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The mountains were quiet under a silver moon. Stars scattered across the sky like spilled salt, and the trees whispered secrets in the cool night breeze. Their caravan had set up camp in a small clearing beside a stream, nestled between jagged cliffs.
Tents stood in neat rows, flickering with the faint glow of lanterns. Knights kept quiet watch in shifts, while the rest slept, wrapped in furs and dreams.
Princess Lù Zhāo shared her tent with Shèng Méi, who had offered her a light smile and a cup of warm tea before they both lay down on the wide travel mat. The night was colder than expected, and at some point, without meaning to, the princess had shifted closer in her sleep, resting her arm around Shèng Méi's waist.
Meanwhile, outside the tent, Shèng Lín stood as still as a statue. Sword at his side, eyes scanning the trees, back straight. He did not sleep. He never did when she was near.
Then—quiet footsteps.
Prince Xìn Xuān emerged from his tent, draped in a thin cloak. His long hair was loose around his shoulders, and a question weighed on his brow. He spotted Shèng Lín by the princess's tent and approached him.
Shèng Lín turned only slightly, acknowledging him. "Your Highness."
"Can we talk for a moment?" the prince asked.
The knight hesitated for a breath, then gave a respectful nod. The two men walked a short distance away from the circle of tents, stopping beneath a lone pine tree.
Xìn Xuān looked out toward the moonlit horizon before finally asking, "Do you like the princess?"
Shèng Lín blinked slowly. "…No. What makes you think that?"
The prince chuckled lightly. "Well… the way you act around her. Always standing close. Always watching. I thought perhaps… it was some kind of hidden love."
A long silence followed.
When Shèng Lín finally spoke, his voice was firm. "If you have nothing important to discuss, I'll take my leave."
He bowed once, sharp and clean, then turned without waiting for permission. His footsteps were silent as he disappeared into the shadows.
The prince remained behind, staring at the trees. "…I see," he murmured to himself.
He, too, returned to his tent. But sleep didn't come easily.
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Morning light slipped gently into the camp, casting everything in golden warmth. Birds chirped between branches, and the smell of spiced rice being cooked over a fire began to stir the sleeping travelers.
Inside the princess's tent, Lù Zhāo stirred slightly, her arm still loosely draped around Shèng Méi, who lay wide awake. The younger girl blinked at the warm weight of the princess's hand on her stomach. Her cheeks tinged slightly pink.
With careful, practiced grace, Shèng Méi gently lifted the princess's hand and slid out from under the blanket without making a sound. She fixed her robes, tied her sash, and pushed open the tent flap.
Outside, her brother stood sharpening his blade quietly on a rock.
Shèng Méi walked up and folded her arms. "You didn't sleep."
Shèng Lín didn't look up. "You know I never do when I'm on watch."
Shèng Méi narrowed her eyes, studying him. "Did something happen last night?"
He paused, but didn't answer.
Instead, he glanced toward the prince's tent—then back to the horizon.
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