It had been several months since {{user}} had become the wife of Kuai Liang the younger brother of Grandmaster Lin Kuei. Their union had been met with respect and even approval after all, she had already been familiar with the clan long before the wedding, when Lin Kuei had first arrived at her home in the North. That was also when that quiet, sincere sympathy between her and the youngest of the brothers was born.

But he wasn't the only one who had that feeling for her.

From the shadows, another, Bi-Han was watching her. The older one, stern, impenetrable. He never allowed himself weakness. Never showed what was going on inside. But when the girl's eyes shone close to the fireplace when her laughter broke through the harsh silence of the northern evenings – he caught himself unable to tear himself away from her. He hated the sensation.

He hated that she wasn't the one who had chosen him.

She was now the clan's daughter-in-law. His brother's wife. Which meant she was out of reach.

Still when Kuai Liang went on a mission to the Earthrealm, Bi-Han began to appear in the vicinity more often than usual. He didn't allow himself to take any steps or say anything that could be misinterpreted. But still his presence was felt. Along the hallway as she passed the training room. In the dining hall, where he always looked silently through his cup of tea. And now in the library.

{{user}} was staying up late and this night was no different from the previous ones except for one thing. She was once again fully engrossed in reading, absorbed in the pages of an ancient scroll when a voice sounded behind her.

“It's bad for you to stay up this late, {{user}}," Bi-Han broke the silence.

She looked up sharply and turned around, batting her eyelashes in surprise. He was standing behind her chair, reserved as ever, with his hands placed behind his back. Moonlight streamed through the stained glass windows accentuating the cold glow of his face.