Prince Rong Yuan sat in Mr. Ha's small sitting room with his brother and his assistant. The room felt even smaller with their presence.
"I heard you helped my sister in the market," Mr. Ha said, sitting beside his wife.
"That is actually why we came," Prince Rong Yuan replied calmly. "My brother is here to apologize to Lady Yue Rong."
Mr. Ha shook his head gently. "That won't be necessary, Your Highness. It was an accident. My wife told me how you helped Yue Rong that day. We are very grateful."
While they spoke, Yue Rong, who had been sleeping, stirred. The unfamiliar voices pulled her from her rest. Who could be visiting? she wondered. Mr. and Mrs. Ha rarely had guests.
She rubbed her eyes and stepped into the sitting room.
The moment she entered, she froze.
Her gaze moved slowly across the room, then settled at Prince Xian Rong.
She felt her heart slammed violently against her chest.
This face…
Memories crashed into her mind. That night. The voice she had tried so hard to forget.
Why does this face remind me so much of that night?
Is he the man who put me in this situation?
A tear slid down her cheek before she realized it. She quickly wiped it away.
Prince Xian Rong noticed her gaze and immediately lowered his eyes, his jaw tightening.
None of it escaped Prince Rong Yuan's sharp eyes.
"Greetings, Your Highness," Yue Rong said softly, bowing slightly.
"How are you feeling today?" Prince Rong Yuan asked.
"I am fine," she replied weakly.
She turned, intending to return to her room, but his voice stopped her.
"Please, my lady. Come and have a seat."
He gestured to the space beside Prince Xian Rong.
Xian Rong shifted slightly, avoiding her eyes.
Yue Rong hesitated, then sat down beside him. The distance between them felt both too close.
Prince Rong Yuan smiled faintly, knowingly.
"My brother has come to apologize," he said, "for nearly causing your miscarriage."
Yue Rong lifted her head, startled. Her fingers tightened in her lap.
Prince Rong Yuan glanced at his brother. "What are you waiting for?"
Prince Xian Rong slowly raised his head.
Their eyes met.
For a moment, the world seemed to stop.
The stare stayed longer than necessary.
Then he quickly looked away.
"I am sorry, my lady," he said stiffly, without turning to face her.
"It's… it's alright," Yue Rong stammered, forcing the words out as she struggled to calm her racing heart.
But inside, nothing was calm at all.
After some time, Prince Rong Yuan rose to his feet.
"We should be on our way," he said calmly. "Night will fall soon."
Prince Xian Rong stood up almost too quickly, relief washing over him so strongly it left his chest light. At last. He stepped ahead at once, eager, too eager, to leave, earning a quiet chuckle from Prince Rong Yuan and his assistant.
Prince Rong Yuan took a few steps, then paused.
He turned back.
"My lady," he said, walking toward Yue Rong, "may I have a word with you?"
The smile on Prince Xian Rong's face vanished.
Mr. and Mrs. Ha exchanged a glance before looking at Yue Rong. She turned to them, hesitation clear in her eyes, silently asking for permission.
"You may see His Highness off," Mr. Ha said gently, leading his wife into the inner room.
The moment Prince Rong Yuan and Yue Rong stepped outside together, Prince Xian Rong, who had just placed his foot in the stirrup, staggered back slightly.
What are they talking about?
His heart began to pound again, harder than before.
Prince Rong Yuan lifted his hand, signaling the guides to move farther away. The space around them became free.
Prince Xian Rong swallowed hard.
No child has ever been born out of wedlock in our royal history.
His father's voice echoed in his mind like a warning bell.
What if she remembers?
What if the child is truly mine?
His face drained of color. Pretending to adjust a horse's reins, he edged closer, close enough to hear, exactly as Prince Rong Yuan intended. A faint smirk touched the crown prince's lips as he noticed his brother's clumsy attempt at eavesdropping.
Prince Rong Yuan turned back to Yue Rong, his voice gentle, unhurried.
"How long have you been in Yunhai?"
"More than five months," she replied softly.
"I heard you are not related to the Ha family," he continued. "Do you wish for me to help you return home?"
She shook her head immediately,
Prince Rong Yuan studied her reaction closely. "Your parents do not know about the child," he said quietly. "That is why you refuse to go back, isn't it?"
Her hands trembled.
Tears slid down her cheeks before she could stop them.
Prince Rong Yuan's expression softened, but his resolve did not waver. He needed the truth.
At the same moment, Prince Xian Rong felt as though he could no longer breathe.
"Who is the father?" Prince Rong Yuan asked gently, carefully, as if afraid his words might break her.
"I… I don't know," she whispered. The words barely left her lips before she broke down again. "I was drunk that night. The next morning, I was too ashamed to even look at his face properly."
Prince Rong Yuan's gaze flicked briefly to his brother.
Prince Xian Rong lowered his head at once.
A faint frown appeared on the assistant's face. As he continues to observe the situation.
"Did he explain himself?" Prince Rong Yuan asked quietly.
"He said it was my fault," she sobbed. "That I begged him. I swear I didn't. I was drunk… it was my first time. And people saw it. They all saw."
Prince Rong Yuan felt a tightness grip his chest.
"Enough," he said gently. "Please stop crying. It's not good for the baby." His voice softened further. "I only want to understand you so I can help you."
Yue Rong nodded, wiping her cheeks with trembling fingers.
"If you were to see him again," Prince Rong Yuan asked carefully, "would you recognize him?"
Her eyes lifted on instinct.
They went straight to Prince Xian Rong.
Her heart skipped violently. She didn't know why, only that every time the man was mentioned, her thoughts betrayed her and drifted toward him.
"I… I wouldn't recognize him," she whispered.
But her hesitation did not escape Prince Rong Yuan's sharp eyes.
He nodded slowly. "Very well. You shouldn't stand for too long. Go inside and rest."
She bowed slightly.
"I will return," he added, his voice firm now. "And I will help you find that fool. I promise."
As Yue Rong went inside the house , Prince Xian Rong stood frozen in place, cold sweat breaking across his back.
Now he is beginning to understood..,
Running was no longer an option.