Li Wei stirred from a heavy, dreamless nap, the deep fatigue of the day—of the war, the politics, the sheer weight of command—still clinging to him like a second skin. When his lashes fluttered open, the sight before him stole the very air from his lungs.
Leena. She was nestled against his side, her head resting in the crook of his arm, sleeping with a peace so profound it felt sacred. All her usual sharp intelligence, the playful, defiant glints in her eyes, the constant hum of alertness—it was all gone. In their place was a soft, untroubled serenity that made his chest ache with a feeling he couldn't name. It was a vulnerability she showed to no one else, a trust that felt more valuable than any oath of fealty.
A slight shiver ran through her, and a matching one ran down his own spine. The summer nights in the mountains were deceptively cold. Instinctively, without a single conscious thought, he drew her closer. But it wasn't just to keep her warm, he realized with a jolt. It was to shield himself. With her pressed against him, her steady breathing a soft rhythm against his chest, the restless, churning weight of his duties eased. The northern front, his father's betrayal, the court's viper pit—for this one, stolen moment, they could not touch him.
If I could take her with me to the northern border, I would fear nothing. Not even death, he thought, the truth of it settling deep in his bones.
He buried his face in the scent of her hair—a fragrance of fresh herbs and something uniquely her, soft and intoxicating. It filled his mind not with battle plans, but with bursts of color: fields of wildflowers, the silent bloom of fireworks in a dark sky. An unconscious, rare, and utterly unguarded smile stretched across his face, a sight no one in the court would ever believe.
A low, hesitant voice shattered the perfect quiet like a stone through glass.
"Your Highness…"
Li Wei's eyes snapped open. The warmth drained from his expression in an instant, replaced by the cool, impenetrable mask of the prince. Jun stood a few paces away, bowing deeply, but his posture was rigid with clear unease at the intimate scene before him.
"What?" the prince asked, the single word sharp, cold, and layered with unspoken command.
Jun kept his head lowered, gesturing awkwardly toward Leena, who was still curled peacefully in Li Wei's protective embrace. "Your Highness… you cannot sleep like this, with her… in such a condition… It is… improper."
Li Wei actually rolled his eyes, a gesture of such deliberate, casual defiance it was more powerful than a shout. With a quiet, fluid strength that spoke of his training, he shifted, lifting her fully into his arms. She murmured softly in her sleep but did not stir, her head lolling trustingly against his shoulder.
"What are you doing?" Jun hissed, alarm overriding protocol as he stepped closer, his voice a frantic whisper.
"Do you expect me to leave her here, alone on the floor, to wake up cold and confused?" Li Wei replied, his tone dry and brooking no argument. He stood, Leena a slight, sleeping weight in his arms.
"At least let me help, Your Highness," Jun insisted, moving to intervene, his hand outstretched to take some of her weight.
Before the guard's hand could reach her, Li Wei shifted sharply, swinging Leena's dangling legs in a wide arc that connected solidly with Jun's chest. Jun let out a muffled yelp and stumbled backward, clutching his ribs.
"Ow—!"
The prince spared him no glance, his focus entirely on the woman in his arms. He walked on, silent and purposeful, every step measured and careful to avoid jostling her, yet the power in his stride spoke of the same strength that could command armies and shatter enemies.
Inside his private chambers, Li Wei moved to the vast, canopied bed. He laid her down upon the silk-draped mattress with a reverence usually reserved for sacred relics. She looked impossibly small and delicate against the expansive, embroidered sheets, her hair spreading around her like a dark, flowing river across the white pillow.
Jun arrived a moment later, still rubbing his ribs, his voice a panicked whisper. "Your Highness… she cannot be seen sleeping here. If anyone notices—the rumors—"
"Does it matter?" Li Wei cut him off, his gaze fixed on Leena's sleeping form. He reached out and gently brushed a stray lock of hair from her cheek, his touch unbearably tender. "She deserves the most comfortable bed in this entire estate. She has earned that much and more."
