The next hour or two were as unexciting as the speech of the groom. Everyone was still drowsy from all the food and so the atmosphere continued to be relaxed and calm.
Shian spent her time mostly quiet – of course she would have liked to continue her talk with Koumei but the fact that the Emperor was still so near and well within ear-shot made her keep her mouth shut.
After some time Koumei had joined into a conversation with his father and siblings, they were talking about politics and war strategies.
Absentmindedly sipping on her drink Shian listened in. The topics itself interested her highly but the way they talked left a sour taste on her tongue.
The Emperor constantly interrupted whoever was speaking and the brothers put on the same submissive behavior Shian was used to from herself back when she was a maid. Kouen was the only one who from time to time dared to correct his father.
It made her wonder how the three of them grew up. She knew the rumors about Kouha's mother and it only fueled her belief that none of them had a loving, stable parental figure.

Silently sighing she downed the rest of her wine and slumped down a bit deeper into her chair.
A few moments later she noted with surprise that the idle background music had subsided and she looked over to the small podium, eager to occupy her mind with something else. Indeed, the musicians had laid down their instruments and took a well-deserved break.
Her eyes wandered from the group over to the servants. After they cleared the plates off the tables they had gone on standby but now they were back to bustling around again. Without too much difficulty Shian found Mai, her dark locks prominent among all her straight-haired colleagues.
She was in the process of dimming the oil lamps that illuminated the walls and soon the hall was dusky. With the light the chatter died off too, everyone eager to see what was to come.

The middle of the room was so dark that Shian could only hear that something was going on there, people were scurrying around and something big had been dragged in. Then the flames of the lamps burned a bit brighter again and she recognized what they had set up.

A row of heavy drums lined the open space between the tables, their bright red color well visible even in the current light conditions. They were an impressive sight, the gold decorations reflecting the fire and illuminating the people standing behind them. Two times four drummers had come in, the lucky number eight promising a good fortune to the newly-weds.
Soon the crowd was completely silent, not wanting to miss the performance.
The show began with a powerful beat and soon Shian found herself mesmerized. The rhythm pounded in her ears in sync with her heartbeat and for once she allowed herself not to worry about her daily struggles.
She dared a small peak over to her prince. Surely he was more used to those kind of elaborate acts.
As if he had felt her gaze Koumei turned his head to meet her eyes and gave her a small smile. He did feel bad about abandoning her like that but what choice did he have? He had been as anxious as Shian about another intervention by his father and surely he would have found it rude if his son had ignored his family the whole evening.
With some relief he noted that Shian still seemed to enjoy herself and she returned his smile before directing her attention back to the drummers.

After a moment of hesitation Koumei too continued to watch the show. His hand though crept over to Shian. It was dark, no one paid them any attention and he wanted to feel his lover next to him.

Shian flinched a bit when she suddenly felt the touch on her upper thigh but she calmed down quickly when she realized what – or rather who – it was. Without taking her eyes off the whirling drumsticks she laid her hand on his, giving it a soft squeeze. Koumei turned his hand palm up and they entwined their fingers together. He was glad that it didn't seem that Shian was upset about his 'betrayal'.
Now content he leaned back and enjoyed the quick beats of the drums that came to a rousing crescendo.

Around half an hour later the spectacle had come to an end and the lights were burning bright. With the pooled forces of the drummers and the servants the drums had been removed and the maids started to hand out small snacks and sweets.
Apparently the nobility was already hungry again.

As soon as the lamps were shining Koumei had to let go of Shian, to both of their dismay.
"What did you think?" he asked her, finally daring to just engage in a normal conversation with her again.
"It was very loud" Shian answered, a sheepish smile on her lips. "But it was very nice to listen to. And to be quite frank, I am glad something happened."
Her words did cause a little sting in Koumei's chest, the guilt coming back. He cleared his throat and lowered his voice.
"I'm sorry. I have to admit that I wasn't sure either how to handle…well, you know."

Shian nodded. Of course she knew.
"Don't worry. I am certainly not complaining, the fact that I have gotten the chance to attend such an event at all is still overwhelming for me. In my heart I am still a maid I'm afraid. A very lucky maid."
An almost wistful expression showed itself in Shian's eyes and once again Koumei cursed silently that he was unable to comfort her right now.

"Give yourself time. Your life has changed considerably in the last half year, it's normal that you need time to adjust. Let me know if I can help you with that."
Shian gave him a genuine smile.
"I will."

