Ryoma and Kaen stood at the edge of the fountain, the light glinting off the water's surface. Kaen cupped his hands, splashing cold water onto his face. When he leaned forward, his reflection shimmered back at him.
"She… she was able to recognize me, even with this face," Kaen murmured, voice barely above a whisper. "Doesn't that mean… maybe even they could?"
A sudden thought made him step back, and he stumbled. Ryoma's hand shot out, catching him before he fell.
"Kaen, you're thinking too much," Ryoma said gently, steadying him.
He guided Kaen to sit on the stone edge of the fountain. "Tell me," Ryoma asked, voice gentle. "Do you want to stay here, or leave right now? If you're not sure…"
Kaen shook his head. "No… at the moment I didn't know what to do, when she recognized me. I felt… an odd feeling, that's why I said I needed time to think. And now I understand maybe it's because Madam Hua… since she is the sister of my mother."
Ryoma's brow furrowed. "Then why did you still choose to stay here?"
Kaen's gaze turned toward the mansion beyond the courtyard. "Because… as I said before, this is the safest place we could find."
"How?" Ryoma asked, tilting his head.
"Have you forgotten?" Kaen said quietly. "The Plaque of Rejection."
Ryoma blinked. "The Plaque of Rejection?"
Kaen nodded slowly, his gaze fixed on the fountain's shimmering surface. "My mother often spoke of her elder sister… and of the long, bitter history between the royal family and the Shuāng Lán Huá Clan. Their enmity stretches back centuries, a wound never fully healed. The only family granted the Plaque of Rejection—the power to delay or deny imperial orders was given to her lineage by my ancestor. Rumor has it that this immense authority was granted to the head of the clan as compensation for the loss that originally sparked the enmity."
"Now," Kaen continued, his voice low, "with Madam Hua being the only survivor of her bloodline having lost her inner core, she alone carries that authority. The rest of the clan… sacrificed themselves thirteen years ago."
"Aiyue…"
Kaen and Ryoma straightened instantly, turning toward her.
"Madam Hua," Kaen said, bowing slightly. "I was about to come myself."
Madam Hua's eyes softened, but a flicker of impatience crossed her gaze. "You took far too long. I was about to see for myself if you were ever coming." Then instantly Madam Hua's gaze sharpened, her voice tightening. "Aiyue, why did you stop writing? The letters… they never arrived. You kept changing places, hiding yourself, and I had begun to fear I would never see you again."
Kaen swallowed, his throat tight.
"Do you know how long I waited, worrying over every detail, thinking I had lost you for evil?"
Madam Hua exhaled slowly, the tension in her shoulders easing. "I'm… so relieved. To see you safe, alive… I don't know whether to scold or embrace you first. Ah! Forget about that, now that you're here… I won't let you—"
Kaen said quickly, stepping closer. "Madam Hua… I need a favor from you."
"A favor?" Madam Hua raised an eyebrow, her tone sharp.
Kaen nodded. "Can we… stay in your residence for a while? Just until we stay in the capital."
Madam Hua was silent for a long moment, her eyes narrowing slightly as she studied him. "What do you mean, 'until you stay in the capital'? Aren't you back?!"
————
The clang of steel rang sharp and unrelenting across the practice field. Beneath the pavilion, Prince Zeyu and Prince Zemu struck again and again, their blades flashing like lightning. Sparks erupted where steel met steel, each blow so fierce it seemed less like training and more like a duel to the death. From the upper balcony, three figures watched.
Daita lounged carelessly on the railing, one leg swinging over the side. "These two," he muttered, shaking his head, "every time they pick up their swords, it feels like we should be preparing for a royal funeral at any moment."
Zuzu, standing stiffly beside him, adjusted his sleeves and nodded gravely. "They don't spar. They try to assassinate each other legally."
Below, Zeyu pressed forward with a flurry of strikes, his movements sharp and controlled. Zemu gritted his teeth, barely managing to block, his steps stumbling back across the stone.
"As usual," Daita sighed, tilting his head, "the fourth prince dominates." His gaze narrowed suddenly. "Wait a second…"
He leaned forward, watching Zeyu's blade twist into a subtle, familiar pattern. "Why does the fourth prince's swordplay look so… familiar? Those moves—don't tell me… someone went and broke the fourth prince's sword again." Daita smirked, glancing sideways. Both pairs of eyes landed on the third figure.
The crown prince stood silently at the railing, posture perfectly straight… except his chin had dipped ever so slightly. His breathing was even, almost too even.
Daita blinked. "…He dozed off while standing."
Zuzu's jaw dropped. "Your Highness?!!"
Daita stretched lazily, cracking his shoulders. "Hah. He acted like exhaustion was beneath him and now look. Sleeping upright like a horse." He waved a hand dismissively. "Mule bag. Carry His Royal Highness to his chambers before he collapses. Let him sleep somewhere softer than stone."
Zuzu nodded without hesitation, stepping forward just in time to catch the crown prince as his knees nearly gave out. With surprising gentleness, he steadied him against his shoulder. "Are you certain you'll let him go tonight? His Highness doesn't look in any state to—" he paused, lowering his voice, "—will it truly be alright to let him escape like this?"
Daita didn't answer. He only leaned back against the railing, gaze wandering up to the overcast sky. His silence was enough; Zuzu understood and said nothing more, guiding the prince out.
Once their footsteps faded, Daita finally let out a long sigh, his hand dragging over his face. "…If you keep burning yourself like this, Crown prince, you'll leave us nothing but ashes to protect."
————
Kaen, Ryoma, and Madam Hua sat around the low lacquered table, servants moving quietly to pour steaming tea into delicate porcelain cups. The faint scent of herbs filled the room, mingling with the soft evening light filtering through carved wooden screens.
Madam Hua poured gently into Kaen's cup, her voice soft but tinged with nostalgia. "You always liked this herbal tea as a child. You used to fall ill often, and the late empress would make this for you. I… never had the chance to see you as a child, but your mother wrote of you in every letter she secretly sent me. I could see her love for you in every word…" Her voice faltered, and Kaen noticed the pause.
She took a breath and continued, her gaze now steady on him. "But, Aiyue… are you certain of your decision? You are the first princess. Don't you long to return… to where you truly belong? And are you still willing to hold onto that promise, to live in a world that has all but forgotten you?"
Kaen set the cup down, exhaling slowly, a faint smile curling his lips. "Madam Hua… first, I am no longer the first princess. I was, once, but that was a life I no longer need. I am Kaen just…Kaen. And as for returning… I don't believe I need to. I am already in the place I was meant to be from the start, and I will stay—not because of a promise I once made, but because this is the choice I make now. I will not abandon my responsibilities… nor the comfort I have found here." He glanced at Ryoma, and the two exchanged a brief, understanding smile.
Madam Hua let out a soft sigh, a mixture of resignation and warmth. "As you wish. But I cannot deny the truth—I regret not stopping you thirteen years ago, and even now, I regret that you continue to live in the shadows… hiding from the world that should have known your light."
Kaen reached across the table, gently holding her hand. "Madam Hua, do not regret anything—past or present. I chose this life of shadows by my own will, and I have no regrets. If living in this quiet, hidden life gives me peace… then it is a life worth living."
Madam Hua was silent for a long moment, then nodded, her eyes glistening but calm. No words were needed; the understanding between them was enough.