A voice broke the silence.
> "Princess Fengxi… you're finally awake."
I turned sharply. Liyu stood in the doorway, her eyes wide with relief but clouded by something deeper—worry, maybe guilt.
My voice came out hoarse, groggy from sleep.
> "Where are we? What… are we doing here?"
Liyu stepped inside slowly. Her face had turned serious, solemn.
> "Princess… actually, before the fire, I went to the Emperor. He had summoned me."
She paused, her voice tinged with nostalgia.
"I bowed before him, and he asked, 'I hear something about you… Is it true that you wish to serve the Princess?'"
I watched her carefully as she spoke, the pieces slowly falling into place.
> "I said yes. 'I want to work for the Princess.'"
Her voice grew firm.
"He asked, 'Can you protect her?' And I said, 'Yes.' Then he asked if I knew martial arts. I told him I did."
Her eyes glimmered faintly—pride, but also sadness.
> "But then… he looked at me and asked one last thing. 'Why?'"
She looked directly at me now, her voice gentler.
"'Why do you want to work for her?'"
A silence stretched between us.
> "I told him, 'Because I met her four years ago… She saved my life. Since that day, I've searched for her. And when I learned she was the Princess… I gave up everything to find her again.'"
My breath caught in my throat.
Liyu stepped closer, lowering her head slightly.
> "The Emperor looked at me and said, 'Then listen closely. This is your test. Take her away from here—right now. No matter what happens, do not bring her back.'"
She hesitated, then added,
"'And take care of him, too,' he said… though I still don't know who he meant. But his voice… it trembled when he said it."
She drew in a shaky breath.
> "His final words were: 'Tell her… the rest of her life is in her own hands. So be careful.' That was His Majesty's last message to you."
I sat there in silence, my heart aching, mind reeling.
So this was the truth.
All of it.
> "So this is the full story…?" I whispered numbly.
I swallowed the lump in my throat and asked,
> "How long have I been unconscious?"
Liyu hesitated, then said quietly,
> "Almost two days, Your Highness."
My eyes widened.
> "What?! Two days?!"
The shock hit me like thunder. I shot up to my feet—and in a wave of emotion I couldn't hold back, I slapped her.
> "Why did you take me away?!" I shouted, tears suddenly stinging my eyes.
"Do you realize how close I was to learning the truth? I was right there… I had to know who that man was!"
My voice cracked.
And then—I collapsed.
To my knees.
My body trembled, and tears poured freely, falling like rain onto the floorboards.
> "I was so close," I sobbed. "Why did you take that from me…"
Liyu knelt quickly in front of me, her head bowed, her voice pleading.
> "Your Highness… please forgive me. I was there—I saw you about to confront him… but then someone appeared behind you. I had no choice… I had to get you out."
She clutched her sleeves tightly.
> "Please… don't lose heart. Remember what the Emperor said. You must stay alive. You must avenge him."
I looked at her through my tears.
Then quietly, I said,
> "Leave me alone."
Liyu bowed her head, her voice barely audible.
> "As you wish… Your Highness."