Chapter Thirteen: A Thread Pulled Too Tight

The more Dan-Bi tried to avoid him, the more fate seemed to push them together.

A sparring match.

A court debate.

A chance meeting in the hallways.

The prince was everywhere.

Or perhaps—

He had simply started noticing her more.

And that was dangerous.

Because the more he noticed, the more questions he seemed to have.

And Dan-Bi was running out of ways to answer them.

---

It was during another lesson when things took a turn.

The scholars were discussing military formations, debating the effectiveness of various tactics.

Dan-Bi, as always, kept her responses measured.

But then—

"You are too cautious, Scholar Han."

Dan-Bi blinked.

The Crown Prince had spoken.

And he was looking straight at her.

A few scholars exchanged glances, sensing the sudden tension.

Dan-Bi met his gaze calmly. "Caution in battle prevents unnecessary losses, Your Highness."

The prince tilted his head. "But a warrior must also be decisive. To hesitate is to lose."

A challenge.

One she could not ignore.

Dan-Bi exhaled. "And yet, even a blade that strikes too soon can miss its mark."

The prince's lips twitched. "Then tell me, Scholar Han—do you believe in fighting with a sword or with words?"

Dan-Bi hesitated.

A simple question.

But the weight behind it was anything but.

She knew what he was really asking.

Are you a fighter?

Or are you hiding behind words?

Dan-Bi held his gaze.

Then, slowly—

She reached for a brush and ink, dipping the tip into the dark liquid.

And on the paper before her, she wrote three words.

"A sword disguised."

Silence filled the room.

The prince stared at the words.

His fingers curled slightly.

Then, to her shock—

He laughed.

A low, quiet chuckle.

As if she had given him an answer he both expected and did not expect.

Dan-Bi watched as he leaned forward, resting his chin on his hand.

And then, in a voice so soft only she could hear, he murmured—

"Then I wonder, Scholar Han… what will it take for me to see the blade underneath?"

Dan-Bi's breath caught.

Too close.

Too dangerous.

She forced herself to smile, tilting her head. "If Your Highness seeks to find a blade, you may be searching in the wrong place."

The prince hummed. "Perhaps."

But his eyes said otherwise.

Dan-Bi knew then—

This was no longer just a game.

It was a chase.

And the Crown Prince had just decided—

He was not going to stop until he caught her.