The Prince Took a Liking to Me After I Became an Assassin

That day, the cold rain cut to the bone. Jiang Yan was like a stray dog by the roadside, curled up in the mud, waiting to die.

Suddenly, an umbrella tilted over his head. The instant he looked up, he saw a pair of eyes as deep as the abyss.

The man who took him in was Chu Shunting, Prince Heng of the Great Sheng Dynasty.

Prince Heng gave him a name and bestowed two curved blades upon him, leaving him with one cold remark:

"Your life belongs to me. You will be my blade."

Or else, death.

Jiang Yan accepted without hesitation. From then on, he lived by the blade, never begrudging death or danger.

They say those born into the imperial family care only for power, not love.

At first, Jiang Yan believed it too.

But after a while, he gradually discovered that the supposedly cold-blooded, heartless prince seemed... not quite as others described.

Jiang Yan's duty was to protect his master. Getting hurt and putting himself in danger came with the job. Prince Heng understood this better than anyone. And yet, whenever Jiang Yan was injured, Chu Shunting would change his bandages and care for him, all while speaking harshly. When Jiang Yan was in danger, Chu Shunting would furrow his brow without even realizing it.

Until one day, Jiang Yan was so badly injured that he nearly lost consciousness. Chu Shunting lost his composure and gathered him into his arms. "I brought you home. Your life is mine, and so are you."

"I won't let you die. You're going to live, and live well."

As his consciousness faded, Jiang Yan saw what seemed to be fear for the first time in those usually indifferent eyes.

Ever since Jiang Yan began appearing in public, everyone could see how close the prince was to this bodyguard.

He could come and go from the prince's chambers as he pleased. The prince and his bodyguard ate at the same table, and the prince took him along as a personal escort whenever he went out. Even at night, they...

What others didn't know was that they had shared a bed and been intimate long ago. The man in the higher position had loved him without realizing it, thinking: He's only a death warrior. There's no harm in sharing a bed with him.

Later, in a scene that felt like their first meeting all over again, Chu Shunting heard Jiang Yan ask,

"My lord, why did you save me back then?"

And... why had he... kept tempting him to grow close, again and again?

Chu Shunting's fingers slowly traced from his shoulder blade to his jaw. He gave a lazy laugh. "Of course, because you're good-looking."

Looking at his flippant expression, Jiang Yan found the answer plausible enough. But the usually guarded young bodyguard was determined to get a straight answer this time.

"Then why did Your Highness personally care for me after I was injured? Why did you help me apply medicine... why did you..."

Chu Shunting's hand trembled.

It was a question he had never consciously considered, but one that had lately grown clearer and clearer in his mind.

That day, when he saved Jiang Yan under the umbrella, he thought he'd picked up a useful blade. He never imagined that his words, "Your life belongs to me," would end up coming true for him instead.

Chu Shunting smiled, saying one thing while feeling another.

"What do you think?"

Of course, it was because he'd fallen in love with him.

Only later did he learn that Jiang Yan loved him a hundred times more, with his name carved into the very depths of his heart.

[Bonus Scene]

Jiang Yan returned covered in fresh wounds. Chu Shunting's face darkened as he took out the medicine and applied it.

Jiang Yan: "Your Highness, they're only minor injuries. They don't hurt."

Chu Shunting ignored him. His hand tightened as he began wrapping the bandages, making Jiang Yan hiss in pain.

"Didn't you say it didn't hurt?" Chu Shunting glanced up at him, then gentled his touch, though his words remained sharp. "Next time you come back covered in blood, don't get in my bed."

"...?" What does one thing have to do with the other?

[Reading Guide]

1. Old-school angsty melodrama ahead. Happy ending! Happy ending! A capital-letter happy ending! There will be a somewhat unconventional groveling arc, if you count it as one;

2. The political scheming is simple, and the fictional dynasty is not based on any specific historical period. Please don't scrutinize the details too closely;

3. As always, romance and plot progress side by side. The story features plenty of flashbacks. The main text doesn't open with the events in the blurb. Early on, they share a bed but not their hearts. In time, they come to understand their feelings and fall in love;

4. Primarily told from the bottom's perspective, with occasional chapters from the top's or other characters' perspectives. The bottom gets injured often, but there is no graphic physical abuse. Readers who mind this, please proceed with caution or be gentle in the comments;

Finally, [Writing is hard. If you like it, please add it to your favorites~]

Theme: Loving without hesitation