Days passed.
And everything was… normal.
Too normal.
Li Xian laughed loudly as always, his voice echoing through the palace halls. He teased the servants, joked with the guards, and moved like a flame—bright, restless, impossible to ignore.
Nothing had changed.
At least, that's what everyone thought.
Han watched.
Every day.
Silently.
Carefully.
Waiting.
For a crack.
A mistake.
A moment where that perfect mask would slip.
But it never did.
Li Xian was the same—no, even more exaggerated than before.
Noisy. Playful. Busy.
And yet…
Han's gaze darkened slightly.
"…It's too perfect."
Festival Day
The palace transformed overnight.
It was the grand annual festival—one that filled the entire kingdom with life.
Everywhere bloomed with fresh flowers, their fragrance drifting through the air. Silk banners danced in the wind, colors bright and dazzling under the golden sunlight.
Laughter echoed.
Music played.
People gathered in crowds, their faces glowing with excitement.
Tables overflowed with food—sweet, rich, endless.
Dancers moved gracefully in the courtyards, their sleeves flowing like waves.
It was a day of joy.
A day where no one carried sorrow.
At least on the surface.
Li Xian blended into it perfectly.
He smiled.
He laughed.
He shined.
As if he belonged to this happiness more than anyone else.
"Move aside, move aside—let me try!"
His voice rang out as he pushed into a crowd gathered around one of the festival games.
Archery.
"Prince Li Xian!" someone cheered.
"Show us your skills!"
He grinned, picking up the bow with effortless confidence. "Watch carefully, you might learn something."
Cheers erupted.
He pulled the string back—
His expression sharpened for just a second.
Then—
Release.
The arrow cut cleanly through the air and struck the center ring.
Perfect.
The crowd exploded into applause.
"Mid red! He hit mid red!"
"As expected of Prince Li Xian!"
He lowered the bow with a playful shrug. "Ahh, I guess I'm just too good."
Laughter followed.
But he didn't linger.
Didn't look around.
Didn't search the crowd.
Because he already knew—
Han was somewhere there.
Watching.
And Li Xian had no intention of meeting his eyes.
"Next! Sword competition!"
The announcer's voice rang across the courtyard.
Immediately, the crowd grew louder.
"Li Xian!"
"Prince Li Xian!"
"You have to join!"
He paused.
Just for a second.
Then smiled again. "Alright, alright—don't beg too much."
Cheers erupted as he stepped forward, taking the practice sword handed to him.
His grip was steady.
Familiar.
This was his place.
His strength.
Across the arena, voices began shouting another name—
"Han!"
"Call Han!"
"Let them face each other!"
The excitement doubled instantly.
The named pair.
The two everyone wanted to see.
Li Xian's smile froze.
Just slightly.
Then—
Footsteps.
Slow. Calm.
Approaching.
Han stepped into the arena.
The moment their eyes met—
Li Xian's expression changed.
It was quick.
Almost unnoticeable.
But it was there.
The brightness faded.
Something darker flickered beneath.
A memory.
A promise.
I won't bother him anymore.
His grip tightened around the sword.
For a second—
It looked like he might stay.
Fight.
Like he always did.
Like everyone expected.
Like Han expected.
But instead—
Li Xian suddenly lowered the sword.
"…Ah."
The sound was light.
Careless.
"I don't feel too well today."
The crowd fell silent.
Confused murmurs spread.
"What?"
"Is he serious?"
Li Xian stepped back, already turning away. "You all enjoy it. I'll pass this round."
No hesitation.
No explanation.
Just distance.
Han didn't move.
Didn't speak.
He simply watched Li Xian's retreating figure—
And for the first time—
Something felt… wrong.
Not because Li Xian left.
But because—
He didn't even look back.
The crowd slowly shifted, unsure, awkward.
The excitement dimmed slightly.
But Han remained standing there, unmoving.
His hand tightened around the sword.
"…So this is it?"
His voice was low.
Almost to himself.
That playful persistence.
That annoying closeness.
That constant presence—
Gone.
Just like that.
Han's gaze darkened.
For reasons he didn't understand—
That irritated him.
More than it should have.
Far from the crowd, hidden behind rows of blooming festival flowers—
Li Xian stopped.
His smile faded instantly.
His chest rose and fell unevenly.
"…That was close."
For a moment—
Just a moment—
He almost forgot.
Almost stepped forward like before.
Almost stayed.
But he didn't.
He couldn't.
Slowly, he looked down at his hands.
Still steady.
Still strong.
But somehow—
They felt… distant.
"…This is better," he whispered.
Even if it hurt.
Even if something inside him wanted to turn back—
He wouldn't.
Because this was the right thing to do.
Right?
Behind him, the sound of the festival continued.
Bright.
Lively.
Full of joy.
And Li Xian—
Forced his smile back onto his face…
Before walking back into the crowd.