Archive of Our Own

"You stole gold again, Cipher?

"Didn't I tell you I'll get a good haul tonight?"

Those blacksmiths sure are idiots! I've been stealing from their chest for months, but not one of them even noticed a thing! Even the patrons who gave them the gold were clueless of the thievery!

"But what about the blacksmiths? They're just making a living..."

"And I'm just making a living as well. What's wrong with that?"

Just one pawned bar would last for two weeks of bread and milk, as well as savings for my monthly rent. Okheman apartments are expensive, and so earning money has to be a little bit creative!

"You wouldn't tell a soul, would you, Alexios?"

His eyes narrowed in guilt and shame, lips curling into a grimace as a gold bar fits his little palm. I used to be young like him—a dirty cat in the streets of Dolos, wishing even just a shiny coin to land on my hand. Now this little guy's ungrateful that even a gold bar wasn't enough to bribe him!

"You said you want a taste of that 'Tuskpir Wrap' that foreigner from the Luofu was selling?" He was a short little man, and so my delicate knees touched the ground to level. "I've tried one myself! It's tasty, I'm telling you~"

When he clutched the gold bar tighter, it was an accomplishment; I knew at that moment he would never try to defy me, as my spoils help him and his family survive.

"We're just surviving as well, Alex. Don't worry, those idiot blacksmiths would never know! Do you rather leave the gold bars alone... or starve for the rest of your life?"

.

.

Five gold bars were swapped for 20,000 coins, which was more than enough for two months' budget. The rest of the bars hid under a special compartment in my closet protected by a key—wrapped by a cloth, hid inside a box, which was wrapped inside a cloth, then hidden inside a box, which was wrapped inside a cloth, then hidden inside my closet.

Once the coin runs out, I could just take five more gold bars back to the pawnshop, then have more money in my pocket. Once the gold runs out, I would then schedule another trip to the smithy, where I could get more gold in my compartment.

Such is the life of Cifera, the phantom thief of Okhema.

Gold bars weren't the only things I steal. Vendors in the market know I am the people's thief, stealing from those who deserve to be for their shitty attitudes, as well as stealing back items stolen from others.

"Why would you even go and steal more things if your family from Dolos give you monthly allowance?" The vendors in the market once asked.

Family from Dolos? Monthly allowance? What a lie—a complete lie. No one knew about the gold bars; Alexios finding it out was an accident, but that boy would never dare tell a soul, not when my gold feeds his family of five three times a day.

Everyone believes my money came from my family in Dolos, but a lie that everyone believes in becomes a reality.

My family from Dolos is dead. There is only one Cipher left.

Stealing again, Cipher?

Yes. Any problem with that?

Those poor people are making a living. Once their patrons notice they're stolen from, those innocent people would never hear the end of it! Have you lost your conscience?

Conscience? Conscience wouldn't feed my stomach. I am not a nobleman whose meals are cooked by the finest chefs, prepared to perfection, and maids calling for me for dinner.

I make my own meals. I gather its ingredients myself. I buy them with the money I risk my life for.

Unlike you, so you have no right to tell me how I would live my life.

So shut up.

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Aside from the disgusting public bathhouse, the people of Okhema love visiting the Dromas Park, a public park where they could spend quality time with each other, as well as hang out with the friendly Dromas roaming free around the park. This was King Anaxagoras' first project since becoming King. His obsession with Dromas go beyond the borders of Amphoreus; he was a Dromas fanatic, going as far as asking his bodyguards to buy him Dromas merchandise in secret.

Of course, I know about that. Phantom thief Cipher knows even the top secret royal gossip!

Alexios and his twin sister Kassandra played with other kids in the distance, as I stayed behind the bench and kept watch. Playing isn't for me anymore, but those kids would surely cry and shoo me away for obliterating them in their game. Okheman street games differ with those in Dolos. Some games were similar, but with different rules it looks like a different game entirely.

Today, the master thief decided to watch from the sidelines. Not everyday Cipher steals whatever she wants—there are specific days for that. Today wasn't one of my stealing sprees, and the pawned gold bars were already enough for me for now.

The weather was great; the clouds soar high the light blue sky, while the massive statue of the Worldbearing Titan gazed down on the holy city of Okhema to guide the citizens. Okhema feels pleasant today, if I do say so myself. People go about their day, children play with each other, families sit on picnic mats and enjoy their lunch, lovers strolling through the park, some feeding the Dromas, some even riding one.

The last time I rode a Dromas was during my first arrival to Okhema; just a hundred coins sufficed for a trip from the outskirts to the main market. An enjoyable experience, and a relaxing one, as the Dromas felt warm to the touch, and their slow and gentle steps felt like a bed on top of water, gently rocking me back and forth to sleep. It has been a few months since that, and I could try it again if I feel like it.

Ah, Okhema. Being alone in this city feels like a crime. Everyone has a companion, whether it be a friend, a sibling, a lover, a whole family, and heck, even coworkers! They love doing things together, which makes for a strong bond and less productivity. People work together and idle together, but either way is a memory to share. But hey, that's not a bad thing, isn't it? Even Queen Aglaea loves idling in the baths, or even take a stroll around the market with a few guards on and participate in gossip!

Still, I happen to see a few lone people enjoying their solitude. Just like me, here in the Dromas' park, relaxing my mind and body for productive days ahead of me.

