"No one would have thought that... His Highness Fusu and I would have contact."
"It would be better if no one thought of it...Only you, I don't want you to be involved."
"Huh?"
Don't want me to get involved...is that what he said?
"Uh, His Highness Fusu...?"
"Listen up, Shui Xinyuan. Absolutely, absolutely don't speak, and don't have any unusual reactions. Just don't take it seriously as usual."
"..."
"The reason... I won't tell you now. You will know it naturally when you go to the banquet."
The hand that was held until it ached, and the sharp and frightening sight, these were Lu Fusu that Shui Xinyuan had never seen before.
…I don’t quite understand.
Although I don’t understand, but...
"I will do what His Highness Fusu said."
Shui Xinyuan responded with a smile.
"Don't worry, even if I attend the banquet, I will just stay in the corner. I won't say a word, and no one will notice me."
"..."
Lu Fusu then relaxed his expression and let go of Shui Xinyuan's hand.
"Sorry, did it hurt you?"
"without……"
"I couldn't help but say some scary things. It would be best if nothing happens...I also hope nothing happens."
ah……
There was a hint of loneliness in Lu Fusu's gentle eyes.
Shui Xinyuan can always notice this.
"But it's such a pity that it's rare that Miss Water wants to dance, but I can't see it with my own eyes."
"...As long as it's for His Highness Fusu, I can dance at any time."
...Even though I noticed Lu Fusu's loneliness, I didn't know how to relieve him. I could only chat with him for one night.
Still, if there's anything I can do, if there's anything I can do to help...
"I'm willing to do anything, so just tell me anytime."
"Water girl..."
Lu Fusu rested his cheek on his hand and looked at Shui Xinyuan with narrowed eyes.
"Can you lend me your shoulder?"
"What?"
"I'm a little sleepy."
"Ah, in this case, I should go back..."
"Don't go back, just lend me your shoulder."
Lu Fusu moved his chair closer to Shui Xinyuan, turned sideways, and rested his head on her shoulder.
"Eh...this, this, this?"
"It'll be fine in a moment. Aren't you willing to do anything?"
"That's true..."
I felt a weight on my left shoulder and a touch of hair that was not my own on my cheek.
I feel the body temperature close to me on my arm.
What to do...
He looked quietly and saw Lu Fusu closing his eyes tightly.
Did you really fall asleep?
"..."
From the sleeping face under the dim light, Shui Xinyuan suddenly felt as if he saw Lu Fusu from three years ago.
...at that time.
Why is Lu Fusu outside?
It was a bit cold to go out for a walk during that season.
Shui Xinyuan still remembers how cold the wind was that night, and how warm Lu Fusu's tenderness was.
...I looked at the moon when I felt lonely.
"Water girl."
"Um?"
"Thanks."
Lu Fusu closed his eyes and leaned on Shui Xinyuan's shoulder.
"I feel sorry for you, but I am very happy when you are here at night."
Because of loneliness...
The moon seems so far away.
"I... don't feel wronged."
"Yeah?"
"Um."
Shui Xinyuan smiled at Lu Fusu who opened his eyes.
"I am also very happy."
"……Yeah?"
"Um!"
"...Can you lend me your shoulder for a while?"
"Okay, feel free to use it."
Lu Fusu closed his eyes again.
Clouds covered half of the moon, and Shui Xinyuan also gently closed his eyes.
…
The party started after the sun went down.
Hundreds of candles with flower patterns were lit in the venue, and vessels filled with delicacies and fine wine were delivered one after another, filling the entire large round table.
There were eight people present, all young men wearing clothes embroidered with gold and silver threads.
There were only eight people, but they used the same hall as the banquet venue where hundreds of dignitaries gathered, and the number of musicians and court servants they hired was also equivalent to the number at that time.
"Come... drink! Sing! Dance! Tonight's guests are my friends, entertain them well for me!"
The man in the most gorgeous clothes on the stage opened his hands and spoke loudly. After that, the palace servants cheered and gathered around the guests one by one.
"...Qing'er, is that His Highness Wuxian?"
"yes!"
Shui Xinyuan peeked at the man sitting in the upper seat from the corner of the venue.
Unlike Lu Fusu, who is slender and looks more stable than his age, he is not tall. He sits awkwardly with his neck buried in his clothes and looks very childish with his mouth open and laughing.
"It's not like..."
"Uh? With whom?"
"Fu...His Royal Highness the Crown Prince. We are obviously brothers."
"Having the same father and mother is just like that... I remember that it is said that that guy is one year younger than His Highness the Crown Prince."
"Are you eighteen years old..."
It wasn't their turn yet, so Qing'er looked at the banquet at the round table with boredom.
“What a luxury.”
"...Qing'er, didn't you say that the banquet a while ago was very shabby?"
"That's because the banquet a while ago was really shabby, but today's banquet is too extravagant."
The beautiful court ladies who were accompanying them whispered something, and one of the young men took out something that looked like a jade pendant from his arms and quickly handed it over with a meaningful smile.
"So, are today's guests all princes and nobles?"
"That's right! Look at that generous look. How about you go over and say a few words of greeting? Maybe you can get some good things!"
"don't want……"
Thinking that she could supplement her family's income, Shui Xinyuan certainly wanted gold and silver, but after taking a look at the people gathered there, she didn't want to sit next to them at all.
...I only want to sit next to His Highness Fusu.
"Where's Qing'er? Do you want to have some social talk?"
"I don't want it. Do you want me to get close to those uneducated and lazy men?"
"...You don't want to either, right?"
The two of them hid in the darkness of the big pillar and hunched their shoulders.
…
Halfway through the banquet, the palace dancers performed amid the continuous music, and then it was Zhuyan's turn to come on stage. Shui Xinyuan and Qing'er also mixed in with the other palace dancers, dancing behind them.
No one is looking at me.
Lu Fusu is not here, Shui Xinyuan realized this deeply today.
…I don’t know what’s going on with His Highness Fusu…
Today's banquet starts after sunset, so it will probably last until midnight.
Although I saw Uncle Forbes in the morning, he didn't hold the red cloth.
Lu Fusu didn't ask Shui Xinyuan to come over, but now she wanted to see him inexplicably.
No one noticed Shui Xinyuan's unhappy expression.
After the dance, the princes and nobles applauded.
"It's so wonderful, Zhuyan!"
"As expected of Zhuyan, come here, come here."
With a charming smile on her face, Zhuyan bowed gently and walked slowly to Lu Wuxian.
"Long time no see, you have become more beautiful again!"