Xiao Zhi had been stuck inside the Tughril palace for almost an entire week now. Had it been a month since she fell into this novel world? She wasn't sure anymore. Time here moved differently. Too slow. Every sunrise felt like the same day repeating itself over and over.
How long would it take before she could get out of here? How could she even return home?
She missed her messy little apartment, her plump, grumpy cat, and the comfort of late-night instant noodles. She even missed her work, which was something she never thought she would say. And Wi-Fi. Oh gosh, how she missed Wi-Fi.
She wasn't completely idle, of course. Each morning, she was dragged into endless etiquette lessons arranged by the Khatun Dowager. The Dowager's attendant, a sharp-eyed woman named Lady Sura, seemed to take special pleasure in finding fault in every little thing Xiao Zhi did.
Her bow was too shallow. Her steps were too long. Her tone was either too soft or too bold.
"Grace, Princess," Lady Sura would say with an elegant smile that somehow felt like a threat. "A lady must breathe like a swan, not a sparrow."
She used a stick to correct her posture when she bowed. Sometimes Xiao Zhi felt she enjoyed hitting her too much.
By the end of each session, Xiao Zhi's legs ached, her jaw hurt from forced smiles, and her patience was hanging by a thread.
And when the lessons were finally over, she was sent back to her quarters in the East Pavilion, alone.
The rest of the day stretched endlessly ahead. The palace was beautiful but suffocating, all quiet courtyards and high walls.
Sometimes Ruhan would drop by, but lately, he came less and less often. He was busier here in Tughril. Perhaps his duties as a eunuch kept him constantly occupied.
Xiao Zhi missed their sarcastic banter. She missed the teasing and the arguments that always ended with him winning and her pouting. She even missed their long walks under the moonlight at the border.
Wait. Did she just admit she missed him?
She sighed loudly and threw an arm over her face. "I'm losing my mind."
A sudden knock came at the door.
"Come in."
She expected it was her maid or another boring attendant. But when the door opened, her eyes widened.
It was Prince Kabil.
He stood tall and confident. The Tughril robes did him way too many favors, all sharp lines and masculine confidence.
Not that he was her type, of course. Xiao Zhi still preferred pretty boys… like Ruhan.
Ugh… there she went, thinking about Ruhan again.
"Good morning, Princess Lian Zhi," Kabil greeted, his tone light and warm. "I hope your morning has been pleasant."
"Morning. It's been… quiet." She quickly sat up, adjusting her posture. "What brings Your Highness here?"
Kabil gave her a small smile. "I thought you might be bored. You've been here for several days without leaving the palace."
Her eyes widened slightly. Wait a second, he could read minds now? Because yes, she was bored out of her skull. "You can tell?"
He chuckled softly. "It wasn't difficult to guess. So, I was wondering if you would like to accompany me. It's a fine day to see the city."
For the first time in days, Xiao Zhi's whole face lit up. "Go out? Really? I mean, yes! Of course!" She almost jumped out of her seat.
"Then let's go."
***
The capital was far livelier than Xiao Zhi remembered when she first arrived in Tughril.
"This is incredible," she said excitedly.
Kabil walked beside her, his posture relaxed. "This is the heart of Tughril," he said proudly. "Traders come here from every direction: Hua, the West, the North Seas. My Father used to say that this city breathes with the world."
"It really does. Everything feels alive here."
He turned his head slightly toward her. "I wanted you to see it with your own eyes. This will be your new home, after all. It should not feel foreign to you."
The warmth in his voice made her look away, unsure how to respond.
At a jeweler's stall, rows of gold and silver gleamed. The merchant bowed as Kabil approached. "Your Highness honors my stall."
Kabil nodded in acknowledgment and picked up a hairpin carved from clear crystal. "Do you like this?" He held the accessory up toward Xiao Zhi.
"It's very beautiful. But too fine for me." She shook her head a little.
"Nonsense." Before she could stop him, he reached out toward her hair.
Xiao Zhi froze. He was too close. But he was a prince, and she wasn't exactly in a position to argue.
Kabil carefully removed the old hairpin from her hair, the simple moon-shaped one Ruhan had given her. He replaced it with the new, sparklier, fancier piece of jewelry.
"It suits you," he said with a satisfied smile.
Xiao Zhi touched the new pin gently. It was cool and elegant, but the weight of it felt strange.
The jeweler seemed pleased. But when Kabil turned to hand over payment, Xiao Zhi noticed him casually set her old hairpin aside, as if it were nothing.
"Wait," she said quickly, reaching for it.
Kabil raised a brow. "That old thing? It's too plain. The new one looks far better."
"I know, but I still like this one." Xiao Zhi tucked the old hairpin into her sash.
He shrugged. "As you wish, Princess."
They continued their walk, but Xiao Zhi's fingers occasionally brushed the small, simple hairpin hidden at her waist.
***
Later that afternoon, back in the palace, Ruhan arrived at her quarters. The room was empty.
"The princess?" he asked a passing maid.
"Prince Kabil took her to the capital this morning. They haven't returned yet."
Ruhan stood still, his jaw tightening. "I see."
He tried to go back to his study, forcing himself to focus on reports and letters, but his eyes kept drifting to the window. His mind refused to cooperate.
He pictured Lian Zhi walking beside Kabil, smiling as the prince showed her the city. The thought made something twist uncomfortably in his chest.
By dusk, he found himself wandering near her pavilion. He told himself he was simply passing through, but his feet stopped near her door anyway.
The sky darkened, and the maids started to light up the courtyard lanterns. Just when he considered leaving, laughter echoed softly from the other end of the corridor.
She was back.
Lian Zhi appeared, cheeks faintly flushed from the evening air, walking casually beside Kabil. They spoke quietly, smiling at something he said. Kabil looked relaxed, almost gentle, as he stood outside her door.
Ruhan stayed hidden, watching.
When Kabil finally bowed and left, Lian Zhi lingered a moment, then entered her room.
Ruhan turned to leave, but when he reached the end of the corridor, a glint caught his eye. He crouched down.
A silver moon-shaped hairpin.
The one he had given her at the border.
He stared at it, unreadable. Did she drop it? Or leave it on purpose?
His fingers closed around it, and for the first time in a long while, he felt a quiet, stubborn ache he couldn't name.