The court had not recovered.
Even after dismissal—
The shock lingered.
"The princess is to be married…"
"So suddenly?"
"To who?"
—
Xueying stood still long after everyone left.
The words echoed in her mind.
You will be married.
Not a question.
Not a choice.
—
"Xueying."
She turned.
Gu Yichen stood behind her.
Closer than usual.
More serious than ever.
—
"…Did you know?" she asked quietly.
A pause.
Then—
"No."
But something in his eyes said—
He suspected.
—
Silence stretched between them.
Heavy.
Unspoken.
—
"They're going to choose for me," she said.
Her voice calm.
Too calm.
—
Yichen stepped closer.
"…Not if you refuse."
She let out a faint breath.
"You know that's not how this works."
"I don't care how it works."
His tone sharpened slightly.
"I won't let them force you into something you don't want."
—
Her heart tightened.
"…And what if I don't know what I want?"
The question slipped out.
Honest.
Dangerous.
—
Yichen froze.
Just for a second.
—
"Then take time," he said.
"Don't let them rush you."
—
Xueying looked at him.
Really looked.
—
"And if they choose you?"
The question landed softly.
But it changed everything.
—
Silence.
Deep.
Unavoidable.
—
Yichen didn't answer immediately.
Because this—
This was no longer just politics.
—
"…Then I'll accept," he said quietly.
Her breath caught.
—
"But not because they told me to."
His gaze locked onto hers.
—
"Because I choose to."
—
Something in her chest shifted.
Fast.
Unsteady.
—
"Why?" she asked.
Barely above a whisper.
—
Yichen didn't look away.
"…You already know."
—
And that—
Was more dangerous than any confession.