The sound of a small gong interrupted them and caused them to look towards the bridal table.
The bride and groom got up, bowed their obligatory bow towards the emperor and descended hand in hand to the soon to be dance floor.

Once more the nobles grew quiet and the musicians prepared themselves again. A short look over to the pedestal confirmed that they had gotten reinforcements. The whole small orchestra Shian and Koumei had heard on their fateful night was now assembled.
The couple got into position and as soon as the first notes sounded through the room they began floating over the shining floor.

With a tiny bit of jealousy Shian noted that they were quite good. No comparison to her and Koumei for sure. While he had improved massively over the last week Shian had to admit to herself that she couldn't make a swan out of an ugly duckling in just a few days.

The dance went on for quite a while – they went all out on routines and moves. Finally they struck the final pose and the attendees clapped approvingly.
After a short break the band continued playing, a happy, lively tune, and the both of them continued their dance, soon being joined by their guests.

With surprise she saw that Kouen had gotten up too and was now leading Kougyoku onto the dance floor. Diligently the crowd made way for the first prince and his sister.
The whole atmosphere had turned more lax and now the celebration felt more like an actual enjoyable get-together and less like a mandatory event. Shian blamed the steadily increasing consume of wine.
The only one who sat as stone-faced as before was, of course, the Emperor.

By now Shian had looked sheepishly to Koumei at least a dozen time – she was waiting for him to make a move. Obviously she couldn't be the one to initiate a dance with the second imperial prince.
Kouha too had joined, he was dancing with his cousin. The fact that Hakuei was almost six inches taller than him didn't seem to faze him.

Finally Koumei let out a small chuckle.
"I can feel your eyes burning holes into the side of my temple, Shian."
"Well, you know how to get me to stop" she responded, pouting a bit that he was letting her wait for so long.
"Even Lord Kouen is dancing."
"Yes, he has the same social obligation to as I do. I'm not sure he would otherwise."
"Lord Kouha is his brother too, so I have a slight suspicion."
Koumei sighed. "You're right."

He got up and offered his hand to Shian – a gesture he would normally reserve for the privacy of their chambers but as they just became dancing partners it was alright.
The two of them rounded the tables and stepped onto the dance floor. Koumei stayed at the edge, not confident enough in his leading skills to breach into the middle. Thankfully most of the other couples made way for them – no one wanted to be the one to bump into the royals.

Hesitantly Koumei assumed position and Shian could feel that his hands were a bit sweaty. He was nowhere near as anxious as Shian had been for a long time but he too felt the fear of embarrassment in crowds.

Shian smiled at him.
"Look only at me. Not at your feet, not at the others, just me. Okay?"
Taking a deep breath Koumei nodded and locked eyes with her. For a moment the music and the noise of the guests subsided in his ears as if someone had plugged them with cotton. Time slowed down as he cautiously moved one foot into the first step – and then the sound was there again, the moment gone and he jumped back into normal speed.
He silently thanked Shian for the nights she had insisted on practicing after work, right there in the office. His muscle memory didn't fail him.
He felt a weight lifting off his shoulders and then he registered the gleeful grin of his partner.

Shian was living her dream. The light dress fluttered around her and she was very glad indeed that she had put on her work shoes, despite Mai's protests. For a bit she allowed herself to imagine that they weren't at some random general's wedding and instead at their own.
She closed her eyes, trusting Koumei to lead her properly and just enjoyed how he whirled her around, while picturing the night sky above them both.
Suddenly she wished her parents were there to see her, a thought that hit her almost painfully.

With a quiet sigh Shian opened her eyes again and concentrated on the present. She didn't want this moment tainted by her past.
She looked back up at Koumei and had to smile at his concentrated expression.
I better don't try and say anything, she thought, not wanting to break his focus.
Instead she resorted to a bit of people watching while her feet were doing their part on their own.

Kouen was back at the table next to his father – he had fulfilled his social obligation and was apparently not interested in anything beyond that. For a second their eyes met across the hall and Shian realized with a little jolt that he was watching the two of them. Hopefully she hadn't looked at Koumei too love-struck. Hastily she pried her eyes away from him again.

The music faded and finally stopped, and so did Shian and Koumei. He was slightly out of breath but looked content and before he could stop himself he pulled Shian into a loving embrace.
The touch lasted only a second before Koumei remembered where they were and he let go off her as if he had burned himself, earning him a sheepish giggle from his partner.
"Sorry" he mumbled, clearly embarrassed.
"It's fine. Shall we?"
She offered him her hand again as the musicians started playing the next song. He nodded and went back into position.

