Morning came far too quickly.
I woke up groggy, with the faint ache of last night's chaos still clinging to my bones. But today didn't allow laziness — the palace was hosting the Crown Prince's wedding ceremony, and attendance was mandatory for every respectable family… including ours.
Servants buzzed around like bees the moment I stepped out of my room.
"Miss, your hair—"
"Your outer robe—"
"Shoes polished—"
I let them work because honestly, I had no energy to fight the battlefield of morning grooming. By the time they were done, I looked… respectable. Elegant, even. A bit like someone who slept eight peaceful hours instead of fighting kidnappers with chappals last night.
We boarded the carriage, and the moment we entered the palace gates, the world transformed.
Red silk banners.
Golden lanterns.
Musicians playing soft ceremonial tunes.
Perfume hanging in the air like invisible glitter.
Everything screamed *royalty*.
As we walked through the palace corridors, clusters of nobles whispered among themselves — some gossiping about the bride, others whining about the guests list.
But the moment we reached the outer hall…
I heard something. Two people were arguing. I looked inside and saw Jin wei. I can't really recognize the other person but he was angry.
"I told you.. I don't want you here. Leave" He shouted at Jin wei but before I could hear more Junyue called me towards him.
As I was walking towards Junyue I heard some people.
"Did you hear? Jin Wei wasn't invited in the main procession but he still arrived."
"Of course. The Crown Prince despises him."
"He deserves it. Always acting better than everyone."
"He just wanted to be a crown prince"
"And Jin Wei acts as if he'll ever be anything more than a general—"
I stopped walking.
My entire body froze.
Jin Wei… hated?
By the palace? By the prince?
Junyue noticed me lingering and gently tugged my sleeve to keep moving, but the voices behind me grew louder, uglier.
"He's arrogant."
"Cold, disrespectful."
"He should know his place."
"People like him only become threats."
I felt something twist deep inside my chest. Anger… but also something else — a sharp, uncomfortable understanding.
Last night, I saw Jin Wei drop everything to save two children who weren't even his responsibility.
And here he was… painted as a villain by people who'd never even looked him in the eyes.
No villain is born.
They're made.
Shaped by cruelty… neglect… isolation… injustice.
I clenched my hands, remembering his unreadable expression when we parted last night — that calm cold mask he always wore, as if he expected no kindness from anyone.
Did he grow up like this?
Surrounded by whispers?
Rejected by the palace?
Punished for mistakes that weren't even his?
Suddenly the future looming ahead — the one I knew from the original story — felt heavier.
Jin Wei… the villain.
The one everyone feared.
The one history cursed.
The one the world pushed into darkness until he became exactly what they claimed he was.
No.
Not this time.
Not if I was here.
I straightened my back, lifting my chin as we walked deeper into the palace.
If the world was trying to make Jin Wei a villain…
…I'd make sure he became a king instead.
He would get the throne — not out of ambition, not out of greed, but because it was the only way to save him.
Because villains aren't born.
They are raised.
And I refused to let them raise him into one.
The palace courtyard grew louder as more nobles gathered. Laughter, compliments, fake smiles — the usual festival of pretentious elegance.
I was frustrated with so much fake people. So I wanted to just leave this place. Before I could even turn I heard someone calling me.
"Oh my, if it isn't *her*."
I didn't even need to turn to know trouble had arrived.
Lady Hua — the palace's unofficial queen of gossip, known for two things:
a) her delusional belief that every prince adored her, and
b) her talent for insulting people with a smile so bright it could blind a pigeon.
She stepped closer, her dress too sparkly, her hair too high, and her smirk… toxic.
"I heard you came as well," she said, pretending to be pleasantly surprised. "How are you feeling today?"
"Fine," I replied simply.
But she wasn't here for simple.
"No, no," she insisted brightly, placing a hand on her chest dramatically, "I *mean*… how are you feeling about the Crown Prince's marriage?" She fluttered her eyelashes. "You know… since you were *so interested* in him before."
I blinked slowly.
Interest?
In the Crown Prince?
Me???
Before I could answer, she leaned in, voice dripping poison.
"I know how it feels," she said sympathetically — the kind of fake sympathy that makes you want to throw someone into a pond. "Wanting something you can never have… watching it being taken by someone better…"
My eyebrow twitched.
She wasn't finished.
"But don't worry," she said brightly, "not everyone can marry royalty. Someone like you should just… settle for someone simple."
Her gaze flicked to my plain hairpin — subtle, but very intentional.
"After all, status matters. Some people simply don't fit in the palace."
Behind her, two of her little followers giggled behind their fans.
I gave her a long, blank stare.
Then I smiled — sweetly, the way honey coats a knife.
"Oh Lady Hua," I said softly. "Thank you for reminding me."
She blinked, confused for exactly one second.
Then I added:
"It must've been horribly painful for *you* to realize the Crown Prince didn't even remember your name."
The smile froze on her face.
Her followers inhaled sharply.
I turned away gracefully, letting my voice carry just enough for her to hear:
"Don't worry. You'll find someone someday. Perhaps a… palace gardener? They're very humble."
Her face turned red.
Very red.
Steam-coming-out-of-ears red.
But I didn't stop.
Because I wasn't the girl she expected — insecure, desperate, jealous.
No.
I had bigger things on my mind.
Bigger plans.
Bigger wars.
And my eyes, whether I liked it or not, kept sliding toward the far end of the courtyard — the direction of the Eastern Hall.
The place where **Jin Wei** was standing.
Alone. Unwanted.
Pushed aside by the very palace he served.
Lady Hua could think whatever she wanted about me.
Because while everyone here was celebrating one prince…
…I had just decided to protect another one.