Free Web NovelChapter 5: We’re in love
Every hair on Ru Yi’s body stood at a stand-still. She could tell whoever was behind her was indeed male.
Was it one of Shen Lihua’s guards?
She’d be in serious trouble if they found her snooping around. Not even Princess Lin Yuexin would be able to save her.
"Look," she said, raising her hands. "I heard voices down here and thought someone needed help. I swear I’m not—"
Strong warm arms circled around her waist. She could feel the deep laughter of whoever was behind her vibrate down the length of her back.
"You sound really cute when you’re scared."
Ru Yi sighed in relief. It was Crown prince Zhao Chen.
"Get your hands off me," she replied when her brain finally processed that she wasn’t in danger.
She wanted nothing to do with Zhao Chen, but it was good luck that he was the one that caught her instead.
"That’s no way to greet your man," Zhao Chen replied, putting his head on her shoulder. He placed a chaste kiss in the crevice of her neck which made Ru Yi almost shudder in disgust.
"I’ve not seen you for two nights. I thought you’d miss me as much as I’ve missed you," he continued.
He raised his head slightly before burying into her hair.
Ru Yi scrunched her nose in distaste. She hasn’t had the opportunity to wash her hair since she transmigrated, and he was busy sniffing it up.
"You always smell so good," he muttered.
Ru Yi gagged internally, not wanting to upset the crown prince. She was yet to thank him for helping her back there.
"Lets get out of here and find somewhere private. I need to talk to discuss something with you," he said.
Ru Yi was about to reply when they heard the hurried footsteps of the guards.
Zhao Chen immediately spun them around, pressing their bodies into the corner of the hallway where it was the darkest.
"Keep still," Zhao Chen muttered when Ru Yi tried to break free. "You’re in trouble if they find you here."
Of course, she was a simple maid and he was the crown prince. She had no idea what the original character was doing falling in love with the future emperor.
The imbalance of power would’ve led to her demise one way or the other.
Ru Yi likened it to the non-existent relationship between her and Jenny.
She was the maid and her adoptive sister was the crown prince.
Jenny had always felt unreachable, like a prize she would never deserve. Still, she had tried and look where it landed her.
Both her and the original character were victims of their heart.
"They’re gone," Zhao Chen said and moved away from Ru Yi. But he took her hand. "Come with me."
Ru Yi took one last look at the wooden door before letting the crown prince drag her away. She walked briskly behind him as they left the inner palace.
"Where are we going?" Ru Yi asked, panicking when all eyes turned to them as they walked past. "We can’t be seen together."
"Why not?" Zhao Chen asked, "We always walked about like this."
Ru Yi wanted to facepalm.
Walking around with her in broad daylight will only make other gossip. If the crown prince had any sense, he’d at least protect Ru Yi from the ridicule.
It was fine though, she knew first hand how love made one lose all their sense of preservation. Which was why she had no plans of falling in love again. freeωebnovēl.c૦m
Never. Ever.
She’d make the most of her time by indulging in beautiful women in order to soothe her heartbreak.
Zhao Chen finally pulled her into a random house that must’ve been his meeting place with Ru Yi in the past.
"What do you have to say?" she asked, wanting to get it over with. She still had the princess’s assignment to finish.
Or maybe she could just ask Zhao Chen what his mother was planning?
"I’ve secured the travel papers for us," he replied, before suddenly pulling her into a hug. "We can finally be together without the fear of being pushed apart."
Ru Yi tried to pull away but his hold on her was strong.
"We can leave in two nights before the arranged wedding. You don’t have to come with anything. I’ve already had someone purchase all the things we’ll need when we arrive." He rubbed her back like he was soothing a child.
"Zhao..." she corrected herself. "Crown prince, I’d like you to step away for a bit." Her voice was a bit clipped which was a complete opposite of the sweet tone she always used with him.
Zhao Chen did as she said, a frown marring his face. "Is everything okay? You don’t seem as delighted as I imagined you’d be. This has been your dream for a long time."
He touched her chin lightly, piercing her gaze with his dark eyes. "You asked me to do this."
The crown prince was really attractive, Ru Yi thought, beautiful even with his delicate features.
In another world where she didn’t love women, maybe she would’ve been attracted to him. Apart from causing Ru Yi’s death, he was a pretty decent man.
She felt almost guilty.
Almost.
"I need you to listen to me carefully, crown prince." She touched his arm lightly. "You have to marry the princess and forget about me."
He flinched like Ru Yi had physically smacked him across the face. "What did you just say?"
"You need to forget about me and marry princess Lin Yuexin. She’s your betrothed, and it’s your duty as the prince."
Zhao Chen moved away in anger. "You have no idea what you’re saying." Then he grabbed her shoulders. "Did anyone threaten you? Was it Lin Yuexin? Did she put you up to this?"
Ru Yi shook her head. "Nobody threatened me. I’m saying this of my own volition. I don’t love you anymore."
He scoffed. "Did I do something to offend you?"
Ru Yi almost felt bad. "You did nothing wrong. I just don’t love you anymore. And I don’t want to be the reason the empire falls apart. You’re the crown prince, you must perform your duty to the people."
More like, she won’t die because of you.
"Besides, the princess is more suited for a man of your status. You don’t have to worry about me anymore. This will be the last time we see each other."
He scoffed. "You can’t be serious."
"Unfortunately, I’ve never been more serious before."
He looked utterly defeated moving close to her, like he needed some proof this was really happening.
"Then what about the baby?"
Ru Yi looked at him in confusion. "What baby?"
He held her gaze. "The one growing inside you. Our baby."
