I Refused The Male Lead And Got Claimed By His Triplet Sisters [GL]

Chapter 110: Bald Princesses

Morning came too quietly. No storm. No voices. No lingering echoes of the night before. Just a pale wash of light creeping over the village, brushing rooftops in soft gold, as if nothing in the world had shifted.

But something had.

Ru Yi stood outside the inn long before anyone else stirred.

The air was cool, damp with the remnants of night. A thin veil of mist clung low to the ground, curling around her ankles like something reluctant to let go.

She hadn’t gone back to sleep. Not after that nightmare. Her fingers tightened at her side.

For a moment—just a moment—she thought she could still smell it. The blood and despair that had been thick in the air.

"You’re up early." Yexue’s voice broke gently through the stillness.

Ru Yi didn’t turn around immediately. "So are you."

Yexue stepped beside her, arms loosely crossed, gaze sweeping over Ru Yi in one quiet assessing glance.

Concern flickered in her expression. "Why didn’t you come back to bed?"

Ru Yi finally turned her head slightly, just enough to meet Yexue’s eyes. And then just as quietly she looked away. "I needed some alone time with my thoughts."

It wasn’t completely a lie.

"Ru Yi..." Yexue could sense the unease that was radiating off her. "What happened? You know you can talk to me about anything."

The question lingered in the space between them. Too heavy. Too close.

Ru Yi’s chest tightened. She could still see it. The blonde hair soaked completely in blood. Their still unmoving bodies.

Yexue’s face— Blood where tears should’ve been.

Why did you betray us?

Ru Yi’s fingers curled tighter. "It’s nothing. There’s no need for you to be worried about me."

Yexue could feel Ru Yi’s walls growing between them, yet she could nothing but stare helplessly from the other side.

"Ru Yi...You know I’ll do anything for you. Just tell me what the problem is."

"It’s really nothing," she replied. This time her voice was flat and final.

How could she tell Yexue to her face that she had a nightmare where she murdered her sisters? Or that she had slain an entire arm with a shadow bound to her arm?

Yexue stood there, studying her. Longer this time.

She was searching—not for the words Ru Yi said, but the ones she refused. Still, she didn’t push it. But she didn’t step away either.

Ru Yi closed her eyes briefly.

I saw you die.

I saw them die.

And I was standing above it all like it was my fault.

If she said it, if she gave the words shape...it might become something real. And the last thing she wanted was to live in a world where the triplets died by her hands.

Ru Yi’s gaze drifted downward, settling on her own hands. For the briefest moment something flickered along her wrist.

It was dark, faint and cold. Gone before it truly formed.

Her breath went still. It was the shadow.

It had protected her, healed her, and moved on its own. And in the dream it had answered to someone that wasn’t her.

Her expression darkened. She had to understand what the shadow was as soon as possible. Before it decided to act again.

"We should leave soon," Yexue said after a while, breaking the quiet. "Let’s go inside and prepare with the others."

Ru Yi nodded.

Yexue stretched out her hand and sighed in relief when Ru Yi took it. "Qingyue wants us to cut our hair so we don’t look recognizable."

Ru Yi nodded in understanding. "She wants to go under a disguise. It’ll be safer to travel that way."

Yexue turned to Ru Yi with a pout. "But my long hair will be gone. What if I look ugly without it?"

Ru Yi stopped walking and ran her fingers through Yexue’s blonde strands. "I’ll still find you beautiful." She placed a chaste on the corner of her mouth. "We’ll be traveling through mountains which means fewer people...but also fewer places to hide if someone recognizes you."

Yexue nodded in understanding. "It makes complete sense. But I can’t help but feel sad."

Ru Yi patted her head in a comforting manner. "I’m sorry you have to do this."

"It’s not your fault."

"And we have to wear men’s clothes. Why do I have to look hideous now that I’ve finally worn you over?"

Ru Yi squeezed Yexue’s hand. "I’ll still be here even if you go completely bald."

"You’re lying." Yexue’s eyes shone with mischief. "Prove it."

Ru Yi laughed and it was the most beautiful sound Yexue ever heard. "Cut all your hair off and we’ll see."

Though Ru Yi knew Yexue would be beautiful regardless, whether she had hair or not didn’t matter. It made her wonder how someone as beautiful as Yexue had even paid attention to her.

What would happen if they finally reclaimed the throne and realized Ru Yi wasn’t someone that could stand beside them. If it wasn’t for their exile, she wouldn’t even get the chance to be in the same space as them.

Yexue noticed the change in her countenance. "Hey! Why do you look sad?" She held Ru Yi’s face. "I’m not going bald, okay?"

Ru Yi smiled despite the turmoil going on in her heart. "Let’s go cut your hair and see if I still find you attractive."

A sly smile was on Yexue’s face. "So you find me attractive right now?"

"I—" Ru Yi walked right into that one on her own.

"Is it the eyes? I know I have charming eyes..." She peered deep into Ru Yi’s face. "Tell me they’re mesmerizing."

Ru Yi stared into the reddish brown eyes that adored her. "They truly are. It was the first thing about you that stood out to me."

"So you were attracted to me on the very first day?" Yexue leaned in, trapping her opponent. "Admit it. You liked me first."

Ru Yi scoffed. "Not exactly. If anything you were threatening and—"

"Hot?" She wiggled her brows. "I know girls like that sort of thing. Wait!" Something clicked in her head. "If you find me attractive, does it mean you find my sisters attractive too?"