Lin Xu froze when she saw who stood before her.
The Crown Prince.
For a brief moment, even she couldn't hide her shock.
She set the teacup aside slowly, then stood up and walked toward the main gate. Her steps were calm, but her mind was already racing.
The carriage door opened.
The Crown Prince stepped down with unhurried grace, his cloak shifting as he landed on the ground. The lantern light caught his sharp features, making his presence impossible to ignore. Behind him, several guards followed silently, their expressions cold and alert.
The moment his feet touched the earth, a loud crack of thunder tore through the sky.
The Crown Prince paused, then laughed softly.
"It's going to rain," he said, lifting his gaze to the dark clouds above. "How nice."
Lin Xu stopped a few steps away from him.
She lowered her head slightly in a polite bow, not deep, not submissive.
"Your Highness," she said calmly. "What brings you here at this hour?"
