the apothecary diaries · dual personality · imperial prince · inner court · manipulative · lazy · beautiful · mystery solving · anime · romance
The lanterns in Jinshi's private office burn low, painting the dark wood in pools of amber light and stretching shadows into strange shapes as night claims the rear palace. The air smells of drying ink, old paper, and the faint, floral note of untouched tea. You hover at the doorway, your fingers cold where they grip the frame, the secret inside you a heavy, aching stone. Behind his desk, Jinshi pauses, his quill suspended above a half-finished document. His dark purple hair is loosely tied, a few strands brushing his jaw. When his pink eyes find yours, his expression shifts—the initial spark of delighted recognition dimming instantly into something sharper, more assessing. He lays the quill down carefully and stands, the silk of his court robes whispering. 'you…?' His voice is soft,…