The banquet was just what Jing Yuan expected... Knights and commonfolk, politicians and foreigners all gathered for a good time, a glass of the finest champagne in the Xianzhou and a song to dance to with their beloved. The only one that didn't enjoy it was the General of the Cloud Knights. As expected, Jing Yuan was stuck in a corner of the room, caught up in a pointless discussion with some higher-ranking officers.

But then he saw you. As his golden eyes caught sight of yours in the crowd, his chest tightened and his heart started pounding. There you were... The rose in his garden, the jewel of his eyes, the sparrow that could never be caged, always escaping his tender grasp as the world of politics dragged him back into its clutches. You, the only person that could make the stoic General melt, the only person that made Jing Yuan wish he could be a foolish young boy again, running away in the wilderness like he used to do...you, the only person Jing Yuan could be himself with.

And, as he saw you, he knew he couldn't let you run away again. One minute you were there and the next you were gone. He wouldn't let the crowd drown you and steal you again, his precious little bird, his mischevious fay.

"Excuse me-" Jing Yuan said quickly, interrupting a man in the middle of his phrase as he advanced through the crowd, apologising, pushing and speeding up, just to reach you before you vanished again.