A couple songs later Koumei felt as if he had ran a marathon- he was not exactly known for being physically fit. Shian too sported a red tinge on her cheeks that even the pale powder couldn't quite hide. Somehow it made her look even happier though, and she had already been beaming the whole time. Clearly she enjoyed their shared experience and that alone made the exhaustion worth in Koumei's eyes.

After they ended a quick jive he had to give up.
"I'm sorry Shian, I am done. I probably won't be able to move an inch tomorrow!" He let go of her and quickly wiped his hands on his garment.
"No worries" she smiled. "I heard a massage can help with sore muscles."

Her words were accompanied by a flirtatious wink and Koumei couldn't help but blushing. Thankfully he was already red in the face from the dancing. A bit flustered he cleared his throat.
"Sounds lovely. Shall we head back for a drink?"

Together they made their way back to their seats, Shian trailing slightly behind. She was still floating on cloud nine and had to tell herself to keep it down.
They sat down and emptied their glasses before falling into a short silence, both catching their breath.

"So, what did you think?"
"I think I didn't embarrass myself, so that's good."
He smiled sheepishly at her. The dancing itself hadn't really been his cup of tea but Shian had made it worthwhile.
"Of course you didn't. I think you did quite well. Although you did still look a bit at your feet." Her grin was back and he groaned, annoyed with himself.
"I didn't even notice!"
"The steps were good though and you're leading was great."

He nodded and for a bit the silence was back, both watching the still dancing couples. Kouha had given up trying to convince Kougyoku to join him and had returned to the table as well but Hakuei and Hakuryuu were still going strong.

Minutes became hours and one after another the nobles first left the dance floor, and then the room altogether. Finally the Emperor rose too, gave the new couple a short nod and then left, accompanied by a few servants that seemed to emerge out of nowhere. Unthinkable that the Emperor had to open a door by himself.

As soon as the door slid shut behind him there was a collective, quiet sigh from the three brothers and Kouha slumped down into his chair.
"That was exhausting" he sighed, barely audible for Shian on the other side of the throne.
"Watch your tongue" Kouen returned; but he did not object to his brother's words.

He then turned to Shian and Koumei, his eyes as stern as ever. For a moment he looked almost hesitant but it was over quickly, so maybe she had imagined it.
"Was there a problem?"

His words were directed at his brother and they did sound a bit harsh but Shian thought she knew what he actually meant. Are you alright?

"No, Father just overheard something not meant for his ears."
"I understand."

"Let's go, I'm fed up" Kouha finally yawned, not making any attempt to hide his weariness. He got up without waiting for an answer and just left through the door behind them. He left it open and sure enough, Kouen rose too.

"Good night" he said tersely and went on his way, leaving Shian and Koumei alone in the almost empty hall. Only the married couple and a few close family members still remained – even the amount of servants had dwindled, they were busy hurrying to the kitchens and back.

"We should go too, Shian. It's late and we can't slack off too much tomorrow."
"I know" Shian sighed. She had to work exhausted more times than she could count but that didn't mean that she looked forward to it.
"See you tomorrow then?"

Koumei gave her a small smile.
"If you want to go directly to bed sure. But I think I will take a nice, little evening stroll through the garden. All on my own."
He winked at her and then got up to follow in his brothers' footsteps.

Amused Shian rolled her eyes. His words made her happy and, eager to join her beloved, she got up to hurry outside. Soon she left the quietly bustling group of servants behind and made her way towards her room. She didn't want to keep Koumei waiting but she did want to swing by her chambers first.
Back at the hospital wing the palace was quiet and only the moonlight illuminated the corridors. It was well after midnight by now and everyone was either asleep or busy on the other side of the building.

Finally she reached her room and when the door closed behind her she felt the entire force of her exhaustion in her bones. Not only had the dancing been straining but the whole social aspect too.
She started to slip out of her dress and carefully stowed it away in the wardrobe. She honestly wasn't sure if she had to give it back.

She threw on her washed out work clothes and instantly felt a bit better. The rough fabric was what she was used to.
Afterwards she went into the small bathroom and poured some water into the basin. She dipped her hands in and began scrubbing at her face – although the remark at her lipstick had only been a joke there was some truth to it. She was glad when the water turned white and opaque from all the make-up and the coldness shook her awake again.

