The palace had grown quieter than ever. Even the echoes of laughter from servants and family members seemed muted. Xiaoxi moved carefully through the halls, her usual mischievous energy subdued, replaced by a calm, distant poise.
Haoran noticed immediately. Her playful banter had vanished; the way she used to call him "Frog Prince" with a teasing grin had disappeared completely. Now…
Xiaoxi (softly, almost formally): "Your Highness."
Haoran froze mid-step, his hand tightening on the doorframe.
Haoran (shocked, voice sharp): "No… no more 'Frog Prince' now?"
Xiaoxi lifted her gaze, calm but sad, her voice soft:
Xiaoxi: "That would be rude to you, Your Highness. I… I cannot call you that anymore." 😢
Haoran's lips pressed into a tight line, annoyed but hurt beneath it:
Haoran (grumbling): "Yes… that's good. I don't have to hear those stupid words again."
Xiaoxi's eyes shimmered with unshed tears, her voice dropping to a whisper:
Xiaoxi: "It's… okay, Your Highness. I… I will not live here for much longer. I was looking for a place for myself… and when I find it… I will move out." 🥲
Haoran felt his chest tighten, a strange, sharp ache spreading through him. He hadn't realized how much her teasing, her presence, her closeness had mattered to him… until she intentionally created distance.
Haoran (voice low, tense, a mix of annoyance and worry): "Xiaoxi… wait. You… moving out?"
Xiaoxi (shaking her head, trying to remain composed): "I… need to. It's better this way.
(Thinking )- I… I cannot let my feelings for you grow… not when you… might like Mingzhu."
Haoran's jaw tightened. The playful, teasing dynamic he loved had turned into something fragile, tense, and painfully real. He realized… he didn't know he was in love with her—but seeing her like this, keeping herself away, hurt him more than he expected.
The palace felt heavier in that moment. The walls seemed quieter, the halls emptier, and Haoran suddenly understood what the staff and family had been whispering for days: without Xiaoxi, everything felt… incomplete.
He stepped closer, trying to bridge the distance, but she subtly moved back, a silent barrier between them.
Haoran (voice firm, slightly exasperated): "Little puffer fish… why are you doing this to me?"
Xiaoxi's eyes softened, but her lips formed a fragile smile:
Xiaoxi: "Because… because I cannot bear my heart to hurt even more. I… I just… need distance."
Haoran's chest ached, and for the first time, he felt the sharp bite of jealousy and longing in full force. He wanted to pull her close, to hear her call him "Frog Prince" again, to tease her until she laughed—but she was slipping away, deliberately, for both their sakes.
And so, the palace remained quiet, almost painfully still, as two hearts struggled silently—both unwilling to give in, yet unable to ignore the feelings swelling between them.