Okhema is the one true place where I am free to idle whenever I want to, as I work only for myself, earning more than I should be by doing jobs I should not be doing. Living in Dolos was difficult, as it was hard to get by while living in the streets, especially with how people there enjoy tricks and scams, as expected of the Trickery Titan's city.

The same could be said in the second city where I lived, just before Okhema.

Oh, I wish we could walk along the castle gardens like that, Cipher. Peaceful, just the two of us.

I had the most fun in the Kingdom of Aidonia, before everything came crashing down like the waves that wiped out the nation of Styxia, leaving me wet and lost and in disarray.

Or even in the public park! People would surely recognize me, but I know I have you by my side to protect me.

You want us to be like that? Holding hands as we traverse a pathway of flowers, watching fish in the pond swim innocently, butterflies gently finding petals, laughter of children playing in the background?

Yes. That would be lovely. If only there weren't any guards watching the whole castle, we could sneak out! I will show you the beauty of Aidonia Castle's gardens!

I once wanted that, too. Once upon a time.

That would never happen anymore. You chose to abandon me, like throwing away a doll you never wanted to play with anymore—a doll thrown away with tears in its cloth, white cotton spilling out of its poor little body, left and abandoned.

Let those wretched flowers wither and die, just like that stupid wish of yours.

So shut up and leave me alone.

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.

Even the greatest thief of Okhema gets sick, too. Sometimes, the sickness is manageable; just slight coughing and light colds wouldn't affect my work. Sometimes, it was extreme—my head spinning, the feeling of vomiting, my body so heavy I couldn't even lift a limb.

And I am alone in my room, no family to take care of me. No mother to cook meals; no sibling to wipe away sweat in my burning forehead; no father to rush to the pharmacy to grab medicine. Just me with the gold bars hidden in my closet, and money that wouldn't buy themselves medicine.

Such is the life of Cifera, who had long since lived alone. It was a life I grew used to—sick nights would pass after a few hours with a quick nap. I will cook my meals as usual—just a simple carrot stew, made from the healthiest carrots in the fresh markets of Okhema. Once I feel much better, off to the pub I go—drinking away all the lost time I had bedridden.

As dark swallowed Okhema, here Cipher lied, trembling and heating up. No handheld fan would ease the heat rising from my body. Beads of sweat fell against my forehead, sliding down my cheek, then into the mattress I laid on. Moving my limbs had become futile; it had grown numb, lifeless. The fever was so intense Alexios and his mother came over and helped.

Myrrine brought medicine—pills, syrups, massaging oil, and even cooked soup for me. Alexios stayed beside me, telling stories about his day. He said he was in the baths with his friends earlier today, then got to meet a few young noble children with their butlers.

"One of them said I could come visit their house this weekend!" Alexios beamed in excitement.

"Great! Then use the money I gave you to buy yourself something nice to prepare for that!"

Too bad Queen Aglaea did not grace them with her presence today, as she was with King Anaxagoras in the Grove of Epiphany. She regularly visits the place, as bathing and chatting with her people were her favorite past time.

"Perhaps next time, Alexios, you will get to talk to Queen Aglaea herself!" Myrrine gently held her son's hand, guiding him outside the apartment after bidding their sweet goodnight to me.

As the door clicked, everything turned to the darkness and silence I had grown accustomed to my whole life. It was just me, my room, my aching muscles, and the darkness of Okhema.

Does it get lonely? Sometimes. Darkness and quietness like this remind me of how alone I am. After a day of fun with people and friends, I will be inevitably alone with the treasures I steal, as if I could talk to it about my day, my troubles, my worries, my deepest secrets.

You can always talk to me, Cipher. Have you forgotten?

Shut up.

When you feel lonely, just find me! I will do my best to entertain you!

Shut. Up.

Here, hold my hand. If it's too cold for you, then I'll hold you with both hands!

I don't want to hear a word from you.

Stop haunting me. You're not even dead.

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The markets of Okhema are my playground. There, everyone knows me—that kind, little cat helping them sell their goods, connecting them with potential buyers, endorsing their business to the people, and even chasing little thieves, unaware of what I truly do for a living.

I am their good little cat, Cipher. Everyone from the market knows my name—vendors or buyers alike. Even the Dromas do!

Of course, when there's people, there's treasure. Gossip has the most value for me; it brings me to the treasures. Whether it be the court gossip or normal people's things, I know it all.

Noblemen drama in the last banquet? I know the details. A Count cheating on his wife with a maid? I know who they are. Queen Aglaea and King Anaxagoras bickering? I've seen how it unfolds.

But getting to know a lot of things hurts my brain as well. Just like how I never fail to hear her name every time I venture down the market.

"You haven't heard, Cipher?!"

"Heard what?"

"The Royal Family of Castrum Kremnos will visit Okhema in two weeks!"

No one would understand how cold it felt the moment that title was said. It was like a bucket of ice water had been dumped on me. My whole body froze—like just hearing that name was enough to stop me from moving. It felt like a curse, something I couldn’t shake off no matter how hard I tried.

Of course, they'll visit this place. Okhema is the head kingdom of Amphoreus, after all. Now, is it my mistake to have run to this place after Aidonia, knowing full well she'd visit this place at some point with that new husband of hers?

