Capítulo 6: Hearts in Shadows
"Miss Li, please try to understand. These alliances are vital for the family!" Her grandfather's voice carried a tone that tried to be gentle but felt heavy with duty.
Li Xian'er kept her gaze on the floor, biting her lip. (He really thinks that piling up these marriage proposals is going to secure our family's power. But where does that leave me? Trapped between duty and… whatever it is that I actually want.)
Another proposal had arrived, a young suitor from the Tan family. He was apparently one of the most skilled young warriors in their clan, a man driven by ambition and discipline.
As she sat in the hall, her gaze drifting toward the windows, she wondered if she would have to play this role forever. Would she always be the dutiful granddaughter, the chess piece used to cement alliances?
Her thoughts wandered back to the mysterious visitor. That masked man… how he had stirred something within her that felt raw, real. His words had been few, but they held a weight, a truth that resonated with her. (It was like he saw past everything—the mask I wear, the family's expectations. He saw me.)
Her hand absently went to her navel, remembering the warmth of his touch, the way her energy had flared when he'd reached out to her. She hadn't felt anything like that with anyone else. It was as if he held a key to a part of herself she didn't even understand.
Just then, her grandfather broke the silence. "Li Xian'er," he said, his tone softer, almost gentle. "I know this is difficult for you. But our family's future depends on these choices. We need strong alliances, and you are our… greatest hope."
She looked up at him, her eyes meeting his. "Grandfather… does it have to be this way?" Her voice was barely a whisper, but she couldn't hold back her question. "Isn't there any other path for me?"
He looked at her with a slight frown, as if trying to grasp her words. "You have a duty, Xian'er. One day, you'll understand why this is so important." With that, he turned and walked away, leaving her alone in the hall, his words echoing in the stillness.
Li Xian'er watched him go, a strange heaviness settling in her chest. (A duty… that's all I am to them. Just a way to secure power. But what about my own dreams?)
Later that night, she couldn't sleep. She tossed and turned, her mind racing with thoughts of the masked man. She could still feel his touch lingering on her skin, the warmth that had filled her. It was a memory that brought a flush to her cheeks, stirring a heat within her that was difficult to ignore.
Finally, unable to resist, she slipped out of bed and moved to the window, looking out into the quiet night. She knew it was foolish, but a part of her hoped he would appear again, that he would somehow sense her yearning, her need for… something more.
And then, as if summoned by her very thoughts, a shadow moved near the edge of the garden.
Li Xian'er's breath caught as she recognized the silhouette of the masked man. Her heart pounded in her chest, a mixture of fear and excitement flooding her senses. (He's here… again! Why does he keep coming back? And why can't I seem to stay away from him?)
Without thinking, she hurried outside, her footsteps light as she moved through the garden, her eyes fixed on the shadowy figure. He stood there, still as a statue, watching her approach with that same intense gaze.
"Why do you keep coming back?" she asked, her voice a mixture of defiance and curiosity. "Do you… do you enjoy watching me struggle?"
He said nothing, his expression hidden behind his mask. But his eyes… there was something in them that made her heart race, a depth that seemed to see straight into her soul.
"I don't want this life!" she whispered, her voice trembling with the weight of her words. "All these alliances, all these suitors—they don't see me. They see what they want from me. But you… why are you different?"
Still, he remained silent, his gaze steady. She took a step closer, feeling an invisible pull between them, a force she couldn't explain. (It's like he's the only one who truly understands… who truly sees me.)
Slowly, almost hesitantly, he raised his hand and reached out, his fingers brushing against her cheek. The touch was gentle, yet it sent a shiver through her, a heat that seemed to awaken her very soul.
Her breath hitched as she looked up at him, her heart pounding in her chest. "Who… are you?" she whispered, her voice barely audible.
He leaned in close, his breath warm against her skin. "Someone who knows the real you," he murmured, his voice barely a whisper. And then, in a swift, graceful motion, he disappeared into the night, leaving her standing there, alone with her thoughts.
Li Xian'er stood frozen, her heart racing as she watched him vanish into the shadows. She felt a strange emptiness in his absence, a yearning that left her feeling vulnerable, exposed. She wrapped her arms around herself, shivering slightly as she stared into the night.
(Why does he have this effect on me? And why… why do I feel like he's the only one who understands?)
As she made her way back inside, she couldn't shake the memory of his touch, the way his fingers had brushed against her cheek. It was a feeling that lingered, a warmth that refused to fade.
But as she climbed back into bed, her heart heavy with confusion, a sense of dread settled over her. She knew that her family's expectations would continue to press down on her, that more suitors would come, each one trying to claim a piece of her.
And yet, in the back of her mind, she couldn't help but wonder… would the masked man return? Would he come back to her, to show her that there was something more beyond the life she'd been given?
As she drifted off to sleep, a faint smile played on her lips, a sense of hope blossoming within her heart. For the first time in a long time, she felt that maybe, just maybe, there was a chance for something real, something beyond the masks and expectations that surrounded her.
But little did she know, her journey was only just beginning… and the shadows held secrets that would soon come to light, secrets that would change everything she thought she knew.
Status de energia semanal
-- Ranking de
Poder 
-- Pedra de
Poder