Chapter XLIX - Impossible Things
The embrace lasted far longer than either intended.
Or perhaps—
neither wanted to let go first.
The western study remained warm beneath flickering lantern light while snowstorm winds echoed softly outside.
And in the middle of military maps and war reports—
Prince Rui held Shen Li like someone afraid warmth might disappear if released too quickly.
Dangerous man.
Dangerously lonely man.
Shen Li slowly tightened her arms once more around him after hearing his quiet confession.
“You make this prince want impossible things now.”
Her chest ached painfully.
Because somehow— Prince Rui sounded almost apologetic for wanting happiness.
As though peace, love, and returning home safely each night— were luxuries someone like him should not desire too deeply.
The realization hurt.
Then Shen Li softly asked near his shoulder:
“What impossible things?”
Prince Rui fell silent briefly.
His arms around her waist remained warm and steady.
Then finally— very quietly—
he answered:
“Growing old peacefully.”
“Returning home every evening.”
“Having someone wait for this prince forever.”
Each sentence tightened something painfully inside her chest.
Simple things.
Ordinary things.
Yet spoken by Prince Rui— they sounded heartbreakingly precious.
Because he truly never believed such things belonged to him before.
Shen Li closed her eyes briefly against his shoulder.
Then whispered honestly:
“Those things aren’t impossible.”
Prince Rui stilled.
The room became silent except for snowfall outside.
Then slowly— very slowly—
he lifted his head enough to look at her.
And Shen Li saw it clearly.
Hope.
Careful. Fragile. Dangerously real.
The sight nearly broke her heart completely.
Prince Rui’s fingers brushed gently through loose strands of her hair afterward.
“Princess Rui says dangerous things again.”
Shen Li almost smiled faintly. “Your Highness started first.”
Prince Rui actually looked thoughtful about this.
Then:
“Mm.”
“This prince accepts responsibility.”
The shameless answer softened the heaviness between them slightly.
Dangerous man.
Then suddenly Prince Rui’s expression changed subtly again.
The warmth remained.
But something darker surfaced beneath it now.
His gaze lingered too long across her face.
Too intensely.
Shen Li’s heartbeat quickened immediately.
Prince Rui noticed.
Of course he noticed.
Then softly— dangerously low—
he murmured:
“You should stop looking at this prince like that while we’re alone.”
The atmosphere shifted instantly.
Warmer. Closer. Dangerous again.
Shen Li blinked softly. “…Like what?”
Prince Rui’s thumb brushed slowly once along her waist beneath the silk of her robes.
The movement nearly destroyed her composure instantly.
Then he answered honestly:
“Like someone already choosing this prince over everything else.”
Silence.
Because he was right.
Terrifyingly right.
Shen Li looked at him quietly beneath lantern light.
Then realized something dangerous herself.
She truly would choose him now.
Over court safety. Over palace favor. Over noble expectations.
The realization frightened her slightly.
And somehow—
relieved her too.
Then suddenly Prince Rui sighed softly against her hair. “This prince truly became unreasonable.”
Shen Li nearly laughed faintly. “Only recently?”
Prince Rui actually smiled.
Warm. Real. Beautiful enough to hurt.
Then without warning—
he lifted her directly into his arms.
Shen Li gasped softly.
“Your Highness!”
Prince Rui stood calmly holding her against his chest as though this was perfectly normal behavior inside a military study.
The nearby maps nearly slid from the table from the sudden movement.
Dangerous man.
Shen Li instinctively caught his shoulders immediately. “Your injuries!”
Prince Rui looked entirely unconcerned. “They hurt less lately.”
“That’s because the physician forced rest.”
“No.” His gaze lowered toward her softly. “Because Princess Rui stays close.”
The answer destroyed any remaining ability to scold him properly.
Before Shen Li recovered, Prince Rui began carrying her toward the inner chamber doors naturally.
As though he already forgot military reports existed.
Shen Li stared at him helplessly. “What about the border documents?”
Prince Rui answered calmly:
“The enemy armies can wait until morning.”
“This prince’s wife cannot.”
The shamelessness nearly made her bury her face against his shoulder entirely.
Meanwhile outside the study doors, several guards immediately looked toward the ceiling for survival purposes as Prince Rui carried Princess Rui through the corridor like someone dangerously attached already.
Which— to be fair— he absolutely was.
—
Later that night, Shen Li discovered another terrifying truth.
Prince Rui became clingy while tired.
Very clingy.
Because after returning to the inner chamber and finally lying down beneath warm blankets, Prince Rui simply pulled her directly against him again without hesitation.
Warm. Protective. Completely natural now.
Shen Li’s heartbeat softened instantly.
Then Prince Rui buried his face briefly near her neck afterward.
And quietly— almost sleepily—
murmured:
“This prince understands why people become addicted to comfort now.”
The vulnerability in the confession touched her painfully.
Shen Li brushed gently through his hair once. “Your Highness deserves comfort too.”
Prince Rui fell silent afterward.
Then after a long moment:
“No one said that before.”
The room became very quiet.
Because suddenly Shen Li imagined:
younger Prince Rui returning wounded from war,
cold palace halls,
endless expectations,
no one waiting for him.
The image hurt unbearably.
So Shen Li moved closer willingly this time.
And softly— very softly—
she whispered near his ear:
“Then this daughter will say it for the rest of our lives.”