The ride back to the palace felt endless.
Leena barely heard the city—the hawkers, the drums, the calls of merchants.
All she could hear was the pound of her own heart.
Li Wei didn't speak.
He didn't even look at her.
She stared at the back of his robe, noticing the faint dust clinging to the silk.
Her fingers itched to hold onto him for balance… but his rigid shoulders and the cold wall of silence stopped her.
When they passed through the palace gates, the whispers hit first.
"The foreign girl was seen at the market… with Chen Yu?"
"They were holding hands!"
"He was smiling at her the whole time… maybe they're in love?"
By the time the rumors reached Maya, she stormed into their room, face flushed.
"Leena! Tell me it isn't true!"
Leena blinked, still shaken.
"What… what isn't true?"
"You and Chen Yu!" Maya hissed, pacing like a caged cat.
"Everyone is talking. They say you're his secret lover! If the prince hears—"
Leena's stomach dropped.
The prince had heard.
He had seen.
She sank onto the edge of the bed, twisting her fingers.
"…I only went to the market for a little while. I didn't think…"
"Didn't think?" Maya's voice shook.
"He warned us. And now the whole palace thinks you're—"
She couldn't finish.
Leena pressed a hand to her chest.
Her guilt clawed at her ribs.
Li Wei had been right.
She was in danger outside the palace…
And now, her foolishness could stain his honor too.
Evening fell.
The sunset painted the sky in soft streaks of peach and rose.
Leena slipped out of her room, her feet moving before her thoughts could catch up.
The scent of cherry blossoms led her to the lakeside, where petals floated like tiny boats.
She saw him immediately.
The Seventh Prince sat beneath a cherry tree, his reflection rippling in the golden water.
The faint wind lifted his hair, and the last light of day crowned him in gold.
Before she could speak, his voice slid through the quiet—low and sharp.
"What are you doing here?"
A pause.
"…Looking for another chance to escape?"
Leena flinched.
He hadn't even turned, but he had felt her there.
Recognized her scent.
She swallowed and stepped closer.
"I… wanted to apologize."
No answer.
Her hands shook as she pulled the jade pendant from her sleeve, holding it out in both palms.
"And… I wanted to give you this."
Finally, he turned.
The hard edge in his eyes softened just enough for her lungs to work again.
"…A dragon?"
"For protection," she whispered.
"Since you already risk yourself for everyone else."
He stared at her.
At her trembling little hands.
At the innocent warmth in her eyes.
At the last sunlight catching the veil around her face.
His fingers brushed hers as he took the pendant.
A spark ran up her arm. Her heart skipped.
"…You make it very hard to stay angry," he murmured.
Leena's breath hitched.
The lake shimmered.
Cherry petals drifted in slow spirals around them.
From the shadows across the water, a figure watched.
Silent. Unmoving.
Then, a soft crunch of petals underfoot—
The figure slipped away like a ghost.