Standing atop the grand balcony of her palace, Qian Shi lifted her head toward the vast, moonlit sky.
Her slender fingers curled into fists at her sides, trembling ever so slightly.
Her vision blurred as a single tear, warm and full of regret, slipped down her cheek, tracing a glistening path along her skin before vanishing into the night.
"Please forgive me, Darling..."
Her eyelashes fluttered with unshed tears before she closed her eyes, pressing her lips together to suppress the sob threatening to escape.
"I cannot change the fate... and forgive me for not being beside you when you are suffering like this."
She powerlessly stood there, unable to reach the man she held so dearly in her heart.
"Please forgive me..."
Her fingers gripped the railing as the weight of her choices bore down on her.
The night air was cool against her skin, yet it did nothing to numb the fire of guilt burning within her.
...