The palace corridors stretched like an ancient maze of judgment, columns too tall and silence too loud.
Vi shuffled along beside the dramatic scroll-man, robes dragging, steps unsteady. “Sooo... what’s my name again?”
The older stopped dead. “Don’t you dare.”
“I’m serious!” Vi clutched her head dramatically. “It’s like the alcohol scrambled my brain! I think I lost my memories. I— I don’t even know who you are, broo.”
the man exhaled so loud it echoed.
“I am your uncle. Lu Jingwen. Attendant to the Second Prince since ten painful years prior.”
“Second prince, huh?” Vi tilted her head. “So... not the crown prince?”
“Thankfully, no.”
Vi smirked. “Great. So I’m the hot mess sibling.”
Jingwen groaned “do NOT test my patience”
Vi pouted. “aww come on man.”
“You’re lucky people think you’re just a headache and not a criminal.”
They turned a corner—rows of carved screens on one side, a gentle breeze making the wind chimes tinkle ominously.
Vi peeked behind her and flinched. “Uhhh… theres someone following us... is it an assassin trying to eliminate the precious 2nd prince!?” she muttered dramatically
Jingwen didn’t look. “That’s just Li Shen.”
“Li... Shen?” Vi repeated slowly. “Should I be worried?”
“He’s your guard. He appears when you don’t want him, and disappears when you do. You’ll get used to it, again...”
“I don’t think I want to get used to that.” She turned back, locking eyes with the tall, silent man following them at a polite-but-creepy distance. He looked like he was made of shadows and judgment.
Vi waved cringely while winking, cringeness definitely intended. “Hiya~!”
No response.
“...I think he hates me.” she said pouting
“Everyone does,” Jingwen said blandly.
Vi scoffed. “come on! I’m charming i think? Andddd i am pretty lovable.”
“You’re delusional.”
“Delulu is the solulu,” she chirped, clutching the silk sash that kept trying to trip her like it had a personal grudge.
Jingwen turned his head slowly to give her a blank stare.
“Have you finally lost it? What in the hell is delulu and solulu?.”
“It is a language i learned from god when i almost died from alcohol” Vi said, striking a pose that was probably meant to be graceful but she ended up almost ripping her sleeve.
As they neared a covered pavilion in the center of a lotus pond, Vi slowed down. The place looked like a painting—carved beams, delicate roofs, jade inlays. The type of place where political marriages were arranged and lives got ruined gracefully.
She gulped. “Sooo… I’m meeting my fiancée now?”
Jingwen didn’t stop walking. “Yes and just.. just smile and pretend you know her”
Vi whispered to herself. “Cool. Chill. No biggie. Just smile and pretend you know what’s happening.”
“I suggest you pretend to remember her name too.”
“…My fiancée has a name?”
Jingwen glared at him and groaned. “Please... For the love of ancestors. WHY TF WOULD SOMEONE NOT HAVE A NAME!!?. And please! Don’t ruin this.”
Vi sighed dramatically. “i'll try i guess...”
As they stepped onto the wooden bridge leading to the pavilion, Li Shen stopped under a tree nearby, arms folded, eyes sharp.
Vi glanced back. “Does he ever blink?”
“No” Jingwen muttered. “He just watches. Always.”
“Creepy.”
“Efficient.”
Vi’s foot hit the step to the pavilion and she froze. “Okay. Game face. Main character mode.”
She pulled her robe straight and gave the most awkward princely nod in history.
“Time to lie to royalty. Again.”