A Royal Arrangement: The General's Daughter (Short Novel)

9: One smile is alluring

One smile is alluring

Yuren, who usually found sleep easily, had been awake for nearly half the night, disturbed by the presence in her chamber. In truth, it was hardly better to sleep in her own quarters than in the prince's.

When morning came, Yuren awoke late and found the floor empty where the prince had lain. She also missed her customary morning walk because of it. Rising later than usual, she was only then approached by the maids.

"Shall we proceed with your embroidery practice today, Madam?" the governess inquired as Yuren took her breakfast. Knowing what had transpired the night before, the old servant likely suspected that her mistress was weary.

Yuren shook her head, though she still wished to practice. Her hands, though not entirely suited for such delicate work, could yet be refined through effort.

That morning was spent in the tedium of embroidery, her fingers pricked by needles again and again, but with patience, she finally achieved some measure of success, aided by the guidance of her maids.

Though Yuren was skilled in the four classical arts-calligraphy, chess, music, and painting-her true mastery lay only in painting. From childhood, she had sought to excel in many endeavors, only to tire of them after a time.

Archery and swordplay were her true passions, practiced since her youth, long before her marriage into the royal family. But it had been three months since she had touched a bow or sword. Now, she needed another pursuit to fill the void.

Embroidery, a refined art form and a favored pastime among the ladies of the palace, seemed the proper avenue for Yuren. She reasoned that mastering its intricacies would soften her hands, accustomed as they were to the handling of arrows and blades.

When noon approached, Yuren sent a letter to the prince, expressing her thanks and assuring him that they need not share a chamber again. Along with the letter, she sent a basket of lychees, unable to shake the guilt of making a prince sleep upon the floor. Next time, she vowed, she would arrange proper bedding.

Yet, she strove to put the events of the previous night out of her mind, though her thoughts strayed there often enough to make her wish she could strike her head against the wall. His gaze, the way he had looked at her, kept flashing in her mind.

"Yu, fetch me the new robes from the tailor," Yuren commanded, referring to the garments the prince had ordered made for her. Her mother had sent over a collection of clothes from her ancestral home, none of which included the more practical, masculine attire Yuren preferred. Thus, she had persuaded her husband to hire a tailor.

She smiled as she examined the dark red and deep blue robes. For her afternoon walk in the forest, she chose the blue robe and sturdy boots, taking with her some of her maids and one of the bows from the prince's stock.

"Who will accompany me to the forest?" Yuren asked, as one of the maids styled her hair into a high ponytail. The maids exchanged uncertain glances but said nothing.

In the end, two guards from her small estate joined her, watching as she wandered through the woods, examining plants and shooting arrows at nothing in particular. By dusk, they returned to the estate, having caught two birds of prey.

---

As night fell and Yuren had finished her evening meal, she retired to her chambers. The maids left her with a stack of books, and as she flipped through their pages, she frowned.

"What?" she mumbled, glancing at the titles. Most of the books were about the marital duties of husbands and wives or matters of childbirth. Tossing the book aside as if it were a plague, Yuren sighed and lay down beneath her quilt.

Moments later, a maid announced the prince's arrival.

Yuren immediately sat up, her eyes wide, as the door to her chamber opened, revealing the prince, dressed in his home attire, hands behind his back, his gaze fixed upon her.

Her brow furrowed. "What are you doing here?" she asked, trying to maintain her composure under his intent stare.

"To sleep," he replied, as though it were the most obvious thing in the world.

"I sent you a message earlier. The rumors have died down. There is no need for us to sleep in the same room," Yuren said, noticing the dark circles beneath his eyes and the weariness in his expression.

"Perhaps I forgot to read it," he replied. He must have been so burdened with duties that he had overlooked it. Guilt pricked at Yuren-two nights now, a prince, accustomed to the comforts of his own bed, had slept upon the floor.

He had surely been deprived of proper rest.

"I am too weary to return to my chambers. May I not sleep here?" he asked directly, his exhaustion evident.

Yuren was relieved that he spoke plainly. "Of course." She tossed him a pillow and blanket before turning away, hoping not to trouble him further. But after a moment, she could not resist asking.

"Your Highness?" she called softly. No response. Peeking over, she saw him lying down with his eyes closed.

"Are you not needed at the border?" she ventured.

"Hn," he grunted.

"Would it not be easier to remain at the border rather than travel back and forth?"

"You need me here," came his reply, so simple yet startling.

"I do not!" she protested immediately.

"Hn."

A silence fell between them, but Yuren, restless, could not leave well enough alone.

"Your Highness? Is the floor not too hard? Are you uncomfortable?" she asked, staring at the ceiling.

"I am okay sleeping on the floor" he answered, his voice deep with tiredness.

"My bed is large enough. You may sleep here," Yuren offered, guilt gnawing at her.

"I would not wish you to sleep on the floor," the prince said.

"I will not," Yuren assured him.

The silence stretched on once more, broken only by the sounds of the night outside. At last, the prince rose from the floor. Yuren, still staring at the ceiling, felt his presence close as he loomed over her.

She made room for him, turning her back to him. She heard the rustle of the blanket as he settled beside her, and just when she thought sleep might finally come, she felt a strong arm wrap around her waist, pulling her close until her back met his chest.

Yuren's eyes flew open. She squirmed free from his grasp and hissed, "What are you doing? Do you wish to sleep on the floor again?"

The prince, eyes closed, lay motionless, though there was a faint smile upon his lips. Her heart raced at the sight of it.