“You don’t have to know anything today,” he murmured. “You only have to breathe.”
Her breath trembled into a broken exhale. She covered her mouth to hide the sound. Mingxi’s fingers pressed into his own knees, knuckles whitening, and she knew that his instinct to hold her was straining against the discipline he had honed since childhood. But he stayed still. A silent offering.
“Mingxi…?” she whispered.
“Yes.”
“I need, just for a little while… can I be alone?”
Something flickered behind his eyes, pain sharp and quickly buried. So fast she almost missed it, but he did not hesitate.
“Of course.” His voice remained gentle.
She searched his face, almost pleading. “You’re not upset?”
“No.” Softer. “You have full control of your space. Always.”
Her shoulders loosened. “Thank you.”
Mingxi stepped back with discipline, with care, and with clear reluctance buried beneath a controlled bow. “I’ll be close. If you need anything.”
She nodded and slipped down the garden path, disappearing beneath the plum branches.
Chapter 36
Only when she was out of sight did Mingxi’s breath leave him, quiet, tight, frayed.
A voice drawled behind him. “You’re in trouble.”
Mingxi did not flinch. He simply exhaled. “Mingjun.”
His brother stepped out from behind a pillar like he’d been summoned by drama itself, arms folded, eyebrow arched.
“That girl just shattered in front of the elders,” Mingjun said. “And you looked like you wanted to burn the entire mountain down for her.”
Mingxi stared at his brother. Silent. Unamused.
Mingjun smirked. “Oh, come on,” he said. “At least deny it with style.”
“I am her protector,” Mingxi said evenly.
“No,” Mingjun countered, stepping closer. “You’re her anchor.”
Mingxi’s jaw tightened.
Mingjun circled once, examining his brother like a puzzle he had already solved.
“I’ve seen you protect diplomats, nobles, shrine visitors, council members, hell, even a chicken once.”
“That rooster was unusually aggressive.”
“And yet,” Mingjun continued, ignoring that, “not once have you ever looked at someone like you did in that chamber.”
Mingxi didn’t respond.
Mingjun’s grin softened, not mocking but knowing. “You like her.”
“No.”
