The banquet was grand.
Lanterns lit the night sky, music filled the air, and nobles from across the kingdom gathered in celebration of the "newly recognized princess."
Xueying stood at the edge of it all.
Alone.
Despite the silk wrapped around her, despite the jewels placed carefully in her hair…
She had never felt more exposed.
"Princess Xueying."
She turned slightly.
A group of noble ladies approached, their smiles polite—but their eyes curious.
"We've heard so much about you," one said sweetly.
"Truly?" another added. "It must have been… difficult… living among servants."
Soft laughter followed.
Xueying kept her expression calm.
"It was my life," she replied quietly.
"How humble," one said, though her tone held mockery.
"And now you're a princess overnight," another added. "How fortunate."
"Fortunate…" Xueying repeated softly.
Before she could say more—
A voice cut through the air.
"Princess Xueying."
Deeper.
Calmer.
Different.
The group fell silent as a man stepped forward.
Dressed in dark robes, his presence alone drew attention. His features were sharp, his expression unreadable—but his eyes…
His eyes were fixed on her.
Xueying felt her breath catch.
He bowed slightly.
"Gu Yichen," he introduced himself.
"The son of General Gu."
The noble ladies immediately stepped back, their attitudes shifting.
"Lord Gu."
"General's son."
Respect.
Real respect.
Xueying noticed it immediately.
"…Princess," Yichen said, his voice softer now as he looked at her.
For a moment—
The noise of the banquet faded.
"You seem uncomfortable," he said quietly.
Her fingers tightened slightly.
"…Is it that obvious?"
"A little."
There was no mockery in his tone.
Only honesty.
And something else.
Gentleness.
"I'm not used to this," she admitted.
Yichen studied her for a moment.
Then—
"Then don't force yourself to be," he said.
Her eyes widened slightly.
"That's not how the palace works."
"Maybe not," he replied calmly. "But you don't look like someone who belongs to their rules."
Her heart skipped.
No one had ever said something like that to her before.
No one had ever looked at her—
Like this.
"Why are you telling me this?" she asked softly.
Yichen's gaze didn't waver.
"…Because you look like someone who has been told what she is her whole life."
A pause.
"And I don't think they were right."
Something inside her—
Cracked.
Just a little.
Before she could respond—
A voice interrupted sharply.
"Yichen."
Zhao Meilin stepped forward, her smile bright—but her eyes cold.
"I didn't know you were here."
Yichen straightened slightly. "Miss Zhao."
Meilin moved closer, slipping naturally to his side.
"I was just speaking with my sister," she said, the word laced with something unpleasant.
Her gaze flicked to Xueying.
Sharp.
Warning.
Possessive.
"Were you?"
Yichen didn't respond immediately.
But Xueying noticed—
He didn't step away from Meilin.
And for some reason…
That hurt more than it should have.
—
As the music resumed and the conversation shifted, Xueying stood quietly once more.
But this time—
Her heart was no longer the same.
Because for the first time in her life…
Someone had looked at her—
And seen something more.
And for the first time…
She had felt something dangerous.
Hope, hope that she would get away from all these pain, hope that she can finally be free, hope that this one might just be the real one....she feared it was the most dangerous thing in the world,hope!!!!