Finally feeling like herself again she made her way out to the gardens. She still had all the hairpins in her hair but she had taken long enough already. During the cause of the evening more and more strands had escaped the confines of her complicated hairstyle and Shian was glad that she hadn't taken the time to look into a mirror.

After a few minutes she reached the door that would lead her into the garden. When she stepped out onto the gravel path she noticed with surprise that no torches and no lamps had been ignited and the area was dim and silent. Maybe it had to do with the festivities.

The moonlight that before had only trickled sparingly through the windows illuminated the world enough for her to see comfortably. She wandered deeper along the path and soon recognized where it would lead her – back to the springs.
They hadn't agreed on a meeting spot beforehand but Shian had a good feeling about it.
The bolder formation emerged out of the dark before her and when Shian saw the faint glow of a single lantern behind the rock she knew that she had been right.

Koumei sat at the edge of the shallow pool, his feet resting in the warm water. He too had ditched his fancy garments for a simple white kimono.
He had leaned back with his eyes closed but as soon as he heard the steps on the gravel he turned to look at his visitor.
When he saw his girlfriend enter the small circle of light he had to suppress a chuckle.
"My Love, you look like a fresh painting that someone touched carelessly."

Embarrassed Shian touched her lips and sure enough, her fingers came away red. The short bath hadn't washed all her make-up away after all.
"I was in a hurry…" she murmured and slipped out of her shoes.
"I don't mind. You are beautiful no matter how much paint you put on yourself. Now join me, will you?"

With an amused huff Shian sat down next to him.
"You are a shameless flatterer, you know that, right?"
"The declaration of facts is no such thing, Shian" he answered in a stern but playful tone, making her smile.
"Show me the book where those facts are written" she countered before dipping her legs into the spring as well.
She sighed in satisfaction and slumped to the side, where Koumei gladly caught her in his arms.

For a while they just remained like this, enjoying the calm after the storm that had been the wedding.
Finally Shian sat up straight again and stretched thoroughly. Had she stayed like this much longer, she would have fallen asleep.

"May I go in?" she asked, earning her a confused look from Koumei.
"Of course, that's what we came here for, right?"
"Well yes but…it's still kind of unreal to me, you know? Everything…"
Koumei had the feeling that there was more to her words than just the hot springs but for now he let it rest.
"I think I know."

He stood up and slipped out of his kimono, leaving his thin robe underneath as before. Shian followed suit, her clothes joining his on the ground. Then she slipped into the water entirely and let herself float around the basin for a bit.
"Heaven…" she mumbled and she could hear Koumei chuckle to himself.

He joined her in the water and sat down on the stony ledge.
"Come here, I'll help you get the rest of the war-paint off your face."
"Good idea."

Shian waded through the water and sat down next to him. Koumei reached over to the dresser and fished a small towel out of it.
He dipped it into the warm water and then gently grabbed her chin with the other hand.
"Hold still" he ordered quietly and automatically Shian held her breath.

Carefully he started rubbing at the red stain near her lips, occasionally rewetting the towel. Shian had closed her eyes and just embraced the feeling. Having her lover touching her so gently while taking care of her made her heart flutter.
The color came off easily enough and Koumei moved onto the remains of the powder and cream that Shian hadn't washed off before.
He followed the contour of her face and when he reached her temple, Shian let out a soft whimper.

Taking the towel away Koumei could see why – he had already forgotten about the scar that she always hid so meticulously behind her hair.
"I'm sorry" he mumbled and leaned forwards, placing a delicate kiss on the sensitive tissue. A pleasant shiver went through her body and all of the sudden Koumei didn't care about the make-up anymore.

His hand slid from her chin to her neck and he pulled her closer, causing her to gasp in surprise.
"Did I startle you?" he breathed against her lips, the towel long forgotten somewhere in the pool.
"Stop talking and kiss me" she whispered back and Koumei followed this order all too gladly.

The kiss was passionate and desperate – they could feel the longing behind it, all the weeks they had spent with each other without being able to give in to their desires. With a quiet moan Koumei wrapped his free hand around her waist and pulled Shian up on his lap where she lost no time pressing her body tightly against his.
His hands wandered over her body, feeling her skin through the thin fabric of her dress and scouting for the spots that made her move her hips against him in anticipation.
He slid over her side to her thigh, his other hand finding its way into her hair.
Who knew where things might have ended that night, hadn't he-

"Ouch!"
With a jolt Koumei pulled back, a sharp sting racing through his hand just when things got heated.
Startled Shian jumped a bit, taken out of a moment.
"What happened!?"
"I don't know…"

Concerned, Koumei looked at his finger. A small trickle of blood ran down it, mixed with the drops on his skin and ran down his arms. The cut wasn't that bad but all the red water made the wound look ten times worse.

