"The prince is secretly sick…"

Chen Yu's words clung to Leena's mind long after she left the library.

She paused in the corridor, gripping the cool stone wall.
"...What do you mean?"

Chen Yu's eyes darted around the shelves, making sure no one else could hear.
"His heart," he whispered, tapping his chest. "The doctors of the inner court keep it quiet, but I hear things. Why do you think he's so cold, so untouchable? He has to be careful. One wrong stress… could be fatal."

Leena's stomach tightened.
She thought of the arrow wound, the fever, his calm gaze even while bleeding.
Was that calm… or was he hiding pain?

Chen Yu leaned closer, voice silky.
"You saved him once. Maybe twice. But someone like him…" He let out a dramatic sigh.
"He walks on the edge of death every day."

Leena pressed a hand to her chest.
She could almost hear her own heartbeat racing.
"I… I have to make sure he's alright."

"That," Chen Yu said with a satisfied little smile, "is what a loyal physician would do."
He bowed lightly, leaving her with a trail of unease that followed her all the way back to the prince's quarters.

When she entered, Li Wei was sitting by the window, sunlight sliding over his sharp profile.
He glanced up from the scroll he was reading.
"You're late."

Leena hesitated, then approached quietly, eyes scanning him like she could see through his skin.
"You… feel well today?"

His brow arched. "I'm alive. Why?"

She bit her lip, inching closer.
"Your pulse. I just want to… check."

He stared at her for a long moment, expression unreadable.
"You weren't this attentive before," he murmured, letting her fingers brush his wrist.
His heartbeat was steady, strong… but she didn't know that.
All she felt was fear.

She hovered near him the entire afternoon—refusing to let him pour his own tea, cutting his food, glaring at any servant who walked too fast near him.

Finally, he set down his cup and fixed her with that cold, sharp gaze.
"…Leena. What are you hiding?"

Her throat went dry.
Before she could answer, a knock echoed at the door—
and a trembling servant whispered:
"Your Highness… someone has been found dead in the lotus pond."