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Yuè · (This post was last modified: 9/14/2026, 7:24 PM by Rosie Partytime.)

Unique. Uncommon. Grace. Beauty. Heart. Soul.

Yuè wished these many compliments did not land so acutely as they did – but they nestled into the folds of her ears like so many adorations and prayers.

Softened like butter, his laugh easily elicited one of her own, though she could not place exactly what was so funny. Perhaps it was just the high of the moment; whatever it was, it didn’t matter, because Yuè’s entire countenance had visibly lightened when held in the edifying current of Rivers's energy.

Normally, she wasn’t so susceptible to flattery, but Yuè was a woman whose foundation had been previously cracked wide open. Not only because she was now a mother – a mother of princes, whereas she had once been adrift in her grief – but the unfortunate reality was that every one of her gains came with significant loss.

Shenlei had lost his claim on the Volcanic Island, and had since been focused on his new bride. Yuezhuo, as glorious as he was on the bench below, was all but ignoring her. She hadn’t known with certainty if she would see him again, and she celebrated their reunion alone. During the tour, she had believed that, once returned, he would not leave her side...

How silly of her.

Batu’s disappearance hurt perhaps most keenly of all. He had forsaken his oath, without a word – and though the Empress had to admit that was a very characteristic thing to do for the Mongol, she found a deep well of regret that she had not tried harder to make him stay and feel valued.

However, it was hard to be a player in the game from the dark depths of a whelping den. The world was moving on, quickly, and Yuè felt herself being left behind.

So, maybe she entertained River’s gaze because it distracted her; or because it felt nice to laugh; or because his fur was spectacular and his energy, magnetic; or because she was the Empress and she deserved to be fawned over, even at her most vulnerable.

The last notes of her laughter became a sincere murmuring. Seeing no reason not to close the rest of the distance between them, the silver orchid moved to sit abreast. “Do you always place your belief in beautiful things?” The woman leaned in close to share in a susurrus whisper, as if sharing a secret, “What of the ugliness in life?”

“There is no light without darkness. No projection without shadow.”

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she of the radiant moon

Common • Mandarin • Japanese • Mongolian • Cantonese

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Verdant's Grace

༻❁༺

she of the radiant moon

Common • Mandarin • Japanese • Mongolian • Cantonese