I’ve run to so many places, hoping I could outrun her memory, took whatever jobs I could find, drank until my vision blurred, chased the strongest highs, spent nights with women whose names I never cared to remember—all just to keep her out of my head.

But no matter how far I went, no matter how much I did to forget, she always found a way back in, slipping into my mind when I least expected it, speaking to me like she was still there, just like the old times—like nothing had changed between us.

Now, she has followed me here, hearing her name uttered by my neighbors who admire her and her husband, unaware of what she did to me, their little helper Cipher, the one she did not choose.

She who had given herself away to Castrum Kremnos and handed the rightful throne to her twin even more beloved by many. She, the lesser known princess of Aidonia, exists only to be wed to someone else and strengthen the bonds of her kingdom.

It has been a year. How could she still shake my very being like this by merely a mention of her?

"I heard it was them who asked King Anaxagoras to visit the city!"

"Yes, and the King and Queen of Castrum Kremnos hold the King and Queen of Okhema in high regard!" The tailor exclaimed. "Queen Aglaea provided shelter for then Prince Mydeimos and his followers here in Okhema when they were cast away by the late King Eurypon years back, and so King Mydeimos held Queen Aglaea in great regards to show his gratefulness and appreciation."

The fish vendor interjects, as proud as the first, "that is right! And I heard that King Anaxagoras, once a mere scholar without a noble title in the Grove of Epiphany, was Princess Castorice's personal teacher for many years, and she also held deep respect for him."

Ah, there it is, that name. Castorice. I once worshipped that name with all of my heart.

No matter how far I run, you’re always there and follow me like a shadow—the benefit of royalty I could never afford, no matter how much gold weighed in my hands.

Perhaps the only way to avoid you entirely is to leave Amphoreus and hide in the corners of the planet. Belobog is far enough for me to hide, together with empty minecarts and vagrants who no one knows; I would fit in there, with no Castorice to visit the place.

What a joke—it was me you discarded and abandoned, yet I’m the one tearing myself apart just to escape you, while you drift freely to places, carrying the same love and kindness you once had for me, once whispered within the safe, quiet prison of your room's walls.

The vendors continued their gossip session, unaware of my disappearance. As my frozen body thawed, I took the chance to leave, not wanting to hear more praises for her and her husband.

Leaving already, Cipher? We still have a long night ahead of us. I still have a lot to tell you.

I don't want your stories. I don't want to hear any more from you.

Oh, I understand. I hope you stay for longer, but our memories of each other will suffice, until we see each other again.

I tried to leave you in the past, but you followed me, haunted me like a ghost. Your voice echoes in every place I go, and no matter what I do, you’re always there, alive in every memory I never asked to keep, nor could I even escape from.

Why can't you leave me alone? Stop haunting me. Haven't you tormented me enough? Haven't I suffered enough, Castorice?

Are you suffering like I do? I doubt it. When no one else gave a damn, I was there, curled at your side like a fool in love. Now that you have everything you once longed for—love, comfort, wealth—what use is my warmth to you, the street cat who once crawled through your window, thinking I meant something? You’ve got people who adore you—nobles who praise your name, townspeople who admire you, and a husband to hold.

You do not need me anymore, so why do you keep haunting my mind? Leave me alone, I beg of you.

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(Aidonia, months ago)

"I will give you 24 hours, Cifera. Infiltrate the castle, steal the royal orb, leave the place, and give it to us. Only when you do it successfully will you get your poor little brother back."

That night was the test of my skills and luck, as Aidonia Castle was filled to the brim with castle guards well trained to protect the Royal Family of Aidonia, while the castle walls themselves were designed to prevent even the most skillful of thieves on coming inside.

My little brother's life was on the line, held hostage by that thief group I so despise. I had no choice but to do what was told, or Bartholos would never see the light of day.

I shouldn't have forced Aidonia, as Bartholos wanted Janusopolis instead. If I only listened to him, perhaps this wouldn't happen to us.

The first challenge was slipping past the guards, the second was finding my way through the castle itself. It was massive, almost endless, as big as the markets in town. Guards loomed at every door, their watchful eyes scanning the corridors for even just a shadow of an intruder. Other guards patrolled the halls, silent and attentive, as if waiting for some thief like me to catch.

Somehow, I made it inside. I did not know how. It could be luck, or perhaps the thought that I would never see Bartholos again should I fail.

The luck and my perseverance landed me into the throne room, and the room's extravagance blinded me. Moonlight spilled through the stained glass ceiling, casting a rainbow of colors down the floor intricately made of art. Gold lined the walls, while gems caught those lights from above, and curtains of silk draped the windows.

It didn't feel real, but I knew that this is a regular sight for the rich people.

Seated at the very top of a golden staircase was a figure—his back straight, voice committed as he spoke to a kneeling nobleman below.

King Thanatos' deep voice reverberated around the throne room, so much that I felt the floor vibrate. "Polyxia will be Queen, or I will burn down this nation."

"But Your Majesty, she is sick and disabled! People will see it as weakness—a chance to—"

"And what do you want me to do, then?"

"We still have Her Royal Highness, Princess Castorice! She—"

"You are dismissed."

Royal affairs wouldn't save Bartholos, and so I left the throne room behind without a second thought, instead climbing the outer walls of the castle. The ridges and windows became my allies as I climbed—they guided my path, carried my weight so I would not fall down to the ground.

