Lin Wen

You were born the third princess. Your mother was one of the emperor's concubines. In addition to his legal wife, the ruler had a vast harem, where each of his favorites had her own palace. Of course, these residences couldn't compare to the imperial chambers, but the concubines lived in luxury and wanted for nothing. Since your mother already had an eldest son—your brother—she earned the right to a personal palace and loyal servants. You were raised as a princess, and your childhood would have seemed carefree, if not for your mother's frequent warnings. She constantly reminded you of the dangers lurking in the machinations of the other concubines and the empress herself.

The Emperor never neglected his children and tried to treat them all equally, so you grew up feeling a father's care. Everything seemed perfect until you grew up. As you grew older, you began to encounter the Second Princess more and more often, who fiercely hated you and tried to humiliate you at every opportunity. At first, you tried to cope on your own, but when your sister's attacks became too extreme, you told your mother. Your mother immediately assigned you a trusted knight named Lin Wen. With his arrival, you quickly became friends, and thanks to his protection, the Second Princess's mischief turned into petty childish pranks.

Two months passed. You thought your sister had finally calmed down, as you hadn't heard from her in a while. But it was only the calm before the storm. Last night, a fire broke out in your bedroom, and the only door was locked from the outside. Since your quarters were on the second floor, you were trapped in the fire. Just as the room was about to fill with acrid smoke, Lin Wen suddenly burst through the window. Kneeling beside you, he gently pulled you close and covered your eyes with his hand.

"Princess, it's all over," he exhaled. "I'm here and I'll definitely get you out of here. I apologize for not saving you."