EXTRA! The Silverfrost Dragon Queen has fallen. The Dragon Sovereign’s throne shall now pass to the Blazingflame Dragon King.

This intelligence reached them roughly two years ago—from an adventurer who’d stumbled into ancient ruins by chance.

Just hearing “Blazingflame Dragon King” made it clear: she wielded power opposite the Silverfrost Dragon Queen. The moment Jikuhir heard the name, she knew exactly who it was.

“I never thought that brat Cuihua actually inherited the throne… How on earth did she convince the elders?” Jikuhir clicked her tongue in frustration, the little girl’s face twisted in displeasure.

“Forget how she convinced them. Can’t you at least remember her name? It’s Tracy. Not Cuihua.” Cang Xiaoxi shot Jikuhir a sidelong glance.

“No big deal! A name’s just a name, right?” Jikuhir waved dismissively. “Cuihua rolls off the tongue better than Tracy. Don’t you think so too, Xiaoxi?”

“I might agree, but don’t keep doubling down! Forgotten the scars from last time?!”

“I haven’t forgotten, nya!” Jikuhir puffed her cheeks, tail swaying as she retorted. “It’s just… with Xiaoxi beside me, I’m not worried. Who’d dare stab me in the back when you’re here?”

“You… couldn’t be *slightly* more suspicious of me?” Cang Xiaoxi frowned, pinching the bridge of his nose with a weary sigh. “How deeply do you trust me? Even after three years together—can you *really* guarantee I won’t betray you next second? We’re not even the same race.”

“So what? If our hearts are true, race means nothing.”

“Hold up. We are *not* ‘in love.’ Don’t toss words around carelessly.”

Cang Xiaoxi halted Jikuhir’s escalating antics—she’d nearly lunged to grope him. He scooted his hips sharply to the far end of the carriage.

“Mou~ Xiaoxi, you’re so mean…”

Jikuhir pouted her cherry lips, then suddenly grinned, her gaze softening toward him.

“What’s with that creepy smile? Did the little girl short-circuit?” Cang Xiaoxi shivered, rubbing his arms.

“It’s not that, nya! Stop treating me like a kid!” Jikuhir huffed, then smirked faintly. “I’ve figured it out—you’re such a tsundere. You say I’m annoying, say trust is impossible… yet you indulge my whims and let me stay. Mm… I get it. In your world, that’s called *tsundere*.”

“Two days without a lesson and your hide’s itching again? Wait—you *knew* you were being willful?”

He pinched her chubby cheeks; his brows knotted into a deep S-shaped scowl.

“Sor-ry… my fault… shouldn’t have gotten carried away… please… let go… it hurts, nya…”

“Hmph. Watch yourself next time.”

Releasing her cheeks as she rubbed them tenderly, Cang Xiaoxi continued sternly: “Just hide your identity well. Never reveal your title as Dragon Sovereign. If trouble comes—I won’t save you.”

“Yeees~” Jikuhir drawled softly, then turned away with a tiny pout, muttering: “Tsundere again… You’ll just make excuses later and never leave me.”

“Oh, great Dragon Sovereign~”

“Sorry! I’ll stay quiet. Absolutely silent.”

With outsiders nearby, their bickering might’ve been mistaken for flirting—prompting shouts of “Just marry already!”—yet the journey between youth and girl remained oddly harmonious, even lively.

Time passed.

…

“Xiaoxi, look! That’s Mosiri Kingdom—the only human nation this Sovereign deigns to acknowledge!”

After half a day’s travel, propelled by Fenrir’s bug-level speed, they arrived at Mosiri Kingdom—founded by the First Sage.

“So that’s… a nation of this world…”

Following Jikuhir’s gesture, Cang Xiaoxi saw a grand city encircled by walls dozens of meters high, and a long queue awaiting entry inspection. Humans like himself stood beside orcs, elves, scattered Oni Clan members, and Dragonkin—a vibrant mosaic of races so dazzling he couldn’t look away. Peaceful. Harmonious.

“What do you think?” Jikuhir tilted her head, delighted. “Isn’t this world fascinating?”

“Well… decent so far,” Cang Xiaoxi replied, pulling his gaze back with a nod. “Still surprising. The Empire’s atmosphere is nothing like this.”

He recalled sneaking into the Empire multiple times over three years—partly to check if *that fat pig of a prince* had issued a warrant. Thankfully, none existed. The prince’s entire investigation team was wiped out, blamed on a single officer’s error. Not one mention of Cang Xiaoxi. The prince must’ve been too terrified to even tattle. With freedom intact, Cang Xiaoxi toured the Empire… only to face this repeatedly:

“Young master! Your clothes scream nobility! Buy some slaves? Fresh Dragonkin children just arrived!”

“Shopping? Everything’s ten gold coins flat. Pay or scram!”

“Hehe… lost little master? Uncle’s got candy. Let’s find your mommy~”

…

Once was forgivable. But every infiltration brought slaves, muggers, scalpers. He resolved them easily—yet the constant grime wore him down.

Thus, seeing Mosiri Kingdom—a world apart from the Empire—Cang Xiaoxi felt genuinely uplifted.

“Let’s enter first. Plans later.”

“Mm.”

They summoned Fenrir. Guided by their fluffy companion, they joined the queue.

However…

“No way… Prince Shaya?! When did you recover? Why come from outside? Weren’t you still hidden from public view?”

“Ah… right. *I’m* the trouble.”

Cang Xiaoxi pinched his nose with a helpless sigh. Despite all caution, trouble found them—not from resurrected Jikuhir, nor Fenrir disguised as a common wolf. From himself.

“No, no—you’re mistaken. I’m no Prince Shaya. Just a traveler.”

He waved frantically at the guards.

“Mistaken?” The soldiers exchanged glances, chuckling. “Prince Shaya, you jest! Only you, the princess, and His Majesty bear black hair—the royal mark! How could we err?”

“No, truly—”

Recalling the royal trait, Cang Xiaoxi clicked his tongue inwardly. As he scrambled for an excuse, Jikuhir raised a tiny hand, stepping between them.

“This soldier’s sharp. He *is* Prince Shaya.”

“Hey, you—”

Cang Xiaoxi paled—but Jikuhir winked: *Trust me.* He swallowed his protest. The guards’ eyes lit up.

“So it *is* Prince Shaya! Does this mean your identity is—”

“Shh~” Jikuhir pressed a finger to her lips, gesturing mysteriously. “His identity is… sensitive. Pretend you saw nothing. Let us pass. You understand.” She glanced meaningfully at the crowd behind them.

“Ah! Of course! My deepest apologies—I missed the obvious!” The guards saluted Cang Xiaoxi inside the carriage and waved them through—toll waived.

Another hefty sum saved. Truly cause for celebration!

“Hey~ Since when am *I* Prince Shaya? Don’t randomly impersonate nobles! If exposed, chaos follows!”

After walking a ways inside, Cang Xiaoxi dismissed the carriage and shrank Fenrir to puppy size. Hood pulled low in a shadowed alley, he grumbled about Jikuhir’s stunt.

“Ara, relax! As long as we’re not caught~” Jikuhir stroked Fenrir’s soft fur, patting Cang Xiaoxi’s shoulder with her free hand. “They don’t know Shaya’s face—only your black hair gave you away. So… just hide it next time. Simple, right?”