Chapter 25
The palace felt emptier without him. The moment Ling and his army left for war, an eerie silence settled over Mora. Ping found herself wandering the halls aimlessly, her mind clouded with worry. She told herself she shouldn't care—wasn't this the same man she once feared? And yet, her heart betrayed her.
Mei noticed the change. "My lady, would you like to visit the garden today?" she asked, trying to lift Ping's spirits.
Ping shook her head. "No… I just need some air."
She found herself on the balcony overlooking the training grounds, where Ling and Xia had sparred just days ago. Her chest tightened at the memory. Xia. The woman who knew him longer than she did, the one who fought alongside him, who laughed with him so effortlessly.
"You're thinking about him again," a voice interrupted her thoughts.
Ping turned to see Jian, the commander of the guards, standing nearby. He had a knowing look in his eyes.
"I don't know what you're talking about," Ping said, folding her arms.
Jian chuckled. "You watch the gates more than the guards do. If I didn't know better, I'd say you're waiting for the king to return."
Ping's face heated. "That's ridiculous."
Jian simply smirked. "If you say so, my queen."
Before Ping could argue, a commotion arose near the entrance of the palace. A scout, dirt-covered and out of breath, rushed in.
"My lady! Urgent news from the battlefield!"
Ping's heart pounded. "What is it?"
The scout hesitated. "The battle has begun… but the enemy has reinforcements. The fight is fiercer than expected."
Ping felt dizzy. "And the king?"
The scout bowed his head. "He fights, but… the enemy was prepared for him. The battle may last longer than we thought."
Her legs felt weak. She had feared this, but hearing it aloud made it worse.
Jian clenched his jaw. "We should send reinforcements."
"No," Ping said suddenly, surprising even herself. She met Jian's gaze. "Ling is strong, but even the strongest can fall if they're unprepared. We must be ready here if things take a turn for the worse."
Jian studied her for a moment before nodding. "Very well. I'll strengthen the palace defenses."
As he left, Ping turned back to the horizon, her heart heavy.
"Come back to me, Ling."
She never thought she would pray for a monster's return. Yet here she was, longing for the man she once feared.