When Xiao Zhi woke that morning, her head was pounding. She groaned and pressed a hand to her forehead. Her mouth was dry, her temples throbbed, and the world seemed to spin.
"What… happened last night?" she mumbled, rubbing her eyes. The faint scent of wine clung to her sleeves. She vaguely remembered music, laughter, lanterns glowing like stars, and then… Ruhan's face, so close to hers.
Her heart skipped a beat. Wait. Did I… do something stupid?
A knock came at the door.
"Princess?" Ruhan's voice was smooth, composed, and annoyingly calm. "We'll be leaving soon. The mayor has sent a carriage for us."
She scrambled up and quickly dressed in the clothes laid out for her. She didn't know who had prepared them, since she no longer had a maid, but there was no time to think about it. When she opened the door, Ruhan was already waiting. His Tughril robe was neatly pressed, his hair tied back in traditional style, his face unreadable except for the faint smirk tugging at his lips.
"You look… awake," he said in a teasing tone.
"Barely," she muttered. "Ruhan, did I… do something bad last night?"
He tilted his head slightly, amusement flickering in his eyes. "Define bad."
Her eyes widened. "You know what I mean! Just tell me!"
Ruhan only smiled, that small, mysterious curve that always made her nervous and annoyed at the same time. "You should try remembering on your own. Memories taste sweeter when they come back slowly." With that, he turned and walked down the stairs.
"Ugh, stop being so mysterious," she snapped, following him. "I'm serious!"
He didn't answer, just smiled that same calm, knowing smile.
Xiao Zhi glared at his back the entire walk to the carriage waiting in front of the inn.
The mayor was there too, waiting politely as a gesture of respect to the princess and the Tughril envoy. "The carriage is ready, My Lord. It is not royal, but it will carry you safely to the capital."
"It is more than enough," Ruhan said with a polite bow.
Xiao Zhi added her thanks, smiling sincerely. "And the festival… it was beautiful. Thank you for insisting we stay."
The mayor laughed. "Ah, I didn't insist. It was the young Lord's eyes that gave him away. He would have agreed no matter what you said."
Ruhan's ears went slightly red. Xiao Zhi blinked at him, a small smile tugging at her lips. "Oh? Is that so?"
"Mayor exaggerates," he said smoothly, helping her into the carriage.
The carriage rolled out of the city by midmorning. The air shimmered with heat, the dunes giving way to flatter plains and sparse grasslands. Inside, the rhythm of the wheels and the gentle sway of the carriage made the silence between them feel comfortable.
Ruhan leaned back, calm and faintly content, as though a great weight had lifted from his shoulders.
"You look… happy," Xiao Zhi said, narrowing her eyes.
He didn't open them, only smiled faintly. "I had a good stay in this city."
"Hmm." She studied him, chin propped on her hand. "You're hiding something."
"Am I?"
"Yes. And you're not denying it, so that proves my point."
He chuckled softly, the sound warm in the quiet. "You talk too much for someone who doesn't remember last night."
She gasped. "So something did happen!"
"Maybe," he said, still smiling. "Maybe not."
Her cheeks burned. She crossed her arms, staring stubbornly out the window. "I hate you sometimes."
"I'll take that as affection," he murmured.
She pretended not to hear him, but her ears turned pink anyway.
By dusk, the outline of the Tughril capital appeared on the horizon, stone towers rising from the sand, banners of red and gold fluttering in the wind.
They did not enter the city immediately. Ruhan asked Duran to steer the carriage off the main road toward a small hut nestled near a cluster of grassland.
"Why are we stopping here?" she asked, peering out.
"If we go straight to the capital, we will arrive at the palace by night," Ruhan said simply. "It is not good to arrive so late. We will rest here for the night and leave tomorrow morning. That way, we will reach the palace at a proper time." He paused and added with a faint smile, "For a grand entrance."
There was something in his tone that made her chest tighten. "What do you mean?"
Ruhan did not answer.
The hut was small and long-forgotten. The walls were weathered, the air heavy with the scent of old cedar and smoke that had lingered for years. Dust clung to the corners, and the floor creaked softly underfoot. A single oil lamp cast a thin, flickering glow, throwing long shadows across the room.
Duran started a small fire, breaking dried wood into pieces.
"You should eat," Ruhan said gently. "You're still recovering."
Xiao Zhi sat nearby, watching him move. His hands were steady, his expression calm. The silence felt thick but not uncomfortable.
"Ruhan," she said softly after a while, "once we reach the capital, what happens then?"
He paused, his back to her. "I will take you to the palace and report to the Khan. You will be safe there."
"Safe," she repeated, her voice barely above a whisper. "And after that?"
He did not answer immediately. Then quietly, "After that, I am not sure. Maybe prepare for your wedding?"
The air between them grew heavy again. The fire crackled, and Xiao Zhi found herself watching his face. The tired calm, the faint shadows under his eyes. Without thinking, she said, "You always look so composed, even when everything is falling apart."
He turned his head to meet her gaze. "If I do not stay calm," he said softly, "who will protect you?"
Her heart stuttered.
He noticed her silence, and the faintest smile tugged at his lips. "You are staring, Princess."
She blinked. "I— I was not—"
"Yes, you were."
Heat crept up her neck. She looked away quickly, pretending to poke the fire with a stick. "Do not flatter yourself."
Ruhan stood, brushing the dust from his cloak, and stepped closer until she could feel the warmth of him and the faint scent of smoke and leather.
"Do you really not remember last night?" he asked quietly.
She hesitated. "No… should I?"
He smiled and chuckled softly. He said nothing more and simply lay down to rest.
Xiao Zhi hated that. She did not press him. She knew it would be useless anyway. If Ruhan did not want to answer, no one could make him. She lay down too, still frowning at the firelight before finally drifting off to sleep.