Chapter LXI - The First Public Confession
The room fell silent instantly.
Qingyu nearly dropped the tea tray.
Because the Crown Prince— the future emperor himself— had just casually acknowledged the terrifying truth everyone feared speaking aloud.
“Royal Uncle threatens empires for you.”
Shen Li’s heartbeat softened painfully.
Not because the statement was wrong.
But because somehow— hearing it spoken openly made everything feel frighteningly real.
The Crown Prince watched her quietly afterward.
Sharp eyes. Dangerously intelligent eyes.
Then softly:
“Princess Rui looks troubled hearing this.”
Shen Li lowered her gaze calmly. “This daughter merely thinks Your Highness exaggerates.”
“No.”
Another voice entered behind him immediately.
Cold. Low. Familiar.
Prince Rui had arrived.
The atmosphere changed instantly.
The Crown Prince noticed it again: the moment Prince Rui saw Shen Li, every trace of tension softened unconsciously.
Dangerous attachment.
Prince Rui walked directly toward Shen Li first.
Always first.
Then naturally took the tea tray from her hands himself before she carried it personally.
The Crown Prince watched silently.
Because this tiny gesture revealed more intimacy than dramatic declarations ever could.
Prince Rui simply disliked Shen Li serving others unnecessarily now.
Possessive habit. Protective instinct.
Completely natural already.
Then Prince Rui finally looked toward the Crown Prince. “This prince does not exaggerate either.”
Silence crashed violently through the chamber.
Even Qingyu spiritually ascended quietly near the doorway.
Because Prince Rui— the terrifying war prince— just openly confirmed he would threaten empires for Shen Li.
Without hesitation. Without embarrassment.
The Crown Prince stared briefly.
Then suddenly laughed softly. “Royal Uncle truly became frightening recently.”
Prince Rui looked entirely calm. “This prince was always frightening.”
“Yes.” The Crown Prince’s gaze shifted briefly toward Shen Li. “But now Royal Uncle has motivation.”
The room quieted softly again.
Because that was the real issue.
Prince Rui before Shen Li:
cold,
isolated,
politically predictable.
Prince Rui after Shen Li:
emotionally driven,
fiercely protective,
willing to destroy stability for one person.
Infinitely more dangerous.
The Crown Prince understood that perfectly now.
Then slowly— very carefully—
he said:
“The palace will eventually target Princess Rui directly again.”
Prince Rui’s expression cooled immediately.
The Crown Prince continued calmly: “The more obvious Royal Uncle’s attachment becomes…”
“The more enemies will use it.”
Shen Li looked quietly toward Prince Rui afterward.
Because she knew the Crown Prince spoke truth.
And perhaps—
Prince Rui knew it too.
Yet Prince Rui answered without hesitation:
“Then this prince will remove the enemies first.”
The terrifying certainty inside the words silenced the room again.
The Crown Prince studied him carefully.
Then finally sighed softly.
“Hopeless.”
“Completely hopeless.”
Yet strangely— there was no mockery in his voice anymore.
Only acceptance.
Because now even the Crown Prince understood:
Prince Rui had already crossed too far emotionally to retreat.
—
After the Crown Prince finally departed, snowfall deepened across the estate once more.
The plum blossom courtyard glowed warmly beneath lantern light while servants quietly withdrew for the evening.
Leaving only Shen Li and Prince Rui inside the western chamber.
And suddenly— the silence felt different.
Because tonight— for the first time— someone else openly acknowledged the terrifying depth of Prince Rui’s feelings.
The reality lingered heavily between them now.
Prince Rui removed his outer cloak slowly before looking toward Shen Li quietly.
Then:
“The Crown Prince speaks too much.”
Shen Li almost smiled faintly. “Your Highness did not deny him.”
Prince Rui looked entirely unconcerned. “He was correct.”
Dangerous man.
Very dangerous man.
Shen Li lowered her gaze softly. “Your Highness should not say such dangerous things publicly.”
Prince Rui stepped closer naturally.
Then gently lifted her chin until she looked at him again.
His dark eyes remained terrifyingly calm.
“This prince is already restraining himself.”
The atmosphere exploded instantly.
Shen Li’s heartbeat quickened sharply.
Because somehow— Prince Rui sounded sincere.
Terrifyingly sincere.
Then quietly— very softly—
he admitted:
“If this prince truly stopped caring about appearances…”
“The palace would already know exactly how much this prince loves you.”
Silence.
Absolute silence.
The words settled heavily through the warm chamber.
Because there it was.
Not implication. Not hidden meaning.
Love.
Prince Rui finally said it aloud.
Directly.
Openly.
And somehow— his voice remained calm while Shen Li’s entire world tilted.
Dangerous man.
Impossible man.
Prince Rui watched her silently afterward.
Then slowly— almost carefully—
he brushed one thumb beneath her eye softly.
“You look shocked.”
Shen Li’s voice came quieter than expected. “…Your Highness said it too suddenly.”
Prince Rui looked thoughtful. “This prince believed Princess Rui already knew.”
Of course she knew.
But hearing it spoken— hearing Prince Rui say love like this—
felt completely different.
Warmth spread painfully through her chest.
Then before Shen Li could fully recover—
Prince Rui lowered his forehead gently against hers.
Close. Warm. Steady.
And very quietly— with devastating sincerity—
he confessed again:
“This prince loves you.”
“Enough that even the thought of losing you feels unbearable now.”