Chương 50: Extra - Clandestine Rendezvous Pt. 5 (Li Jie's POV)
"I'm really tired," I laughed, my heart feeling both light and heavy all at once. The world seemed to fade away in this hidden sanctuary beneath the Dragon Pavilion. "Let's just spend the whole day here."
Parsa's eyes sparkled with mischief, his lips curled into a playful grin. The soft, ambient light in the chamber painted his features with an ethereal glow. He looked at me with a satisfaction that mirrored my own, his cheeks carrying the faintest hint of a blush that only added to his charm.
"Normally, I'd say yes, but there are so many things I want to experience with you today," Parsa replied, his voice filled with warmth and anticipation. "You're blushing again," He suddenly said, looking even more pleased than before.
"Shut up," I couldn't help but tease him, pushing him away playfully as our laughter filled the chamber. His hand, warm and reassuring, found mine, and he gently pulled me closer. The sensation of our skin touching sent a familiar rush of butterflies through me, a sensation that never seemed to fade no matter how many times we shared it.
"You'd say like you're any better," I retorted, my tone lighthearted. "Your skin color is a cheat. I know you're blushing though."
Parsa chuckled, his laughter a soothing melody that echoed in the chamber. "A natural cheat," he admitted, his grin unwavering. "So it's different. And barely so, but your blushing face can get spotted from far away."
I couldn't help but playfully threaten him. "I wanna kill you."
But Parsa, always quick with his wit and charm, responded with a mischievous glint in his eyes, "I wanna kiss you."
My heart skipped a beat at his words, and I couldn't help but smile. "Then kiss me."
"Okay," Parsa said, his voice soft and filled with tenderness. "Then you have the permission to kill me."
I rolled my eyes in mock exasperation before bringing him closer, closing the gap between us. Our lips met in a sweet, lingering kiss, a testament to the love and affection we shared. The moment frozen in time where nothing else mattered but the two of us and the connection we shared.
"Jie," Parsa's eyes suddenly sparkled with excitement as he leaped upward, out of the cool, refreshing pool, and gently pulled me up after him. The water droplets glistened on our skin in the soft chamber light. "Do you know what we're going to do right now?"
My heart danced at the anticipation in his voice as I clung to him, feeling safe and weightless in his strong arms. I let my entire being lean into his embrace, wanting to rely on him completely.
"What?" I asked, my curiosity piqued, my gaze locked onto his.
"Let's go outside the palace as you've always wanted," Parsa declared. With graceful movements, he carried me to the seats nestled in the corner, where he had carefully placed the commoner clothes the night before. "I'll take you street strolling, and we'll eat some street snacks in the meantime. I bet your royal highness has never experienced anything quite like this before, right?"
A soft chuckle escaped my lips as I recalled my sheltered existence within the palace walls. "I haven't," I confessed, my eyes never leaving his as he began to wrap the simple, everyday clothes around me, just as he did for himself. "Even on the rare occasions when I venture beyond the palace, I'm always accompanied by guards and never set foot outside the confines of a carriage."
Parsa's fingers moved deftly, securing the clothes around me with a tender care that sent warmth coursing through my veins. "Well," he mused, finishing the last knot, "I suppose our Jie preferred to save his firsts for me, didn't he?"
A smile tugged at the corners of my lips. Parsa had an uncanny knack for transforming what were once mundane, even frustrating, aspects of my life into experiences I was learning to cherish. "I suppose you're right," I admitted. "But how do you propose we leave the castle without attracting unwanted attention?"
Parsa's grin widened, and he looked every bit the mischievous fox as he stood beside me, dressed in his own commoner attire. "I managed to bring you here without any trouble, didn't I?" he quipped, his confidence shining like a beacon. "And didn't I sneak into the palace itself? Getting us out will be a piece of cake."
"Sometimes I forget that you're a merchant," I remarked, my heart swelling with affection as I jumped down from the seat. "Alright then. This prince entrusts his life and safety in your hands."
Parsa took my hand and raised it to his lips, brushing a gentle kiss across my knuckles. Then, he smiled with a sense of pride as he declared, "And this humble subordinate shall protect you with his life."
Parsa's words filled me with a heady mix of excitement and anticipation. Together, we were about to do something that was unheard of in the life of a crown prince.
As we ventured back into the dimly lit corridor leading away from the hidden chamber, the echoes of our hushed laughter reverberated in the quiet space. It felt like we were part of a clandestine tale, one whispered in the shadows, far away from the prying eyes of the palace.
With each step, my excitement grew more, and I couldn't help but ask Parsa, "Can you please tell me what you have in mind?"
"Fine, if you insist." Parsa's eyes gleamed with mirth as he whispered, "First, we'll make our way out of the Dragon Pavilion without being noticed. Then, we'll traverse the palace grounds like commoner servants and finally reach the bustling streets of the capital."
The thrill of the unknown coursed through me as I followed Parsa's lead. He had become my guiding star, leading me away from the sheltered life I had known. The familiar palace walls gradually gave way to the intricate twists and turns of the hidden passages he had discovered.
