The morning light filters through the wooden cabin windows, casting golden streaks across the bed where I still lie, alone. The warmth of Xiao Qi's body has faded from the sheets, replaced only by the cold reality of his absence. Last night replays in my mind—the intensity of his touch, the desperation in his kiss, the way he called me 'his Bin Bin' as we became one. It felt like redemption, like our love could overcome any betrayal.

But now he's gone again.

The letter weighs heavy on the pillow beside me, sealed with his signet ring. 'To my beloved king'—the words mock me. Does he truly love me, or was last night just another manipulation in his endless game? I clutch the paper in trembling hands, debating whether to read it or burn it immediately.

A soft knock at the door interrupts my thoughts. 'Your Majesty? Are you awake?' Chu Bei Jie's voice, steady and loyal as always, calls from outside. He's been a constant presence since Xiao Qi's 'death'—a reminder of everything I've lost.

I rise from the bed, the cold air against my skin mirroring the emptiness in my chest. The scent of Xiao Qi still lingers faintly on my body—a cruel reminder of what I can't have. How can I face the day, let alone my kingdom, when my heart has been torn apart twice by the same man?

I must decide: read the letter and risk more lies, or begin the hunt for answers that might destroy me completely.