Three days later – Imperial Physicians' Quarters
Zeitan's point of view
I stood at the edge of a mountain cliff, the wind whispering freedom in my ears. The world stretched before me—vast, peaceful, unburdened. For a fleeting moment, I felt it too: free. But then, the skies turned. Storm clouds rolled in, heavy with thunder. Rain poured down like the heavens were mourning. I turned back—and suddenly, I was pushed. The ground vanished beneath me.
And then, I woke.
Breathless, disoriented, I scanned the room. It was unfamiliar—walls I did not recognize, air that felt foreign. A distant figure caught my eye: a woman seated, her back to me, sipping tea with quiet grace.
"Mother?" I called, my voice barely above a whisper.
She stood without turning, uttered only, "It is good you woke up," and left—like a ghost retreating into silence. No warmth. No concern. She had never cared, not truly.
As I struggled to sit up, another figure approached—this one younger, draped in male attire, her presence gentle yet striking. Her hair was long and black, gleaming like raven feathers in the sun. Something about her felt… free. Untamed. Like the version of myself I had always yearned to be.
She took my hand with a warm, steady grip, her smile soft and sincere.
And I hated it.
Not her smile—but the warmth behind it. The kindness I saw in her eyes. She seemed like someone who had been loved. Someone who belonged to a world of affection, of laughter, of family. And I? I wanted to tear that illusion apart.
"Who are you?" I asked, my voice sharp, laced with thorns.
"My lady, I am your personal servant," she replied, her tone still gentle, unwavering.
"I don't need you. Leave me."
"My lady… I cannot. It is by imperial edict."
Imperial edict? The words caught me off guard. Why would the emperor order this?
Ah, right. The memories returned like a wave crashing into shore. I blinked, then asked, more curious than before, "Where is Chao Xing?"
"He has been sentenced to the battlefield. Fifteen years of service as punishment."
Fifteen years? My mind reeled. Wasn't it supposed to be the old man?
Confusion clouded my thoughts, followed by a strange, unexpected clarity. Perhaps… this wasn't a punishment for me. Perhaps, it was a beginning. No more rigid routines. No more punishments. Maybe now, just maybe… I could start living for myself.
Now, happiness surged through me like a rising tide, uncontainable and wild. I stepped toward the open air, eager to feel the world again—until a sudden, sharp pain pierced through my chest, halting me in place.
"My lady, you must rest," she said softly, rushing to my side. "Your wound will take a month, maybe two, to heal. But… the scar—it will remain."
She hesitated on the last word, as if unsure whether to say it at all. But she was right. My body was no longer what it once was. Rest, I thought. Just for a while.
I returned to the bed, my mind restless even as my limbs yearned for stillness. I had decisions to make.
If I gave up the palace, Mother would never accept me back. And once I recovered, the emperor would surely send me away. That much was certain.
Only those who leave an impression are allowed to remain. That's what Chao xing always told me.
To leave an impression—I must find what I'm good at. Who I am, in a place that knows nothing of me.
For now, I would remain small. Quiet. But watchful.
"What is your name?" I asked her, my gaze fixed on hers.
"My lady, I am Mia," she replied with a hint of pride. "I do not belong here. My homeland lies to the north—"
"I didn't ask for your history," I cut in, uninterested in the sentiment behind her words. "Bring me my sword."
She bowed slightly, and without question, obeyed.
-----