Chapter 271: Unforgettable Old Love

“Phil, let’s take a walk.”

Tii said. The setting sun’s afterglow bathed the stone path in a golden halo.

The two walked side by side. Tii’s red hair blazed like a fiery cloud, while Phil’s cat ears twitched gently in the breeze, her fur shimmering with a pearly luster.

The wooden sign at the tavern entrance creaked in the wind.

The two pushed open the door, and the sign let out a soft sound.

Dried ivy climbed over the wooden fence, and the air was thick with the bitter scent of hops and the aged fragrance of old timber.

Tii walked straight to the high counter in the corner, her boot heels tapping a crisp rhythm on the red brick floor.

The front desk was a middle-aged woman missing a front tooth. Seeing them enter, she immediately broke into a wrinkled smile.

“Miss Tii, here for a drink again today?”

She teased as she pushed two full glasses of beer across.

As the foam surged, Phil wrinkled her nose.

“When did you learn to drink?”

Tii raised an eyebrow and chuckled.

“Take a guess.”

Before the words faded, she tipped her head back and downed half the beer.

Phil took a cautious sip. Bitterness spread on her tongue, and she immediately wrinkled her nose, making a face as if to spit it out.

Tii burst out laughing, pulled a honey candy from her pocket, and stuffed it into Phil’s mouth.

“Fesca didn’t teach you that bit of manners?”

“You—hmph!”

Phil angrily grabbed the glass of water on the table and gulped it down.

“I should have known not to come out with you!”

She didn’t notice Tii tapping her glass with her knuckles.

In those emerald eyes hid some indescribable emotion.

“Haha, don’t be mad.”

Tii suddenly changed the subject.

“Alright, alright, let’s drop it. How have you been lately? I heard you saved the chieftain of the Helu Orc Tribe at the Royal Hospital?”

Phil’s ears pricked up alertly, and her cat tail swished impatiently under the bench.

“So what if I did… It was just handling an ordinary knife wound. Those nobles love making a big deal out of everything.”

“That matter made you quite famous. People everywhere are talking about your medical skill.”

“That’s because Blitz taught me well…”

Phil’s ears suddenly drooped. She unconsciously fiddled with the condensed water droplets on the table.

“Enough about me—what about you? Tii, you haven’t told me about yourself yet.”

Phil said discontentedly.

“Me? Nothing special lately.”

Tii suddenly wiped the smile off her face.

The clink of glasses carried a note of seriousness.

“My work isn’t interesting—just intelligence sorting. An ancient ruin was discovered north of the territory, containing the Beastmen’s ancient runes. The Ansels Intelligence Department is sending people to investigate. They’re worried it could become the spark for the next conflict.”

“This kingdom is still far from true peace.”

She raised her glass. The liquor shimmered like crushed gold in the twilight.

“To the soldiers on the border.”

Phil said nothing. Tii could tell she had something on her mind.

Actually, Tii had her own worries too.

The two drank in silence for a while longer.

The twilight outside the window deepened. Phil suddenly spoke, her voice as light as falling snow.

“Tii, how long has it been since you last saw her?”

Tii’s fingers paused slightly. Ripples formed in the beer glass.

She lowered her eyelids, her fiery hair tips tinged with lead-gray twilight.

“A very, very long time.”

“Ever since the Queen ascended the throne, she’s been staying in the palace. The last time I saw her was when the Queen took her out.”

Her lips moved, her tone carrying a hint of self-mockery.

“Now Little Su Ling is the Queen’s favorite. It’s hard even to get a glimpse of her.”

“As for me, I still miss the old days sometimes.”

Phil fell silent. Who in the court didn’t know how the Queen doted on Su Ling?

The whispers in the gilded corridors, the morning light filtered through velvet curtains—all had become an insurmountable barrier separating them from Su Ling.

“Hey, now I get it! Tii, you—”

Phil suddenly slammed her glass onto the oak table.

Amber-colored liquor splashed onto her white sleeve.

“Coming to me today, talking about catching up… you just wanted to vent, didn’t you!”

“You’re not even someone who can drink!”

The cat-eared girl leaned forward, her pupils narrowing to slits in the oil lamp light, as if she could see through people.

Tii’s glass hung in midair. Foam slowly collapsed along the rim.

In the corner, a lute player was strumming an out-of-tune folk song.

In the gaps between the vibrating strings, she heard her own heartbeat pounding like a drum.

‘That’s right.’

She wasn’t good at drinking. When had she started drinking?

Perhaps it was one evening when she saw Su Ling passing by in the Queen’s carriage.

