⌈ ❅ ⌉ the palace grounds.

@❛ ? ⋮ cai ro。 The knocks on her door had come just moments before the text did, although Emerald didn’t need to read the notification to determine who wanted to command her attention. Who else would be granted access to her wing in the palace and be pompous enough to knock on the doors to her bedchambers without prior notice other than the Autumn Prince himself?

Emerald waits until the sound of footsteps fades into the night before she walks over and opens her door to check what exactly he’s left out for her. She’s greeted by the sight of a beautifully wrapped gift box lying in front of her feet, and while a romantic gesture such as this one would charm the skirts off of other ladies, it’s simply met with a purse of her lips as she picks it up before closing the door shut once more.

It’s a token of apology, she’s sure, but she thought Cai would know better than to bribe his way back into her good favors — if he had a spot there in the first place. The princess makes her way to the lounge set in the corner of her room and sits down, placing the gift on the table in front of her. While she is curious about what the present holds, she’s too stubborn to open it as if the action would give her fiancé some semblance of satisfaction.

— emerald’s chambers.


the night was windy, not a surprise for the winter court but with fire torches littered in every nook and cranny, warmth had long settled into the hearth. the entire palace twinkled with a glow that was specific to the court, the decorations for the upcoming ball halfway done.

there were flowers of all sorts, courtesy of the spring court but amidst the arrangements, the white peonies stood their ground, proud and facing the sky to show off their enigmatic yet poetic beauty. In a way, they were just like the Crowned Princess— their stems were rough to break but deep down, they were fragile to handle. Emerald Khione was not fragile but Cai had always known to be gentle with her.

Which is why, on an auspicious night as such, when the moon was high in the sky as a silver saucer that shone rays of moonlight all over the kingdom, a sound resonated against Emerald’s door. The knock came thrice and after a heartbeat, it came another three times before the night fell silent again. Outside sat a box, one wrapped in velvet and topped with a silk bow the color of the night sky.