As we moved stealthily through the Dragon Pavilion, my heart pounded with exhilaration. The palace, once a stifling fortress, was now our playground. Every shadow, every hidden corner, held the promise of excitement and adventure.
We reached a concealed doorway, and Parsa expertly slid it open, revealing a hidden passage. A waft of fresh air filled with the scents of the garden beyond beckoned us forward.
Parsa glanced back at me, his eyes twinkling with mischief. "Ready, my prince?"
I couldn't suppress the grin that spread across my face. "Lead the way."
We stepped into the palace gardens, our disguises protecting our identities. The moon bathed the serene landscape in a silvery glow, casting an enchanting spell over the world outside the palace.
With Parsa's guidance, we moved diligently in the labyrinthine gardens, avoiding patrolling guards and staying close to the shadows. Each step we took, each whispered conversation, was a secret shared between us and only us.
Finally, we reached the outer walls of the palace, concealed beneath the cover of lush ivy and ancient trees. Parsa effortlessly scaled the wall, extending a hand to help me up.
For the first time in my life, I felt like a young boy, being young and filled with the youthfulness of the servants around me.
Once we were on the other side, I gazed at Parsa with wonder. "We did it," I whispered in disbelief.
Parsa's eyes sparkled with triumph as he pulled me into an alleyway, hidden from view. "We did, my prince. Now, my Jie, let your lover show you just how beautiful the world can be."
As we strolled through the lively streets, I marveled at the world outside the palace. The commoners bustled about their daily lives, unaware of the prince in their midst. The tantalizing aromas of street food filled the air, and colorful stalls lined the cobblestone streets.
Parsa led me to a food vendor, and we sampled an array of delicious street snacks. The flavors exploded in my mouth, and I couldn't help but savor every bite. It was a simple pleasure, one that had been denied to me for far too long.
We chatted with the locals, shared stories, and laughed like carefree youths. The weight of my royal duties seemed to fade into the background, replaced by the joy of this newfound freedom.
Parsa's infectious enthusiasm and genuine warmth endeared him to the people we encountered. He was not just my guide but a bridge to a world I had yearned to know.
As the day turned into evening, we found ourselves at a bustling marketplace, filled with merchants peddling their wares. The colors, the sounds, and the sheer vibrancy of the place overwhelmed my senses.
As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows across the marketplace, Parsa's eyes met mine. There was a warmth in his gaze, a connection that transcended words. His smile, ever infectious, radiated pride and affection.
"My prince," he said softly, his voice carrying a weight of unspoken emotions. "Did you see how beautiful the world outside can be?"
I nodded, a lump forming in my throat, robbing me of words. The day had been a whirlwind of exhilaration and joy, etching memories into my heart that I knew would last a lifetime. It was a day filled with firsts, but it was Parsa who had made it truly remarkable.
As we walked back towards the palace, each step felt heavier, the knowledge that our stolen day of freedom was coming to an end weighing on me. I held onto the memories, determined to preserve this newfound sense of happiness.
No matter what lay ahead, I had promised myself that nothing could rob me of this cherished moment. Yet, as night descended upon the palace, casting eerie moonlight over its once-glorious walls, my promise felt as fragile as the delicate petals of a wilting flower.
The world that had gleamed with boundless promise and beauty during the day had become a nightmarish illusion, a cruel taunt from the universe. Each step within the echoing halls of the palace echoed with the haunting memory of the freedom I had briefly tasted.
And so, against the weight of fate, I insisted. Parsa agreed, and we chose to defy the boundaries of our roles and society for just one more night.
We took refuge in my chambers, our bodies entwined, seeking solace in each other's warmth. How blissfully naive I had been to believe that this stolen night could go on forever.
If only I hadn't been so naive, so insistent, so blinded by my yearning, perhaps Parsa would still be alive today.
That night marked the culmination of our clandestine outings beyond the palace walls, for soon after, Parsa was stolen from this world, his breath forever silenced.
Years have passed since that fateful night, and yet, the ghost of our love lingers in every corner of my chamber. The laughter we shared, the secrets we confided, they remain etched in the very walls, haunting me like a beautiful, melancholic melody.
In this darkness, I remain the saddest soul, burdened by grief so profound it weaves into the very fabric of my being. It is a weight that clings to my chest, an unyielding shroud of despair that smothers my every breath.
The air in my chamber grows heavy with sorrow, yet it remains unspoken, for words are powerless to convey the depths of my anguish. As I stand alone in the darkness, I grasp at the fleeting memories of our stolen happiness, my heart bleeding with an ache that transcends mere language.
In the silence of that night, the world beyond the palace walls seemed like a dream—a fleeting, tantalizing glimpse of freedom and love. Yet it was also a cruel reminder of the agony and loss that now grip my soul, an anguish so profound that only the heart can fathom its depths.
In that melancholic solitude, the world outside became a distant mirage, an ephemeral vision that had cruelly slipped through my fingers, leaving behind an emptiness that threatened to consume me whole.
and that's the end of this extra...
Quick question, seeing their relationship and Li Jie's feelings, do you think Li Jie can move on?
If you go back and reread some chapters, you'll start to see that a lot of things will make much more sense, especially related to Li Jie's character T.T
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