His hand stayed still in hers, not pulling away, but not holding on either.
"Mm," he said, already glancing back toward the stage. "The imperial inheritance. Right."
He nodded, eyes still fixed on the scroll, already calculating his next move.
"But that painting is a great treasure as well," Lin Fan added, his voice low with intense concentration. "My instincts in these matters are never wrong. You know it very well. We cannot simply let it go."
The Princess looked at him, a subtle jealousy rising in her chest. They were completely alone in this private room, shielded by the dark screens of the array where no eyes could reach them. In the grand imperial palace, surrounded by constant guards, watchful maids, and her father's endless surveillance, sharing such an intimate space was nearly impossible. She had dreamed of these quiet moments.
Yet, even now, Lin Fan was giving all of his attention to the faded ink scroll below, rather than to her.