Jun's tone faltered, caught between duty and the undeniable truth of his master's care. "I know Your Highness means no harm. But… please. Think of her reputation. People will talk. They will call her a concubine, a mistress. They will strip her of the respect she's gained as a healer."
Li Wei fell silent for a long heartbeat, his eyes still on Leena. When he spoke again, his voice was cool, resolved, the mind of a strategist finding a solution. "Tell them I was unwell last night. That I feared I might have caught the early signs of smallpox. And that Physician Leena, by my direct order, stayed to monitor me through the night and ensure I was cared for." He finally looked at Jun. "A plausible cover for a prince's selfish demand. No one will question it."
Jun hesitated, but seeing the finality in the prince's eyes, he bowed. "An excellent idea, Your Highness."
"You may leave," Li Wei said, his attention already returning to the woman in his bed.
The moment the door slid shut, the prince moved to his desk. He rifled through the drawers with an urgency that was almost frantic, a stark contrast to his usual controlled movements. His hand finally closed around a small, intricately carved sandalwood box. He opened it, and a brilliant, unrestrained smile spread across his face.
Morning light, soft and golden, spilled into the room, painting everything in a warm, hopeful glow.
Leena stirred beneath the layers of luxurious silk, stretching lazily like a contented cat, until her hand brushed against something firm and warmly solid. Confused, still half-asleep, she reached again—then froze. That was not a pillow. It was a torso.
Her eyes flew open.
"Y-Your Highness?!" she gasped, finding him there beside her, his hand clasped loosely over hers, his sleeping robe gaping slightly to reveal the powerful line of his shoulders.
"Sleeping with you," he murmured, his eyes still closed yet his voice fully aware, "is like trying to sleep in the middle of a typhoon." A faint smile touched his lips. "You kick."
Her heart surged into her throat, mortification and a strange, thrilling delight warring within her.
He rolled onto his side to face her fully, opening his eyes. They were warm, steady, and focused solely on her, holding a softness that made her breath catch.
"W-what happened? How did we…?" she stammered, her cheeks flushing a deep, tell-tale crimson.
Li Wei only smiled, a slow, secret thing. He tugged her wrist gently toward him. "What do you think happened?" His lips curved into a sly, teasing grin that was both infuriating and utterly captivating.
She wriggled her hand free, embarrassed, rubbing at her wrist theatrically. "You hurt me!" she scolded, though there was no real pain, only flustered nerves.
Before she could scramble away, his arms snaked around her from behind, pulling her back firmly against the solid warmth of his chest. Her body stiffened for a second before melting into his embrace, a secret, liquid warmth blooming deep within her core.
"I hope my little gift will make up for it," he whispered, his breath a soft caress against her ear.
"Gift?" she asked, twisting in his arms to face him.
He lifted her left hand, and her breath caught in her throat. encircling her ring finger was a band of the most exquisite jade she had ever seen—cool, smooth, and glowing with a deep, inner light.
"T-this…?" she breathed, her voice barely a whisper.
"My late grandmother's," Li Wei said softly, his gaze intense. "She was a woman of… particular taste. Nothing ever left her possession unless it was going to someone who truly mattered."
Leena shook her head, disbelief and awe swirling together. "I… I can't accept something so precious. This is an heirloom."
"It's an order," the prince interrupted, his voice firm, his eyes locking onto hers, allowing no refusal. "You will keep it safe for me." He paused, and the air grew serious. "Keep it safe until I return from the northern campaign."
Her heart constricted—not just with the overwhelming gratitude, but with the immense, terrifying weight of what he was entrusting to her. This was no mere trinket. It was a bond, a claim, a silent, profound promise. Her life in the palace, already complicated, had just been irrevocably changed.
Before she could find the words to respond, a voice, clear and formal, echoed from the corridor just outside the door.
"Your Highness…"
Leena's breath hitched. Panic, cold and sharp, surged through her veins. Who was that?
ﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ـ♡ﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ـ To be continued... ﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ـ♡ﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ـ