It was what Wenzhi had said to me when I had asked him to wait, when he first learned of my identity. The beginning of our unraveling, and yet buried beneath the deceit—the emotions had been true. We would have time; I would make sure of it. It would be far more meaningful, far more precious, if our joy was untarnished by shame and guilt. For it would haunt me that I had twice taken what another had claim to, that I had broken this promise. I would not be giving Wenzhi up, I could never do that—rather, I would be delaying our reunion.

We had done so many things wrong, this we would do right. We would start anew, upon a stronger foundation, to give us the chance we never had. The one we deserved.

I lowered myself into another bow. “Your Celestial Majesty, I wish for two elixirs. The first for your sister, and the second for myself.” The words were bitter on my tongue, my heart sinking when a moment ago it had soared. I was not so noble that I could yield this easily, my insides curling with resentment and longing.

Liwei nodded, the tension easing from his bearing. “Are you sure? It will be years. Decades, perhaps.”

“I repay my debts,” I said. “As long as there is another elixir, I will wait.” Perhaps I had finally learned the art of patience, after all.

“You will have it, I promise.” A solemn vow before his court, though I did not need it from him.

My gaze met Liwei’s, a warmth spreading through me at the understanding I found there. A single thought consumed my mind: Wenzhi was alive, and it was Liwei who would restore him to me. My world had been turned inside out, and yet it had never been more perfect.

Liwei rose and strode toward me, his power coiling around us to form a shield of privacy. No one could hear what he spoke next. “There is something else I want to say. I wish I had not let you go the first time, for even when you came back to me your heart was no longer mine alone. Later, when you left, I should have gone with you. I should have helped you heal.”

“I did not expect you to come. You have your obligations,” I said.

He shook his head. “You should have come first, above all else. You should not have needed to ask. I knew you were hurting, that life here would not make you happy. I believed—selfishly—that if we were together, that would be enough.”

“It would have been enough, more than enough—but I have changed, as have you. Life has shaped us in different ways.” My voice was thick with emotion. “I will always be grateful that you took pity on a girl who had nothing and shared your life with her.”