Chapter 22
I sat on the soft couch, fingers tracing the silver token in my hands.
Power flowed into me without end.
A Li entered with a bowl of soup, hesitating as if she had something to say.
I stopped and looked up. "What is it?"
She frowned. "Imperial Princess, are you really going to..."
The rest seemed stuck in her throat.
"Really going to marry Rong Che?"
I took the bowl and sipped, my voice giving nothing away.
"Rong Che is about to take the throne and become the next Demon Emperor."
"No demon beast in the realm stands above him."
"We grew up together. Marrying him would not be so bad."
A Li opened her mouth but said nothing.
Everyone knew that once inside Yun Tai Palace, one would be on Rong Che's ground.
I was at his mercy.
The room fell into dead silence again.
A Li lowered her head, voice tight with regret. "It is my fault. I made him suspicious."
Hours earlier, Rong Che had demanded the golden token my father once gave me.
Unable to find the silver one, he turned his attention to the gold.
Either token marked the next Demon Emperor.
I knew I could not match him.
I stood and waited for him to approach.
The moment he drew close, I spoke softly.
"Rong Che, do you wish to take me as your wife?"
He froze.
His eyes showed surprise, but when he saw my steady gaze, he only frowned.
I looked up at him and said, each word slow and quiet enough for only the two of us.
"Rong Che, you never wanted to be my brother, did you?"
It was the first time I tore away his mask in front of him.
My suspicion hardened from his reaction.
During the days he kept me confined, I had guessed many things.
Yet I had never been sure.
I had clung to the hope that I was only overthinking.
After seeing his reaction, it became clear to me why he kept trying to drag me back.
I also recalled the madness that had been in his eyes when he drove me to the cliff.
He looked dazed.
For a moment, he forgot about the golden token.
I lowered my gaze, my voice dropping.
"Now that I have lost my father and been betrayed by Xie Ning, only you and I remain in this world."
"The thought of you taking a wife someday leaves me with no one to protect me."
"You are only an adopted son of the Rong family. We share no blood."
I bit my lip, trying to look both frightened and calm.
"Rong Che, you like me, do you not?"
Rong Che watched me in silence.
His eyes darkened.
After a long pause, he smiled.
The curve of his lips grew wider.
He leaned down, his fingers brushing my cheek, his voice low and coaxing.
"Is this Rong Yao's true heart?"
Our faces drew closer.
I turned my head slightly.
My lips grazed the back of his hand.
He paused.
"It is true..." I forced the words out, my throat tight. "The golden token is my father's protection. I cannot give it away lightly."
"But if Rong Che agrees, on our wedding night, I will hand it over myself."
...
"But I do not want Imperial Princess to marry someone she does not like."
A Li's voice pulled me back.
My thoughts were still scattered when I saw her eyes redden.
She sniffled. "At worst, I will find a way to help Imperial Princess escape Yun Tai Palace."
I patted the back of her hand and smiled.
"If Rong Che becomes Demon Emperor, where in the realm could I run?"
I looked out the window.
Faraway mountains lit up with fireworks.
Bright sparks burst across the night sky, breaking the stillness.
My voice was calm.
"This time, I will not run."