Chapter XXXIX - Stay Alive for Me
The chamber fell completely silent afterward.
Even the candle flames seemed to still.
Prince Rui stared at Shen Li motionlessly beneath dim lantern light while her words echoed through him again and again.
“This daughter feels the same.”
Warmth spread through his chest so suddenly it almost hurt.
Because Shen Li— careful, patient, guarded Shen Li—
had finally admitted it.
Not directly.
Not dramatically.
Yet enough.
More than enough.
Prince Rui’s gaze darkened softly while the place where she kissed his forehead still burned warm beneath cooling fever.
For several dangerous seconds, neither moved.
Then Prince Rui finally spoke.
Very quietly.
“…Say it again.”
Shen Li’s heartbeat stumbled immediately.
Dangerous man.
Even injured and feverish, he still knew exactly how to unravel her completely.
She tried lowering her gaze.
Prince Rui caught her wrist gently before she escaped.
Warm fingers. Weak from fever— yet still impossible to resist.
His voice roughened slightly.
“This prince may have lost too much blood.”
“I didn’t hear clearly.”
The shameless excuse nearly made her laugh and cry simultaneously.
Shen Li looked at him helplessly beneath warm candlelight.
Prince Rui watched her with terrifying patience.
Waiting.
Always waiting carefully for her answers.
The realization softened her chest painfully.
Then Shen Li moved slightly closer beside the bed.
Close enough that loose strands of hair brushed softly across Prince Rui’s shoulder.
And quietly— so quietly—
she admitted:
“If Your Highness had died tonight…”
“I think my heart would have broken.”
Silence.
Absolute silence.
Prince Rui stopped breathing for one dangerous second.
Because Shen Li rarely spoke emotionally so directly.
Yet now— her eyes looked at him with painful honesty.
No restraint left. No avoidance left.
Only truth.
Prince Rui’s fingers tightened faintly around her wrist.
Then slowly— carefully—
he pulled her hand toward his chest.
Right above his heartbeat.
Strong despite fever. Steady despite injury.
His gaze never left hers.
“Then listen carefully.”
“This prince is still alive.”
The tenderness behind the words nearly destroyed her.
Shen Li’s eyes reddened faintly again.
Prince Rui immediately frowned. “No crying.”
“…Your Highness keeps saying things that make it difficult.”
“That sounds like this prince succeeded, then.”
The calm answer stunned her into silence.
Then Prince Rui smiled faintly afterward.
Weak from exhaustion. Soft from fever.
Yet unbearably handsome.
Dangerous man.
Shen Li lowered her forehead briefly against the edge of the bed helplessly.
Meanwhile Prince Rui watched her with quiet warmth spreading slowly through exhausted eyes.
For the first time in years—
the lonely emptiness inside him finally felt less cold.
Because someone waited for him now. Worried for him now. Needed him to return alive now.
Shen Li had quietly become home before either fully realized it.
—
Unfortunately, peaceful moments never lasted long around Prince Rui.
The next morning, the palace exploded with rumors again.
News spread rapidly through court:
Prince Rui severely injured,
the armory attack nearly catastrophic,
Princess Rui refusing to leave his bedside,
physicians claiming the prince only calmed when she stayed nearby.
Naturally, the capital lost composure immediately.
Tea houses overflowed before noon.
“I heard Princess Rui cried openly!”
“Prince Rui nearly killed the surviving prisoners afterward!”
“They say he held Princess Rui’s hand even unconscious.”
“The prince is completely devoted already.”
Meanwhile, inside Liang Manor—
Liang Wenxuan sat silently listening to every rumor like slow execution.
Each story hurt differently.
Especially:
Princess Rui never left Prince Rui’s bedside.
Because once upon a time—
Shen Li waited seven years for him too.
And he never noticed properly.
Madam Liang looked at her son coldly from across the room. “Do you finally understand now?”
Liang Wenxuan laughed bitterly. “Understand what?”
“That Shen Li was never difficult to love.”
Silence crashed heavily afterward.
Because deep down—
he already knew.
Prince Rui simply cherished what Liang Wenxuan overlooked.
Every small thing. Every quiet kindness. Every hidden loneliness.
The realization became unbearable now.
—
Back inside Prince Rui’s estate, the atmosphere remained softer than usual despite heightened security.
Because everyone had noticed something important:
Their prince’s mood improved whenever Princess Rui stayed nearby.
The servants became fiercely protective immediately.
No one disturbed the inner courtyard unnecessarily anymore.
Even the guards walked quieter.
Meanwhile Shen Li remained beside Prince Rui throughout recovery.
And unfortunately for her composure—
Prince Rui became even more dangerous while injured.
For example:
“This prince is thirsty.”
Shen Li handed tea immediately.
Prince Rui watched her quietly afterward. “You fed the medicine personally yesterday.”
Silence.
Shen Li calmly set the teacup down instead. “Your Highness should continue being thirsty.”
Prince Rui actually looked disappointed.
Another time:
The physician instructed Prince Rui not to move unnecessarily.
So naturally—
Prince Rui asked Shen Li to help adjust everything:
pillows,
blankets,
medicine trays.
And every single time—
his fingers somehow lingered against hers slightly too long afterward.
Dangerous man.
Clearly intentional now.
Then came the worst moment.
Late that evening, Shen Li carefully changed the outer shoulder bandages again beneath warm lantern light.
Prince Rui remained unusually quiet throughout.
Too quiet.
Suspiciously quiet.
Shen Li narrowed her eyes slightly while tying fresh bandages. “What is Your Highness thinking?”
Prince Rui answered calmly:
“That being injured has advantages.”
Shen Li froze.
Then slowly looked up.
Prince Rui’s dark gaze rested entirely on her face.
“You stay closer.”
The atmosphere exploded instantly.
Shen Li’s heartbeat became impossible again.
Meanwhile Prince Rui looked entirely sincere.
Which somehow made it infinitely worse.
Then quietly— very dangerously—
he added:
“This prince almost doesn’t mind the pain anymore.”