showed them this hairpin and asked if it belonged to them."
He turned to face Daita with a frown.
"Not one said yes. Not even one tried to lie and claim it. How did you know this would happen, Seventh Prince?"
Daita stood from his seat and walked over, casually snatching the hairpin from Zuzu's fingers.
"For a woman," Daita said, holding the pin up to the light, "a hairpin is more than just an ornament. It's something precious...something she only buys if she truly loves it. But more importantly…" He looked at Zuzu. "She'll only accept it if it's a gift. Or if it's from someone she loves."
Zuzu blinked, stunned for a moment. "You mean they wouldn't just say it's theirs? Even if they wanted it?"
"They wouldn't," Daita said simply. "No woman would claim a thing so precious like this from a stranger. Not unless her heart had touched it before. I'm surprised you don't know this."
Zuzu stared at him, clearly absorbing the new information. "You… really do know a lot about women."
Daita smirked. "Of course I do. Maybe you should start spending some time with them too, instead of treating them like ghosts."He glanced at Zuzu, teasing. "Unlike Your Highness, who chooses the path of avoiding women entirely to Cultivate. While I.."he gave an exaggerated shrug "prefer multiple options."
Zuzu blinked, then widened his eyes, clearly offended. "I do not avoid women! I just… prefer peace. And about His Highness, I believe he chose the right path. Honestly, I think he did the best avoiding women—and their things."
Daita chuckled at that, stepping a little closer. "Peace, huh?" His voice dropped into a whisper as he leaned in beside Zuzu's ear. "Sorry to break your belief, Mule bag, but… do you know who told me to search for the owner of this hairpin?"
Zuzu frowned, his brows knitting in confusion. "Who?"
Daita straightened up, smirking as he tapped the hairpin against Zuzu's shoulder. "It was your Highness."
Zuzu's mouth fell open. He slapped a hand over it in shock and stared at Daita like he'd just confessed to unbelievable.
Daita gave him a slow, firm nod. "Mm-hm."
"No," Zuzu said immediately, shaking his head like it would shake the truth away too. "No. You're lying. Or joking. His Highness wouldn't… he didn't ask you to do that."
"Why would I lie?" Daita crossed his arms. "He asked me to help. First to find the hairpin. Then to find its owner. I'm just doing what I was told. And honestly…" He tilted his head with a grin. "I think Your Highness—"
"Stop!" Zuzu blurted, holding up both hands as if to block the words from entering his ears. "No. Even if he did… then… it's not what it looks like. There must be another reason! Something serious. Like cultivation research. Or… investigating something else!"
Daita laughed under his breath. "Right. Because hairpins are obviously the key to divine enlightenment."
Zuzu crossed his arms, and secretly rolled his eyes, "Anyway… enough about hairpins. Seventh Prince What about you? Did you manage to make your Grandpa Kaneko agree?"
The teasing drained from Daita's face just slightly. He shook his head. "No. He didn't agree. Told me to leave and never come back."
Zuzu blinked, the seriousness catching up to him. "What? He really said that to a prince?"
"Hmm." Daita nodded, gaze distant for a moment.
"So…" Zuzu tilted his head. "What are you going to do now? How are you planning to convince him?"
Daita tapped his chin with two fingers, feigning a deep, pensive thought. "I've thought of many ways, but…" his smirk returned. "But I know which method works best."