Jade paced nervously outside Princess Genie's chamber, his thoughts racing. The storm had passed, but a lingering unease remained in the air, mirroring the tumultuous emotions swirling inside him. He had barely been able to keep his composure as he had carried her down the mountain, his heart hammering with each step, each breath that came too slow, too weak.
Inside, Lady Han and the court ladies were tending to the Princess. Their quiet murmurs and the soft rustle of fabric did little to calm Jade's anxious mind. He leaned against the wall, glancing up toward the door every few moments, his fingers clenched tightly in fists.
Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, Lady Han stepped out of the chamber and opened the door. Her face was calm, but her eyes were filled with sympathy. Jade stood immediately, his heart quickening, rushing to meet her.
"How is Her Highness?" he asked urgently, his voice betraying the worry that had been gnawing at him since they had arrived back at the palace.
Lady Han nodded, her voice reassuring but soft. "The injury is not on her head, but on her forehead. It's a relief it's not worse. We've treated the wound, so now we just need to wait for her to wake up."
Jade's breath caught in his chest, and for the first time since they'd descended the mountain, he felt his body relax just a little. He exhaled deeply, a sound that was a mix of relief and lingering anxiety.
"Thank you..." Jade whispered, his gaze still fixed on the door, unwilling to look away from it.
Lady Han smiled faintly. "Captain Jade, you brought Her Highness back quickly, so we were able to treat her right away."
Jade nodded. "I'm glad."
Lady Han gave a gentle bow before stepping back into the room, leaving Jade standing at the threshold. His eyes lingered on the Princess through the doorway. She lay on the bed, a bandage wrapped around her forehead, her expression peaceful, yet her vulnerability struck Jade deeply. Her usually strong presence seemed so distant, so fragile in that moment. He longed to go to her, but he knew he couldn't enter her private quarters without permission.
"Your Highness..." he muttered under his breath, his voice thick with guilt. "I'm so sorry for making you suffer again..."
As if on cue, a weak voice floated through the room, catching Jade off guard. His heart skipped a beat as he heard Princess Genie speak.
"Is... Jade okay...?"
He froze. The sound of her voice, so faint, yet undeniably hers, flooded him with an overwhelming mixture of relief and sorrow. He instinctively looked up, his eyes wide, searching for her within the chamber.
Lady Han replied gently, "Captain Jade is fine."
But Genie's voice, though still weak, held a clear note of concern. "Where is he?"
"He's waiting outside the chamber," Lady Han answered.
There was a pause, and then Jade heard her again, her voice now quiet but firm.
"Please... tell him to come in..."
Jade's heart clenched. He needed no further invitation. The moment Lady Han opened the door again, he entered the room like a man who had been holding his breath for too long. His steps were quick, almost desperate, as though he couldn't bear the thought of being away from her any longer.
When he stepped into the room, his gaze immediately sought hers, finding her eyes still closed, her face slightly flushed with fever from the dampness of the rain and the strain of the fall. His heart broke at the sight of her, but it was also full of gratitude that she was still here, that she had survived.
He moved closer to her bed, his voice low but filled with emotion. "Your Highness... I'm here."
She stirred slightly, her eyelids fluttering as she slowly opened her eyes. Their gazes met, and for a long moment, nothing else existed but the two of them in the stillness of the room.
Jade felt the weight of everything they had gone through, every moment of fear and doubt, settling into the space between them.
"Jade..."
Genie's voice was weak, but her smile, faint and fragile, warmed the room. Her forehead was still bandaged, but her eyes were clear, and her expression, though tired, carried the grace that always characterized her.
Jade's heart tightened as he approached her, his eyes full of concern.
"Your Highness, are you okay?"
Genie's gaze softened as she met his eyes, her concern palpable.
"I'm fine. How about you?" she asked, her voice hoarse, a slight tremor betraying her weakened state.
Jade's heart ached at the sight of her injury, his eyes lingering on the bandage that covered her forehead.
"I'm fine. I'm sorry for letting you get hurt..." His words were filled with guilt, the weight of the events pressing down on him.
