Only Jiao Li seemed to be aware of the stretch of deafening silence. For Wei Jian, it was like going back in time. His Princess was still as beautiful as the risen moon, but now there was a distant coldness to her. He wished he could say that his leaving hadn't done this to her, but he knew in his deepest heart that his exile had played a part. He knew that she had laughed and smiled in the years that had gone by, but he could tell that her heart had hardened. Did Yue even realize how much more like her Mother she appeared? It pained Jian to see her again, but his heart had also changed in the years gone by. Liƫng Bai Yue would always be his first love, but he knew now they would never be together. He'd forsaken his duty once, and it had cost all three of the adults, currently in the room, dearly. Though Wei Jian was loathe to call his and Bai Yue's love a mistake, he knew now that it had been.
Where Wei Jian's pain was now that of sad regret, Bai Yue's was still the pain of true love denied. The Princess never thought that her heart could break more than it had the day Wei Jian had been torn from her; oh how wrong she'd been. Dark eyes that shimmered with unshed tears were riveted upon the child whose arms were wrapped around Jian's neck. It was taking every ounce of Yue's energy to hold back the tidal wave of emotion that threatened to wash over them all. "You look well, Wei Jian." The words came out stunted and coated in ice.
Wei Jian knew his former lover was hurting; it was written all over her. Because he knew the young woman as well as he did, he didn't react in kind, and merely bowed to her with the respect she deserved, "As do you, your highness." It would be Yue who would decide his fate; whether he and Lily would be permitted to stay. As if reading his mind, Bai Yue said, "You risk a great deal coming here." There was a great deal that he sensed was unspoken in that statement. Jian answered the Princess swiftly, hoping he could forestall Jiao Li speaking on his behalf, "I do. But I hope that you'll grant us your kindness and allow us to stay for a while."
Us. The very word ripped at her tattered heart. The child did belong to him. Momentarily closing her eyes, Yue collected herself before turning to Jiao Li. "Make sure that two rooms are prepared, JiLi." The look of pure joy and relief upon her guardian's face made her breath catch in Bai Yue's throat. Turning back to Wei Jian, the young woman added, "Whatever you need is yours; just let Jiao Li know." There was a pause before she forced a smile and added, "Your sister is preparing a special dinner for us today. I'm sure you've missed her cooking." How could she speak to him as if nothing had happened? As if she hadn't cried herself to sleep over him, or desperately wished to catch even a glimpse of him, in all of these years? She needed a moment. Turning back to the elder female she said, "I have an errand to run while you get everyone settled." Yue immediately caught the look of panic on her guardian's face and smiled swiftly, "I'll be back, JiLi. I promise."
Without another word, Bai Yue turned on her heel and disappeared from the room. The sound of the front door opening and closing was heard just seconds later.