Chapter 145: Fractures between Three

The walk back to the inn was quieter than any of them remembered it ever being. No one spoke. Even the usual rhythm of footsteps felt muted.

All that dwelled between them was the weight of the charm seller’s words, pressing into their every unspoken thought.

Ru Yi walked behind the others this time.

Not by intention—at least, not consciously—but the distance had formed all the same. She looked at Qingyue, only to pull her eyes away just as quickly.

By the time they reached the inn, the silence had hardened into something brittle. The moment they stepped inside, Yexue stopped.

"Ru Yi," she said, her voice too steady.

The woman in question looked up in panic. "Yes?"

Yexue didn’t meet her eyes. Instead, she gestured faintly towards the room Lieyin and Qingyue shared that was on the other end of the corridor.

"Stay in our room for a while," she said.

There was a pause—

"I’ll be back shortly."

Ru Yi’s gaze flickered briefly toward Qingyue, an uncertain feeling passing through her expression before she nodded. "Alright."

She didn’t argue.

That, more than anything, made Yexue’s chest tighten in fear that was already being abandoned.

Without another word, Ru Yi turned and walked down the corridor. The soft sound of the door sliding shut behind her echoed more than it should have.

Yexue turned to her sisters. This time she didn’t hold back. "Come with me."

Qingyue met her stormy gaze, already knowing there was no avoiding the conflict that was up ahead.

The door to Qingyue’s room slid shut with a quiet but final sound.

Yexue stood near the center of the room, her back partially turned. Her hands were clenched tightly at her sides like she was trying to stop herself from exploding.

Qingyue remained near the door, composed even though there was a faint tension in her posture.

It was Yexue who broke first.

"You told me not to fall in love." Her voice wasn’t loud but the accusation hit all the same, which only made it worse.

Qingyue’s face was panicked. "Yexue—"

"No," Yexue cut in, turning sharply now. Her eyes were bright with an emotion that hadn’t yet fallen but was dangerously close. "You don’t get to make excuses for yourself."

The words came faster now.

"You said we didn’t have the luxury for it. That we had a goal to be loyal to. That everything we do should be for the throne—for our future." Her voice cracked on the last words. "And then what did you do?"

Qingyue didn’t answer immediately. For the first time she seemed unsure.

"It wasn’t intentional," she finally answered. "How could I have known the ring was magical?"

"That ring belonged to me," Yexue cried out. A short humorless laugh slipped past her lips. "You want to tell me it was just a coincidence?"

"It’s the truth."

Yexue stared at her, searching her face as if trying to decide whether to believe her or not. Maybe—she would have, if not for everything else.

Because it wasn’t just about the ring anymore. It had never been.

"And the rest of it?" Yexue pressed, her voice shaking now despite the effort to keep it steady.

Qingyue’s brows knit slightly. "What are you—"

"You’re now bound to the woman I love!" Her voice rose enough to crack. "Bound, Qingyue. Do you even understand what it means?"

Qingyue’s expression tightened. "I do."

"Do you?" Yexue fired back. "Because from where I’m standing, it doesn’t look like you’ve thought about it at all."

The memory of Ru Yi’s hot breath on her face flashed through Qingyue’s face. For a split second, her exposure slipped.

Because she did remember despite not wanting to. The closeness. The way restraint had unraveled far too easily. The way she hadn’t stopped it.

Yexue saw it on her face, and whatever fragile control she had left shattered completely. "Oh good heavens, something happened between you two. Right?"

Qingyue’s silence was the answer to everything.

Yexue let out a shaky breath, her hand coming to her face. "You spent the night with her." It was more a confirmation than a question. "You two were together." It was a silent defeat as she thought back to the bite marks that had littered Ru Yi’s collarbone.

"First it was Lieyin," she continued, her voice completely breaking. "She forced her core energy into Ru Yi like she had any right to do that—"

Lieyin looked apologetic at the mention of her name. "That situation was entirely different—"

"And now you," Yexue continued, not letting her finish, "binding yourself to her like this. Like she’s something to be divided among us."

"That’s not what this is," Qingyue said sharply.

"Then what is it?"

The question hit hard...none of them had an answer that could quench the raging pain Yexue felt.

Yexue laughed again, but this time it wasn’t bitter— it was hollow.

"Do you know what it feels like?" she asked quietly, sniffing to keep the tears at bay. "To always have to share everything?"

Her gaze dropped, her expression twisting as years of buried frustration finally surfaced...raw and unfiltered.

"Since we were children, it’s always been like this. Whatever one of us has, the others follow." She wiped furiously at her cheek. "Whatever one of us wants...we all end up tangled in it."

She pointed her finger at Qingyue. "You wanted the throne, and naturally it became something we all had to work towards. Heck! I’d never step foot in that palace again if I had the choice!"

Qingyue flinched like Yexue had physically slapped her. "Yexue...you’ve never for once told me you felt this way."

"Well, now you know! I don’t want any of this...not being on the run, not always having to fight and—" she broke off.

"Why didn’t you tell me any of this before?"

"Because it has always been your word against ours. That was the way you ran everything." Yexue looked visibly exhausted. "I’m tired of never having something that’s just mine."

Qingyue finally understood the severity of the situation. "I would never force you to do something you don’t want."

Yexue looked at her, eyes bright with tears she didn’t try to hide anymore. "Times like this...I wish I was born alone."