Genie gave him a small, reassuring smile, her eyes filled with quiet understanding.
"It's not your fault. Once again, you saved me."
Genie's smile made his lips curl into a small, bittersweet smile, though it quickly faded as the reality of the situation settled in. He wanted to protect her, to keep her safe from harm, but he couldn't be everywhere at once.
At that moment, the door to the room opened hurriedly, and a servant stepped inside, her face pale with worry.
"Your Highness, are you all right?" The servant's voice trembled slightly as she took in the sight of the Princess.
"I'm fine..." Genie's voice was still faint, but her eyes sparkled with a determination that Jade knew all too well. She paused, her brow furrowing slightly. "Did Father send you?"
The servant nodded quickly. "Yes, Your Highness. His Majesty is unable to come himself because of his illness, so he sent me. He wishes to cancel the first round of the competition."
Jade nodded, acknowledging the situation with a quiet understanding.
"Understood," he said, his voice steady but filled with a sense of foreboding. He had been prepared for this, but that didn't make it any easier to accept.
But then, Genie's voice, though weak, carried a sense of unshakable resolve. "That's not possible... We must go to the competition site tomorrow morning..."
Her words were soft but firm, and Jade could see the fire burning behind her eyes, the same fire that had always driven her to push forward despite every obstacle.
Jade's heart pounded as he met her gaze.
"You can't, Your Highness. It's impossible with your condition," he insisted, his voice rising with urgency. He could see how determined she was, but her injury was still fresh, and the storm from the day before had left her fragile. The last thing he wanted was for her to overexert herself.
Lady's attendant Park, who had been quietly standing at the edge of the room, stepped forward, her voice full of concern. "Captain Jade is right. You need to rest and recover, Your Highness. This can wait."
But Genie wasn't the type to give up easily. Her resolve only grew stronger. "I must prepare..." She started to sit up from the bed, her movements slow and pained, but her eyes never wavered. "We need to go to the training grounds where the army is gathering..."
Jade's heart clenched at the sight of her struggling to sit up, her face contorting with effort. He reached out quickly, his hand steady as he gently grasped her arm.
"Your Highness..." His voice was low but insistent, the weight of his concern palpable in every syllable.
Genie turned her gaze toward him, her eyes steady and fierce, a fire burning within them. For a moment, Jade saw the Princess he had always known—the one who never wavered, who faced adversity head-on with unwavering strength. Her eyes locked with his, and without a word, he felt the weight of her resolve, her silent understanding of the situation, of everything that had led them to this point.
"I cannot miss this competition," she said, her voice steady and unyielding, despite the strain in her words.
The declaration hung in the air between them like a decree carved in stone. It was clear—nothing would sway her. Not even the concern in his eyes, not even the pleading in his heart. Her mind was made up, and no matter how much he wanted to protect her, to shield her from further harm, there was no changing her path now.
Jade stood frozen, his hand still on her arm, feeling the strength in her resolve pulse through his fingertips. He wanted to argue, to push her to rest, to remind her of the risks, but he knew that such efforts would be in vain. Genie would never turn back from this.
Her determination was a force of nature, something that could not be reasoned with, only respected. As much as it terrified him, Jade couldn't deny that he admired her for it. The Princess before him wasn't just a leader in name—she was the embodiment of unwavering conviction, a woman who would fight until the very end, no matter the cost.
A mix of admiration and helplessness flooded through him. He understood this part of her. He always had. From the moment they'd met, he knew that there would be times when he could only watch, unable to protect her from the choices she would make. This was one of those times.
Jade took a deep breath, his grip on her arm loosening as he stepped back slightly. "I know," he said quietly, his voice low but filled with a quiet acceptance. "I know you can't miss it."
Her gaze softened for a moment, and though there was still a hard edge to her determination, he saw a flicker of gratitude in her eyes. She appreciated his concern, but she had made her decision.
"I'll be ready, Jade," she said, the fire in her voice unyielding. "We will win this."