Liqin looped her arm around Biyu’s, snapping her out of her reverie of thoughts, and leaned closer. From afar, they likely looked like giggling, gossiping sisters. In truth, Liqin was glowering at her like she had done something horrible.
“Why is it thatyouget to marry a lord whileImarry a lowly soldier?” her sister hissed.
Biyu blinked at her. Liqin made it sound like Biyuwantedto marry Jian.
Truthfully, Zihao appeared kinder and softer than Jian. Biyu would rather him than her nasty fiancé. But … could he even be called her fiancé if she was technically already married to Nikator?
“Did you say something to His Majesty?” Liqin’s fingernails dug into Biyu’s forearm. “Did you speak badly of me? Or perhaps you seduced him so he would give you a better husband? Are you trying to rise up in the ranks? Or live a better life than me?”
Biyu’s eyes widened and she almost stumbled over her leaden feet. “What? I wouldn’t seduce His Majesty! And I’m not playing any game?—”
“Then why would he give you alord?” Liqin clenched her jaw tight enough that her muscles were taut on her face.
“A lord of a small noble family?—”
“He is still a lord. A noble!” she whisper-shouted.
Biyu glanced over at the two men once more. Jian waved his hands and spoke loudly, self-importantly, while Zihao, dressed modestly in simple linen robes, quietly nodded along to whatever the rude man was saying to him. She caught a few words about battles and how they should be won—nothing that interested her—and how Jian had secured his victory. From behind them, Nikator strode with that half-bored, half-murderous look on his face. Like he could gut Jian alive if he was in the mood for it, and he wasn’t even sure if that mood was now or later.
His long hair was pulled back and secured at the back of his head with a black ribbon. He was dressed in dark leathers today, just like a few days ago, and they hugged his muscular figure in a way that made it hard to look away. Biyu barely heard whatever scathing remark Liqin was saying as she remembered the way she had pressed her hands against his sculpted chest, back, and arms. How it had felt when he?—
His sapphire eyes flicked to hers, nearly burning through her.
Her heart skipped a beat.
Their shared kiss meant absolutely nothing!
She tore her attention away, her face heating up. Did he notice her admiring his physique? His beauty? She sure hoped not.
“Biyu.” Liqin’s hold on her tightened. She was practically fuming.
She sighed. “What is it, Liqin?”
“Are youlisteningto me right now? How did you manage?—”
“I don’t know, and I don’t really care!” she whispered back with the same ire Liqin had used. She didn’t know where this newfound strength had come from, but she straightened her spine and gave her a scowl that she hoped drove home her point. “I don’t want to marry Jian and if it was up to me, you could have him! You know better than me that I’m not going to do anything strange or manipulate my way to a better situation. I don’t want him. I mean, just look at him. He's horrible!”
Her sister’s pretty face scrunched up in pure confusion; it was the first time Biyu had seen her shut up so fast. She likely hadn’t expected Biyu to ever talk back to her, or to ever stand up for herself. And why would she? Biyu had gone her whole life as a stuttering, uncertain girl who wasn’t allowed to say anything rude to Liqin, or any of her siblings who were favored by their father.
But what did it matter anymore? They were both in the same situation, now.
“You—you can’t—” Liqin sputtered.
“I can’twhat?” Biyu eased her sister’s claw-like hold on her arm. “We’re not in Father’s court anymore, where you can say or do whatever you want to me.”
“B-But?—”
“Does it bother you that you have to marry asoldier? Or does it bother you thatIhave to marry alord?” Biyu’s eyes narrowed and she hated the way Liqin’s black eyes grew like saucers; like she couldn’t believe what she was saying. She hadbeen unnecessarily cruel to her their whole lives. Arrogant to think that she was better. Foolish to think that she could hold onto that superiority, that small bit of power, when it didn’t exist anymore. Biyu had been fearful of her all this time, even when there wasn’t any hierarchy anymore. “Most sisters would be happy for the other if they found out their sister is getting a chance at a better life! But you—you’ve always despised me and treated me cruelly.”
“Is this what this is about?” A ray of sunlight filtered through the spotted canopy of cherry blossom trees they were passing by, and showcased Liqin’s reddening face. Her lower lip, painted with a deep red rouge, trembled. “You want to gloat that you’re going to have a happier life than me?”
“No, Liqin. I’m not gloating. But I have to ask this—are you more upset that I have a chance at happiness? Or whatyouconsider happiness?” Biyu’s hands trembled and she looked past Liqin to the swaying tree branches laden with tiny pink flowers. She didn’t want to see her sister’s expression—to see her realize that Biyu’s words were true, because she was certain they were. “You’ve always treated me like I don’t matter. Like you’re better than me, just because Father favored your mother. Do you hate me that much?”
Silence.
Biyu finally glanced over at her, and for the first time ever, a flicker of doubt passed over her sister’s face. That and something deeper. Something akin to … guilt?
Biyu must have imagined it.
