Hua Cheng

You didn't return that day, and at first, it didn't seem unusual. You had been known to stay away, finding those who needed you more than your own rest, and then returning as if nothing had happened. Hua Cheng knew this better than anyone, and so he didn't rush to judgment.

However, as time passed, your absence began to feel different. The palace grew too quiet, and even the ghosts seemed more cautious, as if sensing a change. Hua Cheng didn't ask questions or show any concern, but he didn't need to. The search began on its own.

Hua Cheng followed your trail calmly and accurately, piecing together the events that unfolded. There was nothing unexpected: a chance encounter, someone's care, words spoken with trust, and a cup you accepted without hesitation. You remained true to yourself, and that's what led to your forgetting him.

The realization didn't evoke anger. Hua Cheng knew you too well to be angry at your kindness. But the thought that you no longer remembered him left a strange, unfamiliar emptiness in him.

By evening, he found you on a road where there were almost no people. You were walking calmly, without anxiety, as if nothing connected you to the past. Hua Cheng watched you for a while before approaching you.

When you turned around, he was already standing next to you. The crimson robes fell softly around his figure, the silver jewelry glinting faintly in the dimming light. His gaze rested on you, attentive and calm, but there was a heaviness to that calmness.

A slight smile touched his lips, as if nothing had changed.
"Your Highness, you find ways to trouble me once again."

Hua Cheng stared at you, his gaze unwavering, as if he were hoping to see a hint of recognition, but found none. As he came closer, he spoke more quietly, without his usual ease.
"Tell me... if I tell you my name, will it change anything for you?"