Spare Them Mercy

"There's a storm outside," Li Xueyue commented as she turned to face the window, watching the heavy rainfall. The water gushed down, never-ending, as thunder rumbled the sky. It was chaotic, but nothing would match the storm inside of the Palace.

"How soothing," she mused when a bolt of lightning flashed in the sky. The storm was finally making its presence known. The rain trickled down from the rooftop, gathering upon a leaf.

Li Xueyue sat, curled up by the window seat, her book abandoned and forgotten. She vaguely recalled it was something about herbology. 

"It rarely rains in the Capital. I think this is the first time I've seen such bad weather," Li Xueyue commented, tilting her head in the direction of her brother.

"If only you paid more attention to that book, instead of what's outside the window that brings you no benefit," Li Chenyang said. He didn't have to look up to know the book was settled beside her.