Chapter 7

The leaky roof was fixed, the torn windows were replaced, the weeds in the courtyard were cleared out, and a few pots of flowers were set up. Even the food from the imperial kitchen was way more lavish than before.

I was thrilled. "Finally, I can enjoy a decent life."

Winston smiled too. "You can finally sleep in your own room."

I gave him a frosty glare. "As if I'd ever want to sleep on your floor."

I grabbed my bedding and headed back to my side room. Winston just stood there, his lips curved in a smile, his eyes twinkling with amusement.

Thanks to his contribution with the medicine formula, the seventh prince, who had been forgotten by the king for years, was finally remembered. The king ordered him to join the Royal Academy to study alongside the other royal heirs.

On his first day of school, the third prince, Edmund Stuart, came to pick him up in person.

Edmund was seven years older than Winston, just twenty, with a sharp, almost predatory look in his eyes. When he glanced at me, there was a hint of scrutiny, as if he was sizing me up.

I handed Winston his books and whispered in his ear, "Watch out for him. He's not a good guy."

Winston let out a soft laugh, nodded, and followed Edmund out.

I watched their backs as they walked away, cold sweat beading on my palms.

Five years from now, on the day of my political marriage, Edmund would set up an ambush to kill Winston, and Rae ended up dying in Winston's place during that assassination.

That meant Rae's death was directly tied to Edmund.

But what about me? Now that I was in Rae's shoes, would I end up dying in that assassination too?

Feeling heavy-hearted, I went back to my room and sat down on the bed. I accidentally cracked the bedboard, which made me jump. When I pulled back the covers, I found a cloth bag hidden underneath, stuffed with a few coins.

This had to be Rae's stash.

Looks like someone bribed Rae to go after Winston, and after she did their dirty work, they paid her off with these coins.

If that was true, then someone in the palace must have figured out I was not the real Rae.

The original Rae's body was still lying at the bottom of that dry well. Every day it stayed there, the risk just kept growing.

Now that Winston had finally made a name for himself with the king and was officially recognized as a proper master, I might finally have a chance to leave the palace.

I grabbed the coins, took Winston's pass, and made up my mind to sneak out of the palace.

But just as I was about to reach the palace gate, I bumped into Winston, who was skipping out of school early.

Under the shadow of the palace walls, Winston looked a total mess. His clothes were soaked in ink, the books he was clutching were dripping wet, his hair was all over the place, and there were ink stains smeared across his face.

"Rae?" he said, his eyes full of embarrassment as he instinctively took a step back.

I hurried over to him. "Did Prince Edmund and his crew bully you?"

Turns out, ever since Winston started at the Royal Academy, the other guys there were all trying to get on Edmund's good side, so they teamed up to mess with him. They doused him with ink, and while he was off changing clothes, they chucked his books straight into the pond.

He had to wade into the freezing water to fish them out, which was why he was dripping wet from head to toe.

I grabbed his hand and marched him back to the Tranquil Hall, completely forgetting about my escape plan.

While I was preparing his bath, the waist token I'd swiped slipped from my sleeve, and Winston caught it just in time.

"What are you doing with my token?" he shot me a puzzled look.

I fumbled for words, unable to say anything.

Then he found the note I'd left on the pillow. Just a few words: [Farewell, Your Highness. May the mountains and rivers keep us until we meet again.]

Winston held the note, stunned for a moment, then looked up at me, his eyes rimmed with tears. "You were planning to sneak away?"

I dropped my eyes, not knowing how to answer.

He kept closing in, and I kept backing away until I found myself pressed into a corner, nowhere left to run.

He grabbed my wrist, and for a moment, I thought he was going to lose his temper or scold me. But instead, he just pressed the token back into my palm.

"If you want to leave, then go," Winston said, his voice low and a bit raspy.

He said he needed a bath, then gently ushered me out and shut the door with a sharp bang.

That evening, Winston stayed in the bath for a whole hour. The gentle sound of water was broken up by his quiet, on-and-off sobs, echoing faintly through the door and reaching me.

When the water finally stopped, the door opened, and Winston stepped out; our eyes met unexpectedly, both of us caught off guard.

He hurriedly raised his hand to cover his red, swollen eyes. "You... you didn't leave?"

He hesitated for a moment, then said softly, "Then let me see you off..."

I looked at Winston's reddened eyes, saw the hurt and longing in them, and after a long, silent moment, I opened my hand and handed his token back. "I'm staying."

All I meant was to give his token back.

But Winston got the wrong idea. He stepped forward and wrapped his arms around me, holding me tight.