Alliance

"I don't see why you dragged me out of bed," she said and scrubbed at her eyes. She was covered in her robe and her fluffy slippers. The hallway was dark and only the shine of the moon was guiding them.

"I'll give you half an hour," said Prince Qui and stopped in front of a door.

Tianshi Xue had been walking with her eyes closed up to that point. All the hallways were wide and she was certain that she was not going to bump on anything. "What's in there?" she asked him. "A three-headed dragon or something?"

Prince Qui sighed. "You should really start paying attention to what I say to you." He opened the door but didn't come in. "What are you waiting for?"

Tianshi Xue only glared at him before entering the room. It shut close immediately.

There were no lights in the room but she saw the figure on the couch. She almost screamed but arms wrapped around her immediately.

"P-prince Xiaodan," she whispered, still shaken to her core. "What are you doing here?"

"I didn't think he would really bring you," he said, full of concern. His hand on her hair. Prince Xiaodan's heat was a comfort in the cold. She immediately missed it when he held her at arm's length. "Were you crying?! Did he make you cry?!"

Tianshi Xue instinctively wiped her dry cheeks. She cried herself to sleep earlier. But she was not just going to admit that. "Oh… it's just… I haven't sleep yet that's why my eyes look like that."

"You have to tell me if he hurts you!"

Prince Xiaodan's eyes were filled with worry and behind that, anger. She did not know why all she wanted was to remove his misdirected anger on Prince Qui away.

"No, no, no," she said with a light chuckle. "Prince Qui never hurt me. He doesn't even touch me, not unless he has to."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, I'm fine." She sat down and the prince followed her. "What are you doing here anyway?"

"Qui sent me a message earlier. He said he'll give us a chance to talk."

Tianshi Xue finally recalled Prince Qui's message. She didn't think that he really meant it. "Oh, so that's what it was about." She turned to the prince, the events ever since their return flicking in her mind. "I thought you hated me. It was clearly warranted bu—"

"I didn't hate you," Prince Xiaodan said and clutched her hands. "I'll never hate you. I was really hurt by father's decisions but… I'll never hate you," he repeated. "I know that you were only acting in the best interest of the empire."

Seeing that this kind prince was in pain, made Tianshi Xue's hatred for the emperor triple. "There was nothing that we could do at that moment." She squeezed on Prince Xiaodan's hands. "We are going to get divorced."

"What?"

"Your brother and I, we are asking the emperor to divorce us."

Prince Xiaodan only blinked at her for a second. "But, he will never agree to that."

Was it that obvious that the emperor would say no? "We're trying to come up with something. I'm not going to give up until he divorces us."

"And Qui is on board with this?" he asked, uncertain.

"Your brother is really not interested in me. Before we got married he promised me that."

Prince Xiaodan stood up and paced in front of her. He was thinking. Even in the dark, he was still the most handsome person that she had ever laid eyes on.

While following his movements, she finally realized where they were. They were in the room where their wedding preparations were taking place just two weeks ago. There was her wedding gown at the corner of the room.

She walked towards it, still enamored by the delicacy and care that it took to place each piece of bead in it. Her hands touched the bodice.

Prince Xiaodan hugged her from the back and it was as if her stomach dropped to the floor. She thought it was more on the surprise, but then she realized that nobody, not even in her old life, had she been hugged like this. "We were supposed to get married tomorrow."

If only that stupid uncle of the princess came just a few days later, she wouldn't have been going through all of these problems. But here they were… "You'll marry me, right? After the divorce?"

"Of course. I'll marry you the same day if you want."

"And if the emperor allows it," she finished with a defeated sigh. Prince Xiaodan turned her towards him and she was questioning herself again just how close had the princess been with him. Were they in a relationship? Were they in that level?

"We'll find a way to end this," he said, staring intently in her eyes. "Then we'll be together."

Tianshi Xue pursed her lips. She barely knew this prince but so far he had been the kindest and acted in the best interest of the princess. She would really rather be with him than Prince Qui.

The prince pressed his lips on her forehead. "We can't stay long. Let's go back."

====

"Look at that asshole go," commented Prince Qui from beside the doorway. "Doesn't even know how to say thank you."

"Or maybe," Tianshi Xue said as they begin to walk back to their chambers, "this is the first time that you've been kind to him and he doesn't know how to react."

"A simple thank you would've sufficed."

"By the way, what has gotten into you?" she asked. "Why did you help us meet?"

"Well," he answered, walking with his hands behind his back, "I think it would be good if he was on our side. He's really smart. I am the emperor's favorite and he said no. So, maybe he can help us."

When she was back on the bed, she knew that she would not be able to fall asleep if she didn't say it. "Prince Qui?"

"Yeah?" he answered from the couch.

"Thank you."