The man finally spoke.
"…Your father sent me."
Leena froze.
"My… my father?"
The spy nodded, still pressed against the wall by Li Wei.
"He was worried. He heard rumors you were taken to the palace. He wanted to make sure… you're safe."
The words hit her harder than any arrow.
Her chest tightened.
"Is… is he okay?" Her voice cracked.
"I didn't bring him trouble, right? Please… tell me he's okay!"
The man hesitated, then softened.
"He is safe. But he worries every day. He… he misses you."
Tears blurred her vision.
She bit her lip, trying to hold them back, but the ache in her chest overflowed.
"Dad…"
The spy slowly pulled a small, ornate box from his sleeve.
"He told me to give you this."
Leena opened it with trembling fingers.
Inside lay several small, golden pills—smooth, fragrant, unlike any medicine she had seen.
"He received these from a traveling Arab merchant," the man explained.
"He said they can cure almost any disease. He wanted you to have them… in case you ever needed them."
Leena pressed the box to her chest, sobbing quietly.
"Tell him… I love him. Tell him I can't wait… to see him again…"
The alley was silent except for her muffled cries.
Chen Yu shuffled awkwardly beside her, scratching his head.
"Uh… d-don't cry, Leena. If you cry, I… I'll start crying too…"
Li Wei's heart twisted at the sight.
He had faced assassins, war, betrayal… but nothing pierced him like her tears.
Almost without thinking, he reached out a hand to wipe them away.
At that exact moment—
Chen Yu did the same.
Leena blinked, caught between their arms.
The two men froze, their hands inches from her face.
Then their eyes met.
For the first time, the lifelong friends didn't smile.
The air between them crackled with silent rivalry.
Leena hiccupped, caught between tears and confusion.
"…Uh…"
Somewhere deep in the prince's chest, an unfamiliar, dangerous feeling stirred.
He didn't like it.
Not one bit.