Chapter LXIII - Happiness Becomes Dangerous
Prince Rui remained unusually gentle afterward.
Which, unfortunately, proved more dangerous than all his possessiveness combined.
Because once the terrifying war prince became openly happy—
he stopped hiding affection almost entirely.
The entire estate noticed within two days.
Servants whispered endlessly:
His Highness smiled more,
returned early constantly,
and looked at Princess Rui like someone who had already forgotten the empire existed.
Hopeless.
Completely hopeless.
Meanwhile Shen Li suffered greatly from one specific problem:
Prince Rui became physically affectionate constantly now.
Not improperly.
Worse.
Naturally.
A hand against her waist while walking through corridors. Adjusting her sleeves absentmindedly during conversations. Brushing snow from her hair every single time they stepped outdoors.
And worst of all—
touching her like it had already become instinctive.
Dangerous man.
Very dangerous man.
—
That afternoon, Shen Li sat beneath the plum blossom pavilion reviewing estate reports while Prince Rui handled military correspondence beside her.
Peaceful. Quiet. Warm.
Then suddenly Prince Rui reached over without warning.
Shen Li blinked softly.
And watched him remove a plum blossom petal caught in her hair.
The movement lasted only seconds.
Yet afterward— his fingers lingered briefly near her cheek.
Too briefly. Too intentionally.
Shen Li’s heartbeat softened immediately.
Across the courtyard, several servants instantly looked away for survival purposes.
Because lately— watching Prince Rui and Princess Rui interact felt increasingly dangerous for unmarried people.
Then Prince Rui calmly returned to reviewing military documents as though nothing happened.
Impossible man.
Shen Li lowered her gaze helplessly toward the estate ledgers.
Only for Prince Rui to suddenly speak again.
“Princess Rui hasn’t looked at this prince properly for three minutes.”
Silence.
Shen Li stared.
Prince Rui remained entirely serious while reading reports.
“…Your Highness counted?”
“Yes.”
Dangerous man.
Very dangerous man.
Then before Shen Li recovered—
Prince Rui quietly added:
“This prince dislikes it.”
The shameless honesty nearly made her laugh aloud.
Instead she asked softly: “Your Highness became clingier after confession.”
Prince Rui looked thoughtful again.
Then calmly:
“Probably.”
No embarrassment whatsoever.
Shen Li genuinely wondered whether loving someone erased Prince Rui’s ability to feel shame entirely.
The answer was likely yes.
—
Unfortunately, peace remained temporary.
By evening, another palace report arrived.
And this one changed everything.
Prince Rui read the message silently once.
Then twice.
The warmth around him disappeared instantly.
Shen Li noticed immediately.
“What happened?”
Prince Rui lowered the report slowly.
His expression had become frighteningly unreadable now.
Then quietly:
“Northern troops crossed the river territories.”
Silence crashed through the pavilion.
War.
Not rumors now. Not possibility.
War.
Shen Li’s chest tightened painfully.
Prince Rui stood slowly afterward.
The military instinct around him returned instantly: cold, focused, terrifyingly calm.
And somehow— that frightened Shen Li more than panic would have.
Because this was the Prince Rui who belonged to battlefields.
The one the empire feared.
Then Prince Rui looked toward her.
And immediately— the coldness softened slightly again.
Only slightly.
But enough.
He walked directly toward her afterward.
Then crouched beside her chair unexpectedly.
Shen Li blinked softly.
Prince Rui took both her hands carefully into his own.
Warm. Steady. Protective.
Then quietly:
“This prince may leave the capital soon.”
The words hurt exactly as much as she feared they would.
Shen Li lowered her gaze briefly.
Then honestly:
“…This daughter already dislikes it.”
Prince Rui’s thumb brushed slowly against her fingers.
“This prince dislikes it more.”
The confession nearly unraveled her.
Because somehow— Prince Rui looked more reluctant to leave her than to enter war itself.
Dangerous man.
Then Prince Rui’s expression changed subtly.
Less restrained now. More emotionally exposed.
He looked at her quietly beneath drifting snow.
Then very softly— with frightening honesty—
he admitted:
“Before meeting you…”
“This prince never feared battlefields.”
The pavilion became silent.
Prince Rui continued calmly:
“Now this prince fears leaving you behind.”
The words shattered something painfully warm inside her chest.
Because Prince Rui— who survived countless wars— now feared separation more than death.
Shen Li’s eyes reddened faintly immediately.
Prince Rui frowned softly. “No crying.”
“…Your Highness says impossible things calmly.”
Prince Rui looked entirely serious. “They’re true.”
Then slowly— very carefully—
he lifted her hand toward his lips.
And pressed one lingering kiss against her knuckles.
Warm. Reverent. Almost desperate.
Then quietly:
“If deployment orders arrive…”
“Will Princess Rui wait for this prince?”
The vulnerability hidden beneath the question nearly destroyed her.
Because Prince Rui— the terrifying war prince— still feared she might not wait.
Shen Li moved suddenly afterward.
And wrapped both arms tightly around him.
Prince Rui froze instantly.
Then slowly returned the embrace with terrifying force.
Shen Li buried her face against his shoulder quietly.
“This daughter already promised.”
“For the rest of Your Highness’s life.”
Silence.
Then Prince Rui closed his eyes briefly against her hair.
And for the first time since receiving war news—
the terrifying prince finally looked shaken.