Firfel stood there, arms tightly crossed, brows furrowed in visible frustration. Her pout was sharp, her annoyance unmistakable. But beneath the surface... she felt a wave of relief.
'So he wasn't ignoring me on purpose...'
Still, she wouldn't give in so easily.
'Hmph. Like I'm just going to forgive him now? If I do, he'll think he can get away with anything.' Her eyes narrowed. 'And why was he gone so long without telling me? Does he think I don't matter?'
Even with the relief, a flicker of irritation lingered. 'He kept this from me all this time... he can make clones? And I had no idea?'
Then, guilt crept in. 'Wait... am I really one to talk? I've been hiding the truth about my own identity too... about being a princess of the Roses Kingdom.' Her gaze softened slightly. 'I guess I'm no different...'
What she didn't know was that Arthur already knew. About everything. And he could sense every flicker of emotion dancing in her heart right now.
He simply smiled—calm, patient.
"I know you're mad," Arthur said gently. "Mad that I didn't tell you. And... I deserve that. But I'll make it up to you."
He took a step closer, eyes playful.
"How about we make a film? Just the two of us. A romance."
Firfel didn't react immediately. Her eyes stayed locked on his, lips pressed tight. Then she spoke, low but firm.
"Tell me where you went first. Why you left a clone in charge."
Arthur exhaled, a touch of hesitation crossing his face. "Would you believe me if I told you? It's not exactly a vacation spot."
"Try me," she shot back, arms still crossed.
He paused, then nodded slowly. "Alright... but don't freak out."
Arthur's voice lowered. "I went to the Glacier Expanse."
Firfel's eyes widened, shock flashing across her face. "What?! You went to that cursed, frozen wasteland?!"
Arthur raised an eyebrow. "You know about it?"
"That place is a death sentence," she said, voice rising. "It's not even on the maps... no one talks about it."
Arthur's gaze sharpened. "Exactly. It's not public knowledge."
A faint blush rose to Firfel's cheeks as she admitted softly, "Um... actually, I read about it when I was a child. The Glacier Expanse—it's one of the most dangerous places in the world..."
She lowered her voice, a flicker of fear in her tone. "They say the cold alone can turn people into solid ice... before they even realize they're dying."
She wasn't exaggerating. Back in the Rose Palace, she had once stumbled upon a restricted book titled «Exploration to the Dangerous Lands». It was written by the third queen of the Roses Kingdom—a rare document not meant for public reading. She had read only fragments of it, but those fragments had burned into her memory.
Arthur stayed quiet, watching her as she pressed on.
"What were you even doing there?" she asked again. "That place isn't a tourist spot—it's nothing but a frozen death trap. Ice wolves, white bears strong enough to wipe out armies... and towering ice walls no one's ever crossed."
Arthur scratched his chin and shrugged casually. "Well... behind those ice walls, there's a massive gate—hidden deep in the heart of that frozen wasteland. It's a portal to another realm. I found it... and decided to explore..."
He began to speak of the Nether Realm, his tone calm—almost too calm for the dangers he described.
Firfel's breath hitched. Her eyes widened, slowly filling with awe.
Arthur didn't mention the Old Deities' Prison. Nor the chain. Nor Enyalius.
He kept it vague, talking about the swirling landscapes, bizarre energy, and lurking dangers of the Nether Realm. And as he spoke, Firfel just stared—listening in stunned silence.
'He crossed the Glacier Expanse... and came back alive. He even traveled into an unknown realm?' she thought, her chest tightening. 'Even the elite knights of the Roses Kingdom wouldn't make it back from such a place... and yet, here he is, talking about it like it's just another walk in the park.'
She looked at Arthur, her eyes softening with realization.
'So my hunch was right... He's hiding how powerful he really is.'
Her resentment began to dissolve, melting like snow under sunlight. And then—quietly, shyly—Firfel looked down at her hands and spoke.
"Actually... I've been hiding something too."
Arthur tilted his head. "Hmm? Really?" He raised a brow, playing dumb.
Firfel flushed again and gave a small nod. "I... I'm actually a princess. Of the Roses Kingdom."
There was a brief silence.
Firfel didn't dare meet his eyes—until she finally glanced up and saw no surprise at all.
Arthur just chuckled, shaking his head. "That's it?" He grinned. "Come on, Firf. I used to be a prince in the Morningstar Kingdom. Why would I care about a little royalty?"
Firfel blinked. Then she laughed—genuinely this time. "Right... I forgot about that."
Outside the tent, however...
Whispers were beginning to build. Thɪs chapter is updated by novèlfire.net
"It's been two hours... and they still haven't come out," one crew member murmured.
"I bet they're doing unspeakable things in there," another said with a grin.
"Hehe, maybe they're shameless enough to actually do it in the tent!"
The director, red-faced and flustered, tried to rein things in. "Shut up, all of you! Stop jumping to conclusions!" he barked. But even as he scolded them, he leaned forward slightly... peeking toward the tent with curiosity.
'Still... two hours... What are they doing in there...?'
As the tent flap finally opened, all eyes turned.
Arthur and Firfel stepped out, hand in hand, both smiling—completely at ease. The sunlight seemed to catch them just right, as if the world itself had paused for their entrance.
For a moment, the crew stood frozen, wide-eyed.
Someone whispered under their breath, "They really are... a couple made by the heavens."
Arthur and Firfel walked past, barely noticing the stunned expressions around them. It wasn't until Firfel suddenly stopped that reality caught up.
"Wait—" she gasped, eyes widening. "I'm still on the clock!"
Arthur chuckled, releasing her hand. He turned to the director with a faintly apologetic smile. "My bad."
But the director waved it off, grinning. "No problem, no problem! Care to stay and watch? I'd love your thoughts."
Arthur nodded, stepping back as Firfel returned to set.
During filming, Arthur watched quietly from behind the monitors. His sharp eyes caught every detail—every stumble, every missed cue—but he said nothing unless the director asked directly.
When asked, he offered suggestions. Subtle tweaks. A shift in camera angle. A better way to capture the emotion of a scene.
Not because he wanted credit.
But because this was her film.
And he wanted it to shine.
Time slipped by, and as the day's filming wrapped, Firfel approached the director personally, her expression a mix of guilt and sincerity.
"I'm really sorry," she said softly. "I delayed the shoot more than I should've."
The director gave an awkward chuckle, waving his hand dismissively. "No worries, no worries. It all worked out."
A few moments later, Firfel stepped outside—and found Arthur waiting by his bike.
Her eyes widened slightly as she took in the sight.
"You have a motorcycle now?" she asked, approaching with curiosity. "It's... different. Not like the usual ones I've seen."
Arthur smiled, one hand resting casually on the handle. "Of course. This isn't just any bike—it runs on advanced tech. Designed by my own research team."
Firfel's interest deepened. She took his hand, and with a playful tug, let him guide her to the seat behind him. She glanced over his outfit—black leather, metal accents, something bold and unfamiliar.
Her lips curled into a teasing smile. "Your look today... it's not your usual style. Did you dress up just to match the bike?"
Arthur chuckled, revving the engine softly. "Something like that."