Chapter XXIX - A Dangerous Habit
The kiss against her wrist lingered long after Prince Rui released her hand.
Warm. Slow. Devastatingly intimate.
Shen Li sat frozen beneath the dim lantern light while her pulse still raced wildly beneath skin he had touched moments earlier.
Meanwhile Prince Rui looked entirely too calm for someone who had just nearly ruined her composure completely.
Dangerous man.
Extremely dangerous man.
The chamber remained silent except for soft snowfall outside the windows.
Then Shen Li finally managed weakly:
“…Your Highness says dangerous things very easily lately.”
Prince Rui looked faintly thoughtful. “This prince only speaks honestly.”
That somehow made it worse.
Shen Li lowered her gaze immediately before her heartbeat betrayed her further.
Prince Rui watched the faint redness spreading near her ears quietly.
Then his expression softened again.
The cold war prince who terrified court officials beyond reason now looked at her as though the entire palace meant nothing compared to this small warm chamber.
Shen Li felt it instantly.
That dangerous attention. That impossible tenderness.
Then Prince Rui suddenly frowned slightly. “You should sleep.”
The abrupt change startled her. “…What?”
“You look tired.”
Shen Li almost laughed helplessly.
Moments ago he kissed her wrist like that— and now he spoke calmly about sleep?
Impossible man.
Prince Rui seemed genuinely serious though.
He loosened his grip slowly from her hand before adjusting the blanket around her shoulders once more.
Always this.
Always caring for her first.
Then he prepared to stand.
Shen Li reacted instinctively before thinking. “Your Highness.”
Prince Rui paused immediately.
The room quieted again.
Shen Li hesitated briefly.
Then softly:
“Will court matters become dangerous now?”
There it was.
The real worry hidden beneath everything else.
Prince Rui looked at her silently for several moments.
Then sat back down beside the bed instead of leaving.
“Probably.”
The honesty surprised her slightly.
Most powerful men preferred reassuring lies.
Prince Rui never did.
He continued calmly: “The Third Prince’s poisoning benefits multiple factions. The palace will become unstable for a while.”
“And Your Highness?”
Prince Rui’s gaze settled steadily on her face.
“This prince has survived worse.”
The answer should have reassured her.
Instead, Shen Li’s chest tightened unexpectedly.
Because surviving worse meant he already endured too much before.
Prince Rui noticed her expression immediately.
Then quietly:
“You dislike hearing about bloodshed.”
“…I dislike hearing Your Highness speak as though danger around you is normal.”
Silence followed.
Prince Rui stilled faintly.
Because no one had ever said such words to him before.
Not generals. Not officials. Not even the Emperor.
Everyone simply accepted Prince Rui would survive everything.
Only Shen Li sounded upset by the idea he had to.
Something deep inside his chest softened painfully.
Then Prince Rui reached up slowly.
His fingers brushed lightly against her cheek.
Warm. Careful. Possessive now without hiding it.
His voice lowered.
“I will return alive.”
The simple promise nearly unraveled her.
Because he said it as though it mattered deeply whether she waited for him.
And perhaps—
perhaps it already did.
Before Shen Li could answer, Prince Rui’s gaze drifted briefly toward her lips again.
The atmosphere changed instantly.
Closer.
Warmer.
The memory of their wedding night kiss lingered heavily between them.
Shen Li’s breath softened faintly.
Prince Rui noticed immediately.
Of course he did.
His thumb moved once slowly along her cheek.
Then he murmured quietly:
“You look at this prince very dangerously before sleeping.”
Her heartbeat nearly collapsed entirely.
“…Your Highness misunderstands again.”
Prince Rui leaned slightly closer.
Not enough to touch.
Enough to destroy composure.
Then softly:
“Then explain properly.”
Dangerous man.
Impossible man.
Shen Li lowered her gaze helplessly.
Because how could she explain this?
How could she explain:
waiting for his footsteps at night,
noticing his exhaustion first,
worrying every time he reopened wounds,
feeling calmer whenever he stood beside her?
How could she explain that Prince Rui already occupied far too much space inside her heart?
The silence stretched dangerously.
Then suddenly—
another loud thunder crack split the sky outside.
Shen Li flinched faintly despite herself.
The next second, Prince Rui pulled her gently against him.
Instinct.
Pure instinct.
One arm wrapped securely around her shoulders while his hand protected the back of her head automatically.
The movement happened so naturally neither reacted immediately.
Then Shen Li froze completely.
Because she now sat half against Prince Rui’s chest beneath warm blankets while thunder echoed outside the chamber.
Too close.
Far too close.
Prince Rui looked down at her quietly.
Neither moved away.
The atmosphere became soft suddenly.
Not teasing now. Not dangerous.
Only warm.
Then Prince Rui spoke near her hair very softly:
“Still afraid of thunder.”
Shen Li’s voice came quieter too. “…Only a little.”
Prince Rui’s arm tightened slightly around her.
Protective. Steady. Comforting.
As though holding her like this already felt natural to him.
The realization softened something deep inside Shen Li painfully.
Then Prince Rui lowered his head slightly closer.
Close enough that his breath brushed faintly near her temple.
His voice sounded rougher now.
Less restrained.
“Shen Li.”
“If you keep staying this close…”
“This prince truly may stop behaving properly.”