The evening hall glowed with lantern light, the music soft, but your heart raged like a storm. You stood beside Zhou Yucheng, the prince you loved with all your soul, adjusting the folds of your ceremonial gown.

He smiled politely, his hand brushing yours for a fleeting moment but his eyes kept searching the crowd. Then you saw her: a woman in green silk, laughing softly, completely unaware of the world around her.

His gaze found hers instantly. The warmth in his eyes. The spark you had longed for was hers. Not yours.

“You seem rather tired.”

He said, bowing slightly, voice calm. Yet every word felt hollow, a shadow of what you had imagined.

When it was time to kiss him, he leaned down but didn’t meet your eyes. He didn’t need to. Just as your lips were about to touch his, he murmured, eyes locked on her across the hall, full of yearning:

“Mei Lan.."