When she woke, the sun was high overhead.
Soyeon sat up groggily, her eyes swollen, her head pounding. The servants had left food, rice porridge, pickled vegetables, tea, but it had gone cold. She had slept through breakfast, through the morning entirely.
She forced herself to eat something, then allowed the servants to help her dress. More silk robes, these ones in soft lavender, her hair arranged simply with jade pins.
She had just finished when one of the servants announced: "His Highness the Crown Prince requests an audience."
Soyeon's heart sank. She wasn't ready for this. Wasn't ready for his charm and his questions and his knowing eyes.
But you didn't refuse the Crown Prince.
"Show him in," she said quietly.
Prince Zhao Yifeng entered like sunlight, dressed in gold and red robes, his hair adorned with an elaborate crown. He smiled when he saw her, warm and genuine, like last night had never happened.
"Su Yan. How are you feeling?"
