Chapter 260: A Calculated Bond

Deep beneath the floating palace of Glimmereach—

Far below the grand halls, music, and celebration—

Lay the prison.

A place not meant for ordinary criminals.

Only for those who were meant to disappear.

Execution awaited anyone brought here.

The air was damp, cold, and heavy with silence. Dim lights flickered along the stone corridors, casting long shadows across iron bars and sealed cells.

Inside one of those cells—

Ron sat on the ground, his back resting against the wall.

His clothes were torn prison garments, his body marked with wounds and dried blood. His breathing was steady, but his condition was far from good.

In the adjacent cell—

Separated only by a thick stone wall—

Lia sat in the same position.

Back against the wall.

Facing the opposite direction.

So close—

Yet unable to see each other.

Both of them wore cuffs around their wrists.

Mana-restraining cuffs.

A faint glow pulsed from them, suppressing any power they tried to use.

For a while—

There was only silence.

Then—

Lia spoke softly.

“…Ron.”

A pause.

Ron answered, his voice low.

“…Yeah.”

“How long has it been… since we were imprisoned?”

Ron closed his eyes slightly.

“I don’t know.”

Lia stayed quiet for a moment.

“…Do you think our friends from the academy will come?”

Her voice carried a hint of worry.

“I’m also worried about Jax…”

“Did they find him…?”

Ron exhaled slowly.

“I don’t know, Lia.”

A short silence followed.

Then he added,

“Knowing our siblings…”

“They’ve probably banned their entry into the kingdom.”

Lia didn’t reply immediately.

Instead, after a moment, she said softly,

“…Then let’s not think about that.”

A pause.

“Tell me something else.”

Ron frowned slightly.

“What?”

“…How many years has it been… since we met?”

Ron’s tone sharpened a little.

“…Why are you asking that now?”

Lia gave a faint, unseen smile.

“…If we’re going to die…”

“I just want to remember…”

“…how it all started.”

Ron went silent.

Then his expression softened slightly.

“…Nine years.”

“It’s been nine years since we met.”

Lia’s voice grew quieter.

“…Do you remember how different things were back then?”

A faint pause.

“Our siblings…”

“They were different too.”

“…Back then…”

“I could feel love from my sister.”

Another pause.

“You must have felt the same from your brother… right?”

Ron didn’t answer immediately.

Then—

“…Yeah.”

“I did.”

Silence filled the space again.

Then Lia spoke, her voice carrying something heavy.

“…What happened to them?”

—

Years ago—

Seven years after Lia’s birth.

The palace corridors of Thesmeris were quiet, polished, and filled with soft echoes of footsteps. Maya, now thirteen, walked forward with calm, composed steps. Her posture carried the dignity of a princess, but her eyes had changed—sharper, more aware.

Behind her followed Hans, still young at around eighteen, already carrying that same foxy smile he never seemed to lose.

Maya spoke without looking back. “Hans, what’s today’s schedule? We were supposed to handle the Lucan merchants’ trade dispute, right?”

Hans smiled lightly. “No, Your Highness. The matter has already been resolved… by the Second Princess.”

Maya’s steps paused for just a fraction of a second.

“…I see.”

She resumed walking, voice steady. “Then what about the seafolk kingdom? They had issues with their delivery routes.”

Hans hesitated slightly this time. “That has also been handled.”

“By who?” Maya asked.

“Her Majesty…” Hans answered, then added carefully, “…with the help of the Second Princess.”

This time, Maya didn’t respond. She simply continued walking, her expression unchanged.

Ahead, two maids were talking quietly.

“Did you hear? The Second Princess reached two-star warrior just three days ago.”

“Really? That’s incredible… she’s so young, and already that strong. And her intelligence is just as frightening…”

They noticed Maya approaching and immediately bowed.

Maya passed them without a word.

—

Inside her room, the moment the doors closed, the silence felt heavier.

Maya sat down slowly, leaning back against the chair. For a few seconds, she said nothing… then let out a quiet breath.

“Princess Lia did this… Princess Lia did that…”

A faint smile appeared, but it didn’t reach her eyes.

“I get it. She’s amazing. She’s my sister… and I am proud of her.”

Her fingers tapped lightly on the armrest.

“But this is getting a little irritating.”

Her gaze lowered.

“I’m doing my best too. I’m already a two-star warrior… a second-circle mage.”

She let out a soft scoff.

“Just because she’s progressing faster doesn’t mean she’s better. Only a fool would think that.”

Hans, standing nearby, spoke calmly. “There are rumors… that some people believe Princess Lia might become queen.”

Maya blinked, then laughed.

“That’s ridiculous.”

“She’s half commoner. Not fully royal.”

She leaned slightly forward, voice calm but firm.

“And besides… she wants to become my knight when she grows up.”

For a moment, she looked thoughtful.

Then her expression slowly shifted.

“But Lia is still a blank page.”

Her tone dropped.

“If someone puts the idea into her head that she could become queen…”

“…she becomes my enemy.”

A quiet pause.

“I don’t want that.”

She tapped her fingers again, slower this time.

“If possible… I want to sideline her.”

“…without harming her.”

Maya turned her head slightly toward Hans.

“Any suggestions?”

Hans’s smile deepened just a little.

“At her age… giving her a friend might be effective.”

Maya repeated softly, “A friend…”

Then her eyes brightened faintly.

“That could work.”

A small, calculated smile formed.

“I have an even better idea.”

She stood up.

“Hans, you remember our allied kingdom… the floating kingdom, Glimmereach?”

Hans nodded.

Maya continued, “Their second prince would be perfect.”

“…Ron Volkov,” Hans said.

Maya nodded again.

“Yes.”

“There are rumors about him. That he burned and killed the queen at birth because of his extreme flame element.”

She walked slowly toward the window.

“He’s isolated. No children talk to him… except his elder brother.”

Her voice softened slightly—but only slightly.

“Lia is kind. She has empathy.”

“She’ll become his friend.”

Then her tone sharpened again.

“That benefits Lia… benefits Ron…”

“And benefits me.”

She turned back.

“Let’s go. I need to speak with Mother.”

Hans followed behind her.

That same foxy smile still on his face.

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