Shadow Guard: Does This Count as a Romantic Encounter?

[Short Story]

Zhaoyue is a spoiled princess.

She is the king's precious darling, and no one in or out of the palace dares go against her wishes.

But lately, the high-ranking officials in the royal city have noticed a change in Zhaoyue. She's become gentle, courteous, and mild-mannered, as if she's become a different person!

General Zhaowu doesn't think much of it, but the secret guard assigned to watch over him has noticed something amiss.

Why has the little princess, who never paid attention to worldly affairs, started socializing with the ministers? And why have the royal princes and nobles, who were always busy indulging in pleasure, started working hard?!

The secret guard Bai Yi is ordered to spy on the little princess.

He thinks it'll be an easy assignment, but soon discovers that the princess's daily life is not as proper as the rumors claim.

Crossing a river by an unguarded ford, traveling by night, breaking into a bandits' den, meeting the leader of the martial world's villains...

Things seem to be taking a strange turn.

*

Zhaoyue has seen her homeland shattered.

She wakes up one day, back in the past.

She hooks a delicate finger under the chin of the handsome youth sent to watch her. Her cherry-red lips part, her eyes sparkle, and she smiles sweetly. "Have you fallen for me?"

The handsome young man, fair as jade, turns his head slightly. His gaze remains as cold as ever, but a flush spreads across his face.

Theme: Love arrives when you least expect it