"Don't ask me how I managed that."
"I think I know…all those hairpins…"
"Those things should be classified as a military weapon."

The remark caused Shian to giggle. She was glad nothing serious happened but the mood got damped.
"Let me help."

She grabbed his wrist and brought his hand up to her lips. Without breaking eye contact, Shian let the tip of her tongue glide across the damaged skin, stopping the blood for the moment.
Despite what they had done just seconds ago, Koumei felt the blood rush to his face. Hastily he turned his head to the side and cleared his throat in a feeble attempt to regain his composure.
"Th-thanks."

With an innocent smile Shian let go of him again. She was very much aware of how her action had been perceived and she too felt the tendrils of embarrassment sneak up on her.
"You're welcome."

For a moment both of them kept quiet and sorted themselves.
"Should I help you with those needles? I don't think it would be comfortable sleeping with them."
"That would be nice, yeah."
"Alright, then turn around."

Letting herself slide backwards into the water Shian turned around before sitting down on his knees again. Her heart was still racing and her mind was clouded. She felt exhilarated but also a bit scared. Scared of herself and of Koumei.

She sighed and landed back in the present, where Koumei was busy pulling all of the hairpins out of her hair and putting them onto another towel.

"Are you alright, my Love?" Koumei asked and planted a gentle kiss on the bit of exposed skin under her neck. The gesture gave Shian goose-bumps. The good kind.

"I'm fine, just…thinking. A lot happened today."
"That's true." The next words came only hesitantly. "Do you regret accompanying me?"
"Not at all!"
Exasperated Shian turned her head to face her lover, who looked a bit like a scolded schoolboy.
Plucking the last few pins out of her hair herself and throwing them carelessly to the rest, Shian turned to her side so she could talk to him properly.
"Mei, I love you so much. I want to spend every minute I can with you, talking with you, touching you, just looking at you makes me happy. You have to trust me on that."

Her words had made Koumei all shy and flustered and so, so incredibly happy.
"I do" he smiled and gave her another kiss, a short, sweet one.
"My question was more about all the sitting around and my father to be honest. And maybe about what just happened."
"I do regret that you got hurt, yes" she winked at him but he could feel the sliver of unease behind her words. She was avoiding the answer.

"Shian, be honest with me, okay?"
Her cheeky grin made way for a shy smile.
"I am. I am just confused. It's a lot to process and I'm afraid I want to bite off more than I can chew."
"I understand. Don't hesitate to tell me what you need. I am more than ready to help you chew. Like a mother bird."

Shian laughed. "Deal!"
She slid off Koumei's knees and dipped into the water to untangle her now needle-free hair. When she came back up Koumei had already folded the towel into a neat little package so no pins would slip out.

"Now come here, I want to return the favor."
Shian pulled herself out of the water near the rocks, where she felt more protected from the outside world. She sat down on the edge, feet resting on the natural bench in the pool, and opened her legs.

Instantly Koumei turned as red as his hair and his brain went on vacation. Inexplicably he felt all hot and bothered all of the sudden.
"A-are you sure? I mean we just…uh…you…"
Finding himself unable to form coherent sentences he just closed his mouth and tried not to stare at his girlfriend.

It took a moment until Shian understood how exactly she sat there, and the second it clicked she let out a squeak and pulled her legs up close to her chest.
"No no, I just meant…not like that!"

Embarrassed she turned her head to the side and pulled her legs closer to her body.
Get a grip, Shian, she thought to herself. Can you please finally decide whether or not you're fine with this sort of thing!?

Koumei on the other hand thought the misunderstanding was quite funny. She really had looked quite suggestive but he was glad he was mistaken – his head was still spinning a bit from the scene before.
He waded over to her and kissed her on the cheek.

"I'm sorry Dear, I should have known."
"Just sit down please and let's not talk about it, okay?" She still sounded incredibly flustered and so Koumei humored her, sitting down on the stone with his back turned to her.
She extended her legs into the water, allowing Koumei to lean back against the wall.

