The sound of water dripping onto the cold, stone floor lulled Ahn to sleep, shivering as he wrapped his arms around himself. He wondered if his elder sister was alright and if she wouldn't be paying the consequences for his actions.

"Lord father...Lady mother..." He mumbled, feeling tears well up again.

"─Ahn! Little Ahn, are you alright?"

Eyes snapping open, he threw himself into his sister's arms, her having barged into his cell as a guard opened and closed the door behind her.

"Elder sister─" He nearly burst into tears. "You're alright, aren't you? Lóng Qi didn't hurt you?"

Liên kissed the top of his white hair. "I'm fine, Little Ahn. I've only been confined to my quarters." She calmed the child.

"He'll put his hands on you sooner or later, though! You can't trust him, sister!" He held onto her, shaking. "I just had to...protect you." He choked on his tears, making Liên's heart break at his situation.

"When I get out, I'll definitely kill that bastard-" Ahn's voice became angry, his eyes darkening. "I will avenge mother and father!"

━━━━

As Lóng Qi stood to leave the room, Liên still standing with her long, white hair covering her expression, he turned around to face her. "You should understand your little brother better than I. Although I've spared him, he will only think of trying to get vengeance once again."

Though Liên didn't answer him, but knew what he said to be true.

"The only option is to send him away in exile, so that he'll at least calm himself, being away from the palace."

Faintly glowing blue eyes turned upwards to looked at his leaving back. "Let me...see him one more time."

━━━━

Liên turned his head slightly, pursing her lips as she realized everything Lóng Qi said to have become true. Ahn could only think of avenging their parent's at this time.

"Ahn...you are already eight...so I was thinking that you could do your temple service now. Lóng Qi said he would exile you to the state of Kūrma, which used to be our nearest neighbouring kingdom. Father had close ties with the former King there so you should be welcomed."

It was in their customs for Tiênese child from the ages of seven to ten to be sent for a year's service at a temple and since Ahn was of age, Liên thought it best to send him to one.

"You...have to stay alive, Ahn. Please..."

━━━━

Lóng Qi sighed heavily, pinching the bridge of his nose as he lay in his own quarter's, trying to catch some sleep in the last few hours of the night.

"I...agree."

Turning again, he stood up and felt a cool breeze enter the room from the open window. Smirking slightly as he saw the familiar face with eyepatch, who had entered his room silently.

"Elder Brother." The adolescent greeted, a hand raised and a mischevious look upon his face.

"Yun." Lóng Qi greeted his younger brother. "I thought I sensed you sneaking about."

"Haha~" The boy laughed, his golden eyes lighting up in the dark room. "I was hoping you wouldn't notice." He grinned good-naturedly, looking over some of the snacks on the side table, munching on one of them.

"When did you realize, Elder Brother?" He asked, making himself comfortable.

"When you arrived ─ two days ago." Was the simple reply.

"Boo." The boy puffed his cheeks. "Of course you did. Anyways, I'm here to accompany you back to the southland. Our Lord father's funeral is in three days."

━━━━

【 character aesthetics 】

Yun Lóng Gongsun (公孫 • 云龙) is the second prince of the Southern Empire and the younger brother of Lóng Qi Gongsun from the same mother.