Days passed, and the lake became their place.
Their secret world.
Every evening, despite their separate duties, Lingling would come early—sometimes breathless from training, sometimes with ink still on her fingers from court documents—and take Orm to the hidden lake.
They lay on the grass, side by side, looking at the stars.
Finding patterns.
Linking constellations.
Laughing and teasing each other about who had worse imagination.
But slowly the laughter faded.
Silence settled—soft, warm, charged.
Only the gentle wind and the quiet ripple of the lake filled the air.
Orm turned her head.
Ling was already looking at her.
Under the moonlight, something shifted—something that had been growing silently all this time. Something Orm could no longer ignore.
She felt it:
The memory of the way Ling held her waist on horseback.
The gentle warmth of Ling’s fingers brushing hers.
The way Ling looked at her like she mattered more than the entire kingdom.
Before she knew what she was doing…
Orm leaned forward and kissed her.
---
LINGLING’S POV
She saw it in Orm’s eyes before the kiss touched her lips.
A longing.
A warmth.
A love meant for Liang, the man Orm believed her to be.
Not for Lingling, the woman she truly was.
Ling’s heart leaped at the kiss — every buried feeling bursting free — but reality struck just as fast.
She can’t love me.
She loves a lie…
She loves the man she thinks I am, not the woman I am.
The kiss tasted sweet.
Painfully sweet.
And Ling broke it — the hardest thing she had ever done.
She gently held Orm’s shoulders and pushed her back.
Orm’s eyes searched hers—hurt and confusion blooming.
Ling forced her voice steady.
“Orm… I’m not ready.”
It was a lie.
She was more than ready — she was falling apart.
Orm nodded stiffly, looking away.
And just like that, the world that always felt warm around them suddenly felt cold.
---
The ride back was silent.
Their backs didn’t touch.
Their hands didn’t brush.
Not a single word passed between them.
In bed, both lay turned away from each other.
Orm’s eyes burned with tears, she refused to shed.
Did Ling think she was too forward? Did Ling feel uncomfortable? Did she cross a line?
Ling stared at the wall, heart breaking.
I’m lying to her… and I hurt her… and I can’t even explain why.
Neither slept.
Before Orm woke the next morning, Ling had already left.
Orm’s chest tightened.
She missed Ling already.
---
By afternoon at the royal court, they finally saw each other again.
Their eyes met for barely a breath, then both looked away instantly.
Orm noticed immediately — every noblewoman in the hall staring at Ling like they wanted to devour her. Jealousy flared hot and sharp in her chest.
Who are they to look at my Ling like that?
But Ling…
Ling wasn’t looking at them.
Even while speaking to advisors, even surrounded by nobles, Ling’s gaze kept drifting back to Orm.
Not once.
Not twice.
Constantly.
It made Orm’s heart flutter…
…and ache with confusion.
A princess from a neighboring kingdom approached Ling with too much excitement, opening her arms for a hug.
Ling stepped aside politely, avoiding the full embrace, giving only a distant sideways greeting that didn’t even touch.
Orm’s lips lifted slightly — proud.
Then Ling called her forward.
“Princess, this is my wife,” Ling introduced, her voice warm, protective.
Orm felt something bloom in her chest.
---
But nights passed.
Days blurred.
Even when Ling spoke kindly, even when she smiled…
Something was missing.
They no longer went to the lake.
They no longer laughed till their stomachs hurt.
Orm spiraled.
Maybe Ling doesn’t want me anymore. Maybe I’m not enough. Maybe he has concubines he loves more. Maybe he regrets marrying me.
Ling had done NOTHING to make her doubt — but Orm had seen men all her life. She had seen how easily love is replaced, how quickly affection fades.
And she feared Ling slipping away.
---
At night their bedroom door opened quietly.
Ling entered, looking exhausted.
And determined.
“Orm,” she said gently, “I need to tell you something.”
Fear stabbed through Orm’s heart.
Ling has someone else… he doesn’t want me… he regrets this marriage…
Before Ling could say anything more, Orm blurted out, voice trembling:
“Ling… am I—undesirable?”
Ling froze.
Her heart shattered on the spot.
She rushed to Orm’s side, cupping her face with trembling hands.
“Orm,” Ling whispered, voice breaking, “don’t ever say that. Don’t ever think that. You are… gods, you are the most beautiful woman in the world I’ve ever seen. And not just beautiful — you’re kind, thoughtful, strong. You are… everything.”
Orm’s breath hitched.
Ling continued, her eyes filled with regret:
“If you’re doubting yourself, it’s because I made you doubt. I am the one at fault… not you. Never you.”
Tears slipped down Orm’s cheeks.
Ling wiped them gently.
Then her voice softened:
“There’s something you must know. A secret only few people in this world know. And you… you deserve the truth more than anyone.”
Orm nodded silently, bracing herself.
Ling took a deep breath.
And told her everything.
Her birth.
Her abandonment.
Her return.
The death of the real prince.
The burden of the crown.
Living as Liang.
Marrying Orm.
By the time Ling finished, Orm sat frozen.
Shocked.
Breathless.
Her mind is spinning.
Ling’s voice cracked.
“I know you must feel betrayed. Angry. Maybe even… disgusted. You married a woman. I destroyed your dreams of a husband, a family, children. I hurt you without meaning to. All I can say is… I’m sorry, Orm. I’m so, so sorry.”
Orm began to cry — silently, helplessly.
Ling wanted to hold her but didn’t dare.
She had never felt so ashamed.
So afraid.
So vulnerable.
---