I needed someone who knew this place inside out. Someone I could corner. Someone too powerless to fight back, and too afraid to raise the alarm.

Out of all the windows in this massive castle, only one was open, sitting high atop a tower, glowing faintly. Inside, a figure paced within a lavish room, ten times larger than the one Bartholos and I could barely afford back in town.

This window is my way in.

Purple greeted me the moment I leapt into the room—her hair, dress, shoes, and even the bedsheets were all drenched in it. The market vendors always said how expensive purple was—5,000 coins for just a foot of fabric! I’d only ever caught a glimpse of it once, on the Archduke’s coat during a visit to the market.

But this lady? She had it everywhere, as if she were born into it! She wore it so effortlessly, completely unaware that the fabric she draped over her shoulders could feed a whole nation for three days.

"Who—who are you?!" The lady panicked, body pressed against the vanity in her useless hopes to move away from me. "H—how did you get here?!"

"Ahah, how pathetic." I smirked at her trembling frame. If she weren’t so pitiful, I might’ve admitted she had the beauty fit for her title—the glamorous clothes, the lavish room, all of it. Her unfocused eyes, tried to glare at me—like she wanted to kill me where I stood, but we both know that a miserable little princess like her wouldn't even have the nerve to hit a fly.

Who knew that this princess, a symbol of power and hope, cowered at the mere sight of a thief in ragged clothes? Where was the regal and headstrong princess that visited the market months back, gaining rapport with the citizens to strengthen the bond of the people and the crown? Is she really the future queen of Aidonia? "If you cry, do it in the toilet, Princess Polyxia. King Thanatos wouldn't want to hear his favorite daughter cry and wail defenselessly."

A growl escaped her pretty little lips, and for a second, it looked delectable. "You... will n—not take a single step, or I will call the guards on you!"

How strange. Bartholos said Princess Polyxia required assistance from people, and that duke at the throne room said she's disabled. This one over here could run, doing so gracefully and effortlessly toward the door, a glare sent my way as she held the doorknob this time.

Ah, it seems I was mistaken. Apologies.

"Do not be wary of me, as I am merely a thief, not a murderer!" Ah, surely that would never even put her at ease, but this beautiful princess was the only person I needed to save Bartholos. "You are safe with me, Princess Castorice, only if you..."

.

.

Her smile outshone the morning sun. Every time she beamed like that, I forgot she was the princess cast aside by the Royal Family of Aidonia. She smiled like someone who had the whole world’s love wrapped around her—when in truth, she had almost none.

From the window frame, my feet touched down on the carpeted floor inside her room, but the sharp ache in my abdomen betrayed me. I stumbled, falling down onto the carpet. Castorice was immediately by my side, her gentle hands around my waist. The smile I adore faded, replaced by a look of worry and panic. Still, she looked cute with that face of concern—a new expression I'd keep close to my heart.

"C—Cipher?!"

“Ahh... ahahahaha!” My body still throbbed from the fight, adrenaline buzzing through my veins, leaving my nerves restless, hungry for more. Under my shirt, a bruise bloomed on my abdomen—one I showed Castorice, and she gasped in horror at how swollen it had become.

"I will try my best to ease your pain!" Castorice, in all her panicked state, guided me toward the side of her bed, obstructed from the door to the castle's corridors. Swinging her door open, she called out for a maid, who immediately came to her call. "Please fetch ice cold water for me! And... and yarrow."

"Are you bruised, Princess?" The senior maid asked. "Let me treat your injury"

"It's... yes. It's a bruise. In my bum. I fell off my bed earlier and I still feel it sting. I will take care of it myself, thank you very much"

How I managed to mute myself must be a miracle—laughter was practically bubbling up my throat. What a brilliant excuse! Because, really, it would be totally inappropriate to gaze at a royal’s ass, right?

The items have been received, and Castorice, like the princess that she is, ordered me toward the bed. A basin of cold water and a bottle of yarrow sat on top of a tray, and Castorice immediately began the treatment once everyone settled in bed.

"Bruise in your bum, huh?" The laughter exploded, but not too loud to alert anyone outside.

The look on Castorice's face was priceless, as well as the red hue on her face from embarrassment.

"Not another word, Cifera, or I will press your bruise so hard the guards will hear you scream."

The cold, wet towel pressed against my bruise stung sharply at first, but then it eased something inside me in a way I did not expect. Castorice's hands were gentle and sure as she worked, like they belonged there. It felt strange, almost surreal, to have a princess tending to my wounds—me, a stray street cat who had barged into her room, chasing after her family’s treasures.

"A—ah..." The pain stung, but Castorice worked on my bruise as if she was a medic than a princess. "How are you so adept at treating people? Do you have, like, education in medicine and health?"

"No, I am doing what I have observed the maids did with my wounds."

"Ahh, so you're killing me!"

"Silence while I work, Cipher."

Every time her skin brushed against mine, a jolt of electricity ran through me. Her hand was cold, the chill amplified by the cool oil she gently rubbed onto my bruise. I felt foolish for even entertaining the thought of getting more bruises—just for Her Royal Highness, Princess Castorice, to tend to them with such delicate care. There was something mesmerizing about the way her expression would sharpen and soften as she worked on treating my wound, and I am so lucky to have witnessed it.

When I stumbled into this room, clutching at a desperate chance to save my brother and myself from a life we dreaded, I never imagined a strange, quiet friendship forged with the forgotten princess of Aidonia.