No one said Shian was a master masseuse but she did pick up a thing or two in her time seducing customers. Gently she ran her hands across Koumei's shoulders, feeling his skin under her fingertips and searching for the right place to start.
Then she began her work and Koumei felt as if she had just pressed a switch. He slumped down more into the water and breathed a relieved sigh, eyes closing and muscles relaxing. He was sure he hadn't actually been that tension-free since a good couple of years.

Time stood still while Shian tackled his sore spots and Koumei just enjoyed the sensation of her hands on him.
The only sound was the swooshing of the water against them both, until Shian started to hum. A simple, slow melody, almost like a lullaby.

Koumei wondered if Shian wanted to have children. With their relationship being a secret they could hardly raise a family – and did he even want to? Children were an enigma to him, even Kouha had been difficult when they were younger.
Maybe he should ask her? But wasn't it way too early to think about these things? He didn't want to scare her off or even worse – pressure her into something.

While his mind had wandered he hadn't noticed that Shian had stopped. She had placed her arms loosely around his neck and snuggled up to him, he could feel her slow breathing behind his head. With a smile he bent his head to look up at her and once again he was overwhelmed by the fondness in her eyes.
Under her loving gaze his worries melted away quicker than snow in a fireplace.

"Thank you, my Love."
"Anytime."

She pulled away again and then slipped into the water next to him where he laid an arm around her shoulder to pull her close.
"We should probably head back…"
It's not like he wanted the night to end but by now the moon was already on its way back towards the horizon. If they wanted to have a productive workday they needed to catch at least a few hours of sleep.

Shian had dreaded the words ever since she had arrived at the little pond but she knew that her partner was right. She was happy but exhausted.
"Yeah, we should. It's just…so nice right now."
"I know." Koumei gave her a kiss on the temple. "But we can come back here any night we like."
"True…" she mumbled and stretched, savoring the warmth of the water one last time before getting up. She made her way through the pond and pulled herself out of it on the other side before grabbing one of the big, fluffy towels out of the drawer.
She wrapped it around herself and then watched with quite some enjoyment how her half-naked partner joined her on dry land.
How Koumei managed to keep his body in shape with him spending most of his day unmoving in an office chair would remain a mystery to her.

Sensing her eyes on him Koumei gave her a flirtatious smile and ran a hand through his hair, giving her a good look at the way his muscles reacted to the movement.
With a sheepish grin Shian turned away, gathering the needle-towel and her clothes off the floor.

Way too soon the both of them were on their way back, hand in hand under the moonlight.
"We should probably go our separate ways before entering the palace. It will be hard enough to explain why either of us is drenched and without clothes but both of us at once!?"
Shian chuckled.
"Well obviously I fell into a puddle and you had to jump in heroically to safe me."
"Yeah, that'll work" he returned, sarcastically but amused.

A couple of steps in front of the palace the gravel path split and they paused to share a last moment together.
Wrapping one hand around Shian's waist Koumei pulled her closer against his body and kissed her, gentle but intense.
Carelessly dropping her bundle of cloth to the ground Shian reacted by hugging him tightly, not wanting to let go any time soon.
Finally Koumei broke the kiss and leaned his forehead against hers.
"I love you, Shian" he whispered and he could feel the pleasant shiver that ran through his lover's body.
"I love you too", she returned, letting her hands glide down to rest on his chest. She could faintly feel his heartbeat under her fingertips and she smiled, knowing this situation was real and most importantly, it was hers.

Stealing a last, short kiss Shian pulled away and gathered her things from the floor.
"See you later?"
"Of course."

With that, the two of them separated and vanished into the night, ready to tackle everything and everyone that tried to get in their way – together.

THE END

Neither one of them had noticed the pair of cold, pale eyes that had watched them out of a dark window frame…

And it's a wrap! This marks the end of Starlight and the story of how Shian and Koumei met and fell in love. I hope you all enjoyed this journey with me.
I am so thankful for each and every review I got and I especially want to thank the people that accompanied me through the chapters and gave me feedback.

Now to address the elephant in the room - of course this is not the end of their story! I will write (or am writing) a sequel. Originally it was planned to just have everything in one story but that would have been quite long. The sequel will also have a darker tone, so if that's not your cup of tea feel free to enjoy Starlight as is.

For the rest of you, who don't mind a bit more spice and drama, I hope you will join Koumei and Shian again, once the time comes to upload the new story.

Take care guys and stay safe! I'll see you in the first chapter of "Fading night".