Jia knelt behind Ren, carefully smoothing the boy's hair with her fingers before securing the last stray lock behind his ear. His black hair gleamed under the lantern light, now neatly tied and far less unruly to how he looked when he approached her.
She tugged lightly at his collar, straightening it until his small reflection in the mirror almost looked princely.
"There," she murmured, brushing her hands together. "Now you look a little less like you just rolled out of bed."
Ren grinned at her through the mirror. He sat on the cushioned stool in the courtesan's dressing room. The place was empty for the moment, devoid of the usual chatter. A few combs and silk ribbons were scattered across the vanity, but Jia ignored the clutter and wondered if she should locate his brother for him.
On the boy's shoulder, the glossy black millipede shifted lazily, curling its dozens of legs but never once attempting to crawl away.
"Miss Healer," Ren said suddenly, his bright eyes fixed on her reflection. "I like your hair a lot! I've never seen anyone with silver hair before! Is it real?
Jia blinked, momentarily caught off-guard. "...Pardon?"
He nodded eagerly. "It's so shiny! So I'm asking if it's real?"
She gave him a flat look.
What kind of question was that? Did she look like someone who could afford vanity projects? Of course it was real.
Ren burst out giggling at her unamused reaction, clearly entertained. "It's just… I've never seen anyone with hair like yours before. Wow… you're so pretty, Miss Healer! Will you let my big brother take you as his wife?"
Jia sighed inwardly, pressing a palm to her forehead. She genuinely didn't know what to say to this kid anymore.
She knew a smooth talker in training when she saw one. Give this boy a few more years, and he'll probably have an entire fan club of swooning noble ladies following him around, and he'd still pretend he didn't know why.
Before she could say anything, a firm, deliberate knock sounded at the door, snapping her out of her thoughts.
She froze. "Who could that be?"
Ren looked up as well, his brows knitting in confusion. The two exchanged a wary glance before Jia rose to her feet. For some reason, the uneasy flutter in her chest grew stronger with each step she took toward the door. Finally, drawing in a quiet breath, she unlatched it.
The door opened, and it revealed two palace guards standing in the corridor, their expression grave. Her heart lurched at the sight.
This doesn't look good.
"Are you the healer who was brought to attend to the courtesans?" one of the guards spoke up, his tone brisk but respectfully so.
Jia blinked, the question taking a moment to register.
"Yes?"
The second guard stepped forward, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword. It wasn't to threaten her with it, but to show the kind of formality that left no room for refusal. He then said:
"Your presence is required at the Crown Prince's chamber, immediately. Please, come with us."
For a heartbeat, all Jia could do was stare at them.
What do they want now?
The insignia on their chest gleamed faintly under the lamplight, marking them as not just ordinary guards, but one of the prince's loyal armed men.
She wanted to say no, that she wasn't going anywhere. She wanted to tell them that she only came here because her favorite courtesans might need her help. But she couldn't refuse a royal order even if she wanted to, could she?
Curse her fate.
Gathering her wits, she nodded and was about to mention the boy she had with her to them when she heard light footsteps behind her. Ren appeared from the corner, curiosity shining in his brown eyes. He peeked out from behind her to see who had arrived, only for the guards to spot him immediately.
"Young master?" one of them greeted in sheer surprise, their tone shifting from formal caution to familiar ease.
Ren tilted his head, glancing between Jia and the men.
"Is my new friend in trouble?" He asked, concern softening his voice.
The guards exchanged a look and shook their heads in unison. "No, young master," the first replied, before staring suspiciously at Jia.
"Why is the Empire's little prince in your care?"
Jia blinked, completely thrown.
Wait, wait, wait, wait, WAIT!!
Little Prince????
The kid is royalty?!
"I was the one who wanted to stay with her," Ren said quickly, clearing it up to the guards. "She's nice."
Before Jia could even process the revelation, one of the guards stepped forward and extended a gloved hand toward Ren. "Come, young master, I'll escort you back to your chamber."
Though reluctant to leave Jia, Ren eventually gave in and slipped his small hand into the guard's, trusting and unafraid. The faint rustle from his sleeve made Jia realize Mr. Wiggles had already scurried into the boy's pocket, hiding from the strangers.
As the guard led him away, Ren turned back over his shoulder, grinning. He raised his free hand and waved enthusiastically.
"I'll see you at the palace, Miss Healer!"
Jia's expression didn't change much, but she raised her hand anyway and gave a small, polite wave in return. She didn't have it in her to dampen his cheer.
So the kid was the youngest child of the Emperor?
This would likely be their last interaction. And oddly enough, a small part of her knew she'd miss the boy. But sentiment wasn't something she had time for.
Turning to the remaining guard still waiting by the door, she quietly followed him out.
*********
Jia couldn't believe this was happening.
The clack of her sandals echoed softly against the marble floor as she was led through the grand hall. Nobles stood gathered in elegant clusters as the news of the Crown Prince losing consciousness had reached them, their whispers fluttering through the air like restless birds.
Jia kept her gaze low, her jaw set. But she could feel their eyes, the scrutiny, the disbelief, the contempt pressing down on her like a physical weight.
It wasn't often a village healer was summoned in royal situations like this - especially not when the Crown Prince already had a circle of court physicians at his bedside. Even she was just as confused as the rest of the nobles who watched her go, their looks suggesting she was being led to her own execution.
"Who is that girl?" a voice whispered amongst the clusters of nobles.
"I think she's a healer."
"A healer?
Then came the snickers.
"But why a dirty village healer?"
"Are the royals that desperate?"
"Didn't they say the Crown Prince merely collapsed from exhaustion?"
Each word seemed to make the grand hall colder. And that, more than anything, terrified Jia.
The guard leading her turned down a quiet passageway and guided her up the staircase different from the main route the rest of the courtiers took. She was soon brought into a chamber where the air felt even heavier, more intimidating. Four ministers stood as the guard opened the door, their robes rich with embroidered sigils - their expression unreadable.
Jia paused at the threshold, lowering her gaze and bowing politely. "My lords."
Minister Alden didn't hesitate to speak first, his tone sounding more like a command than a question.
"Can you treat the Crown Prince?"
Before she could respond, another voice drifted from the far side of the room, near a shadowed pillar - deep, smooth and carrying an authority that didn't need to be announced.
"Well, he asked a question. Can you?"
Jia hesitated for only a moment.
"In all honesty, I'm not sure," she replied. "I'll have to check him first."
The bluntness in her voice sliced through the charged silence that followed. She didn't try to flatter or promise, but told them the simple truth.
In the end, it wasn't her decision to make. Whether they allowed her near the Crown Prince or not was entirely up to them. Though she prayed for the latter.