"How... why are you here?" Jade asked, her voice trembling as her eyes welled with unshed tears. The frigid wind cut through the air, but the sight of him hurt far more than the bitter cold.
"Elope with me, Jade," Theodore said softly, his hand cupping her cheek as though he could shield her from the storm brewing within.
"I... can't... Theo. I am a princess. My duty to my kingdom must come first. This alliance will secure peace and prosperity for millions of our citizens. I cannot sacrifice their well-being for my own happiness."
"And what of my happiness?" Theodore's voice softened further, though his hazel eyes burned with pain. "Did you not vow to love me more than the world itself?"
Jade drew in a shaky breath, tilting her head back to gaze at the starry night sky, desperate to stop the tears from falling. After a long pause, she finally spoke, her voice steady though tinged with sorrow.
"I have changed. My duty to my kingdom outweighs the love I bear for you. Please, Theo, try to understand—"
The sound of hurried footsteps shattered the fragile moment. Jade's heart raced as her ears caught the shouts of the imperial guards calling her name. The sound of the horses galloping as they look for her. If Ruiyan and his men discovered Theodore, it would mean disaster.
"Go," she whispered urgently, her hands pressing against his chest to push him towards the dense forest. "Hide. Now."
"I won't leave without you," Theodore said, his voice firm and unwavering.
Jade's breath hitched as she struggled to reason with him, but it was futile. The shouting grew louder, chaos rippling through the camp like a storm.
Jade raised the dagger to her wrist, her trembling hand betraying the storm of anger and pain within. Her voice, sharp and resolute, cut through the freezing night air.
"If you don't leave, I will end my life right here."
Theodore's eyes widened in shock, disbelief flickering across his face. For a moment, he was paralyzed, unable to comprehend her words. He took a step closer, his voice stern yet laced with panic he struggled to hide.
"Jade, don't!"
Without hesitation, she pressed the blade to her skin, drawing a crimson line as blood dripped onto the pristine snow. The stark contrast between the red and white mirrored the chaos of the moment.
Theodore lunged forward, his hand darting out to snatch the dagger from her grasp. His voice broke with desperation, anger and a raw vulnerability he could no longer suppress.
"Don't you dare ever do this again!"
Jade's breath hitched as she met his gaze
the pain in her eyes mirrored in his. For a moment, they stood in silence, the weight of unspoken words hanging between them.
Without another word, Theodore turned and disappeared into the dense, snow-covered forest, leaving Jade behind in the stillness of the night.
— — — —
Meanwhile, Ruiyan was searching for Jade with mounting desperation. The guard who had been found in her tent had been arrested, but the questions swirling in his mind refused to settle. What had happened in that tent? And where was Jade now? Has she been kidnapped? Had some wild animal in the woods harmed her? The possibilities were endless, and each one was more horrifying than the last.
From a distance, Ruiyan's sharp eyes caught sight of the faint orb of fire glowing against the dark, snowy landscape. Without hesitation, he mounted his horse and galloped toward it. The tiny flame seemed to guide him, leading him to where Jade must be. His knights and guards followed closely, their shouts for the princess echoing in the freezing night.
Relief flooded Ruiyan's chest when he finally saw her—a lone figure standing in the snow. But as he dismounted his horse, his heart twisted. Blood was dripping from her wrist, her hands and legs were tinged with blue from the cold, and her eyes glistened with unshed tears. Yet it was the haunted, broken look on her face that filled him with a burning anger—anger not at her, but at whoever had caused her so much pain.
Jade saw the storm in his eyes and felt her knees weaken. Her trembling hands came together, clasped tightly in a desperate plea as her voice broke through the silence.
"Your Majesty," she began, her tone laced with pain and fear, "I promise you, the guard barely touched me. I ran away as soon as I could—to protect myself before that man could do anything. Please… please don't discard me, thinking I'm impure."
Her words were rushed and uneven, as if each one was a lifeline she clung to. The weight of her pain was evident, not just in her voice but in the way her body seemed to wilt before him. She took a deep, trembling breath, but the ache in her chest only grew stronger. Memories of Theodore flashed through her mind, the emotional turmoil adding to her heartbreak and vulnerability.
Tears streamed down her cheeks as she struggled to maintain her composure. "I have never betrayed you," she continued, her voice trembling but resolute. "Not in body, not in mind. Please… please don't break the alliance. It means everything to my people."