Perhaps it was that rainy night when she was stopped by guards outside the palace’s rose garden.

Those unspoken confessions had all turned into bitter liquor burning down her throat.

Watching Tii’s wistful expression, Phil’s voice suddenly rang out, carrying a barely perceptible tremor.

“Tii, let me ask you something.”

“What exactly is your relationship with Su Ling?”

Her fingertips lightly tapped the rim of the glass.

Her cat ears twitched slightly, as if holding back some emotion.

“Does it matter? Now she’s the Queen’s most beloved.”

Tii’s tone was light, as if talking about something trivial.

But her knuckles were turning white from the grip.

“Who are you kidding?”

Phil suddenly raised her voice, drawing looks from nearby tables.

She had to lower her voice, her golden pupils fixed on Tii.

“Especially you, Tii!”

“Ever since back in the castle, you’ve liked Su Ling, haven’t you?”

“Hmph, don’t think I can’t tell!”

Tii’s fingers tightened on the glass. The dim tavern light cast wavering shadows on her face.

Those emerald eyes grew even deeper.

“Haha… is it that obvious?”

She finally spoke. Her smile was weak.

Her voice was so light it was almost drowned out by the tavern’s noise.

Phil snorted coldly. Her tail flicked impatiently.

“Of course!”

“Every time Su Ling appears, your eyes look like you’ve lost your soul. You follow her around all day, yet you pretend it’s a coincidence.”

A wry smile tugged at Tii’s lips. Memories flooded back like a tide.

Su Ling straightening her maid’s apron in the morning light.

The moment her silver hair flew as she picked roses in the garden.

And that rainy night. The lingering warmth of hiding from the rain together under the tower.

“And you?”

Tii pulled herself out of her thoughts and suddenly asked back.

“That little rabbit doll you keep—you made it to resemble Su Ling, didn’t you?”

Phil’s cat ears instantly perked up. Her cheeks flushed red.

“Th-that was just for practice!”

The air between them seemed to freeze.

The tavern’s noise gradually faded. As if separated by a thick sheet of frosted glass.

Only a muffled hum remained. The twilight outside the window deepened.

The last ray of sunset passed through the stained glass, casting multicolored spots on the worn wooden floor.

In the distance, the palace spires appeared and disappeared in the dusk.

The gilded dome reflected the sunset’s glow, like an unreachable dream.

A few crows returning to their nests streaked across the sky, carving black silhouettes against the violet firmament.

The candle flame on the wooden table flickered gently.

Casting shifting light and shadow between the two.

Tii unconsciously turned her glass. The amber liquor reflected the candlelight.

Phil’s fingers gently traced the rim of her glass.

Her nails tapped the glass with a tiny crisp sound.

Her cat ears twitched slightly, catching the metallic clink of armor from patrolling guards in the distance.

“Should we go find her?”

Phil suddenly lowered her voice.

“Sneak in.”

Tii’s head shot up. The light in her eyes reminded Phil of stars seen on night patrol.

But in the next second, the light dimmed.

“Maybe we should forget it…”

“That’s why we have to sneak in!”

Phil grabbed her wrist.

“Are you willing to just—just cut ties with Su Ling like this?”

“You used to be an assassin! If you want to go see her, you have plenty of ways!”

Phil grew more and more agitated. It made Tii’s heart tremble.

Those thoughts she had tried to suppress countless times could no longer be contained.

The desire to see Su Ling gradually overwhelmed everything else.

Tii’s figure looked especially fragile in the dim tavern light.

As if steeped in twilight. Her gaze wandered between Phil’s cat ears and her own glass.

A flicker of conflict passed through her eyes.

But it was quickly replaced by determination.

She took a deep breath. As if she wanted to inhale all hesitation into her lungs, then exhale forcefully.

“Phil, do you know what this means?”

Her voice was low and hoarse. As if squeezed from the depths of her heart.

“Ansels’ guards are more vigilant than ever, and the Queen’s wariness is even higher.”

“Even so, I’m going to find Su Ling.”

Phil’s attitude was unexpectedly firm. That firmness also infected Tii.

“Alright.”

Tii finally spoke. Her voice was very soft, but full of resolve.

“We’ll go.”

A look of surprise appeared on Phil’s face.

She firmly held Tii’s hand.

“Really?”

Tii nodded. Her red hair shone brightly in the light.

“Really.”

She really wanted to see Su Ling. Wanted to ask that silver-haired girl if she still remembered the veiled proposal in the chapel back then.