"Please remove your hood. Routine inspection."

Sophia regarded the spear blocking her path, then lifted the hood of her black robe. A cascade of golden hair tumbled down her shoulders.

The gate guard froze for a moment, stunned by the girl’s fairy-like delicate features.

"Sir… finished inspecting?"

Clearly accustomed to this, Sophia prompted gently.

"Ahem—my apologies, milady." The guard’s face flushed, flustered. He pulled a crumpled paper from his chest, eyes flickering between the document and her face before nodding. "Pardon the intrusion. Please, go ahead."

Sophia gave a slight shake of her head, then asked with quiet curiosity, "Has something happened in the duchy? Lately, many city-states and territories seem to be tightening inspections."

Disarmed by her gentle beauty, the guard unfolded the yellowed poster without hesitation.

"A prince from the former Haya Empire escaped. Now every lord scrambles to please the new king by hunting him down."

"Come to think of it… I’ve heard of this Seventh Prince. Beloved by the people. Such a pity…"

He didn’t notice the faint, complicated flicker in the girl’s eyes.

The poster showed a handsome boy’s portrait.

Look closely, and a subtle resemblance to Sophia emerged.

Glance casually, and it vanished completely.

"I see… May this turmoil end soon," Sophia sighed. She returned the poster with a slight bow and pulled her hood back up.

Nexar City—the mandatory gateway to the Eus Empire, once the borderland between the Eus and Haya Empires.

After Haya’s fall, chaos drove countless refugees toward Eus, desperate to escape the suffering.

Beneath her hood, Sophia surveyed the scene: chatter filled the air, streets teemed with carts and crowds.

"Little princess… I’ve been cooped up in this robe for ages!"

A deep, resonant voice rumbled from within the folds. Sophia flusteredly glanced around. Seeing no one had noticed, she pouted slightly.

"Patience. Let me find us a place first."

"Hmph."

With coins scarce and future needs in mind, Sophia pinched pennies and chose a shabby tavern.

The moment she stepped inside, a pungent stench hit her—like three-day-fermented cheese soaked in body odor. Nauseating.

But she had no choice. Better lodgings were beyond her means.

Vagrants and adventurers guzzled cloudy ale, dead drunk. Vomit and unidentifiable stains littered the floor.

"Hey, girl. This ain’t your place." The tavern keeper, a burly man missing an eye, sized her up with practiced sharpness.

He saw right through the robe: a girl.

"One wooden plank room. Meals… bread and… just water." Ignoring him, Sophia pressed four silver coins onto the worn counter.

The keeper grinned, unfazed, and slapped a key down.

Inside the room, Sophia bolted the door, then thoroughly inspected every corner. Satisfied, she began removing her robe.

Whoosh—

Before it fully slipped off, fiery red dragon wings unfurled. A cat-sized dragon emerged.

"An!" Sophia complained, startled.

An ignored her. With a nimble flap, he landed on the bed, tested the stiff mattress with two steps, and settled down.

"The entire Northern Continent hunts you now. What’s your plan?" His deep voice rumbled. Slitted pupils regarded the girl perched on the windowsill, gazing into the distance.

"Eus Empire. We’ll decide once we arrive." Sophia’s aquamarine eyes darkened.

"Still… no matter how they think, they’d never guess the prince they hunt has become a princess! Hah!" An chuckled, wings fluttering.

Sophia said nothing. Her gaze dropped to the faint blue mark on her wrist.

The Lake Fairy—one of the fairy race’s deities.

Back then, rage and survival instinct drove *him* to strike a pact with her.

Granted a "blessing," yet cursed with a "curse."

When he reopened his eyes… he was no longer *he*—but *she*.

Ironically, this very change now hid her in plain sight, his portrait plastered across every bulletin board.

Yet Sophia still felt the absurdity… the quiet melancholy.

"Our coins are running low. With only five left and no income, entering the Eus Empire will be hard," she murmured, patting her purse.

An remained indifferent. To a dragon, gold was only good for lining a nest.

Sophia hadn’t expected help. This burden was hers alone.

She looked down. A breeze lifted her golden hair. Passersby catching her exquisite features froze mid-step, spellbound.

"An. Get ready." Sophia took a sip of water, pulled her hood up, and turned to the lazily sprawled dragon. "We’re going to earn some money."