Just as she was about to slip into bed, a soft rustling sound by the window made her stop. Her heart skipped a beat, the familiarity of it stirring an almost automatic response. She didn't need to turn around to know who it was.
Prince Zhen moved with a fluidity that made even the moonlight seem clumsy. He slipped through the window, landing lightly, and closed it behind him without a sound.
"You do realize how improper it is to enter a lady's room at night?" she said calmly, her voice barely above a whisper. Her back was to him, and she hoped he wouldn't notice the faint tremor in her tone.
A low chuckle came from the shadows, and she could practically hear the smile in his voice. "And yet, here I am," Zhen replied, his tone casual but laced with something deeper. "I find myself drawn to places where I am least welcome."
Slowly, Yanli turned to face him, doing her best to mask her surprise. He looked relaxed, his arms folded casually as he leaned against the window frame, but his eyes held an intensity that belied his ease. She took a step back, crossing her arms in an attempt to keep a comfortable distance, both physically and emotionally.
"You have quite a talent for arriving uninvited," she said, arching an eyebrow. "And a curious lack of concern for propriety."
He shrugged, unfazed. "Propriety is hardly my chief concern, especially when I'm met with such… spirited conversation." His eyes twinkled, and she could sense the subtle challenge in his words. "Tell me, Yanli, have you considered that perhaps there's something here, between us, that draws me back?"
Yanli's lips pressed into a thin line. "Between us?" she echoed, feigning surprise. "If there is, I certainly wasn't aware of it."
Zhen's smile didn't falter. Instead, he took a slow step forward, closing the distance between them by just a fraction. "Ah, so it's a secret, even to you," he mused, his voice softening. "How fascinating."
Yanli forced herself to remain composed, though she felt the warmth rising to her cheeks. "You speak in riddles, Prince Zhen. If you wish to say something, say it plainly."
"Very well," he replied, his gaze unwavering. "I find you intriguing, Lady Yanli. And I believe that you, for all your insistence on propriety, don't mind my company quite as much as you pretend."
Her heart raced, but she kept her expression calm, lifting her chin defiantly. "I'm afraid you're mistaken, my lord. It would be unwise for anyone in my position to be… intrigued by someone as unpredictable as yourself."
"Unwise, perhaps." His eyes softened, and for a brief moment, he looked almost vulnerable. "But not impossible."
Silence stretched between them, laden with words unspoken, the tension both exhilarating and unnerving. Yanli didn't look away, even as she felt her defenses waver. She wasn't sure if it was his proximity, his gaze, or his words that unsettled her most, but in that moment, she felt as though he could see past every shield she'd carefully built around herself.
Finally, she spoke, her voice barely a whisper. "Why do you insist on pursuing this, Zhen? Surely there are others who would be far more suited to your attentions."
A faint smile curved at the corners of his mouth. "Perhaps. But I have little interest in what is 'suitable.' I prefer what is real." His gaze softened, and she could feel the sincerity in his words. "And I sense that you do as well."
Yanli held her breath, momentarily disarmed. She found herself wanting to believe him, to let down her guard, if only just this once. But the familiar voice of caution sounded in her mind, reminding her of all she had to lose.
"You speak as though you know me," she said quietly, her voice trembling slightly despite her best efforts to sound firm. "But you don't."
"Perhaps not fully," he admitted, his gaze never wavering. "But I'd like to. If you'd let me."
A soft laugh escaped her before she could stop it. "And what would you do if I did? Sweep me off to the palace and put my family at the mercy of court politics?"
Zhen shook his head. "You misunderstand me. I have no interest in forcing you into anything, nor in using you as a pawn. Whatever happens between us, Yanli, I want it to be your choice."
She felt a strange tug at her heart, a warmth spreading through her chest that she hadn't felt in a long time. His words sounded genuine, and for the first time, she wondered if perhaps there was a side of him that wasn't simply playing the part of the charming prince.
Still, she couldn't let herself give in so easily. She lifted her chin, her gaze steady. "You'll forgive me if I'm not so quick to believe in the promises of princes."
He inclined his head, a glimmer of amusement in his eyes. "Of course. But then, perhaps one day, you'll find that I'm not quite like the others."
Silence settled over them once more, the weight of his words lingering in the air. Yanli felt a strange mixture of defiance and anticipation, as though she were standing on the edge of something she couldn't fully see, but knew would change everything.
After a long moment, Zhen finally stepped back, giving her a slight nod. "I'll take my leave, then. But consider what I've said, Yanli."
She met his gaze, and for once, allowed herself to hold it without reservation. "I will."
With a final, lingering look, Zhen slipped through the window, disappearing into the night as swiftly as he had come. Yanli stared after him, her mind awhirl with questions and thoughts she couldn't yet untangle.
As she turned back toward her bed, she couldn't help but feel that something had shifted within her. She wasn't sure what it meant, or where it would lead, but for the first time, she felt as though she were looking forward to finding out.
With a quiet sigh, Yanli moved back to her bed, determined to banish thoughts of him from her mind. It would do no good to think on his words, to let herself imagine there was something more behind his actions. Zhen was a master of charm, a man trained to win over those around him, and she wouldn't be foolish enough to fall into his trap—no matter how much his gaze had felt like he truly saw her.
She tried to close her eyes, willing herself to sleep, but found herself restless, his words echoing through her mind.