Chapter 14: Until We Meet on the Battlefield

“Your Majesty, did something just happen?”
The knight captain burst in, alarmed by the noise, his face full of concern.

“Nothing, just a noisy bat.”

Rune rubbed his forehead and shook his head. “By the way, have you found any trace of her?”

“Your Majesty, our informants say someone resembling the princess was spotted in the lower city recently, but we haven’t confirmed her exact location.”

“Should we seal the city and conduct a search?”

“No need. If it’s her, I have a way to draw her out.” Rune closed his eyes, as if savoring the quiet night.

‘It’s been two years, sister. We’ll meet again soon.’

…

The next day, Althea was roused from sleep by the clamor of a crowd in the streets.

What was going on?

She peered out the window and saw a throng gathered around a bulletin board, buzzing about its contents.
“Your Highness!” Phyllis barged in, her face alight with shock. “Did you hear? The king’s coming to the underground district to scout special acts for the festival!”

“He’s coming down here himself? Something feels… off.”

The festival never excluded the lower city, but it had never featured their performances either.
And historically, such matters were handled by subordinates, not the king in person.

This was undoubtedly a trap.
“Your Highness, should we check it out?”

“Of course. It’s a rare chance to confront him directly. Even if it’s a trap, we need to see what he’s up to.”

For now, he didn’t seem to know her exact location—or at least, he wasn’t showing outright hostility.
After dressing, Althea tied up her hair, hid it under a hat, and donned an eye mask to avoid recognition.

“Let’s go.”

The selection was held at the heart of the underground district.
A long line of hopefuls stretched nearly a hundred meters from the central square.

Althea didn’t join the queue—she stayed at a safe distance, watching to see what Rune was planning.
“Your Majesty, what do you think of our act? Guaranteed to be something the upper city’s never seen!”

A passing performer, reeking of alcohol, sprayed a mouthful at a burning stick, producing a massive fireball.
“…Why not use fire magic?”

“Uh, because this looks cooler.”

“…Next.”

The performer was ushered out before he could explain, disqualified.
“Your Majesty, let me show you a magic trick.” The next was a girl with a pockmarked face, empty-handed.

“Go ahead.”

Rune waited, but nothing happened.
“What did you do?”

“Oh, I made myself really like you, Your Majesty.”

“…”
His fist clenched.

“Haha, no need to bother—I’ll see myself out.”

The girl had just wanted a closer look at the king. “As the rumors say, silver hair, handsome, every move captivating!”

“Tch.” Rune was growing impatient.

He faintly sensed someone watching him but couldn’t pinpoint the gaze.
A gut feeling told him it was the person he was looking for.

After enduring a morning and afternoon of bizarre acts, Rune selected a few standout performances.
When the selection ended, he lingered in the square, sitting quietly on a bench.

A faint conversation reached his ears from nearby: “Are you sure you want to confront him now?”
The two had moved from their original spot into the square, no more than twenty meters from Rune.

“I have to. He’s been waiting for me.”

The silver-haired boy remained still, as if inviting them closer.
“Let’s keep this distance, Rune.”

“Alright, sister.”

He stood, turned, and met their eyes.
“It’s been a while. These past two years…”

“Cut to the chase. These two years haven’t been great for me. Is that what you wanted to hear?” Althea interrupted the greeting he’d rehearsed in his mind.

“I’m sorry…”

“Why apologize? Driving me out, killing Father—wasn’t that what you always wanted?”

Her accusation silenced Rune for a moment. “You’re right, sister. I know nothing I do can earn your forgiveness. I’m not asking for it.”

“Then what are you doing here? Just catching up?”

“Of course not. You want to take back the throne, don’t you?”

“Yes and no. I just want to pull you off that throne before your schemes harm the people.”

“So… you’ve figured it out.”

Rune spread his arms. “Here I am, defenseless. Will you strike?”

“Don’t try to guilt me with family ties. You’re not my brother anymore.” Althea gritted her teeth, rationality holding her back from cutting down the seemingly unguarded king.

“Heh, if you don’t act now, you won’t get another chance.”

“I’ll bring you down justly, not through bloodshed.”

“Is that so? Then give up now and leave the city while you can still live.”

“After being hunted by you for so long, hearing that from you is almost laughable, Your Majesty.”

Their verbal sparring was relentless, neither yielding.
“Fine. Let’s settle this at the festival.”

Rune detonated a hidden smoke bomb, vanishing into a cloud of black mist.
He’d gone to great lengths to drive Althea out of Kellivir, yet she refused to leave.

One thing stuck in his throat, unsaid until the end—
What if everything he’d done was for her sake?

It was an absurd notion, one even he questioned.
But back then, it was the only way.

…

“He got away.” Althea wasn’t too surprised.

“I knew he was on guard. Even if we’d attacked, he’d have slipped away in that smoke,” Phyllis said, still holding her weapon, disappointed at letting the target escape.

“He didn’t attack us either, did he?”

“True, but—huh, something’s up with the crystal ball.”

Althea pulled out the small orb, hearing a familiar voice:
“Your Highness, what’re you up to?”

It was unmistakably Tina, keeping her promise to call daily.
“Catching up with an old acquaintance. Just finished.”

“Ohh—time for your daily story, then! By the way, we’ve confirmed the lab’s location. We’re checking it out tomorrow, and…”

Tina rambled on excitedly.
Althea listened quietly, holding the crystal ball. “Let’s head back, Phyllis.”

She glanced back at the spot where the smoke had cleared.
The prince she once knew was gone—

And she had already found her knight.

