The tension in the air was palpable as Zhao Han's footsteps echoed across the room. Aoi's pulse quickened with every second that passed, the quiet click of her dagger's hilt seeming louder than the prince's casual movements. His presence seemed to fill the entire space, his gaze never leaving hers as if trying to read the deepest parts of her soul. Every nerve in her body screamed for her to escape, but the cold, calculating expression in his eyes made it clear there was no easy way out.
The room was filled with the opulence of the palace, yet it felt stifling now. The tapestries on the walls seemed to close in around her, their ornate designs mocking her vulnerability. The delicate scent of jasmine from the surrounding gardens had no power here, overwhelmed by the suffocating heaviness of Zhao Han's gaze. Aoi was acutely aware of the guards standing in the doorway, their imposing silhouettes blocking the only escape route.
"You misunderstand, my lady," Zhao Han's voice was silk, smooth and soft, but with an undeniable edge of command. "This isn't about making you a consort in the traditional sense. It's about partnership. You'll be by my side, and in return, you'll be safe. Your aunt will want for nothing."
Aoi's jaw tightened, but she forced herself to remain calm, despite the surging anxiety in her chest. Her eyes flickered down to the dagger still hidden in her sleeve, the weight of it a small comfort in the chaos surrounding her. I'll be damned before I let him control me, she thought.
His eyes flickered to her hand, watching every slight movement, and the corner of his mouth lifted slightly, as if he were enjoying the game. "You think this is about power over you, don't you?" Zhao Han said with a touch of amusement. "But it's about control over your circumstances, not you as a person."
Aoi's hand tightened around the dagger's hilt, the cold metal offering her a fleeting sense of security. Control over my circumstances… She was in danger, trapped in his palace, with no way out and her aunt's safety hanging in the balance. There was no denying it now: she had no choice but to play along—at least for now.
"You're wrong," she said, her voice betraying nothing, though inside, her thoughts were racing. "You think you can use me like a pawn. But I won't be your plaything." She spoke slowly, her voice calm, even as the flames of anger simmered just beneath the surface. She wasn't just standing up for herself; she was standing up for Aunty Li, for the woman who had given her everything.
Zhao Han's smile faded slightly, replaced by something colder—something sharper. "You think I don't know that?" He was mere inches away now, his presence overwhelming. "But you will learn, Aoi. I don't need to make you love me. I only need to make you see the advantages of cooperating."
Her grip on the dagger didn't falter. She could feel the metal pressing against the sleeve of her tunic, a reminder of what she could do if things escalated. But she wasn't foolish enough to believe she could overpower him. The guards stood like silent sentinels, their eyes cold and unmoving, a constant reminder of her helplessness.
"Don't come closer," she warned again, her voice steady despite the adrenaline pumping through her veins.
Zhao Han halted, his eyes searching hers as if weighing her every word. His smile returned, but it was sharper now, the warmth replaced by a glint of something darker. "You're a fiery one. That's what I like about you," he said, his tone softer, almost admiring, yet still tainted with an edge that sent a chill down her spine. "But this game has only just begun, Aoi. I'll make you understand. You'll see."
Aoi didn't trust him, not for a second. She would fight him with everything she had, even if it meant risking her own life. Her eyes flickered to the guards again, gauging their movements. They stood motionless, their silence speaking volumes. She couldn't fight them all. Not yet.
Zhao Han continued, his voice lowering in a tone that only heightened her unease. "The choice is yours, Aoi. You'll come around eventually, even if you don't see it now. Refuse me, and your aunt will pay the price. But accept the deal, and you'll not only protect her, but you'll be protected, too."
Her breath caught in her throat, but she forced herself to remain outwardly calm. He's trying to manipulate me, she thought. Make me believe I have no choice.
But she wasn't convinced. I won't let him win that easily.
She stepped back slowly, her eyes never leaving his. "You want a consort? Then find someone else, because it won't be me." Her words were firm, her voice cold. "And if you so much as lay a hand on my aunt, I'll make you regret it."
Zhao Han's gaze softened for a brief moment, but it was quickly replaced by a dark smile, one that made her blood run cold. "You don't understand, Aoi. You have no idea what I'm capable of." His voice was low, almost like a whisper, carrying a promise of danger.
But Aoi wasn't about to back down. Not now, not ever.