AROUND THE SAME TIME
EMPEROR LIANWEI POINT OF VIEW:
The courtyard still hummed with life from the festival. Lanterns swayed in the evening breeze, spilling their glow across the stone paths. The laughter of children rang out near the koi pond, Bella darting between the steps with ribbons in her hair while servants carried trays of dumplings and sweet wine. It should have been peaceful. It almost was. Almost, because my eyes kept flicking toward Huan and Bai He. The two of them stood too close, their heads bent together as they whispered. Bai He brushed an invisible speck from Huan's sleeve, and Huan chuckled, actually chuckled, before murmuring something back that made Bai He's ears turn pink. I tightened my jaw.
"Really." I muttered, low enough not to be heard by most. "Of all times, they choose now to flirt?"
