A brow had carefully rose across her expression in quiet curiosity as the man spoke—well, of course, the Princess wanted to say, she had used the common tongue after all—but then her mind recalled the exact words she had utilized and out of habit, she realized she had spoken in Mandarin, after all.

—Huh, and he knew it.

His apparent excitement over the information brought a curious look glimmering behind her own olive-toned eyes, and with a twist of her ear, she settled herself into a neat, poised stance a few feet from him.

He was quick to offer her an apology, which the Princess took willingly—accepted beneath a dipping chin—but soon after, so too did her ears hear the honor of his name. 

Zhū Huīrén.

She had never heard of him—not from her own home—but paired with his explanation of this world, she was certain he must’ve just awoken.

Zhū Huīrén, She pleasantly rolled the name atop her tongue. She liked the taste of it in her mouth. You are new to this world, then, yes?

Her head tilted once as her eyes surveyed the other. This world has a funny little habit of taking things that do not belong to it and placing them here… Her eyes gave a quick roll to accompany the vastness of the world. But do not fret; you are surrounded by friends.

Oh! Right, her name.

She dipped her chin lightly as her own title rolled easily from her lips: My name is Téng Fen, daughter of our Emperor Shenlei and Princess of the Tianlong Dynasty.

Only a beat of silence followed before her gaze flickered toward Huīrén's own. Are you in need of a home, sir?