Free Web NovelChapter 18: Royal Pass
Every step towards Ru Yi made her heart sink further into her stomach. Not even the princess would be able to save her from the triplets if they found her.
"Come out," Shen Qingyue demanded but Ru Yi remained where she was.
Maybe if she stays still enough her body will integrate into the shelf.
Pfft! As if!
This would probably be the end for her.
"Your highness." The door creaked open and a hurried footstep followed.
"The Emperor has requested your presence in the inner court." It was a guard. "It’s a matter of great urgency."
"Did anything happen?" Shen Qingyue asked, the intruder in the room immediately forgotten.
"Someone was found breaking into the royal storage," the guard explained as they walked towards the door. "There are also weapons missing from the armory."
There was a bit of commotion before the triplets left with the guard. It wasn’t until the door was shut that Ru Yi released her breath.
That was a close call.
Maybe the heavens were really smiling down at her today.
It didn’t matter that she had to wait for a long time before the guards were switched out before she was able to slip out of the room. fɾeewebnoveℓ.co๓
Ru Yi could barely contain her excitement as she made her way to Princess Lin Yuexin’s residence.
Lights were out in the entire building but Ru Yi knew where to find the princess. She’d been given permission by the princess to come and go from her chamber as she pleased.
"Did you get it?" Princess Lin Yuexin asked immediately as Ru Yi entered the dimly lit room.
Ru Yi wasted no time in bringing the documents out of the sleeves of her robe. She handed them over. "I brought every record I could find, it should be more than enough."
Lin Yuexin took the papers, moving to light up the candle on her table. She placed them on the hard surface, then turned to Ru Yi briefly—
"Thank you for not getting caught," she whispered, voice heavy.
Ru Yi immediately became alarmed. She’d expected the princess to share her excitement at having completed her task.
"Is everything okay?" she asked, moving to stand near the princess.
Lin Yuexin sighed before taking a seat. "I’ve been feeling uneasy the entire day. I think I’m being followed." She saw the concern on Ru Yi’s face. "Don’t stress yourself, it’s probably nothing. I’ll handle it."
That was precisely why Ru Yi had to worry.
"You should always have your guards with you," Ru Yi piped in. "Don’t go out at night alone, not even to spy on the Empress."
Princess Lin Yuexin smiled, but it was sad. "Starting to say goodbye already?" She sat down and flipped through the records.
"This is more than enough to raise a case against her. I’ll have to seek court the morning after the masked ball. The wedding is the day after, I have to make my move before then."
Ru Yi said nothing. She’d heard about the masked ball in passing.
It was thrown by the Emperor as part of the wedding celebration. Even Lang Ying had seemed excited about it.
"About the pass—" Princess Lin Yuexin produced a paper with a royal seal at the bottom. "This is it. I wish you well, Ru Yi."
Instead of the joy she should’ve felt at being able to finally leave, Ru Yi felt her mood plummeting instead. She took the pass from her.
"Thank you," she muttered, head dropping between her shoulders in what bordered as guilt. "I wish I could stay to help you."
Princess Lin Yuexin took her hand in that assuring manner she always did. "You’ve done your best for me. This is more than I could’ve hoped for."
She stood up, towering over Ru Yi by an inch.
"Look at me," Lin Yuexin whispered. She used her index finger to raise Ru Yi’s head when she didn’t move.
She wrapped her other hand around Ru Yi’s neck in a loose grip. "This is my final gift to you."
Before Ru Yi could process what was happening, Lin Yuexin’s soft lips pressed into her own. They stood there for a moment, neither of them moving.
Ru Yi closed her eyes, breathing in the sweet flowery scent of the princess. Was this really goodbye?
She hated Princess Lin Yuexin when she read the book. But standing in front of her now in the flesh, she realized how different things had turned out.
Ru Yi felt the fingers on her neck tighten a bit before the princess moved her lips against hers.
Warmth danced in between them, Ru Yi growing dizzy from the sweet taste of the princess’s mouth.
It felt like biting into cotton candy and moaning as the savory flavors exploded on your tongue.
This was her first kiss. Stolen by the woman whose hands she had met her painful end. But the princess in front of her was different—kind, thoughtful.
Princess Lin Yuexin was the first to pull away. "Attend the masked ball."
Ru Yi blinked a couple times, still caught up in the daze the kiss had thrown her in. "What?"
"The masked ball." Princess Yuexin moved to the bed and picked up a gown and a mask. "I want to dance with you. See it as granting the wish of a friend."
Ru Yi swallowed hard, taking the soft silk fabric.
"I want to see you dressed in a beautiful gown." Lin Yuexin stroked Ru Yi’s cheek. "I picked it myself. The redness of the gown will make your brown eyes even more beautiful."
Ru Yi had planned to leave the palace immediately when she got the pass. But perhaps, she could do the princess this last favor.
"Why?" Ru Yi’s voice was thick.
"I’ve only ever seen you in these worn out robes." Princess Lin Yuexin smiled. "I want my last image of you to be beautiful. So tell me...will you dress up for me?"
Ru Yi should’ve said no. She could list a thousand reasons off her head why attending was a bad idea.
The ball was at night, she should’ve left the palace by then.
Despite it all she found herself nodding. "I will."
Princess Lin Yuexin beamed. "Save your first dance for me—" then she leaned in, her breath hot against the shell of Ru Yi’s ear, "and maybe I’ll reward you with another kiss."
