Chapter 45: Villainess Princess × Slave (8)

"Listen to me, slave," Lyra whispered sharply, glaring up at him. "If you prove to be nice, keep your mouth shut, and don’t bust this princess to the head maid... this princess promises to reward you!"

Cassian raised one eyebrow, his lips twitching upward into a slow smirk. "A reward... Your Highness?"

"Yes!" Lyra sneered proudly, crossing her arms over her chest. "If you keep my secret and help me escape this terrible etiquette class today... I will reward you with no torture for a whole week! No whips, no cold dungeons, and no heavy labor! What do you think of that?!"

Cassian stared down at her in absolute, stunned silence.

For the first time since he had been captured and brought to this enemy kingdom as a slave, Cassian Draven felt genuinely speechless.

No torture for a week...? Cassian thought, his mind trying to process the absurdity of her offer. She escaped her own palace tutors, dragged me into a dark hallway, and offered me ’no torture’ as a grand reward?

Looking at her hopeful face- her eyes shining with pride as if she had just offered him a pot of pure gold- a sudden feeling bubbled up deep within Cassian’s chest.

It was ridiculous. It was completely absurd. But for the very first time in three long bitter years of loss, war, and bloodshed... Cassian felt a genuine spark of amusement.

His cold smirk slowly softened into a quiet chuckle.

"No torture for a whole week..." Cassian murmured softly, leaning his shoulder against the stone wall as his pitch-black eyes gleamed with a strange curiosity. "That is indeed a very generous reward, Princess."

Lyra puffed out her small chest, completely unaware of his internal amusement. "Hmph! Of course it is! I am a very generous princess! Now, follow me quietly before those old tutors find us!"

She turned on her slippers, sneaking down the dark servant passage with quick steps.

Cassian stood in the shadows for a split second, looking at her retreating back, before his eyes narrowed in deep thought.

Princess Lyra... he thought, his chest rising as he let out a quiet breath, stepping smoothly into the light to follow her. Who are you really?

----------------------

Sneaking through the winding, dusty servant tunnels of the royal palace felt like navigating a giant maze. Lyra held up the heavy hem of her gown, her heart pounding in her ears. Walking two steps behind her silently was Cassian.

"System," Lyra whispered frantically under her breath, her eyes darting left and right. "Where does this tunnel lead?!"

Ding!

[ Keep going straight, Host! ] the System chimed happily in her head. [ This secret passage leads straight to the abandoned outer stables, right near the side gate of the capital city! ]

After ten tense minutes of sneaking past sleeping guards and doors, they finally pushed open a narrow stone trapdoor hidden behind a patch of overgrown ivy. Warm air washed over Lyra’s face. She stepped out into a small alleyway lined with broken wooden wagons and high stone walls.

"We made it!" Lyra squeaked, letting out a massive breath of pure relief. She spun around, looking back at Cassian.

He stood at the mouth of the tunnel, his dark eyes scanning the quiet alley. "Princess," he said raspy and low, his gaze dropping to her sweeping silk gown embroidered with genuine gold thread. "You cannot walk into the lower capital dressed like that. You will attract every thief within ten miles."

Lyra blinked, looking down at her lavish clothes. "Oh... right. Hold on!"

She marched over to a clothesline stretched between two old wooden houses where simple linen garments were hanging out to dry. She pulled out a small pouch from her sleeve, dropping three bright silver coins into a nearby empty bucket on the porch.

"Consider this a very generous purchase!" Lyra giggled, snagging a simple brown wool cloak, a beige cotton dress, and a rough charcoal tunic for Cassian.

Five minutes later, behind a stack of wooden crates, they had transformed.

Lyra wrapped the oversized brown cloak around her shoulders, pulling the hood low over her dark hair. Her face was still completely breathtaking, but the simple, rough fabric hid her royal status perfectly. Cassian slipped into the charcoal tunic, his broad shoulders stretching the fabric tight. Even in plain commoner clothes, his commanding presence was impossible to hide.

For the first time in her life- both in this world and her previous one- Lyra stepped out of the narrow alleyway and onto the bustling main street of the ancient capital city.

"WOAH!" Lyra gasped, her dark eyes shining with genuine, childlike wonder.

The ancient city was bursting with color, sound, and vibrant life. Grand stone archways stretched across paved cobblestone streets. Rows of colorful wooden market stalls lined the roads, overflowing with glowing glass lamps, hand-woven carpets, carved wooden toys, and sizzling street food. Stalls selling sweet roasted nuts, honey cakes, and spiced meat skewers filled the crisp air with delicious scents. Citizens dressed in simple tunics and linen dresses walked past, laughing and bargaining loudly with loud street vendors.