This friendship, fragile and rare, is the only treasure I will carry with me.

.

.

"Cipher, who got you smiling like that?" Bartholos frowned. The plate in front of me was untouched, despite the food being my favorite meat dish we bought from the market. "Is it the princess?"

"Nah, not her, Bartholos!" I denied, trying to ease his knowing smirk, but I knew my face said otherwise with a smirk of mine.

"Liar. Just crawl under her skirt, Cipher, instead of grinning like that like a madman!"

“We’re not on that level yet!”

“Ah, so you want more?”

“Yeah, no, I—”

That thought had slipped into my mind once or twice. With her near, I felt something I hadn’t felt in a long time, a peculiar sense of happiness. Leaving her window grew harder with every passing night.

I don’t even know when it started, but she became the softest part of my day. The risks—the guards who might see me slip inside, the castle doors that might trap me, the maids who could catch us—none of it mattered anymore. The world quiets when she laughs, and I would forget what worries my mind.

"I'm not in love, Bartholos—at least, not yet." But my heart falters every time I see her. Purple, so regal—the very color of royalty and rare luxury. It feels like a crime to have such a presence by my side, when I’m nothing more than a petty thief scraping by. "She takes up space in my mind, uninvited but never unwelcome."

"Oh, you moron. Just say 'I like her'!"

"Because I don't! Not... not yet!"

Not yet.

.

.

"What is that you're reading, Castorice?"

"A—ah! You're sneaking up on me again, Cipher!"

"I've been knocking on the window for the past five minutes and you have never heard!" I argued, and her eyes widened in surprise. "You're so invested in that book!"

As fast as I am, my feet shot straight for her desk. Castorice let out another shriek, eager to block me—but even the most skilled soldier wouldn’t have stood a chance. I dashed past her, focused on my goal that is the book.

"Cipher, I swear to the Titans, do not—!"

"Oh"

How interesting.

Castorice stood a few feet away, defeated and slumped posture unfitting for royalty her status, helplessly listening to my narrations.

"'Your Highness," Everhart muttered, 'you have summoned me at an hour most improper'. Laurent turned, his gaze shadowed by candlelight, unmistakably resolute. 'Impropriety has been our companion, has it not?'."

"Cipher, please..."

"'His gloved hand reached out, trembling as it met Everhart's cheek, tracing the sharp line of his jaw'. Ooohhh, boy! 'Their breaths mingled between them, visible in the cold air'."

"Cipher...!"

"'Their lips met with an aching restraint, a slow surrender borne of years of stolen glances and half-spoken dreams. Fingers tangled in silken cravat and embroidered doublet. Gasps echoed like prayers'. Woah, Princess! I did not expect you to be a fan of literary sex!"

"It's erotica, Cipher."

"Yeah, literary sex."

Under the soft glow of the lamp on her desk, her face flushed a deep pink—from cheek to ears—while her eyes darted down, trying to hide the embarrassment already written all over her. It was impossible not to find it adorable, like a child caught doing something they knew they shouldn’t.

“I don’t judge,” I said gently, hoping to ease her discomfort. “We’re curious adults, after all.”

She whispered, barely audible, “I want to experience it...” But my sharp ears caught every word.

How unsurprising. Well, what did I expect? A princess locked away in her castle, no prince to rescue her, no knight to share her lonely nights with.

“Oh, I can help you with that!”

That was meant as a jest; I was certain she wouldn’t even entertain such thoughts with a common thief like me. We’d grown close enough for those kinds of words to slip freely between us, but still…

She looked up at me the next second, eyes steady and determined. I knew exactly what she was trying to say.

Does she, really? What could have made her decide that? She’s so clean, so perfect—bathing in soaps imported from distant lands, dressed in clothes too expensive to ever catch a stain. Meanwhile, I’m out here living on the streets of Aidonia, wearing the same rags for days on end, sometimes going a whole week without a proper bath!

"Cipher? I have been thinking about it for days." Her steps were soft, almost as if she floated above the floor. “Would you indulge me with this?”

How could I refuse when her beautiful gaze held me captive, her fingers gently locking onto my wrist, her voice filled with determination?

I couldn’t tear my eyes away. She was stunning like this—no makeup, no extravagant purple dress—just Castorice herself at night before submitting to her bed and sleep. Raw and human, not the princess cast aside by the royal family.

This was Castorice, quietly asking for the one thing that makes us human, and somehow, she chose me.

“Why so horny, Princess?” I whispered, my body pressing close as she guided us to her soft bed. It wasn’t the first time I’d been there, but this time I was on top of her, her palms cradling my cheek with a tenderness that stole my breath.

She shook her head. "It’s... an experience I want to share with you.”

“Why me?”

“Because I trust you won’t hurt me, Cipher.”

Her lips were impossibly soft against mine, and I kissed her with a hunger I didn’t bother to control. She welcomed my touches—my hands, my mouth—letting me explore the curves of her body I never dared dream of touching.

She didn’t feel like royalty in that moment, not the fragile, porcelain princess of Aidonia. No—she was real and innocently human. Her back arched beneath my hands, breath hitching with every brush of my fingers, calling my name, breathy and broken as my fingers buried deeper within her, and how she returned everything with a tenderness that undid me, pressing kisses along my neck, my cheek, coaxing me to keep going.

