Chapter 5: Unspoken Feelings

Location: Capital of the Northern Kingdom

A soft smile spread across Ruiyan's face as his eyes took in the wedding decorations adorning the Northern Kingdom's capital. Yellow and red silks danced in the breeze, their vibrant colors blending harmoniously with the magnolia trees in full bloom. The floral and faintly citrusy scent enveloped the city, a fragrance that seemed to carry the promise of new beginnings.

Citizens stepped aside, bowing respectfully, as numerous carriages filled with goods, gifts, herbs, and fine garments followed the emperor's grand carriage. Ruiyan's carriage came to a halt, and he stepped down, his boots meeting the cobblestone street with a quiet thud.

The Northern Kingdom felt warmer than he remembered. The sunlight fell softly on his skin, and the breeze carried a comforting coolness that eased the tension in his shoulders. Was it always this beautiful? Or was it love that colored his surroundings with such beautiful hues? He couldn't say for sure, but his heart whispered the answer-it was her.

He let his gaze linger on the magnolia blossoms, their delicate petals swaying gently. Each bloom reminded him of Jade-serene, elegant, and unforgettable. Every sight, every scent seemed to echo her presence, as though the city itself celebrated their union.

Straightening his robes, Ruiyan began walking toward the palace gates. With each step, his anticipation grew, his thoughts consumed by the moment he would finally see her.

For the first time in a long while, everything felt right.

Ruiyan was warmly received in the palace, and the king greeted him with a hearty welcome. At first, Ruiyan was pleased, but as the minutes dragged on, his mood soured. The king and the ministers chatted too much for his liking, but where was his betrothed? His beloved moon for whom he had traveled so far to see?

Unable to hide his impatience, Ruiyan turned to the king and asked, "Your Majesty, where is the princess? I wish to meet her."

The king laughed, his voice light. "Already so eager to meet her? Tell me, what kind of love potion did my daughter slip you?"

Ruiyan didn't find the joke amusing. His eyes narrowed, and his voice grew firmer, "Where is she?"

Sensing the change in Ruiyan's tone, the king hesitated before answering, "She will be here shortly. She has been preparing for your arrival since dawn."

Ruiyan's expression softened at the king's words. She had been preparing for him... How thoughtful, how sweet.

With a small chuckle and a hint of a blush, Ruiyan replied, "In that case, I suppose I can wait a little longer."

----

Jade stared at herself in the tall mirror, her expression clouded with unease. She was stunning, thanks to the eleven maids who had worked tirelessly since dawn to dress her. They had adorned her in the finest silks and rare gemstones. Only the final touches remained. One of the lady-in-waitings gently tucked a blue lotus into her silky black hair, making sure the bun stayed in place. Another lady-in-waiting couldn't help but voice her admiration.

-"Your Highness, you look like a goddess. I wish I were as beautiful as you."

The head lady-in-waiting shot a stern glance at her and spoke firmly while spreading scented smoke from the incense sticks onto the princess's dress, -"No one can compare to the princess. Now, keep quiet and help with the preparations."

The scolded lady-in-waiting sulked for a moment until Jade, in an effort to lighten the mood, smiled warmly at her.

-"Diane, you are just as beautiful as I am, if not more. I wish I had your golden waves of hair."

Diane's eyes widened in surprise.

-"Your Highness, you remember my name?"

-"How could I not notice someone as kind and beautiful as you?" Jade replied softly.

Diane blushed, though secretly pleased by the compliment.

-"I'm not... that beautiful. Maybe a little."

Jade reached out gently, taking Diane's hand and pulling her closer. She looked up at her, her voice soft and affectionate.

-"Diane, what gemstones do you like?"

The other ladies-in-waiting were taken aback by this question, including Diane. They all knew what the princess's words meant. The head lady-in-waiting stepped forward in shock.

-"Your Highness! You can't give jewelry to commoners. The king will be furious."

Jade turned to face her, her voice firm. -"Did I give you permission to dictate my decisions?"

The head lady-in-waiting hesitated, her voice soft and apologetic.

-"No... Your Highness... I just-"

"Silence!" Jade's command rang out. "I am speaking to Diane. I do not wish for interference."

Turning back to Diane, Jade's expression softened. "Do not worry, I will not let anyone scold you. I remember when you were just fifteen, staying up all night to take care of me when I was sick. This is not kindness-it is your reward. Ask for any gemstone, and it will be yours."

Diane, overwhelmed by the princess's words, blushed deeply.

-"I... I like pearls... a lot... and... rubies."

Jade smiled warmly and gestured to her collection of pearl and ruby jewelry, allowing Diane to choose whatever she wanted.

----

After everyone had left, Jade took a moment to compose herself. Surrounded by luxuries and endless care, a gnawing emptiness lingered within her. She should focus on her future husband, yet her thoughts betrayed her, drifting to Theodore.

The air within the walls felt stifling, heavy with expectations. Her father was eager-desperate even-to send her to an unknown empire, far from Theodore and everything familiar. There, she would be a stranger with no one to confide in, no one to accept her as she truly was. Was it so wrong to love Theodore? Or was the real crime wanting her own happiness as a woman? The question weighed upon her.

Her mind raced with doubts as her heart felt heavy. Would her future husband be a kind man or, like her father, a tormentor? Perhaps even worse?

The memory of her father's mistress surfaced- how she was beheaded for infidelity. Her father, a man who openly flaunted his affairs, had condemned a woman he once loved to death for secretly loving another. Would that be her fate too? She imagined the wide-eyed citizens staring as she knelt before the executioner, the blade glinting ominously.

History would not remember her as a woman who sought freedom or love-it would write her name as a traitor, forever shamed in the pages of time.

----

Meanwhile

Ruiyan's gaze was fixed on the door, his impatience growing with each passing moment. Why hadn't the princess arrived yet? Was the king playing a game with him? Was she being hidden from him, or worse-had she been replaced with someone else?

Unable to stay seated any longer, he rose abruptly, ready to leave the room when, to his surprise, he bumped into the princess as she entered.

He froze. Completely. His thoughts scattered, his mind overwhelmed. So many words crowded his mind, yet none of them found their way to his lips. The sensation was indescribable. She was as breathtaking as the aurora borealis he had witnessed as a child, as soothing as the first rainfall after a long drought. Even a rainbow would shy away in comparison to her beauty. How could someone like her be a mere mortal?

Her blue eyes, paired with the blue lotus nestled in her silky black hair, reminded him of the endless ocean. He longed to drown in that ocean, to become one with it. Oh, how he wished he hadn't fallen for her. The thought of losing her shattered him to the core.