My heart pounded violently while everyone else celebrated, cheering and dancing.
Being made a servant in the royal palace was supposed to be a great opportunity—doors opening, status rising, a blessing for even a lowly clan.
But not for me.
For me, being a servant in the royal palace wasn't an honor. It was a death sentence.
I tried desperately to remember the storyline of Shen in the palace.
I knew Shen got killed there. That much I remembered—he did something huge that led to his death, a major turning point in the story.
But I couldn't pinpoint exactly what happened. All I knew was that there was more to this "reward" than anyone could see.
Ugh. I sighed unhappily, raking my brain for clues. The novel was too long, and I'd already forgotten the beginning.
All I could remember were names and characters. Not the actual plot.
"Shen, what's wrong?" I heard, and I turned to see Shen's mother looking at me with worried eyes.
I forced a weak smile, trying to convince her everything was fine—but I failed.
"Our clan is going to rise in the royal ranks!" an elder yelled.
"Yes! We'll receive so much trade money, gold!" another chimed in.
Shen's mother slowly left my gaze, then stood.
"Wait! Wait," she said, holding up a hand in the air then when everyone turned to her she comtinued "The elders, the delegation, everyone instead of rushing with excitement, why not ask Shen what he wants?"
My eyes lit up. She was considering me. I thought
And a smile tugged at my lips.
She then looked at me and smiled back.
"We should let him choose," she said, holding my gaze.
I felt a surge of hope. Maybe this way I could reject the delegation, maybe save my life—and my everyone else's life.
"Let Shen choose?," an elder grumbled. I turned to see him, a grumpy old man, standing stiffly.
"What choice is there to make, exactly, clan leader?" he asked.
"He has been given an incredible opportunity. Only a fool would turn it down."
"Yes, yes," murmured the crowd.
The head of the delegation spoke next. "This is a wonderful opportunity. Working in the royal palace is a great honor, a reward. What is there to decide?"
"I understand," Shen's mother continued, "but still… there may be a chance that Shen may not want this."
"But why not? It would not only benefit him, but the entire clan," the grumpy elder replied.
The crowd murmured their agreement, and a lump formed in my throat. My body shook with fear and anxiety.
This wasn't going to be easy. Rejecting this? Especially with all this pressure…
"Do not pull any of your foolish antics here, Shen," the old man continued. "This is for everyone, so don't—"
"Enough!" my father interrupted. "My wife is right. Let us ask Shen what he truly desires."
He turned to me. "Shen… go on, my dear. Tell us. Do you accept this offer or not?"
I slowly stood, all eyes boring into me, burning into my soul.
My hand kept shaking, but I gripped it tightly to calm myself.
I faced the delegation, my heart hammering in my chest.
The head of the delegation looked at me seriously.
"Well then… what is it you choose, boy?" he asked.
"I… I… reject the offer," I stammered, my voice barely steady.
The room erupted.
An uproar of shouting, insults, and disbelief hit me like a wave.
"How could you say no, as the eldest son of the family?"
"How dare you, boy! After we took you in as an orphan, this is how you betray us!"
"Stop your games, Shen! This isn't a joke!"
"I knew this boy was good for nothing!"
Everyone was hurling threats, accusations, and ridicule at me.
But my head stayed down.
I kept telling myself: I'm doing this for my life. For their lives. Even if they don't realize it, I don't care if they hate me.
"You—" the head of the delegation snapped.
I looked up.
"You insolent child!," he said, his voice sharp. "How dare you reject a royal declaration!?"
My heart sank into my stomach.
The room slowly went silent, all eyes on me.
"Sire, please," my father said, trying to intervene.
"Enough, clan leader!" the head of the delegation snapped, his gaze fixed angrily on me.
"Do you think this is a joke? Do you know what it means to reject us?"
My heart pounded as I froze in place.
"It's the same as rejecting the Grand Commander.
The same as rejecting the royal family.
The same as rejecting the king!" he yelled.
I just stared at him, unable to move.
"How dare you throw away the gift offered to you! And for what reason? Tell me, boy!"
"I… I…" I stammered, my mind blank. I didn't know what to say or do. I was terrified.
I should have known. Of course this wouldn't work. This was the royal family. This was bad.
"Your actions can get you, your family, and the entire clan killed," he said, and a murmur of protest ran through the room.
What had I done? I'd been trying to protect everyone, and now I was on the verge of doing the exact opposite.
Fine. If your choice is to reject us and send us away, that is fine.
"I'll go inform the Commander of this," he said.
"Men, let's go!" he barked, and the rest of the delegation slowly began to rise. Panic and fear filled the room.
No… I can't let them leave like this.
I rushed in front of the head of the delegation and bowed my head to the ground.
"Please," I said. "I apologize. Forgive me, Sire. I shouldn't have taken the Commander's gift lightly—or his delegation."
"I… I accept the offer," I added, my voice trembling.
"Shen—" my mother began.
"No, it's fine," I cut in.
"I had been given a gift, and I would be honored to receive it." I said as my heart kept pounding
"Alright, boy," I heard the commander say. I slowly looked up.
"That's more like it," he added with a laugh.
"Well then, we shall come at noon tomorrow to take you."
Tomorrow? My heart pounded so hard I thought it might burst.
"Tomorrow?" my father asked. "Isn't that too soon?"
The head of the delegation turned to him, expression cold.
"We have traveled a great distance to come here and take Shen," he said. "The Commander wants him taken as soon as possible. So, tomorrow, Shen—be prepared."
And just like that, they passed by me and left.
My mind shattered.
Tomorrow.
But I didn't have a plan.
I didn't know what happens to Shen in the original story.
I didn't know how to survive.
As soon as they left, I slowly got up.
"Shen," my mother called, coming closer.
But I couldn't. I didn't want to be around anyone. Didn't want to speak to anyone. My mind and body were in full panic.
I just went out the door
And started running into the fields without thinking.
My feet pounding on the ground as my breath hitched
I only stopped when I reached the barn. I slipped inside and sat down, letting the cool darkness of the night wrap around me.
My mind slowly paced back and forth.
It's okay, Yue, I told myself. You can do this.
Even if I couldn't remember everything in the book, I knew the major characters and events. I could use that knowledge to my advantage… to survive.
I focused on that thought, trying to calm myself.
I had to.
There was too much dread.
Too much fear.
And a threat heading straight toward me tomorrow.