“Princess Biyu?” Jian’s rough voice cut through the fog of confusion. He patted the spot beside him. “Sit with me.”
Every instinct screamed at her to run in the opposite direction. She didn’t know what it was about him that made herwary, but she didn’t want to sit with him. She didn’t want to discuss anything. She didn’t want him to be herfiancé.
Biyu sat down in Minos’s seat. Her body remained rigid as Jian piled snacks and sweets onto his plate. Everyone else began their conversations once more; Daiyu beamed at the woman beside her and bobbed her head at whatever she was saying. Lady Mingxia wiped the corner of her husband’s mouth with a silk handkerchief, a soft laugh tinkling from her. The other women giggled over something. It felt surreal to be surrounded by happy people when she was shriveling up inside.
Jian popped a sugar-powdered almond in his mouth and ground it down. His dark eyes flashed over her. “I recently came back from a task a few days prior; a battle erupted amongst my forces and a pocket of rebellion down south. Ever been there before?”
She shook her head. Truthfully, she had never traveled anywhere outside of the capital.
“Ah. Shame. It’s warm down there and full of farmlands. The rebels turned out to be a splintered faction of loyalists from the Sun family.”
“I … I see.” Had he been successful and thus been granted a gift—her?
“Do you know any of them?”
“Who? The Sun family?” Discomfort prickled under her skin at the implication. “I have no alliance toward anyone, Lord Jian.”
His gaze narrowed in on her and the air seemed to chill. “Except His Majesty.”
She swallowed. “Y-yes, but that’s already implied.”
“Hm.” He munched on the rest of the honey-crusted and powdered nuts, his attention never straying from hers. “How many men have you fucked?”
Her eyes widened and she turned sharply to him. Had she heard him right? He continued to pop more almonds, cashews, and pine nuts into his mouth, as if he hadn’t asked anything inappropriate or rude. Nobody else seemed to notice, too engrossed in their own conversations.
Biyu’s hands wrapped over her knees to keep them still—from rage, this time. “I have never been with a man like that, and for you to insinuate?—”
“Save that spiel for someone else.” Jian waved his free hand dismissively. “You’re lying if you say you’ve never been with anyone. You’ve been imprisoned for how many years now? Five? Of course you’ve gotten curious and slept around.”
“I haven’t?—”
“Liar,” he said in a sing-song voice, then laughed. “Fine, fine. Play your stupid mind games. I know how women work.”
Heat bloomed over her cheeks. “You?—”
“I live a few hours away from the capital. I was gifted a new estate after your father was killed—good riddance.” Another chuckle as he clapped his hands together and dispersed the powdered sugar from his fingers. He reached for a cup of tea and took a slurp of it, humming. “Oh, right. You have many jewels and dresses, right? Be sure to ask the emperor for more of them. I don’t want you coming to my estate dressed poorly. You should bring your own clothes and accessories—whatever they may be. I don’t want to pay for anything ridiculous, but I also need you presentable. You’re mywar trophy, after all.”
He said the term like it was a joke, but she could tell he was being serious. He was speaking so bluntly, not a care in the world for what she thought or what she wanted. He didn’t need to be polite, since he knew he was getting a prisoner, essentially. She had no respect in the palace, in the empire, so he didn’t need to put any effort in pretending to woo her or be nice to her.
“How much allowance does His Majesty give you every month?”
More heat clawed up her face. It was too embarrassing to admit that she didn’t receive any allowance—why should she? She was a prisoner. Sure, the emperor gave her new dresses on a monthly basis, but that was only to upkeep her position as a princess.
“That—that really isn’t any of your concern,” she managed to say.
“Oh?” He licked the sugar off his fingers. “Yes, it is. If I’m to be your fiancé, I’m allowed insight into these things. Any allowances, gifts, or possessions you have are, under law, mine as well. I’ll be in charge of any assets you may have, so I have a right to know everything.”He was already talking finances when they were supposed to get to know one another. Her discomfort grew and she could already see a flicker of their future together. She would constantly be under his thumb. Anywhere she went, she would have to be careful of her every move. She wouldn’t be able to spend any ofhismoney. She wouldn’t be able to have anything that belonged solely to herself. He would control everything.
Biyu clutched her hands together, then fidgeted with her sleeve, then fingered her necklace—anything to stop the torrent of emotions rushing over her.
She needed to get out of here.
The exit was wide, open, and guarded, but she couldn’t simply leave without His Majesty’s dismissal. She could see him dozens of feet away from the pergola beneath the shade of a set of cherry blossom trees. The three of them—Minos, Nikator, and Drakkon Muyang—conversed with one another. Her stomach twisted. Were they discussing the marriage bond she shared with Nikator? Maybe Minos was expressing his thoughts on thematter? Or maybe Nikator was telling His Majesty that Biyu couldn’t marry Jian because he was already married to her?
Nausea rolled in her belly in waves. Nikator had told her he wouldn’t tell, but things were different now. What if he thought it was best for Muyang to know before he handed her off to someone politically?
“Are you listening?” Jian grasped her thigh tight enough to bruise.
Biyu slapped his hand away on instinct. “What are you doing?”