And I did, as a loyal servant of Her Royal Highness, Princess Castorice.

.

.

Smoke and screams grew fainter with each hurried step I took. My chest burned, my legs shook, but I ran, with nothing but instinct and dread toward the last shelter I have left in this crumbling nation. My heavy heart filled with grief felt heavy with every beat, but I still ran away from Aidonia Market, from the place once filled with laughter on the street and stalls, now lay smothered beneath rubble and blood and dead.

Aidonia Market, once filled with life and dreams, had become a graveyard of vendors and children I once knew.

The castle was guarded when I arrived, with more soldiers surrounding the place to protect the Royal Family, but the entry was as easy as before. Guards stood on high alert, below the walls, above the towers, behind the door, guns and arrows shooting any Titankin on sight.

Tears and blood streaked down my face as I clawed my way up the castle wall, desperate to reach her, just once more, before my body gave out. Every movement was painful and agonizing. My fingers, exposed and trembling, scraped against the stone that made the walls and ridges, sending sharp pain through my arms with each failing grip. My legs, weak and useless, dragged behind me, barely responding after the Titankin’s arrow grazed my thigh. It burned, bled, and I could feel the blood painting a trail of red on my path.

The screams of help and agony still rang in my ears. I couldn’t forget the shattered bodies: arrows jutting from skulls, friends crushed beneath crumbling buildings. People I once laughed with, traded with, clinked beer mugs beside when the world still was peaceful, when our city was strong enough to hold the Titankin at bay.

"Cipher!" She caught my fall, as well as my cries and screams of pain and grief. Her shoulder muffled my desperate calls, which I knew would never reach the person I called. "I heard about the attack in the market! Cipher, I'm glad you're alright."

"Bartholos! Bartholos!" I cried his name like a chant, but he would never come.

I saw it with my own eyes—the moment the last of my family was taken from me. I reached for him, screamed for him, but the rubble fell too fast, right on his little head. The blast filled the air with dust and smoke, and when it cleared, he was gone, swallowed by the ruins

“My brother’s gone, Castorice! Gone!” I screamed into her shoulder, my voice raw. She didn’t care about the blood and tears soaking into her expensive dress from my wounds, my cries, and my grief. She didn’t flinch at my wails. She just dropped to the floor and held me as I wept in her arms, a woman of status, kneeling in the filth beside a nobody.

Castorice held me tightly, whispering in my ear until I faded into mere sniffles. "Thank the Titans." Her breath felt hot against my ears, while her cold hands warmed by aching muscles. "Thank the Titans you are alive, my Cipher."

Bartholos must've cried in fear, searching for me throughout the chaos, calling out for me, wishing for the protection I promised him with my whole life.

"I'll die before you, Bartholos" was my promise to him, right as we fled Dolos for a new life ahead.

I wished that night was a nightmare instead, and Bartholos would wake me up and show me how my reality is much brighter than those that haunt my mind.

But I would never see him again, not even his dead body crushed by heavy rocks and walls.

In this unfortunate life of mine, I only had Castorice left.

.

.

But who am I to say the princess is mine? I’m just a street thief—someone who lives in the filthiest parts of town and takes what she can to survive. I was never meant to have anything so beautiful.

Not her, not her love, not a future with her.

I steal things and pretend they’re mine, but deep down, I know the truth—they never were.

"Castorice!" My cloak fell from my back to the carpeted red floor, as well as the heavy load of jewelry taken from the royal vault. Their weight made my ascent difficult, but these things will make my life easier from this point onward, or so I thought. "Castorice, I heard the news!"

Usually, she would greet me in the window with those wide, welcoming arms and beautiful grin of hers, and fall down the carpet with me that would stain her clothes and skin, but she would shrug it off it a laugh and a kiss on my cheek.

Today, she sat on her vanity, her back turned towards me. Her face reflected on the mirror in front of her, and her puffy red eyes were difficult to ignore.

"You don't have to accept that, Castorice! Let's run away! I have all the gold we need! I heard the Federal States of Xianzhou is so far only a few Amphoreans have visited the place!"

Gold necklaces and rings fell onto her carpet, all from her own father's personal collection. Sneaking inside the royal vault was easy, as guards were too confident no one could enter the vault.

"Cas, let's run away! You don't have to accept that proposal!"

"Take those and leave, Cipher."

Her voice was cold; dead, empty, monotonous, devoid of that sweet tone I so adore.

"Wha... What?"

"I wouldn't tell Father you stole his jewelry. In turn, leave."

"Castorice, what are you saying? Surely, this marriage is your father's way of getting rid of you!"

"I am marrying him, Cipher."

No. No...

"Castorice, think about yourself! You don't want this marriage; I could see it perfectly! What's with that face, huh? What's with that wince? That grimace you just did? The tears in your eyes?"

The jewelry laid on the floor as if they have no value, forgotten by its thief as my feet strode closer, hoping that this is just a stupid prank by her, and she would hold my hand and follow me to a place far away, where she could be Castorice, not the forgotten Princess of Aidonia.

"Castorice, you do not want to marry Prince Mydeimos, do you?"

She is the most expressive person I’ve ever met, even if she hides it behind that poorly built mask of coldness she shows to everyone else in this castle prison. But I saw it—the way her face cracked, the tears slipping down her cheeks, her lips trembling, her breath coming out in short, shaky bursts.

