Days passed quietly in the kingdom. Anna had now become the healer everyone talked about. People thanked her everywhere she went, bringing fruits or flowers, but even with all the kindness around her, she couldn't shake off the heaviness in her heart. She still hadn't found a single clue about Shou Feng.
No records, no rumors,
nothing at all.
She didn't dare to ask Kano. His eyes always seemed to be watching her too closely, like he was waiting for her to make one wrong move.
So, she stayed away, polite but distant, doing her healer duties in silence.
The house given to her by the kingdom was far from the palace, hidden near the woods. It was peaceful, but the distance made her work harder. Every evening, she sat in the garden, sipping her tea, watching the soft light fade away.
That day was no different—quiet wind, rustling leaves, and her mind lost in thought. Then, she heard something.
A rustle.
Her hand stopped mid-air, still holding the teacup.
Another rustle, closer this time.
Anna stood slowly. "Who's there?" she whispered.
No reply—just the sound of leaves.
She stepped toward it, her heart thudding, when suddenly—"Ah!" she screamed, jumping back as a fox leapt from the bushes.
But not a normal one. It had nine shining tails, like ribbons of silver light. Its eyes glowed sea-green, and Anna recognized it immediately—it was the same fox she had seen with Kiyoshi.
Her fear turned into shock.
She knelt down slowly. The creature just sat there, calm and almost proud, licking its paw. Then, it looked up at her, sniffed once—and suddenly, its body shimmered. Light surrounded it. When the light faded, a man stood there.
Anna's eyes widened.
He had snow-white hair and fox ears on his head, wearing old white clothes that looked simple but elegant. He looked calm, confident, and completely unfazed by her shock.
"Anna?" he said softly.
She just stood there, frozen.
He sighed dramatically.
"Alright, I'll take that silence as a yes." He walked past her like it was his own house, sat at her table, poured himself some tea, and took a sip.
"Hmm. Needs more sugar," he muttered, then looked at her. "Anyway, I came here because you're not doing your job right. You're just sitting here, wasting power and tea leaves."
Anna blinked, still trying to understand what was happening.
"I'll help you find Lord Feng," he continued, "before you end up growing roots in that chair.
Anna stared at him. "You… you can talk?"
He tilted his head. "Do I look like a silent decoration to you?"
She blinked again, unsure if she should laugh or faint. Then she reached out and gently touched one of his fox ears.
He froze. "Hey! Don't touch those—very sensitive equipment!" he said quickly, stepping back and covering his ears like a child guarding candy.
Anna's jaw dropped. "I'm dreaming," she muttered. "That's it, I'm dreaming. A talking fox with sensitive equipment—this can't be real. I'm going mad."
Kitsune raised an eyebrow, completely deadpan. "If you're going mad, could you at least dream me a better cup of tea next time?"
Anna blinked. "Excuse me?"
He leaned back, crossing his arms. "Seriously, how do humans drink this stuff? It tastes like boiled sadness."
She stared at him in disbelief.
"Anyway," Kitsune said, stretching his arms lazily, "I'll help you locate Lord Feng.
he rest, you handle. Try not to faint before we start, okay?"
Anna nodded, still wide-eyed and speechless.
He looked at her. "You're staring again. You planning to burn a hole through my face, or…?"
Her cheeks turned red. "I'm sorry!"
He rolled his eyes. "Humans," he muttered, "so dramatic." Then, in a flash of white light, he vanished, leaving the faint scent of smoke and tea behind.
The next few days passed quietly again. Kitsune didn't come back, but sometimes she could feel him nearby—like the brush of air, or a faint chuckle in the distance. Maybe he was keeping an eye on her.
That afternoon, Anna walked through the market. The streets were lively—full of colors, spices, and laughter. She kept her hood low, but people still recognized her.
"Miss Anna!"
A small girl ran up to her—the same one whose father Anna had saved weeks ago. She handed her a little yellow flower."For you!"
Anna smiled softly. "Thank you."
Soon, others came too—families she had healed. They offered her small gifts: fruit, bread, ribbons. She tried to refuse, but their grateful faces made it impossible.
Her hands were full when one of the baskets slipped from her grasp—but before it fell,
someone caught it.
She looked up.
It was Shoto Kano.
He looked calm, his armor gleaming faintly. His eyes, though sharp as ever, softened just a bit.
"You should be careful," he said.
"I was fine," Anna replied.
He handed her the basket.
"You heal half the kingdom but can't carry a few gifts?"
Anna smiled. "Healing and balancing fruit are different skills."
For a second, his mouth twitched—almost a smile—but then his usual serious look returned.
"You're getting popular," he said quietly. "Not many outsiders earn the kingdom's trust."
"I'm just doing what anyone would," Anna replied.
"Not everyone would," he said simply.
Before Anna could reply, a guard ran up, bowing slightly.
"Captain Kano! The prince has summoned Miss Anna."
Anna blinked. "Me? Why?"
The guard looked nervous.
"He requests her presence… at the royal bathing court."
Anna nearly dropped another basket. "The royal what now?"
Kano didn't react.
"Understood," he said to the guard, then turned to her. "Come with me."
