Lili's heart pounded in her chest as she gazed around at her surroundings. She recognized this hall, it was the Royal Princess' place, a place she had carefully avoided for so long. Her mind raced, trying to comprehend why she had been brought here. As she was led towards the center of the room, she caught sight of a woman standing before her, donning a magnificent royal dress, obscuring her face. The gravity of the situation hit her as the guards made her bow and kneel in front of the mysterious woman."We finally met," the woman declared, her voice regal and commanding. The sword pressed against Lili's neck, causing her to break out in sweat.Gulping, she slowly lifted her head, and to her surprise and horror, the guard moved the sword closer, causing her to bow again. "Your Highness," Lili stuttered, nerves getting the better of her.The woman narrowed her eyes before demanding that Lili introduce herself. "I-I am L-Lili Roque. The Crown Prince’s personal doctor," she stuttered,

Their lips collided, locking into one another in an instant, igniting a fierce electric energy that coursed through their veins. It was unexpected, sudden, and took them both by surprise. She never imagined that she would be kissing her enemy, especially not in a place like this. Her heart was racing, and her mind was in turmoil as the realization hit her. How could she be kissing the Crown Prince? He was the one she was supposed to hate, the one who stood in the way of her goals.She broke away from him quickly, turning her attention to Thone, who was as oblivious as ever. He was holding up a squawking chicken with triumph, completely unaware of the tension between the two. "I've caught it!" he exclaimed, grinning from ear to ear. "What's with those faces? Aren't you happy that I've caught it?"Lili forced a smile, her heart still pounding in her chest. "Yes, Thone. I'm thrilled that you caught it. You're still the best chicken hunter around." She purposely put distance between her an

Trembling, Lili withdrew her hand from the King's tight grasp and gracefully lowered herself to the ground before him. Her voice was barely above a whisper as she spoke, "Your Majesty," and she respectfully inclined her head towards him.Unexpectedly, the King's voice was laced with surprise as he said, "I didn't expect you to recognize me." Lili's heart nearly stopped; he knew who she was. Had her surreptitious observations been discovered? Every fiber of her being screamed for her to remain calm and composed. "Your Majesty," she stammered, "my father often speaks of the elegant and majestic garments worn by the King and mentions how handsome your face is. I merely noticed that in your attire," she murmured, her stomach writhing with anxiety.The King chuckled, his gaze still fixed upon her, shrewd and unyielding. "Is that so?" he said, a hint of amusement still presents in his voice. "And what news have you brought before me, my dear?" His eyes flickered briefly with a keen interest.

Lili stared at the Crown Prince with wide eyes. The realization of what she had done hit her like a ton of bricks, and she couldn't believe the words that had come out of her mouth. "YOUR HIGHNESS?!" she had exclaimed, feeling flustered and embarrassed.The Crown Prince looked at her quizzically. "Are you shouting at me?" he asked."N-No, no. I mean… I don’t like you," Lili stuttered, her heart racing in her chest.The prince gazed at her in disbelief. "How can you reject me when I am not even courting you?" he asked.Lili was stunned. She had never thought of it that way before. "And I don’t like you either, so don’t you dare reject me! I also have no intention of courting or liking you because I have high standards for women!" he exclaimed, his voice rising in frustration.Lili felt her cheeks flush with embarrassment. She understood that the Crown Prince was angry because she had rejected him, but his words and reactions seemed more convincing than her own, even though she had only

Lili lay in her room, her family's physician treating her wounds with a sense of urgency. Everyone else waited in the living room, their expressions full of concern and worry. Cris, Thone, Avoi, and Mahara were constantly crying, unable to hide their distress. Marco sat in silence, his eyes fixed on the floor, disappointment etched onto his face as he berated himself for failing to protect Lili.Meanwhile, the Crown Prince sat in the corner, his mind racing with thoughts of concern for Lili. The realization that the Mask Princess and Lili were one and the same had suddenly become unimportant, overshadowed by his worry for his friend. Master Ken pondered how Lili had ended up in the woods, his concern extending to the Crown Prince."We should return to the palace, your highness," Master Ken spoke up, breaking the somber silence. "It's safer for you there while we investigate who the group that attacked you earlier is."The minister chimed in; his voice heavy with emotion. "General Alfon