"It’s so huge!" Lyra murmured, practically bouncing on her toes as she roamed from stall to stall. She picked up a carved wooden horse, admiring the detail, before gently setting it back down with a bright, beaming smile.

Cassian walked three paces behind her, his pitch-black eyes fixed firmly on her back.

He observed her every move. His calculating mind analyzed the absolute delight radiating from her face. There was no arrogance in her step, no disgust at the crowded commoners, and no cruel smirk like the one she often wore in the palace. She looked at the simple city with pure awe.

Is this another act? Cassian thought, his chest tightening with a strange, dark bitterness. Why would the vicious Princess, who whipped slaves without a second thought, look at simple wooden toys with such soft, gentle eyes? What is she trying to gain by playing the innocent maiden?

As they walked past a bakery stall, a timid voice suddenly spoke up from near Lyra’s skirts.

"F-Fairy sister...?"

Lyra stopped, looking down. Standing near her slippers was a tiny boy, no older than five years old. He was wearing a dirt-smeared, patched linen shirt, his shoes worn thin at the soles. His big, dark eyes looked up at her with pure hesitation, his small hands clutching a empty wooden bowl.

"Fairy sister, are you an angel from the upper city?" the little boy asked innocently, stomach letting out a loud, hollow growl. "My little sister and I haven’t eaten since yesterday..."would this fairy sister help us?"

Lyra’s heart instantly melted. She knelt down on the cobblestones, completely unbothered by the dirt getting on her dress.

"Oh, sweetheart," Lyra said softly, her dark eyes filled with warmth. She reached into her hidden apron pocket and pulled out a heavy pouch filled with shiny silver coins. She didn’t just give him one or two; she gently placed a handful of bright silver coins directly into his tiny wooden bowl.

"Here," Lyra smiled gently, patting his messy hair. "Go buy the biggest, warmest meat pies in the market for you and your sister, okay?"

The little boy’s eyes went wide "S-Silver?! Thank you, Fairy Sister! You really are an angel!" He bowed frantically before turning around and sprinting toward the bakery, his happy giggles echoing down the street.

Standing nearby, Cassian watched the entire interaction in suffocating silence.

A dark, gloomy shadow fell over his handsome face. His fists clenched tightly at his sides until his knuckles turned pale.

She gives silver to a random beggar boy on the street... Cassian thought bitterly, a cold twist turning inside his chest. She smiles at him like a merciful deity... yet to me, she gives poison, cold iron chains, and whippings. Is her kindness reserved for everyone in the world except the fallen prince of Solis? Or is she simply an expert at faking virtue when it suits her?

He glared at the back of her head, his hatred metric simmering at a dangerous level, yet a strange, confusing ache lingered beneath his anger.

Lyra stood up, dusting off her skirt with a satisfied sigh. "System, did you see how cute he was?!"

Ding!

[ Host, you just gave away half our street money! ] the System complained.

"It was worth it!" Lyra chirped, turning around to continue down the bustling street.

As they reached the central market square, a loud, aggressive voice echoed out from a nearby jewelry stall, cutting through the peaceful noise of the crowd.

"You thieving little liar!" a fat, greasy shopkeeper roared, slamming his heavy fist against a wooden counter. "You dropped this crystal glass hairpin and shattered it! It costs fifty gold pieces! Pay up right now or I will have the city guards throw you into the iron dungeons!"

"I didn’t touch it!" a, clear female voice argued back fiercely. "I was standing three feet away looking at the silver rings! You pushed the glass hairpin off the edge with your own elbow when you turned around!"

Curious, Lyra pushed her way through the gathering crowd of onlookers to see what was happening.

Standing in front of the angry shopkeeper was a young woman around Lyra’s age. She was wearing a simple, faded blue maid’s dress, her light brown hair tied back neatly with a ribbon. She had bright, brave green eyes and a fierce posture, refusing to back down even as the large shopkeeper towered over her menacingly.

Ding!

A bright, golden notification box suddenly exploded right in front of Lyra’s face!

[ CHARACTER IDENTIFIED! ]

[ NAME: Mabel (The Female Lead) ]

[ STATUS: Currently searching for employment in the capital before being recruited into the palace! ]

Lyra’s mouth dropped open in absolute shock! WHAT?! MABEL?! THE FEMALE LEAD IS RIGHT HERE?! Two weeks early?!