"Nothing's going to happen to me," she said into his chest. From the little she knew, nothing could happen to her in the palace if it wasn't initiated by the maids or people who wanted her dead.
Besides them, she had no enemies. With the few she knew, none remained at least to her. She made no mistake to cross the empress and her cohorts.
"You don't know" his voice low, she felt his lips on her hair moving "they would use you to get me" the pain in his voice was apparent, but he could let her go and they both would be free of each other and their enemies.
"Then let me go. Stay away from me. Stop talking and visiting me. They would know we aren't friends anymore" she pushed her head out from under him to stare at his face that was contorted in a very tight frown. She raised her hand up to his face and dragged her thumb along his eyebrows. "I told you you get ugly when you frown didn't I?"
The frown lessened and he turned away when he came to, his lips tugged upwards in a smile and he cupped her cheeks "and I said I didn't care if I was ugly or handsome only care about what you think and what do you think?" He kissed her temple and she giggled.
"I think I want you handsome"
"And that I would be for you"
"Then stop frowning" she chided playfully knocking him away but he stayed. This was risky, she knew but how could she resist him? She couldn't resist. No matter how she tried and told him to stay away.
It was like when she pushed him away one time, he came closer ten more times. What they were doing was wrong and after the talk with the emperor earlier, everything she'd promised against was what she was doing.
She left his embrace, her eyes moving anywhere but him "why did you come here, Li?" It must've been something urgent to have him running down to her.
He shifted where he stood, putting his hands behind him, the air changing. This was the crown prince and she was his subject. Nothing more. He made her what he wanted in his own time. He changed when he wanted to.
"You need to follow me Xin-Yi" she heard his voice sound and clear as it went through her body leaving no room for discussion and choice. She scoffed at his words, one minute he was all chatty and lively. Kissing and holding her like she was his lifeline and the next, he was commanding and ordering her around.
She knew her position in his life and she wasn't complaining but would do everytime he tried to make it obvious and rub it on her face.
She licked her lips that'd gone dry with how her mouth opened and closed, lost for words. Her eyes glistened and she blinked trying to keep the tears away but they rolled.
"I hate you" she seethed at him and saw him flinch but regained his composure, glaring down at her. Weren't they just talking now? "What the hell is wrong with you?"
"You!" He barked and then his voice dropped low "Now if you would listen to the order of the crown prince and retreat back to your room and stop roaming about in the night maid servant Xin-Yi"
She didn't cower or shrink back in fear. She stood staring up at him, numb. This was what he had turned her into. A woman filled with pain and anguish. She didn't even know what to do with her life anymore but only knew she wanted to live and leave this place.
"I'm not going" and he wouldn't dare to force her. The emperor had eyes everywhere, one reckless stupid move and she was done for.
"Watch me" his hand closed around her arm and he tugged her to the entrance of the kitchen, whisperings were already coming from there. The news must have spread of the crown prince barging into the imperial kitchen filled with maid-servants.
"You don't know what you're doing Li-Rong. Stop this!" she pleaded, her voice cracked and more tears rolled down. This was humiliating and he didn't care. She dropped her head when they reached outside.
The chatterings and whisperings increased, but thankfully someone more powerful was already there and she exhaled. The empress.
"What is going on here? Prince Li-Rong?", she strutted towards them, her personal maids tailing behind her. This was going to be a disaster.
Li-Rong straightened, his hand not leaving her arm for one bit as he dragged her close to him while the empress's eyes didn't waver off over the display. She didn't squint but she wished she did make a reaction.
"Nothing, her majesty. Just trying to take maid-servant Xin-Yi back to her room. I don't think she's feeling too well"
Someone snickered from the side and the empress veered to it and the suspect bowed her head, her hands folded in the front. Everyone's head was inclined, including hers except Li-Rong's.
His lips were pressed in a thin line, his grip not faltering on her. His shoulders squared and nonchalant, his gaze not dropping, he watched her for what she was going to do next. Their face-off and tension was palpable yet untouchable.
Everyone knew, including the emperor, of how the empress and crown prince couldn't move in the same direction. They were enemies that wouldn't wait a second to devour their adversary if given a chance.
Li-Rong openly challenged her authority, something the noble consorts didn't dare act open, no matter how subdued they were by the empress. They let her but never the crown prince.
That alone would make her disgusted and let's not add her son wasn't the crown prince but him who challenged her authority.
She cleared her throat, her eyes hardening as she waved her hand in the air like it was nothing which was anything but. The crown prince shouldn't be anywhere close to the maid-servants, let alone touching.
"If she isn't feeling okay. It's best she rests than die before the function and arrival of the guests. It will be sad when no one mourns for her" and then she laughs lightly "no one will though. She is a servant after all"