“Your Majesty, did something just happen?” The Royal Guard Captain burst in anxiously after hearing the noise outside.
“It’s nothing, just a noisy bat.”
Lu En 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 has been spotted recently in the Undercity, but her exact location hasn’t been confirmed.”
“Should we lock down the city and launch a full search?”
“No need. If it’s really her, I have a way to lure her out.” Lu En closed his eyes, seeming to savor the tranquility of the deep night.
It’s been two years… and soon, we will meet again, sister.
***
The next day, Lia was woken from her sleep by the noise of crowds on the street.
What’s going on?
Looking out the window, she saw a group of commoners crowding around a bulletin board, commenting on its contents.
“Your Highness!” Phyllis burst in, surprise written all over her face. “Did you know the King said he’s coming to the Underground District to find some special acts for this year’s Carnival?”
“He’s personally coming to the Undercity? That feels… off somehow.”
Though the Carnival never excludes people from the Undercity, it’s never accepted performances from here.
Moreover, previous kings always left the organization to their subordinates—it’s unprecedented for the King himself to show up.
—This is definitely a trap.
“Then, Your Highness, shall we go see for ourselves?”
“Of course. Opportunities to see him in person are rare. Even if it’s a trap, we have to find out what he really wants.”
After preparing her outfit, Lia tied up her hair, pulled on a hat to cover it all, and wore a mask to prevent being recognized.
“Let’s go.”
The venue for this selection was right at the center of the Underground District.
At the moment, a long line stretched nearly a hundred meters at the Central Square.
Lia naturally wouldn’t queue up; she kept a safe distance, observing to see what tricks Lu En was up to.
“Your Majesty, how about this act? I guarantee it’s something the Upper City has never seen!” A passing performer, slightly drunk, blew a giant fireball by spitting into a burning stick.
“Why not use fire magic?”
“Uh, because it looks more interesting this way.”
“…F-1…” Before the artist could explain, the guards chased him off, disqualifying him.
“Your Majesty, let me perform a magic trick for you. Next is a girl who came empty-handed, her face covered in pimples.”
“Go ahead.”
Lu En waited for a while, but the girl showed no signs of starting.
“What did you perform?”
“Ah, I’ve grown to really like you, Your Majesty.”
His fist clenched tightly.
“Haha, no trouble needed, I’ll leave on my own.”
The girl only wanted to get a close look at the King’s charm. “As the rumors say—silver hair, handsome youth, every move is captivating!”
“Tsk.” Lu En grew impatient.
At that moment, he vaguely sensed someone watching him but couldn’t pinpoint the gaze.
Probably some kind of telepathy, he guessed—that must be the person he was looking for.
After a whole morning and afternoon of entertaining all kinds of strange people, Lu En finally selected a few representative acts.
When the selection ended, he deliberately stayed at the Central Square, quietly sitting on a bench.
Nearby, a faint conversation drifted over:
“Are you sure you really want to find him now?”
The two had moved closer into the square, no more than twenty meters from Lu En.
“I have to. He’s been waiting for me a long time too.”
The silver-haired youth remained unmoved on the bench, as if inviting them to come closer.
“Let’s keep this distance, Lu En.”
“Alright, sister.”
He rose from the bench, turned back, and locked eyes with the two.
“Long time no see. These two years…”
“Cut the small talk. These two years, I haven’t been doing well. Is that the answer you want to hear?” Lia interrupted the greeting Lu En had long rehearsed in his mind.
“Why apologize? Driving me away, killing our father—isn’t that exactly what you’ve been hoping for all along?”
The girl’s accusation silenced Lu En for a moment. “You’re right, sister. I know whatever I do, I won’t win your forgiveness. I’m not asking for it either.”
“If that’s the case, let’s get to business. Why are you here? Just to reminisce?”
“Of course not, sister. What you want now is to reclaim the throne, right?”
“Yes and no. I just want to remove you from the throne so your schemes won’t harm the people.”
“So… you’ve found out, huh.”
Lu En spread his arms wide. “So? I’m standing here, waiting to be slaughtered. Will you strike?”
“Don’t use so-called family ties to blackmail me. You’re no longer my brother.” Lia gritted her teeth but, out of reason, refrained from killing this seemingly defenseless King on the spot.
“Heh, if you don’t act now, there won’t be another chance.”
“I’ll remove you justly, not with mere bloodshed.”
“Is that so? Then I suggest you give up early. Leave this city if you want to survive.”
“You’ve been hunting me for so long, and yet I hear such words from you? Isn’t that a bit ridiculous, Your Majesty?”
The two traded barbs, neither yielding.
“Fine, then let’s settle this at the Carnival. We’ll make it final then…”
Lu En detonated a Smoke Bomb concealed in his hand, leaving behind a cloud of black smoke before vanishing without a trace.
He had once tried every method to drive Lia out of the Keliville Kingdom, but she refused to leave.
There was a line stuck in his throat, something he never said until the end.
—What if all of this… was for your own good, sister?
It was an absurd conclusion even he doubted.
But at that time, it was the only way.
***
“He ran.” Lia wasn’t surprised.
“I knew that guy was always guarding against us. If we had attacked directly earlier, he’d probably have escaped the same way with smoke.”
Phyllis held her weapon, disappointed at letting the target slip away.
“He didn’t attack us though, did he?”
“That’s true, but hey, there seems to be something on the Crystal Ball.”
Lia pulled out a small orb and immediately heard a voice from within:
“Princess, what are you busy with?”
No doubt, it was Tina. She already knew to call every day.
“Just catching up with an old acquaintance. We just finished.”
“Oh! Today I’ll keep telling stories for Your Highness. By the way, we’ve confirmed the lab’s location. Tomorrow we’ll investigate. Then…”
Tina talked non-stop.
Lia silently listened while holding the Crystal Ball. “Let’s go back, Phyllis.”
She glanced back once at the spot where the smoke had long since dispersed.
The prince who once was had died—
And she had finally found the knight meant for her.
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