And in that moment, I knew: She didn’t want this.

She would... say no, would she?

"I do. This is what I want."

No...

"Let's run away, Castorice! You don't have to be stuck in this life in this fucking castle you dread! I will help you be who you want to be without the restrictions and the expectations of the royals and the nobles!"

"I will be wed to the Prince of Castrum Kremnos, and that is final."

She did not even say my name for once.

Cipher. My Cipher. She once uttered that name so carefully, and it was like fire that burned my very being, turned my knees to melted butter, sent heat up my cheeks, and into my sweaty palms, then straight to my heartstrings that tugged it like lyre

"Leave with me."

"Leave me alone."

But her face said otherwise. Castorice had finally burst, shoulders shaking as she let the tears flow. Trembling hands found the top of her vanity, clasped together her knuckles turned white. Her sniffles were loud, hidden and muffled by her head lowered in a bow. I knew, at that moment, that Castorice will always choose her family, despite how much they treated her like trash.

Her trembling frame loomed over me, knuckles clamped in fists. Those eyes, which once held the stars in the night skies, lost its light with obstructing tears, clouding her vision with nothing but pain.

"You are nothing to me, Cipher" her lips trembled as she uttered those words, just as more tears fell in her eyes, trickling like rainstorm onto the carpeted floor. "Just a... a thief. An audacious thief stealing from the Royal Family!"

Those words cut deeper than any knife that’s ever sliced my skin, because they came from her—the one woman I trusted with my life; the one I never imagined would turn against me.

That’s when I knew that her heart was set. The royal family came first. Not me. Not the one person who truly cared.

"You are my safe space—my respite after an exhausting day. You never judged me… not for what I am, not for what I have, or what I’ve done. So… what is this?"

She finally broke. Her sobs spilled out, muffled by her trembling hands covering her face. Watching her cry like that hurts me, because I knew she’d never be free. No matter how much it suffocated her, she would always be chained to what she was born into—to what the world expected her to be.

But... she could've chosen to leave. With me. She could step away from being Princess Castorice and just be a regular Castorice in a farm or an orchard, as free as she ever be without the restraints of royal responsibilities.

I have a tempting offer, but she had refused.

"You could've just said I wasn't enough. I would've accepted that much easier"

Yes, I am nothing, and I know it. Every night before I sleep, I remind myself how lucky I am just to have her, the princess, as a friend. Calling her a lover is insolent, as we had merely shared the passion of lovers, but had never once uttered those wretched three words lovers sing to each other.

"All those nights talking, laughing, planning futures... I guess I was the only one stupid enough to believe."

I couldn’t even look her in the eye, not after everything she said to drive me away. Just like that, she forgot all the nights we shared, the passion, the laughter, the quiet moments we once shared in this very room where we once felt safe in each other's arms.

Gone. All of it, even the future I imagined for her, only one step closer to being a reality—a faraway land from Aidonia, with a little house and a vast field where she could fly free like a butterfly in a sea of blooming flowers.

"Yes, I’m nothing. And he can give you everything—titles, jewels, money, a castle, a queen’s life. Good food. Fine clothes. A child or two, maybe. And if he can give you love too, then… I’m happy for you. Because that’s the only thing I had to offer, but love alone doesn’t feed a stomach, or keep you warm in a storm."

Ahh, all of those memories I had the misfortune of sharing with her, down the drain.

"Who am I for you to choose? Who am I to compete with an actual prince, right? Ah, who am I kidding?"

The Princess of Aidonia stood at the center of the room, all the poise and elegance of a royalty gone. She was a mess, expensive dress disheveled; eyes bloodshot red from the tears she had cried. How unfortunate that this would be the face I would see Castorice in for the last time.

"I wish you the best of luck, then! You will never find me anymore. This will be the last time you'll see of me, Queen of Castrum Kremnos. Farewell."

My body slipped out the window, lighter now without the weight of the jewelry I left behind in her room. They meant nothing anymore. I wouldn’t need the money, not when the life I wanted to build with her in it was no longer possible.

She didn’t choose me. And I have to accept that, like the grown woman that I am. Why would I crawl back, kiss her feet, and beg her to reconsider? She might be a princess, but I have my dignity.

I have a backbone, and I meant every word when I said she would never see me again.

Still, as I hung from her window, just out of sight, I heard her cries. She sobbed a thousand apologies, called out my name like a prayer, cried like she wanted to run—to tear herself free from that golden cage and follow me into the wild, into the freedom she desired her whole life.

Being with you hurts me, Castorice, and so we must part, even if it means slicing open my own heart just to rip out the part where you carved yourself into me and wait with a bleeding heart until it learns how to heal without you.

.

.

(Okhema, present)

I used to care, but now I just flinch when I hear her name.

"The caravan will depart to Penacony in three hours! Be there, or miss the trip!"

A piece of paper never felt heavy in my arms, much more than the gold in my heavy bag that I smuggled inside my caravan. This paper, my ticket to escape, is the future of the phantom thief Cifera. Her days in Amphoreus are over, and it was time to start anew, in a faraway place miles away, where no people know me, where I could start a new life and leave all the past behind.

