The Request
I watched them for a while. Their steps were irregular, their sword grips weak.
“Defend, protect, and withdraw… no!”
My voice echoed across the courtyard.
“You’re doing it wrong. Fix your stance and try again.”
The young soldier nodded quickly, pulling his shoulders back and straightening his posture.
I tilted my head slightly.
“I’ll show you once more.”
I slowly drew my sword from its scabbard. The polished steel caught the sunlight and dazzled the eye. I planted my foot firmly and took my stance.
“First, defend… then protect… and withdraw.”
I completed the movements as one fluid sequence. The sound of the sword slicing through the air left a brief echo in the courtyard.
The soldiers watched me carefully, then lined up to repeat the same movement.
Behind me, under the shaded pavilion, I noticed my father and the Emperor deep in conversation. Silk curtains swayed gently in the wind.
My father raised his hand, calling me over.
“Take a break,” I called out to the soldiers. “Rest.”
I sheathed my sword and walked toward them.
I knelt before the Emperor and lowered my head.
“Your Majesty.”
Then I turned to my father and greeted him with the same respect before settling beside them.
A servant quietly approached and placed a delicate porcelain cup in front of me. He poured steaming tea into it.
I took the cup in my hand and inhaled the faint jasmine scent rising from it.
My father spoke first.
“Your Majesty, are you satisfied with the new army preparations?”
The Emperor nodded slowly.
“Meilin, my daughter… you are doing very well.”
His words left a brief but warm sense of pride inside me.
“Thank you, Your Majesty.”
My father turned to me.
“We are planning a campaign soon. We may need an additional army. Can you prepare your soldiers?”
I took a small sip from my cup.
“Of course. My soldiers are ready. If you require stricter training, I can send them to a forward camp. They will adapt to combat conditions more quickly there.”
My father nodded in approval and looked at the Emperor.
“This will be an advantage for us.”
The Emperor set his cup down slowly and turned to the attendant beside him.
“It is decided. The troops will be moved to the southern camp. Preparations begin.”
The attendant bowed and stepped back.
I took one last sip and carefully placed my cup down.
“If I may… as their commander, I would also like to go to the camp and stay with the army.”
My father cleared his throat slightly, but the Emperor spoke before him.
“Meilin… I have a special request for you. For that reason, I do not want you leaving the palace for now.”
His words were short and final. He did not ask, nor elaborate.
A silence fell between us as the wind brushed through the silk curtains.
In moments like this, questions were not asked; answers were not expected.
The word had been said as much as it needed to be.
I lowered my head.
“As you command, Your Majesty.”
I knew it would not be appropriate for me to stay longer.
Quietly, I stood up, bowed first to the Emperor and then to my father.
I waited just long enough to allow them to return to their conversation.
Then I stepped back.
Without haste, without hesitation.
Only… as it should be.
I had spent the entire day uneasy.
The thought of handing my army over to another commander left a sharp emptiness inside me. And the Emperor’s so-called “special request”… not knowing what it was weighed on my mind like a stone.
I ended the day with one final training session.
I reviewed formations, sword grips, and command responses one by one.
Everything was perfect.
But the disorder inside me… was not.
When training ended, I saluted them one last time.
Then I left the courtyard and returned to the palace.
When I reached my chamber, I washed without delay. The steam filled the silk-draped room, but it did not calm my thoughts.
My attendants entered silently.
They dressed me in a deep jade-colored hanfu made of fine silk, embroidered with gold thread. My belt was fastened, and my hair was styled into a high bun, secured with elegant hairpins.
Every movement they made was precise, almost invisible.
When I was ready, I glanced at the mirror briefly.
Outwardly, I was flawless.
When I arrived at the great hall for dinner, the palace members were already taking their places.
The hall was decorated with red pillars and golden carvings. Lanterns hanging from the ceiling cast a warm light over the polished stone floor.
Low tables were arranged in orderly rows; everyone sat according to rank.
I took my place and knelt.
Servants filled delicate porcelain bowls with warm rice soup. Steam rose slowly, carrying the scent of ginger and jasmine.
No one touched their food.
Everyone waited for the Emperor’s words.
After a while, the murmurs in the hall completely ceased.
