Inside the prince's chamber, the air was still — almost fragile.
The faint scent of sandalwood curled through the room, mingling with the sweetness of the tea that steamed quietly on the low table.
Li Wei, Leena, and the eunuch Fu Meng sat together in a delicate triangle of silence.
Only the soft clink of porcelain cups broke the quiet now and then.
Fu Meng admired the aroma of his tea with a practiced grace, while the prince — relaxed but alert — took slow sips.
Leena sat between them, her back straight, her eyes darting nervously from one royal man to the other.
She wasn't used to this kind of attention.
Nor to this kind of silence.
"Should I… start the examination?" she asked finally, her voice small but clear.
The prince's cup hit the table with a soft clack.
"Oh, right!" Li Wei said quickly, the corners of his lips lifting into a proud smile. "Uncle, you have to see Leena's gift."
Fu Meng raised an eyebrow, intrigued.
The prince's enthusiasm was contagious, and soon the eunuch was smiling as well.
"Well," he said, adjusting his sleeves, "I suppose I should trust your judgment, Your Highness."
Li Wei nodded toward Leena, his tone softening. "Go ahead."
She hesitated only a second before moving closer.
Her steps were measured, her hands steady — yet her heartbeat betrayed her, fluttering wildly beneath her ribs.
Now standing between the two men, Leena could feel the prince's gaze on her back — warm, curious, protective.
She ignored it the best she could, focusing on the patient before her.
"The issue is his throat," she murmured, mostly to herself.
Her eyes caught sight of a small silver spoon on the table and a candle still burning faintly beside the tea set.
She reached for both, her mind already working.
Li Wei leaned forward slightly, his curiosity piqued.
"What are you doing?" he asked, a faint smile in his voice.
Leena didn't answer.
Her instincts as a healer took over.
"Could you please open your mouth, sir?" she asked politely, turning toward the eunuch.
Fu Meng blinked, startled.
"O–Open my mouth?" he stammered.
"Yes," she replied gently, her tone soothing. "In other countries, we check the throat visually to see if there are any signs of illness."
The eunuch hesitated, glancing between her and his nephew.
Li Wei only chuckled, impressed by her composure.
"I've never heard of such a thing," Fu Meng admitted, half curious, half terrified. "But… all right."
He opened his mouth, reluctantly.
Leena held the candle closer — careful not to let the flame touch his beard — and placed the handle of the spoon gently on his tongue to press it down.
She leaned closer, her eyes sharp and focused, searching for any trace of infection, redness, or swelling.
The room glowed softly with candlelight, her shadow dancing across the wall.
Li Wei watched her — not the examination, but her.
The way she bit her lip in concentration.
The way her fingers moved delicately, precise and confident.
His admiration deepened into something heavier — a quiet, dangerous pull.
Leena was completely unaware of the tension she was stirring.
After a moment, she stepped back and placed the spoon back on the table.
"I don't see any sign of illness," she said thoughtfully. "Everything looks perfectly normal."
The prince leaned in even closer, his hand finding the small of her back — almost without thinking.
A protective gesture.
A dangerous one.
Leena froze, her entire body stiffening. Goosebumps ran up her neck as warmth spread where his palm rested.
"Did you see something?" Li Wei asked, voice low, breath brushing her cheek.
Her words tangled in her throat.
"Uh— it looks... completely normal," she stammered finally.
Her face burned red.
So did Fu Meng's — though for an entirely different reason.
"Well, perhaps it was just a passing pain," the eunuch said quickly, clearing his throat and sitting up straight. "Nothing to worry about."
He set down his cup and stood, clearly eager to end this suddenly awkward encounter.
"Thank you for the tea, Your Highness. It's always a pleasure."
Li Wei rose slightly as well. "Thank you, Uncle."
With a final polite bow, Fu Meng exited the room, his footsteps fading down the corridor.
As soon as the door closed behind him, Li Wei turned back to Leena — the mask of formality slipping away.
Before she could react, he bent forward and brushed a soft kiss against her cheek.
It was quick, playful... but it lingered like fire on her skin.
Leena blinked, startled.
Her heart stumbled, caught between delight and guilt.
The image of Maya's hurt face flashed through her mind.
Their argument. The harsh words.
Suddenly, that warmth turned to confusion.
"What's wrong?" Li Wei asked, noticing the shift in her eyes. "You look... unhappy."
Leena shook her head, forcing a smile. "It's nothing."
But her silence only deepened his curiosity.
"Is it about that man?" he asked suddenly, his tone sharper. "The tough one."
"Bao Wen?" Leena asked carefully.