Ruiyan's heart shatters at her words. The knights stand in silence, the weight of the moment settling over them. General Lin is visibly concerned, his eyes flicking between Ruiyan and Jade.
Without a word, Ruiyan walks up to her and drapes his warm fur cloak over her trembling body, pulling her into a tight embrace. He channels his fire mana, using it to warm her and heal the cold that has seeped into her body, gently soothing her into sleep.
Jade's face buried in his chest, her breath slowing as the warmth envelops her. She falls into a peaceful sleep, the comfort of his presence lulling her into a much-needed rest.
With careful hands, Ruiyan lifts her in bridal style, signaling for General Lin to lead the army back to the camp.
Back in the camp, Ruiyan gently places Jade on his bed inside his tent. The physician arrives quickly, attending to her wrist with practiced hands. Ruiyan stands motionless, his gaze locked on the physician as he works. How could Jade ever believe she was impure in his eyes? It seemed impossible. He should have protected her better—should have stationed trustworthy knights to guard her. Her words cut deeply, revealing just how much she feared him. He never wanted her to feel that way. He wanted her to feel safe, loved, and cherished—but instead, he had failed. For the first time in his life, the great emperor felt like a failure.
General Lin breaks the silence, his voice tinged with curiosity.
"The princess had an... emotional meltdown. I think there's more to this—some sort of past trauma. A healthy person wouldn't have reacted like that."
Ruiyan answers sharply, his voice cold.
"It doesn't matter whether she carries burdens from the past. What matters is that one of our guards caused her this distress."
General Lin continues, his tone more thoughtful.
"Still, such a strong reaction. She was begging as if she were a criminal. As if you were a bloodthirsty ty--"
"Silence!" Ruiyan commands, his sharp glare silencing the general immediately.
"My apologies, Your Majesty."
Ruiyan controls his rage with great effort, his voice firm.
"Learn to admit mistakes when you are wrong! You should have run a thorough background check on the guard before allowing him near the princess. And I should have been more careful. Jade is forever scarred because of our mistakes."
General Lin kneels, bowing deeply, his voice sincere.
"This will not happen again, Your Majesty. You have my word."
Ruiyan takes a deep breath, his anger subsiding slightly.
"You are forgiven—for now."
There's a heavy silence before Ruiyan breaks it with a bitter sigh.
"I promised to protect her, and I've failed her before the marriage even begins. Her words today made it clear just how much she fears me. To her, I'm nothing more than a stranger—a fearful one at that. I couldn't even be her friend, let alone a lover."
General Lin speaks in a comforting tone, attempting to ease the tension in the room.
"Trust needs time to bloom, Your Majesty. I am certain the princess will soon understand how deeply you care for her."
Ruiyan's gaze lingers on Jade's peaceful, sleeping figure. His voice is soft, filled with uncertainty.
"I hope you're right."
She looks so serene in this moment, her face free of pain or distress. But for Ruiyan, the guilt weighs heavily on his heart. He had wanted to be her husband, not her emperor. Perhaps his overwhelming desire to protect and possess her had frightened her, pushing her further away. But he was resolved now—to transform his obsession into genuine love. He would become the man she truly deserved.
— — — —
Outside the tent, Ruiyan's cold gaze fixed on the guard, whose hands were still scorched from the burn. The man trembled, sobbing and pleading for mercy as he knelt in despair.
"Your Majesty, I couldn't control myself. The princess... she was so beautiful, and I had too much to drink... please, forgive me. I have a wife and an elderly mother waiting for me at home. They depend on me."
General Lin scoffed, his voice dripping with contempt.
"It's better for your wife to be a widow than have a husband like you."
The guard's pleas grew more frantic.
"No, please! I swear, I just wanted to caress her face. She was so beautiful. I had no malicious intentions, Your Majesty. She is the goddess of our empire! It was just a misunderstanding, I swear."
The knights stood in waiting, their eyes fixed on the emperor, awaiting his judgment. Ruiyan finally broke the silence, his voice as cold as ice, devoid of any sympathy.
"Take him away and feed him to the wolves in the mountains."
The guard's screams echoed through the night as he was dragged away, helpless.
Ruiyan turned to the others, his tone unyielding.
"No one speaks of this incident. Inform the family of the guard that he was killed by wolves after wandering too far from the camp."