The doors opened with a heavy sound.
The Emperor entered.
Everyone stood at once, then knelt in greeting.
I lowered my head as well.
When he took his seat, he raised his hand slightly.
“Be seated.”
Everyone returned to their places at the same time.
After a brief silence, he spoke:
“Tonight, we gather to honor our unity and loyalty before the upcoming campaign.”
His voice was calm, but carried undeniable weight.
“Everything in your hands is the strength of the empire. And that strength gains meaning only in the right hands.”
His words echoed through the hall.
He raised his hand once more.
It was the signal to begin the meal.
Everyone reached for their bowls at the same time.
I took a small sip of soup.
The warmth passed through my throat, but my mind was elsewhere.
Then—
I felt the Emperor’s gaze on me.
I lifted my head slightly.
Our eyes met.
His look was brief… but clear enough.
Tonight.
That “request” would be discussed.
After a while, a maid approached and whispered beside me:
“Your Majesty, after the meal, he will express his private request to you.”
My hand paused mid-air over my cup.
Then I continued as if nothing had happened.
“Understood,” I whispered.
But the unease inside me had already taken shape.
This was not just a request.
It was a duty.
And I still did not know what it was.
Shortly after desserts were served, the Emperor stood.
He gently helped Princess Yue to her feet.
Everyone immediately rose.
With a subtle gesture from the Emperor, we sat again.
The hall fell silent.
“Today,” he said, his voice unusually pleased, “I will share very good news with you.”
Not a single sound could be heard.
“I am marrying off my daughter.”
The hall instantly came alive.
Congratulations rose, ladies turned to each other smiling, soft applause spread.
Admiring eyes filled with envy turned toward Princess Yue.
A celebration… in full bloom.
The Emperor placed his hands on his daughter’s shoulders.
“My only daughter,” he said, “will travel to the Nors Kingdom in one week.”
The sounds slowly faded.
“There… she will marry King Kael.”
The hall went silent.
As if all sound had been cut away.
Breaths were held.
All eyes turned to Yue.
The admiring gazes from before… turned into pity.
But Yue… remained as she always was.
Straight-backed. Calm. Elegant.
As if nothing had changed.
Whispers returned.
But this time, it was not celebration—it was fear.
King Kael’s name had been spoken of for years.
His cruelty… his rage… his stubbornness…
Some said he was not human.
That his eyes turned red with fury.
That he did not sleep at night.
That he made deals with spirits.
That he was immortal.
We knew it was nonsense.
But rumors, once spread… grew into fear.
And now…
The empire’s only princess.
The one we cherished most.
Was being sent to those lands.
My thoughts broke when my name was called.
“Meilin.”
I immediately stood.
My steps were measured.
I approached the Emperor and bowed.
“Your Majesty.”
Then I turned to Princess Yue and greeted her with equal respect.
The Emperor took Yue’s hands and placed them into mine.
The gesture… was too close.
Too final.
“You both grew up together in this palace,” he said.
“You ate and drank together.”
His voice softened.
“But from today onward,” he continued, “Yue will become a bride in a completely different kingdom.”
His fingers tightened over our hands.
“Her responsibility… her protection… will be yours.”
My heart stopped for a moment.
“This duty is yours.”
The words struck like a blade.
My breath tightened.
Everything had happened at once.
A servant knelt before me and handed me my sword.
Its polished steel… its familiar weight…
My years.
My battles.
My effort.
All of it was in that sword.
I took it.
With this sword, I was supposed to go on campaigns.
Train armies.
Win victories.
I had fought for this.
Endured humiliation… been underestimated… risen again and again.
And now—
I placed my hand on the blade’s edge.
A sharp pain.
Blood traced a thin line across my pale skin.
But I did not pull away.
I knelt.
Before Princess Yue, I lowered my head.
“With the word of my blood…” I said, my voice steady, “with my life… I swear I will protect you until my last breath.”
Drops of blood fell to the floor.
My vow was complete.
Slowly, I stood.
The Emperor’s voice filled the hall:
“Meilin is my daughter’s chief lady-in-waiting.”
He did not pause.
“She will travel with the Princess to the Nors Kingdom in one week.”
Applause rose again.
But I…
heard nothing.
