Lin Rui sat alone behind the Khan's heavy desk.
The room was far too quiet. Usually, he craved the silence, but today it felt heavy, like it was pressing against his chest. On his desk, stacks of documents were piled high. It was the usual mess: reports from the border, petitions from greedy nobles, and endless accounts of corruption that he couldn't bring himself to care about.
For a wild second, he considered tossing his candle straight into the stack and just walking out.
What a cliché, he thought.
He had written about corrupt officials dozens of times. He'd never known how exhausting they were until he had to rule over them.
"I need to write better stories," he muttered.
He pinched the bridge of his nose and closed his eyes. The faint ache there had become constant over the past few days. It was a dull reminder that sleep had been a stranger lately.
He was tired.
Court matters were exhausting. Avoiding Lian Zhi was exhausting. But being ignored by her? That was a different kind of drain altogether. It was a quiet, hollow ache that was far worse than the noise of the court.
Lin Rui leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes for a moment. He didn't even hear the door open.
"Your Majesty."
Arkan's voice snapped him back. Lin Rui immediately sat up straight. His body automatically fell back into the "Khan" pose. Shoulders back, face calm and intimidating.
"Yes?" he said.
Arkan stepped forward with a scroll. "The investigation is complete. Minister Bayan has been diverting treasury funds for three years. He used them to buy private estates."
Lin Rui listened without reaction. Of course, he had already known.
Arkan continued carefully, clearly gauging his expression. "If Your Majesty wishes, we can summon him for questioning. The Council recommends—"
"Find a way to clear the charges," Lin Rui cut in.
Arkan paused. "Why?"
"Because I can't let my future father-in-law be prosecuted, can I?" He gave a knowing look.
Arkan understood.
"Speaking of that, Lady Naram has requested an audience," Arkan added. "She is waiting in the courtyard."
Of course she was.
Lin Rui closed his eyes again. Fatigue settled once more, deeper than before.
"I can't do this anymore," he whispered.
He had expected the long hours. He had expected the lying politicians and the boring meetings. That was part of the job description. But he hadn't prepared for this kind of emotional drain.
He was trapped between a woman who wanted things from him and a woman who wanted absolutely nothing to do with him anymore.
In his old world, things had been simpler. He had always avoided women. They were noisy, complicated, and full of expectations he never wanted to meet.
But now?
The irony was almost funny. The one woman who had melted his heart was the one woman he now had to stay away from.
Why? Because seeing her made him lose his mind. Because when she was near, he forgot who he was. He forgot the script.
"I didn't sign up for this," he muttered.
Watching him, Arkan said nothing. He had anticipated this.
Lately, the Khan had barely paid attention to palace matters. He ignored the dowagers' schemes and the Chancellor's plots, things that once would have concerned him deeply.
"Tell Lady Naram I will be there shortly," Lin Rui said at last.
Arkan bowed. "As you wish."
When the door closed, Lin Rui rose and moved to the window.
Lady Naram stood beneath a tree, posture perfect. She looked exactly as she should. Beautiful and graceful. The exact image of what he had written of her.
He knew by heart what Lady Naram would do next. She would tilt her head slightly, her eyes would well with tears, but not enough to ruin her makeup, and she'd thank him for his 'mercy.' It was a scene he'd written on a Tuesday night when he was bored and craving a coffee.
His lips curved into a bitter smile. She was also a character in his story. She was also pretty and perfect. So why didn't she make him feel the way Lian Zhi did?
He felt nothing looking at Naram.
There was no spark of attraction and not even a flicker of irritation. It was just a deep, heavy boredom.
He adjusted his robes, expression already settling into something cold and distant. Changing to this version of the Khan, the calm yet frightening ruler.
Lady Naram looked up the moment she sensed his presence. Relief and nervousness washed over her face as she bowed deeply.
"Your Majesty."
"You wished to see me?"
She looked up, eyes searching his face for reassurance. "I heard about my father. I wanted to thank you for your discretion. I was worried you might think less of me because of his crimes."
Exactly on script.
"Your father's actions are his own. They have nothing to do with you," he said evenly.
"You are my betrothed. It is my duty to protect your family."
Her eyes shone. "Thank you, Your Majesty. You are too kind."
Kind? He scoffed.
She took a step closer, feeling brave. "If there is anything I can do to help you feel better—"
"There isn't." The words came out sharper than he intended.
She froze, looking like he had slapped her.
Lin Rui sighed. He didn't apologize. He was just too done with the day. "I am tired. I wish to be alone now."
She bowed again, her face pale. "Of course."
As she walked away, Lin Rui felt a small sense of relief, but mostly he felt empty. Another role played. Another "scene" finished.
As he walked back to his room, his mind went straight back to Lian Zhi.
He let out a dry, humorless laugh. "This is ridiculous."
Lin Rui realized then that he hated the silence. He hated being ignored. But most of all, he hated the fact that he was losing the only "real" thing in this entire fake world.
He felt like a complete jerk.
He had spent weeks avoiding her, and now that she was doing the same to him, he couldn't take it. This was his karma.