Yue Rong sat at the very corner of the carriage, hugging her knees as the wheels rolled along the lonely forest path. Every jolt of the carriage made her heart ache a little more.
Her eyes were swollen from crying, but tears still slid silently down her cheeks.
"Mimi, don't forgive me… just live well and be happy."
Those were the words she had left behind.
She didn't know where she was going.
She only knew she couldn't stay.
Every corner of Xiyue felt like a knife now, every whisper, every glance, every reminder of what she had done.
Her life had collapsed in a single night.
Her ruined reputation, and her father's disappointment.
And the wedding of the man she once dreamed of marrying.
Yue Rong closed her eyes tightly, gripping her cloak.
"Why… why did everything turn out like this…" she whispered shakily.
The image of the man from that night flashed in her mind, his frightening aura, yet captivating in a way. Her throat tightened.
"I don't even know his name…" she murmured bitterly. "Just that he ruined my pride."
The carriage suddenly stopped.
The driver's voice called out, "Miss, we're changing horses. It may take a while."
Yue Rong hurriedly wiped her tears. "It's fine…"
She stepped down quietly, wanting some air
The forest was quiet, the moonlight falling through the leaves.
She hugged herself and walked a few steps away, her thoughts a tangled mess.
What should I do now?
Where do I go?
How do I live?
Those questions keeps running in her mind.
After the horse was changed, the man turned toward Yue Rong and called gently,
"It is time to go, my lady."
Yue Rong nodded and stepped back into the carriage. The journey continued quietly, the wheels moving steadily along the road as the scenery slowly changed from forest to farmland. When they reached the last village, the man pulled the reins and brought the carriage to a stop.
He stepped down, stretching his back a little, then began unloading the few items from the back. When he turned, he froze seeing Yue Rong was standing silently beside the carriage, her hands clasped tightly in front of her.
"My lady?" he said carefully. "This is our last destination."
She lifted her eyes, and for the first time since he met her, he saw the helplessness she had been hiding.
"H-Have we… not gotten to where you were headed?" he asked.
Her voice was barely more than a whisper.
"I don't have anywhere to go."
A single tear slid down her cheek, then another. She quickly looked away, as if ashamed to cry in front of a stranger. The man's expression softened immediately. He placed the load down and stepped closer, keeping his voice gentle.
"My lady… I have a wife and children," he said, "They're good people. They will be happy to help you until you are ready....whenever you are ready....to return."
Yue Rong bit her lip, trying to stop the trembling.
The man wiped his hands on his clothes and walked to the front of the carriage, tightening the rope and checking the harness.
When he was done, he turned to her with a warm, fatherly smile.
"Come, my lady," he said softly, extending his hand.
"Let us go."
Yue Rong hesitated, before taking his hand. She climbed into the cart beside him, and together, they rode toward his home.
The man's house stood near the edge of the village, a simple wooden cottage with lanterns hanging from the beams. Smoke curled gently from the chimney, carrying the comforting scent of warm stew. For a moment, Yue Rong just stared. It had been so long since she has been to such a humble house.
The man hopped down from the cart.
"Wait here a moment, my lady," he said kindly before walking toward the door.
He pushed it open.
"Hana! I've brought a guest."
A woman in her late-thirties stepped out, wiping her hands on her apron. She paused when she saw Yue Rong, dusty and exhausted,
"Oh my…" Hana murmured, her eyes softening with instant motherly concern.
Yue Rong bowed quickly, her voice trembling.
"Forgive my intrusion."
"Nonsense," Hana said at once, stepping forward. "Any friend my husband brings home is welcome here."
She placed a warm hand on Yue Rong's shoulder, guiding her gently inside. "Come, child. You look like you haven't slept in days."
Inside, two children peeked from behind a curtain, a boy of about ten and his younger sister, maybe seven. Their eyes widened when they saw Yue Rong's long hair, elegant posture, and the silent sadness she carried.
The girl whispered, "Mama… is she a princess?"
Hana chuckled softly. "Princess or not, she is our guest. Come greet her."
The boy stepped out first and bowed awkwardly.
"I am Jun."
The little girl twirled her fingers and said shyly, "And I'm Ha Rin."
Yue Rong gave them a small, fragile smile.
"I am Yue Rong… It is nice to meet you."
The girl beamed, suddenly bold.
"You're very pretty."
It was such an innocent, sincere compliment that Yue Rong felt her throat tighten.
"Thank you," she whispered.
After dinner, Hana showed Yue Rong to a small but clean room with a soft quilt and a wooden window overlooking the fields. When Hana left her alone, Yue Rong sat on the edge of the bed, staring at her hands.
And in that silence, everything she'd been holding came crashing down.
She pressed a hand over her mouth, but the sob still escaped.
Her entire body trembled as she curled into herself on the bed. Tears soaked the pillow. She didn't even know how long she cried. Just that it hurt.
A gentle knock came at the door.
"My lady?" Hana's voice was soft. "Are you alright?"
Yue Rong wiped her eyes quickly, trying to steady her voice.
"Yes… I'm fine."
But her voice cracked.
Without waiting, Hana entered quietly and sat beside her, wrapping an arm around her shoulders the way a real mother would.
"You don't need to speak," Hana whispered. "Just rest. Whatever you ran from… you are safe here."
Yue Rong broke again, louder this time, leaning into the comfort she had been denied for so long.