"Whatever his name is," Li Wei muttered, irritation seeping into his voice. "You shouldn't spend so much time with him. His family was kind to host you, yes, but that's over now. You don't need them anymore."
He stepped closer, his hand finding her arm — firm, possessive, protective.
"I'll take care of you," he said softly. "You have my word."
Leena's chest tightened.
He sounded so sure — so sincere — that her resistance crumbled.
His jealousy should have annoyed her, but instead, it felt... comforting.
Proof that she mattered to him.
That she wasn't just an exotic toy to him.
Her eyes softened, and she melted against him, resting her head beneath his chin.
His warmth wrapped around her like a cocoon, his heartbeat steady beneath her ear.
He stroked her hair gently, breathing in her scent — floral and woody.
Her body fit perfectly against his. Too perfectly.
Li Wei's breath quickened.
Her nearness stirred something in him he wasn't prepared to confront.
For a moment, he didn't trust himself.
His fingers tightened slightly on her waist before he abruptly stepped back, forcing space between them.
"Um—" He cleared his throat, avoiding her gaze. "I have some work to do. You should rest."
The sudden change confused her.
Her lips parted to speak, but no words came.
Disappointment flickered in her chest — quiet, almost childish.
She wanted to stay.
To prolong that warmth, even if she didn't understand it fully.
But she obeyed.
"Of course, Your Highness," she said softly, bowing her head before turning to leave.
When the door closed behind her, silence filled the room again.
But this time, it was suffocating.
Li Wei stood frozen in place, the ghost of her touch still clinging to his skin.
He brought a hand to his chest — as if trying to calm the storm beneath.
Her smell lingered in the air.
Her warmth still burned on his hands.
Her breath still haunted the edge of his mind.
And then, lower — a memory of her soft curves pressed against him.
He cursed under his breath, dragging a hand through his hair.
"How am I supposed to fight this?" he muttered. "I'm a prince, not a monk."
He laughed under his breath — bitter, self-mocking.
He prided himself on being a gentleman, a man of restraint and honor.
But with Leena, that discipline wavered every time she smiled.
He sat down again, elbows on his knees, staring at the candle flickering on the table.
The image of their upcoming journey flashed in his mind — the northern front, the military camp, the tents under endless stars.
Days of proximity. Nights of silence.
She'd be there.
He'd see her every day — maybe even touch her, protect her.
How long before his restraint snapped?
He buried his face in his hands, groaning quietly.
"I'm doomed," he muttered.
A knock came from the door.
"Your Highness?" a familiar voice called.
"Jun, come in," Li Wei said, straightening his robes quickly, trying to compose himself.
The door slid open with a low creak.
Jun stepped inside, his usual calm expression barely hiding a faint, knowing smile.
His eyes flicked across the room — to the half-empty teacups, the lingering scent of jasmine, the candle that still trembled on its last inch of wax... and finally to the prince, whose once perfectly composed robes now looked slightly disheveled.
"I assume the examination went well?" Jun asked, his tone deliberately neutral.
Li Wei shot him a glare sharp enough to silence an entire court.
"Don't start."
Jun's lips twitched. "As you wish, Your Highness." He bowed deeply, but the glint of amusement in his gaze didn't fade.
Li Wei exhaled slowly, rubbing the bridge of his nose.
He didn't have the patience for Jun's teasing — not when his pulse still raced with the memory of Leena's touch, the warmth of her body slipping away moments ago. His heart — and his self-control — were already under siege.
Jun cleared his throat, tone shifting to something more formal.
"We received a message from the palace. They've analyzed the reports from the head physician. His Majesty orders the end of the quarantine and for you to resume your duties immediately."
Li Wei's brows furrowed.
Of course. Duty never waited. Not even for peace.
"Then let's organize a dinner tonight," he said after a brief silence. "With everyone here. We'll announce the end of the quarantine."
Jun nodded, making quick notes on the parchment he carried. "Understood. I'll inform the kitchen and servants."
Li Wei's gaze hardened, though his voice stayed calm.
"And prepare for tomorrow," he added. "We leave for the northern front at dawn."
Jun bowed, the faintest trace of concern flashing in his eyes before he composed himself.
"As you command, Your Highness."
When Jun left, the door closed softly behind him — too softly.
The silence that followed pressed against Li Wei's chest.
He leaned back against the chair, eyes tracing the wooden beams above him.
The storm inside him hadn't calmed — it had only found silence to grow in.
Outside, the rain began to fall again, soft and slow — a lullaby for two souls caught in a battle neither of them had expected:
One between duty and desire.
And neither was winning.