Kabil walked Xiao Zhi back to her chambers. She expected him to stop at the door and bid her goodnight, but instead, he turned to one of the maids.
"Bring us some tea," he instructed.
Xiao Zhi blinked in surprise. "Oh… I thought you were leaving."
He turned back to her, studying her for a moment. "Would you mind if I stayed a while? We should get to know each other, don't you think?"
"I… I don't mind," she replied, though she wasn't sure what else she could say. It was already strange enough that he had escorted her here. His staying felt even stranger.
The maid hurried off and soon returned with a wooden tray holding a teapot and two glass cups. Steam curled up from the pot, carrying a warm, spicy scent.
"Tughril tea isn't like Hua tea." Kabil poured carefully and handed her a cup. "We add herbs and roots to warm the body. Hua tea, if I remember correctly, is lighter. More delicate."
Xiao Zhi sipped carefully, holding the cup the way an elegant princess was supposed to, despite having no real idea what "elegant" actually meant.
The tea tasted strong and earthy but smooth. "It's… bold," she commented. "Different, but not bad."
He seemed pleased by her reaction. "I thought you might like it. Our customs may differ, but at least we agree on tea."
Her gaze lingered on him. In the story she remembered, the Grand Prince was supposed to be cold, proud, even cruel. But here he was, calm, patient, and unexpectedly kind.
Could the script be changing? she wondered.
Or perhaps this world simply worked differently than the story she remembered.
After a moment, Kabil broke the silence. "Don't trouble yourself about what happened earlier. The concubines can be… a handful. They've been spoiled since birth. If they ever trouble you again, just tell me."
Xiao Zhi looked up. "How many concubines do you have, Your Highness?"
Kabil chuckled, clearly amused. "Why do you ask? Are you jealous?"
Heat rushed to her face immediately. "Of course not. I know my position."
He laughed softly, warm rather than mocking. "I honestly don't know how many. I never bothered to count. But you can rest easy, none of the women in my harem mean anything to me." He let the words hang for a few seconds before a faint smile curved his lips. "But perhaps… that might change soon."
Her heart skipped a beat, and she quickly hid her flushing cheek behind her cup.
After a while, she asked cautiously, "May I ask about the Khan? I haven't seen… a queen."
"In Tughril, we call her Khatun. But my brother isn't married. He doesn't even keep concubines. Most women… fear him."
She tilted her head in confusion. "Fear him?"
He nodded. "He's known to be ruthless. No noble dares to offer their daughter, no matter how tempting the position of Khatun might seem. So instead…" He paused, a hint of dry amusement in his voice. "…they send their daughters to me. The safer choice, or so they think."
"And is it?" she asked quietly.
He stared into his cup. "Not really. I have no real power here." He sounded indifferent, but she detected a sense of bitterness beneath it.
Kabil leaned back slightly, shifting the topic. "Do you have any preferences for the wedding? Timing, ceremony, anything at all?"
"No," Xiao Zhi shook her head. "I'll leave that to your palace to decide."
"Very well. I'll tell my mother." Then curiosity sparked in his eyes. "Tell me, Princess, what is Hua like?"
Xiao Zhi lowered her gaze, fingers tightening around her cup. She wasn't sure how to answer. She had been inside the palace since she arrived, hardly seeing the outside world.
She took a quiet breath. "Hua… It's a land of rivers and gardens. People are… quieter, I think. More reserved. But it's beautiful, in its own way," she added the last part quickly, trying to sound confident, recalling what the novel had said, and the little she'd actually seen of Hua.
Kabil listened intently. "It sounds peaceful and prosperous. No wonder your bearing is so composed."
Xiao Zhi almost chuckled at the comment. Composed? Me?
If only he knew the kind of panic she had been holding in, the roller-coaster of emotions since the moment she arrived in this world.
"It has its storms too," she added.
Mostly caused by your envoy, she thought to herself.
He let out a small, genuine laugh. Xiao Zhi almost thought he could read his mind. "Then perhaps Tughril and Hua aren't so different after all. Both have their tempests."
She smiled. "Maybe."
They spoke for some time, the conversation rambling from trivial customs to childhood memories, to favorite pastimes, and even silly superstitions. Xiao Zhi mostly made things up, trying to keep the conversation flowing and avoid revealing that she was not Princess Lian Zhi or even someone from this world.
As they lost themselves in conversation, the tea slowly grew cold.
Kabil leaned closer slightly, lowering his voice. "I'm curious… have you ever… chosen your path before, or has it always been chosen for you?"
Xiao Zhi hesitated, then shook her head. "My paths have always been chosen for me. I follow them. But… I do try to walk them with my own steps." She meant every word, but it wasn't what Kabil might have assumed. She wasn't talking about courtly duties or the Princess's expected path. She was talking about herself, thrown into a world she hadn't chosen, trying to follow the plot without getting killed.
"Same here," he said, a hint of something unreadable in his eyes. "I guess all royals end up with their paths chosen for them. But…" A trace of teasing entered his voice. "I'm starting to like the path I've been given."
Warmth rose to her cheeks, but she kept her expression steady, hiding the flutter in her chest.
Even as she returned his soft smile, she reminded herself silently: this was just the beginning.