A hush fell over the darkened canyon as Yiren and Xuefeng glided back to the palace, the only sounds their quiet breaths and the soft rustle of her feather-like wings. Night had settled fully, blanketing the towering Parent Tree in obsidian shadows. They landed on the palace balcony and stepped through a gentle barrier that allowed them entry without alerting the guards.
Yiren led Xuefeng inside with a serene but resolute air. Candles in wall sconces flickered across the polished wooden floors, casting pools of liquid gold upon them. The chamber was the same one Xuefeng had awoken in earlier, perched high in the palace's upper boughs.
"Did you… enjoy our date?" Yiren whispered near his ear, her breath warm against his neck. Her shy, hesitant tone reminded him that the day, for all its danger, had been precious to her.
"Yeah," Xuefeng murmured, managing a small smile as he recalled the stunning sights and surprising closeness they'd shared. "It was fun."
Relief bloomed across Yiren's face. She gave his hand a gentle squeeze before releasing him to rummage through the room. "Let's get you out of these wet clothes," she said abruptly. "We don't want you catching a chill." Without waiting for an answer, she reached for the hem of his shirt.
Xuefeng stepped back, cheeks heating. "I can manage," he said carefully, remembering just how bold she could be.
Yiren paused, tilting her head. "Aren't you going to let me help? I've already seen you naked, you know." Her eyes danced with a mild mischief he recognized all too well. "This morning, I dried your clothes, so what's the point in being shy?"
That left him at a loss for words. He gave a weary chuckle and stripped off his shirt slowly, water dripping onto the floor. "Right… you have a point," he admitted.
"Stop taking so long," Yiren teased. The moment his arms lifted, she reached down and tugged his pants down too, leaving him as bare as a statue. The palace air prickled against his exposed skin.
"So this is the thing that goes inside me," Yiren said, eyeing his lower half with frank curiosity. She reached out with a single finger and poked him unceremoniously, like she might test the warmth of a teapot. "Last time I saw it, it was all… big. Shouldn't it be… you know, harder?"
Xuefeng flinched, face flushing, and practically leapt back. "I think I should take a shower," he suggested, escaping toward the bathroom.
From behind, he heard Yiren laugh. "So funny," she purred, the corners of her lips curling with amusement. Then she set to work hanging his clothes on the balcony to dry in the night air.
Inside the bathroom, Xuefeng let out a groan of disbelief. "So she knew everything and was only teasing me," he muttered, leaning against the door for a moment as his pulse slowed. "Also, why am I running away? I should be used to this by now." He slapped a hand lightly against his cheek, collecting himself.
Shifting his attention, he studied the simple shower apparatus. Instead of metal pipes, a bamboo tube hung overhead. A single rope controlled the warm water. Pulling it released a soothing stream that trickled over his skin, dispelling the day's tension. Steam gathered, curling upward in soft plumes, and he let out a long sigh.
But his mind churned with conflicting thoughts: Am I really about to share a bed with Yiren? What about Wuying, waiting for me in the outside world? He realized the Queen almost certainly wouldn't let him leave without fulfilling his role. If he complied, maybe he could get out of Eligma. Yet he felt a twist of guilt for the women he'd already pledged himself to.
He was so wrapped in his worries that he never sensed the door open behind him, nor the presence creeping across the tile. Only when slim arms circled his chest and something warm pressed against his back did he jerk in alarm.
"Wha—?!" he spluttered as Yiren's voice hummed by his ear. "Calm down," she said lightly, though he could feel her heartbeat racing against his spine. Her soft breath stirred the wet hair at the nape of his neck.
"Don't you have a shower in your own bedroom?" Xuefeng asked, voice shaky with adrenaline.
She snorted playfully, pressing closer. "But I am in my own bedroom and this is my shower. Anyway, want me to help you clean?" She pulled a small vial from her ring and poured a fragrant liquid into her palm, lathering it on his chest. "This soap helps with muscle tension."
Xuefeng tried to protest, but Yiren's gentle scrubbing lulled him. Her hands roamed over his arms and torso, rubbing the foamy suds across his skin. A rich aroma filled the steamy air, all forest blossoms and a trace of spice.
"Isn't this nice?" Yiren breathed, pressing her cheek to his shoulder. He felt her slight tremor beneath the water's patter.
Finally, guilt weighed too heavily. "Yiren, hold on… This might be a bad idea." But the rope controlling the shower slipped free from his grasp, sending a fresh cascade of water tumbling over them.
Yiren scooted around to face him, amber eyes glossy with unshed tears. "I know you love someone else," she said quietly. "But… can't you give me just a few days of your love, too?" Her arms laced behind his neck, pressing her soaked body to his. "I'm never going to meet another man—never going to leave this place for good." A quiet sob escaped her. "Just let me have a memory, something worth keeping after we part."
Xuefeng stilled, feeling her trembling. His chest tightened. In that moment, he realized how caged she truly was, locked in this realm with an unavoidable destiny. "Yiren," he murmured, but she shook her head.
"You have no idea how lonely it is," she whispered, voice quivering. "My whole future decided for me, forced to bear an heir with a man the Vine chooses… we only get a few days together. Then he's gone. I'm left behind, forever." Her tears mingled with the shower's spray. "Just… grant me something real."
Her plea stabbed at his conscience, and he found himself nodding almost before the words formed. "All right," he said after a fraught silence. "If a few days of my… affection can help you, then so be it."
She jerked her head up in disbelief. "You—you'll do that for me?"
Tenderly, he brushed the droplets from her cheek, meeting her gaze. "I've made mistakes in the past, but I can at least give you something to treasure. It doesn't have to be empty or meaningless. Even if we part ways, we can make these few days count."
Her face lit with relief, tears brimming anew, this time tears of gratitude. "Thank you…" she breathed. Her arms tightened around him, bodies flush in the swirling steam.
Some would say he gave up resisting too quickly, but if this was the only way to free him, or to keep her from heartbreak, maybe his body was worth the sacrifice. He closed his eyes, letting her warmth anchor him in the moment.
***
Elsewhere in the palace, two figures stood in front of a shimmering hologram that projected the very scene of Xuefeng and Yiren in the shower, framed by steamy water and intimate conversation. One was the Queen, face streaked with tearstains; the other was the auntie from the restaurant, her expression tinged with regret.
"You see what I meant," Auntie sighed, making a small motion that dimmed the projection. "She's truly different from the other heirs."
The Queen wiped at her damp cheeks. "I never realized her heart ached like that…" She pressed her lips together, fury warring with sorrow in her eyes. "We need to prepare for the ceremony. I can't let her bear this burden alone."
Auntie gave her a sidelong glance. "You're really going to break tradition?"
"Damn the tradition," the Queen snapped, words trembling with emotion. "We've endured it for too long, mother after mother losing her love. If that boy can truly change everything, then I'll see to it. No matter how many old customs we have to shatter."
Auntie's lips curved in a sad, proud smile. "Then let's make it happen."