As they walked through the palace halls, Anna's mind spun. "Wait—why is the prince calling me there? Did I do something wrong? Or does he need healing?"
Kano didn't answer.
The closer they got, the warmer the air became. The soft scent of jasmine and steam drifted around them.
"Kano," she said softly, "could you at least tell me what's going on?"
Still silence.
They stopped before two tall wooden doors guarded by soldiers.
"You'll see," Kano said finally.
The guards stepped aside and opened the doors. Warm mist spilled out, curling around Anna's feet.
She took a breath, her heart beating faster.
And then she stepped forward. Of course. Here is the humanized and slightly softened version, keeping a professional narrative flow while introducing more relatable, imperfect moments.
Gilded Depths
The royal bath felt like a dream, a hidden cave made of warm, wet marble and soft, glowing light. Steam, smelling faintly of flowers and clean rain, curled in the air. In the center of the room was a vast, sunken pool, its water so clear and blue it seemed to hold a piece of the sky within it. The only sound was the gentle drip of water somewhere in the shadows.
Anna's feet were quiet on the smooth floor as she stepped inside. Her simple dress felt plain in all this shimmering beauty. She'd been called, and when the prince calls, you come.
"Ah, Anna. You came."
The voice came from the mist. Prince Shang moved into the light. He looked different. His long, black hair, usually tied up, was loose, falling over his shoulders and down his chest. He wore a thin, sleeping robe, and it was damp from the steam, sticking to his skin. She could see the clear shape of his chest and shoulders through the fabric. Her breath caught in her throat.
She swallowed, forcing her eyes to look at his face. "You called for me, Your Highness?"
"Yes, I did." He took a step closer. He smelled of soap and the clean scent of his skin. "I wanted to thank you. For healing me. The other doctors… they didn't know what to do. But your hands…" he trailed off, his eyes dropping to her fingers. "They fixed me."
"It's my job, Your Highness," she said, her voice a little unsteady.
"It's more than a job," he said, his voice lower now, almost a murmur. "It's a gift. And you are… very powerful. And very beautiful."
Anna didn't know what to say to that. Her words felt stuck. Before she could find them, his hand darted out and his fingers wrapped around her wrist. His grip was firm, a little too tight.
"These hands," he said, turning her palm over. His thumb brushed across her knuckles. "So capable. They are the most beautiful hands I've ever seen."
A shiver went through her. "Your Highness," she whispered, trying to gently pull her arm back. "You're… you're holding me too tight."
He didn't seem to hear her, or he didn't care. Instead, he lifted his other hand and touched her face, his fingers surprisingly soft against her cheek. She flinched at the contact. He then guided her, turning her towards a large mirror with a silver frame.
"Look," he whispered, standing close behind her. "Just look at you. So beautiful. So strong, but… fragile, too. A person like you… your body needs someone to look after it. To protect you."
Anna stared at their reflection. She saw her own wide, startled eyes. She saw him, tall and imposing behind her, his gaze intense. The image made her heart pound harder. It was too much.
She gulped and twisted away, taking a quick step back. "My path is my own. I'm a healer. I'm not here to marry anyone."
"But you *are* here. With me." His voice was calm, sure. It was the kind of certainty that left no room for argument. "That means something."
"It means I was doing my job!" she said, her words coming out in a nervous rush. "It doesn't mean— I have to go back to my studies, I have my own life to—"
In her haste to step away, her foot slipped on the wet, smooth stone. There was a moment of horrible, weightless panic, and then the world tipped and she fell backwards into the deep pool.
The warm water closed over her head. It was sudden and terrifying. Her heavy, waterlogged dress pulled her down. She thrashed, her arms and legs moving without coordination. She broke the surface for just a second, choking.
"Help—!" she gasped before sinking again, water filling her mouth and nose.
Through the blurry water, she saw him. Prince Shang was standing at the edge, looking down at her. He wasn't moving. He wasn't shouting for help. He was just… watching. His expression was unreadable, his dark eyes fixed on her struggle.
Just as her lungs began to burn with a final, desperate need for air, his hand plunged into the water. It found her arm and pulled, hauling her up and out onto the cold, hard marble.
She lay there, coughing and gasping, water pooling around her. She was completely drenched, her dress clinging to every part of her, leaving little to the imagination. She felt utterly exposed.
Shang knelt beside her, his own robe now soaked. "Breathe, Anna. Just breathe." He rolled her onto her back and began to push on her chest, his hands moving with a rough urgency. But his hands were clumsy. One of them was too high, his palm pressing against the soft curve of her breast. He bent down, his mouth covering hers to force air into her lungs.
When Anna's eyes flew open, she was coughing up water. The first thing she felt was the heavy weight of him leaning over her, and the unmistakable pressure of his hand on her chest. It felt wrong.
A soft sound of surprise and protest left her lips. "Ah—!"
The confusion and the shock gave her strength. She pushed against him, her wet body sliding on the marble, and scrambled to her feet. Without a backward glance, she ran from the bath, from the steam, and from the prince, the chill of the water and the heat of his touch warring on her skin.
End of the chapter