It will be a long journey. I only know the caravan from Okhema to Penacony, and I know I must pass the Federal States of Xianzhou to the Administrative District of Jarilo, but I am unaware of the mode of transportation, as well as the duration of the trip. I only know it will take me days, or even weeks! Well that's future Cipher's problem, then! It will be an exhausting journey, but a trip I am willing to take, all to leave everything behind and start anew.

With the money from the gold I stole, my bags were safe inside my caravan; no one was aware those bags contain real gold.

Three hours? Still a lot of time, and a coffee shop just down the street became my hang out spot, waiting for the time to pass so I could quietly leave Amphoreus.

"The Royal Family of Castrum Kremnos will enter the city riding in Dromas!"

"They must be! They should adhere to the transportation method of Okhema!"

"Riding Dromas? With a literal newborn in their arms?!"

"Dromas are friendly, aren't they? And, surely Queen Castorice would be holding Princess Trinnon safe!"

Ah, these noisy customers, ruining my precious time!

Castorice, Castorice... Castorice.

Her name echoed in my head like a chant, or a broken record I couldn't stop. They were the talk of the city—cafe customers, passersby, and even hardworking vendors in their free time—the secretive Royal Family of Castrum Kremnos, appearing in public after a year of hiding, now with a little girl which would inherit the throne.

"Cipher?"

"Ah? Phemios! Fancy seeing you here!"

"Same to you too, Cipher." He was a retired Okheman solider, whom most of the vendors and I got royal gossip from. "I just received a package from my brother in Janusopolis. You? You seem to be leaving!"

"Because I am, Phemios! I got an job offer in Penacony!"

"Are you leaving for good? Ah, everyone will be sad without little Cipher's assistance in the market! Have you already said your goodbyes to little Alexios and Kassandra?"

Alexios reminds me of Bartholos sometimes; I lost him at that age. Just like him, Bartholos was swift and dexterous, but he was more inclined to stealing than Alexios, following the footsteps of his sister and brothers.

"I already did. A high-paying job is something I wouldn't reject! I need that to start a new life."

"I heard the caravan to Penacony will leave in two hours. Why not take a stroll around Okhema for the last time? You might even catch a glimpse of the Royal Family of Castrum Kremnos!"

Castrum Kremnos... Castrum Kremnos...

"Nah, I'm good!"

.

.

In reality, I wasn't, and my feet still brought me back to the city, which took care of me for the past months. Everything was decorated wonderfully—small flags hung on lampposts, bearing both the crests of Okhema and Castrum Kremnos. People flocked the city's entrance, waiting in anticipation for the beloved royals, while Okheman and Kremnoan soldiers alike managed the crowd.

From the brick roads of Okhema, my feet brought me to a rooftop with a good view of the massive entrance road. It was a sea of people in there, in both sides of the road to make way for the Royal Family riding Dromas.

This was a stupid idea, yet my feet froze in place. My eyes gazed at the entrance of the city, waiting for even just a glimpse of royal purple.

It has been a year, and I knew she was faring well, considering she even bore an heiress.

Their stop would be in the Dromas Park, where Queen Aglaea and King Anaxagoras waited for their fellow friends. Princess Hyacinthia stood in between them, as regal as she could ever be, hands behind her back in courtesy.

The crowd's anticipating chatters died down from a trumpet's sound, then a voice that announced what they've been waiting to hear.

"We welcome King Mydeimos, Queen Castorice, and Princess Trinnon of Castrum Kremnos!"

Kremnoan soldiers marched inside the city, clad in gold armor and spears, marching in synchrony to the beat of the drums. People waved their hands in awe and excitement at the parade of soldiers, and screams and cheers erupted as a Dromas entered the scene.

Hah, there you are, Castorice.

From the regal purple dress, she had opted for a white one, flowing as it hung from her seat. Beside her was the handsome, respected, and fearless King Mydeimos, known for his patricide for the throne he currently sits on. On his arms was a baby, small and kicking, face scrunching from the noise that bothered her sleep.

What a happy family. King Mydeimos' smile was small, but there was sincerity in that expression. Castorice, the Castorice I knew well from my heart, expressed her delight, waving back at the cheerful citizens lucky enough to catch a glimpse of her.

You look so happy, so radiant, like the sun shone just for you. Like you never shattered my heart and left me bleeding. Hah… but who am I for you to cry over, right? Nobles don’t mourn peasants.

This is it. Right here, right now—on this random rooftop in Okhema, I’m letting go of your ghost. You’ll go back to your new family, and I’ll be far away, chasing a future I once failed to have, haunted by your lingering memories that won’t leave my mind.

No more memories and regrets. You wouldn't live in my mind anymore. Because today, I bury my feelings for you.

Our chapter has finally ended, and we enter a new phase of our lives. Gone was Castorice and Cipher in the comfort of your room in Aidonia; only Queen Castorice of Castrum Kremnos, and Cifera mining gold ores in Jarilo for a living

For the last time, as your smile morphed into surprise, with that same broken, pitiful look you gave me that day, every memory we shared flashed in my mind—from the first time we met, to the moment we drifted apart.

Your eyes still hold that strange beauty, even from where I stand in a distant roof. I never thought you’d still see me here—so far from the bustling roads and golden halls. But here we are, locked in a silent stare, back when I still believed you were solely mine.

But then again, you never were.

Well then. Goodbye, Castorice! Farewell to the love we shared and the memories we made. Jarilo awaits me, and the royal family awaits you.