Chapter Two: The Cold Flame

 "You see the world as a dream.

 He sees it as a battlefield.

 What happens when those worlds collide?"

Scene 1: Whispers at Dawn

The next morning, Yunxi woke in a soft canopy bed surrounded by silk drapes and faint jasmine fragrance. For a moment, she forgot she had traveled through time. Then the sound of bells outside reminded her — this wasn't a dream.

Her maid, Rou Rou, helped her into a pale green robe embroidered with magnolias.

"Young miss," Rou Rou said softly, "the Lantern Festival is tonight. Princess Roa has sent an invitation. And your friend, Jiner, has already arrived."

Jiner entered moments later, a burst of sunshine in layers of pink silk. "Yunxi!" she laughed, hugging her. "You still look lost. Like you fell straight from the stars."

Yunxi gave a soft smile. Maybe I did…

As dawn broke, Yunxi walked alongside Princess Roa through the grand, open courtyard of the palace. The walls were adorned with intricate carvings, and the air was filled with the scent of flowers and spices, a stark contrast to the uncertainty that Yunxi still felt in her chest.

Roa turned to her, her tone becoming more serious.

"I hope you rested well. This palace can be overwhelming at first."

Yunxi gave a small smile, still wrapped in the wonder and confusion of her new life.

"It's beautiful... but strange," Yunxi said, glancing around at the grand structure.

Princess Roa's expression softened.

"You're not just a guest here, Yunxi. The kingdom has a way of pulling people in. You will find your place, even if you don't see it yet."

Yunxi nodded absently, her mind still drifting to the Prince Chen she hadn't met yet. She wanted to ask more about him, but something held her back. Instead, she took a deep breath.

"What is Prince Chen like?" Yunxi asked, her voice quiet but curious.

At the mention of her brother's name, Princess Roa's face shifted slightly, her smile becoming a little more guarded. She glanced at Yunxi, as if considering how to answer.

"Chen..." Roa hesitated. "He is... not like others. He has his duties, his purpose. He is distant. Cold, even. But he is loyal, and above all, he will do whatever it takes to protect his people."

Yunxi felt a strange twist in her heart, an echo of the song from the night before, pulling her toward something she couldn't name.

The Lantern Festival (But No Meeting Yet)

The festival was dazzling.

Red lanterns floated across the sky like wishes taking flight. Musicians played in the streets. Children laughed. Yunxi walked beside Jiner, quietly mesmerized by everything — the lights, the robes, the ancient music.

But her eyes searched for someone she didn't know how to describe — the one whose heart had responded to her song.

Where are you, dream prince? she thought.

Not far from the crowd, hidden behind a wall of guards, Prince Chen watched from a rooftop, dressed in dark robes. His eyes were cold as ever, but his ears... they strained for something. A melody. A voice. A feeling.

Nothing came.

He turned away.

The Hunt in the Forest — A Twist of Fate

Setting: The royal hunting grounds — dense forests, wild beauty, and hidden dangers.

The sun had barely risen when Yunxi and Princess Roa set off toward the hunting grounds. Yunxi couldn't help but feel a sense of freedom as they left the palace behind — no royal protocols, no formalities. Just the quiet sounds of the forest, the rustling leaves, and the occasional call of distant animals.

As they rode, Roa spoke of the legends surrounding the forest. The trees, she explained, were ancient and magical, guarding secrets only known to the royal family. Yunxi found herself mesmerized by the way Roa spoke about this world. It was so different from anything she had known — so full of wonder and possibility.

The Hunt Begins

They arrived at the clearing, and Roa immediately dismounted. Yunxi followed her example, stretching her legs after the long ride. The air was crisp, the forest dense with thick trees and underbrush. The royal hunting grounds were vast and wild, and they both had come here to sharpen their skills.

Roa, with her usual confidence, handed Yunxi a bow and a quiver of arrows.

"Time to prove you can handle yourself, Yunxi," she said with a mischievous grin. "Let's see what you've got."

