Early morning light seeped through the curtains as Lorin woke to aching muscles. He pushed himself up from the floor beside the bed, rubbing his stiff shoulders. Turning, he saw Xue Ni still asleep in his bed, murmuring something unintelligible at the corner of her mouth. Lorin sighed.
Last night, this girl had worn him out completely. Too exhausted to carry her back to her room, he’d let her sleep here while he made do on the floor.
Accustomed to soft mattresses wherever he stayed, even one night on the hard floor left him sore.
Scratching his messy hair and yawning, Lorin shuffled out. He still had time before academy. Better to wait for the maids to wake her than disturb her now.
"Is she really alright like this?" Lorin asked the Bookkeeper casually.
"Just releasing pent-up emotions. Nothing serious will come of it."
"That’s not what I meant," Lorin sighed. "Never mind."
He knew it was emotional release—but seeing Xue Ni like this, he recognized years of buried pain. Left unchecked, he could easily guess why she’d eventually vanish.
Stepping into the hallway, Lorin nearly bumped into a maid sweeping the floor. She curtsied, but her eyes kept flicking around him, searching for something.
"Your bathwater is ready, Your Highness. Breakfast will be a little longer."
"Hmm." Lorin waved her off. After living here a while, he’d grown somewhat used to palace life.
Noticing the unusual scrutiny, he asked, "Something wrong?"
"N-no!" The maid shook her head hastily. "It’s just... Miss Grettel wasn’t..."
Lorin understood. Last night’s commotion couldn’t have gone unnoticed.
"Have someone wake her later," he said after a pause. "And whatever you heard last night—keep it within these walls."
The maid paled. "O-of course, Your Highness!"
Gossip among servants was inevitable, but he needed to prevent rumors from spreading outside.
After washing up, Lorin heard a sharp shriek from his room.
"Eh? What happened?"
He’d just reached the hall when Xue Ni, already dressed, rushed toward him. She grabbed his collar and shook him violently.
"You bastard! What did you do last night? What did you DO?!"
"What are you talking about?!" Lorin was glad he hadn’t eaten yet—he might’ve vomited from the shaking.
"Why was I sleeping in YOUR bed?!" Woken by maids who’d matter-of-factly called it "His Highness’s bed," Xue Ni’s cheeks had flushed crimson under their stares.
"Tell me what you did to me, you pervert!"
Lorin seized her wrists before the shaking made him dizzy. "I did nothing!"
"Nothing?" Xue Ni paused, suspicion flickering. "Really?"
"If I’d done something, wouldn’t you feel it?"
"Feel..." Xue Ni glanced down at herself. Her face burned scarlet. *SLAP!* "You insolent bastard!"
Already sleep-deprived, Lorin felt utterly drained after the morning chaos.
In the academy carriage, he sat dazed while Xue Ni glared out the window.
Just before reaching the gates, she called out, "Stop the carriage."
Lorin blinked, startled. "What are you doing?"
She opened the door. "You know my reputation at the academy. If anyone sees us arriving together—even as the Second Prince—you’ll attract gossip."
As she stepped out, Lorin grabbed her wrist.
"Don’t you understand?" she snapped.
"I do." His voice was flat.
"Then—"
Before she could finish, he pulled her back inside. "Stay."
Lorin jumped down, shut the door firmly, and told the driver, "Keep going."
The bewildered driver obeyed.
When Xue Ni leaned out the window, she saw Lorin strolling behind the carriage, yawning like he was taking a leisurely morning walk.
"That idiot," she muttered under her breath.
Lorin didn’t care about gossip—but if she worried over it, he’d let her ride. Besides, if yesterday’s bullies saw her walking to class, they’d only mock her further. The academy wasn’t far; this was just a post-breakfast stroll to him.
By the time Lorin ambled to the gates, the carriage had been waiting awhile.
Several girls greeted him. "Did you walk here today, Your Highness?"
"Something like that," Lorin managed, forcing alertness through his exhaustion. "Good exercise."
"How admirable—such energy so early!"
"Haha." Lorin scratched his head awkwardly. He was used to such pleasantries.
His gaze drifted ahead. Xue Ni, who’d been waiting who-knew-how-long, caught his eyes. She gave a soft *hmph*, turned sharply away, and strode toward the classrooms.
"Your Highness, we’ll be late for class," a girl beside him gently reminded him.
"Right. Coming."
Lorin couldn’t shake the feeling that Xue Ni had split personalities. Last night and this morning—though still sharp-tongued—she’d been almost bearable (aside from the slap). But the moment they neared the academy, she’d frozen into icy aloofness.
