Chapter 168: Jealousy

Alarm bells went off in Ru Yi’s head. She did not speak immediately, but others could see the wheels turning in her head.

Kael’s words lingered in the air like something unseen but heavy, pressing down on her thoughts. Twisting them into shapes she didn’t like.

The role of his character.

Not duty. Not loyalty. Not fate.

A role...like this was a book or some computer game. She stared at him, hating the conclusion that her brain was coming up with.

"What do you mean by that?" Lieyin asked sharply.

Kael blinked, already wishing he could take what he said back. That was revealing too much to people he wasn’t sure he could trust.

"You said it’s your role to help us reclaim the throne," Qingyue piped in before he could find an answer. "What kind of explanation is that?"

Kael opened his mouth, then closed it again. For once, he didn’t have an answer.

Ru Yi stepped in before the others could press further. She’d have to question him privately. "That’s enough," she said lightly. "Let’s get ready for the night so Qingyue can get some rest."

Lieyin looked at her, clearly unsatisfied. But she didn’t argue. "I’ll go set up the tent. Yexue, you’ll stay with Qingyue."

Yexue huffed under her breath, but let it go. She didn’t like the way Ru Yi was looking at the boy with something that bordered on interest.

"We’ll stay here for the night," Ru Yi continued. "It’s too risky to continue traveling in Qingyue’s condition."

Han Shuying nodded once. "I’ll check on the horses." She turned without waiting for a response, already moving to the edge of the clearing.

Lieyin followed.

Ru Yi finally looked at Qingyue. "I’ll leave you two to it." Now that the deep urgency and worry she felt was gone knowing that Qingyue was fine, the guilt finally creeped in.

The sisters were back together, thankfully. Now all she needed was to give them space to talk out their differences.

"Wait—" Qingyue blurted out once Ru Yi turned to leave. "How did you know I was hurt?" she asked, looking at her with hopeful eyes.

"I guess it has something to do with the ring," Ru Yi answered in a small voice, avoiding Yexue’s eyes. "I just felt it...it was similar to how Lieyin feels my emotions. That’s the only way I can explain it."

Qingyue nodded. "Thank you."

Ru Yi smiled but it didn’t reach her eyes. "You don’t have to thank me. I’ll go help the others."

Qingyue and Yexue watched her leave.

"There’s something I want to tell you," Qingyue muttered, feeling Yexue’s hand immediately go stiff around her shoulders. "I’m sure you have a lot to say too. Let’s find somewhere and sit."

Yexue found a spot away from the others and helped Qingyue sit. "How is your injury?"

Qingyue’s fingers spread across the already healed flesh. "It’s fine."

Yexue’s eyes darted around them. "What do you want to talk about?"

"About Ru Yi...I’m sorry." Qingyue sucked in a deep breath. "It wasn’t my intention to take the ring or to steal her from you. I know how much you care about her, maybe even love her. But I’ll fix this mistake. Kael knows someone that can help take the ring off, some ritual he’s seen someone do before."

"Qingyue—"

"I also want to apologize for making you choose between her and the throne. I should’ve never asked that of you."

"Qingyue—"

"And for neglecting the things that you actually want—"

Yexue pulled Qingyue into her, wrapping her arms tightly around her. "You don’t have to apologize," she muttered, her voice a little muffled by Qingyue’s hair.

Tears streamed down their faces.

"If anyone should apologize, it’s me." Yexue sniffed. "I shouldn’t have called you selfish or any of those mean things. I acted like an ungrateful brat and hurt your feelings. And for that...I’m deeply sorry."

Qingyue put her arms around Yexue. How did she even think she could live without her sisters? "Lets confide in each other a little more. Whether it’s going back to the capital, or the woman you love..."

Yexue cried harder. What if they hadn’t gotten to her on time? What if they’d lost Qingyue forever?

"I’m sorry for leaving," Qingyue said through tears.

"Don’t ever do that again."

Qingyue nodded, sighing in relief. "I’m so glad you came after me. I don’t know what I was thinking."

Yexue’s eyes were a bit swollen when she pulled away. "About the ring, you don’t have to worry about that."

"What do you mean?" Qingyue asked, her eyes involuntarily finding Ru Yi where she was standing close to the horses.

"When Lieyin put her core energy in Ru Yi, I was jealous. That she was more connected to her than I was. I mean...I was the one that went through the trouble of breaking into the palace to get her back."

Yexue looked away, suddenly feeling embarrassed. "With time I let it go, I was the one Ru Yi loved anyway. I had her feelings to myself, I could live with that. But when I saw the ring around your finger and realized why you’d both gone missing the night before—"

"Yexue, you don’t have to do this."

"That same feeling of jealousy...it tore me apart. You were bound to her for life, what other connection was deeper than that?"

Qingyue remained silent, letting her work through her feelings at her pace.

"I admit, I was angry with you." Yexue looked at her briefly. "You and Lieyin told me several times not to fall in love. So it felt like some sort of betrayal, that you went back on your word. And I hated the idea of sharing her affection with the two of you even more."

"Yexue, I’m not in love with Ru Yi. It’s just the ring." Qingyue grabbed her hand. "It was wrong to dismiss your feelings for her before. Be with her if you want, I won’t stop the both of you."

Yexue shook her head. "You don’t understand, Qingyue. I went back to gather more information about the ring. It can only bind two people who are already in love together."