Yunxi took the bow, adjusting the weight of it in her hands. Despite feeling out of her element, there was a part of her that found comfort in this. The hunt. The freedom. It was like something in her soul was awakening.

[The Journey to the Forest]

The journey to the forest was peaceful at first. The palace gates opened wide as the royal entourage passed through, the sound of horses' hooves echoing in the still morning air. Yunxi couldn't help but gaze at the vast landscape — the endless forests stretching beyond, shrouded in mist and mystery.

As they rode deeper into the woods, the trees grew taller, their branches thick with leaves that seemed to whisper in the wind. The air was cooler here, and the sounds of the outside world seemed to fade away, replaced by the quiet rustling of nature.

"These woods are alive," Yunxi whispered, feeling a strange sense of connection to the land around her.

Roa turned her gaze toward her, giving her a soft smile.

"They are. The spirits of the forest watch over these lands," Roa said mysteriously, her tone filled with a certain reverence. "But beware, there are dangers hidden here, too."

Yunxi felt a shiver run down her spine, though she couldn't say why. The idea of danger was something she hadn't considered, but now that it was spoken aloud, it suddenly felt very real.

[The Hunt Begins]

They reached a clearing, where the royal hunt was set to begin. The forest stretched endlessly before them, the shadows of the trees casting long fingers over the ground.

Roa dismounted gracefully and gave Yunxi a playful glance.

"It's just us now. Let's see how well you do," she said, handing Yunxi a bow and a quiver of arrows.

Yunxi hesitated, but then, remembering her time in her world when she had daydreamed of these kinds of adventures, she took the bow with newfound confidence.

They set off together, moving through the underbrush quietly, the hunt now becoming a test of their skill and patience.

[The Encounter — Unexpected Danger]

As the two women moved deeper into the forest, the mood began to shift. The quiet rustling of the trees, the faint call of birds — all felt peaceful. Until they heard something that didn't belong.

A crackling sound broke the silence. It was close, too close. Something large was moving through the underbrush, snapping twigs and leaves underfoot.

Yunxi's instincts kicked in. She turned to Roa, but the princess was already motioning for her to stay still. They crouched low, hiding behind some thick brush, watching as the sound grew louder.

Then, from the shadows, a large, wild beast — a tiger — emerged from the forest's edge, its golden eyes glowing in the dim light. It prowled closer, its powerful muscles rippling under its fur. The tiger seemed unaware of their presence, but its movements were predatory.

Roa slowly reached for an arrow, aiming her bow at the beast. But just as she prepared to fire, the tiger's head snapped in their direction. It had sensed them.

Yunxi's heart raced as she watched the tiger approach them, its powerful form moving with a deadly grace. She wasn't sure if Roa could take it down before it attacked. Her hand instinctively went to her own bow, but she knew she wasn't as skilled.

[Enter Prince Chen]

Just as the tiger lunged toward them, there was a sudden flash of movement from the trees. Prince Chen, fully armed, appeared from the shadows like a phantom. His sword was already in his hand, the blade glinting in the sunlight. His eyes locked onto the beast in a split second.

Without hesitation, Chen darted forward, his movements swift and precise, like a warrior born of the forest itself. The tiger hesitated for a moment before charging directly at him.

With a powerful strike, Chen lunged forward, his sword slashing through the air with precision. The tiger was momentarily distracted by him, allowing Roa to release her arrow. It struck the beast in the shoulder, sending it tumbling backward, but it was still very much alive.

For a brief moment, the forest was silent as the tiger reeled, the tension in the air palpable.

Then, with a final, decisive strike, Prince Chen ended the beast's life, his sword slicing through the tiger's neck.

The Hunting Misunderstanding

The wind had gone still. The only sounds were Yunxi's panicked breaths and the dripping of Princess Roa's blood onto the forest floor.

Yunxi trembled as she knelt beside the unconscious princess, her hands shaking as she tried to stop the bleeding. Her heart was pounding, mind reeling from the attack. She was about to call for help when she heard footsteps—quick, sharp, controlled.

