Ink Bleeds Red [MxM] || ONC 2025

"These scars for love, are they worth it?"

What's the evidence of someone's existence? Paintings, writings... kindness? For me, it was acknowledgment.

Acknowledgment of one's existence.

Walking on the path of the throne had always been covered in red, and then, written with ink, painted in black on coarse pages of history.

As I gazed at the winter plum blossoms, I wondered if, centuries from now, we would all be lost in those pages. But soon, I realized my foolishness. Only those who are mourned or scorned are remembered. And I am neither.

But I was fine with that. Because as long as your name is spoken, mine must exist somewhere, even if only on the edge of someone's lips?

"On that day, did you regret finding me beside you in bed?"

When the eldest prince of Wu was named crown prince, the court fell into chaos. Scorned by the emperor and ignored by the empress, he seized power-backed by the Duke of Canghe.

"If I knew you were a snake in disguise, I would have killed you that night."

Three years later, the Duke of Canghe raised his banners in rebellion.

I looked into his eyes and realized I might have lost everything.
Or perhaps, nothing had ever been mine to begin with.