The morning air was crisp, smelling of wet stone and the distant, metallic tang of the Aether-engines. For the first time in years, Riha didn't call for the royal carriage or the elite guard. She stood at the edge of the palace gardens, dressed in a simple but elegant traveling cloak of charcoal wool, her spatial ring tucked beneath her glove.
"I want to live like a commoner for a few days," she said, adjusting the strap of a small leather satchel. "No titles, no bowing, no terrifying auras. Just a girl on a journey."
Tinker, in his human form, was struggling with a massive trunk that looked far too heavy for a spirit. He let out a dramatic groan, his silver hair messy from the early hour. "A commoner? You realize commoners have to carry their own luggage, right? I thought I was a 'pet,' not a pack mule."
"Pets follow their masters," Riha said with a mischievous grin. "Pick it up, Tinker. The train doesn't wait for grumbling foxes."
The Soul of the Empire
The Central Railway Station was a cathedral of glass and steel. Huge digital displays showed the schedules for the High-Speed EMVs (Electro-Magnetic Voyagers) that Riha had designed during her first year on the throne. As they blended into the crowd, Riha felt a surge of quiet pride. People were moving with purpose—merchants, students, and families—all benefiting from the infrastructure she had bled for.
They boarded the Northbound Express and found their seats in a quiet corner of the cabin. As the train hummed to life and began to glide out of the station, the city blurred into a streak of silver.
"I'm starving," Riha announced as soon as the snack trolley appeared.
"Finally, something we agree on," Tinker replied.
What followed was a display of gluttony that would have horrified the Royal Council. Riha ordered spicy meat buns, honey-glazed skewers, and bags of roasted nuts. She and Tinker didn't eat with the grace of monarchs; they munched on their food like two hungry kids, their cheeks stuffed until they looked like greedy little squirrels.
"Mmph, this bun is amazing," Riha mumbled through a mouthful of dough.
"The sauce is better," Tinker countered, stealing a skewer from her tray. "I could get used to this commoner lifestyle if it means I don't have to hunt my own rabbits."
They laughed, the tension of the palace fading with every mile the train covered. Across the aisle, a young mother sat with a small girl. The child was pressed against the window, her eyes wide as they passed a massive solar-array field.
"Look, Mama! Is that the magic the Empress made?" the girl asked.
"It's technology, sweetie," the mother replied, smoothing her daughter's hair. "Because of it, we can visit Grandma in the North for your school vacation. We don't have to walk for weeks anymore."
Riha leaned back, a soft, hidden smile on her face. To the world, she was a "Villainess" or a "Sovereign," but to that little girl, she was the reason for a holiday. It was the most rewarding feedback she had ever received.
Eventually, the steady hum of the EMV and the warmth of the food took their toll. Riha's head nodded, finally coming to rest on Tinker's shoulder. He stiffened for a second, but then softened, leaning his head against hers. They slept soundly, looking for all the world like two exhausted siblings heading home for the winter.
The Glacial Welcome
As the train pulled into the Crystal Spire Station in the heart of the Frost Kingdom, the temperature dropped forty degrees. The windows frosted over in intricate patterns, and the air turned sharp and clean.
When the doors opened, the station platform was mostly empty, save for a tall, striking figure standing near a sleek, black hover-limo. Prince Kaelen was dressed in heavy, white-and-teal furs, his icy eyes scanning the passengers. When he spotted Riha, he stepped forward, but his expression immediately soured when he saw the silver-haired man walking beside her.
"Riha," Kaelen said, his voice like the crack of a frozen lake. "You're early."
"And you're punctual as always, Kaelen," Riha replied.
Kaelen didn't look at her; his gaze was locked on Tinker. The two men immediately began to glare at each other, an invisible pressure of frost and ancient spirit-energy clashing in the air.
"Who is this?" Kaelen asked, his hand resting on the hilt of his ice-blade. "I don't recall this... person... being part of your entourage at the Jubilee."
Riha sighed, stepping between them. "This is Tinker. He's my... well, think of him as my little brother. Or my pet. To be frank, he's a high-ranked Fox Spirit I bonded with in the Forbidden Grove."
"A spirit?" Kaelen's eyes narrowed. "He looks like a common street thug with expensive hair."
Tinker let out a sharp, mocking bark of laughter. "And you look like a block of ice that someone forgot to melt. Honestly, Riha, I like Xaris more than this guy. At least the Star-Walker has some flavor. This one is just... bland."
"You dare—" Kaelen started, his aura beginning to drop the temperature on the platform even further.
"Enough!" Riha shouted, grabbing Tinker by his ear and pulling him toward the car. "Tinker, shut your mouth. Kaelen, stop trying to freeze my ride. We are guests here, and I am on vacation."
She shoved Tinker into the back seat and looked at Kaelen with an apologetic shrug. "He's a bit... feral. But he's house-trained, I promise."
Kaelen took a deep breath, his pride wounded but his hospitality prevailing. "Very well. Let us get to the palace before the evening blizzard hits. My father is eager to see the Empress who defeated his son."
As they drove through the snow-covered streets of the Frost Capital, the two men continued to glare at each other through the rearview mirror. Riha leaned her head against the cool glass, looking at the towering mountains in the distance. The Falls of the First Breath were out there somewhere, hidden by the ice, and she knew that keeping her "little brother" and the "Frost Prince" from killing each other was going to be the hardest part of the trip.