A chilling presence swept through the trees like a gust of ice.

Prince Chen emerged, dressed in dark Armor, his eyes like blades cutting through the scene.

He stopped when he saw them: Roa, collapsed and bleeding, and Yunxi, covered in dirt and blood, hovering beside her.

He didn't speak. Not at first.

Then his gaze locked on Yunxi.

"Step away from her."

His voice was low, deadly calm.

Yunxi's eyes widened. "Wait—Prince Chen—I didn't—"

But he was already moving.

In one swift motion, Chen stepped forward, his cloak sweeping behind him like a storm. Without hesitation, he grabbed Princess Roa, lifting her into his arms as though Yunxi's presence was poison.

As he turned, he cast a cold, cutting look at her — no anger, no words — just complete rejection, as if her existence in that moment meant nothing.

Yunxi, still kneeling, froze in place.

He didn't believe me.

He didn't even ask.

Chen carried Roa away, his back disappearing into the shadows between the trees. His steps didn't falter. He didn't once look back.

Yunxi sat there, her heart hollowing in her chest. The silence left in his wake was louder than any accusation.

She hadn't just been misunderstood.

She had been erased.

The Cold Flame

Prince Chen arrived in a blur of motion, sword drawn, face unreadable. He saw his sister — blood on her robes — and Yunxi beside her.

He assumed the worst.

Without a word, he stepped between them, his sword low but ready. His eyes locked on Yunxi's terrified face. Cold. Sharp.

"You dare touch her?" he said, his voice like frost. "Speak."

"I—I didn't…" Yunxi stammered, trembling. "She—she saved me…"

He didn't believe her. He lifted Roa gently into his arms, turning away.

Yunxi stood frozen as his footsteps faded into the woods.

That night, she returned to the Moonlight Pavilion in silence, her chest hollow. For the first time since she arrived… she felt unwelcome.

The Frozen Return

The palace loomed ahead, glowing softly beneath the evening sun, its walls untouched by the chaos of the forest. The laughter of nobles echoed in the distance, unaware that Yunxi's world had shattered just hours before.

She walked slowly, each step heavy. Her dress was torn and stained, her hair dishevelled, her fingers still tinted with Princess Roa's blood.

But her face—

Her face was frozen.

No tears. No anger. No confusion.

Just silence.

Like a porcelain doll—beautiful, intact, but hollow inside.

As she passed through the palace gates, the guards glanced at her, puzzled by the vacant look in her eyes. Jiner, who had been waiting anxiously, rushed to her side.

"Yunxi! What happened?! Where's the princess? Are you hurt?"

Yunxi blinked slowly. She heard the words, but they felt distant, muffled, as if coming from underwater. She didn't respond right away. Her lips parted—but no words came.

Finally, she said softly, "She's safe. Prince Chen took her."

Her voice was emotionless. Not soft, not broken — just empty.

Jiner's eyes widened. "Did something happen out there?"

Yunxi just looked ahead. "A bear came. I tried to help."

A pause.

"But he thinks I hurt her."

Jiner's face turned pale. "That's not— What?! That's not true, Yunxi. We need to—"

But Yunxi was already walking again, like a ghost drifting through stone halls. She didn't want explanations. Didn't want justice.

Not now.

She just wanted quiet.

Yunxi in Her Room

Later that night, Yunxi sat at the edge of her bed, staring at her reflection in the bronze mirror. She barely recognized herself.

The girl from the modern world—who wrote stories with teary eyes and dreamy hearts—was still in there somewhere. But today had silenced her.

"This is the second time," she whispered to herself. "...That someone looked at me like I was nothing."

Her fingers slowly closed around the jade hairpin Princess Roa had given her earlier that day.

"You'll be safe with me," Roa had said with a warm smile.

Now Roa was unconscious. And Yunxi was a suspect.

And Chen—her dream prince, the one she thought would be different—had looked at her like she was the villain.

She pressed her hand to her chest, and for the first time since arriving in this world… she wished she could go home.