Chapter 14.5: Head Chef, What’s for Dinner Today?

What did the term “knight” mean to Althea?

Perhaps in the bedtime stories she’d heard as a child, the knight was always the one charging into danger, slaying dragons, and rescuing the princess. Yet, in those tales, it was often someone else who ended up marrying her.

To love each other but be unable to stay together—such tragedies were unacceptable to Althea.
In her heart, a knight was the embodiment of justice and bravery: someone who’d risk everything to save her in danger, comfort her in sorrow, and trust her completely at all times.

Gender and motives didn’t matter. She believed that in any parallel world, if she met her ideal knight, she’d fall for them without hesitation.
And right now, only one person fit that ideal.

“Your Highness, are you listening?”
Tina had been chattering through the crystal ball for a while, but no response came.

“Hm? I’m listening.”

“Good. I’ve got a little surprise for you today.”

“A surprise?” Althea was caught off guard. “Hard to believe you were asking me to come find you yesterday, and now you’ve got a surprise ready?”

It felt unreal, like an iron tree blooming after years of effort.
“Hey, don’t make me sound so unromantic! I put a lot of thought into this.”

“You’re being so mysterious—what is it?” Althea’s curiosity was piqued.

“It’s a secret for now. You’ll see when you get to the door~.”

Shaking off the melancholy from her encounter with her brother, Althea hurried back to the Great Sage’s shop, her mood lifted.
As she entered, a neatly placed package sat on the dining table, a faint aroma wafting through the air.

Tyr, seeing them return, looked puzzled. “What’s this package? I don’t recall ordering anything.”

“It’s from Tina,” Althea explained. “Let’s open it and see.”

The answer was obvious even before unwrapping—the scent of food hit their noses, tantalizing their taste buds.
“Wow, is this from a royal chef? Tina dear packed and sent this?” Phyllis gaped at the spread: rich red wine-braised beef, caramel pudding, puff pastry apple rolls, and other exotic dishes she couldn’t name.

It was a complete meal, from mains to desserts.
“Hey, not just packed! I used palace ingredients, but I made it all myself!” Tina’s smug voice practically materialized through the crystal ball.

“Really? Tina dear’s a secret master chef?”

Phyllis, ever the hype-woman, set out the tableware eagerly.
“Of course! I trained for a while back in the day.”

In her past life, though a shut-in, Tina prided herself on her cooking. She never ordered takeout, handling all three meals for her family. Years of practice had turned her into a young “housewife” of sorts.

She knew nothing beat coming home after a tiring day to a warm, lovingly prepared meal—not even Althea was immune to that.
Of course, they were just friends, not lovers. Tina made this meal to test if her cooking skills held up in this world.

Judging by the looks of it, she hadn’t lost her touch.
“Your Highness, aren’t you eating?” Phyllis was practically drooling but didn’t dare start without Althea, who seemed lost in thought.

“Oh, right, let’s eat.”

Althea snapped out of her reverie.
Moments ago, her mind had wandered to a future where Tina, in an apron, prepared daily meals at home, greeting her with, “Welcome back, darling. Dinner, bath, or… me first?”

In that moment, she glimpsed a harmonious, blissful life—so perfect she didn’t want to wake from the dream, yearning to stay in it forever.
But it was an illusion. She had feelings for Tina, but Tina might not feel the same.

Sigh, another fantasy—a devoted wife who’d love her wholeheartedly, following her to the ends of the earth.
“Your Highness, why do you look sadder the more you eat?”

Phyllis watched Althea go from bliss to looking like she might cry.
“Did I steal your food? I’ll stop—leave it all for you!”

“No, it’s not that. It’s my issue.”

Despite saying they’d share, Althea ended up devouring nearly everything.
It was too delicious. Tears of frustration turned into ravenous appetite—she polished it off.

After dinner, back in their rooms, only Tina and Althea remained on either end of the crystal ball.
Tina hadn’t said much earlier, worried Althea didn’t like her cooking, thinking it was so bad it brought tears.

But seeing her eat so eagerly—stuffing herself silly—Tina relaxed.
“So, Your Highness, were you thinking about something sad earlier?” Tina asked curiously.

“Sort of…” Althea replied absently, pausing before continuing slowly. “I was thinking your cooking rivals the palace chefs. It’s made with so much more heart.”

“Hehe, that kind of praise’ll go to my head, Your Highness.”

“Probably just this once, though? You won’t keep cooking, will you?”

The longing in Althea’s voice was obvious, even to a blockhead.
“Hard to say. If Your Highness wants, once you’re queen, I could be your personal chef.”

“Really?” Althea’s eyes lit up.

“Of course! Whatever you need, I’ll do my best to deliver. Cooking’s a piece of cake.”

“But I…” Althea felt a vague, unspoken desire.

She wanted Tina to cook for her always—only for her.
Not just that, but to ease her daily stresses, to do everything for her.

It was a selfish thought, monopolizing Tina, leaving her no space.
But just imagining it felt so blissful.

“But you…?” Tina prompted, hearing Althea trail off.

“Nothing. Let’s make it official—if I become queen, you’ll cook for me forever, okay?”

“Forever, huh? You’re so greedy, Your Highness.”

Tina gave a helpless smile. “Since you’re such a glutton, I’ll just have to keep you well-fed.”

Hearing that, Althea flung herself onto the bed, her face glowing with a lovesick grin. “Tina, tonight’s bedtime story?”

“Mm, tonight, let’s do one about a head chef and a greedy little princess…”