Skymint's POV

  I stayed awake at midnight, replaying the feast we had in the Plant Palace: Luceran's sarcastic remarks and Arie's laughter despite the grief we both carry. I visited the room Berard had preserved for her, opening the door slightly. She was sleeping well.

  Since Ellie refused to alter Arie's memory, I had explained to her before she lay in that comfortable bed hours ago how I brought her back here after getting myself out of the lake. A lie. Arie believed it and admitted she doesn't care what my doppelganger said to her, as long as we're together.

  Turns out Ellie could take over Arie too while she's in a stressful situation.

  "Skymint, it's no good spying on a girl who's asleep." Berard whispered in my ear.

  I closed the door and turned to him. "I was just checking on her."

  "Suspiciously. Why would you peek at her at this hour?" He asked with a sly look.

  "I'm serious." I said. Here I go lying again. I can't tell anyone about Arie's condition. The guilt weighs on me, but I have to keep the truth hidden for good. To prevent dying along with her. I can't afford to give up before finding Llanova and passing my bounty to my sister.

  "Go to sleep now. If you keep staying up late, you'll end up like a withered plant in the competition." He said, sounding like the father I never had. Like one of those cozy evening talks you imagine having with your dad.

  "How about you?" I asked.

  "Don't mind me. I'm a king with responsibilities." He said. "I'm going out for some fresh air."

  His large frame paused at the backyard doorway. His mahogany eyes looked back at me. "Goodnight. Bear dreams."

  Then he shut the door.

  I sank onto the sofa, reached for the half-full honey jar on the table, opened it, and took a scoop. Never on the snowy island had I tasted this treat. Beehives never survived there. It was sweet and delicious.

  There's still a good chance, a bad one, that Ellie is only pretending to sleep in Arie's body. It bothers me. Why would she save me instead of letting me rot beneath the lake? Maybe it's because she feels what Arie feels. If Arie cares about me, then she does too. But that doesn't excuse her cruelty, especially not how she made me clean up a bloody corpse the first time we met, then proceeded to sleep like she hadn't just killed a werewolf.

  Suddenly, I remembered her cabin, crafted by magic. That's it. The spell must have exhausted her. She still hasn't paid off her sleep debt. That's why she refused to alter Arie's memory. It must be weighing on her.

  I wondered if the cabin was still there, somewhere in the outskirts of Grizzly Forest.

  ***

  Arie's POV

  A day passed, and the long-awaited Horse Racing Competition finally began.

  I had to beg my uncle to let me watch it. We went through a polite argument that felt like an eternity. He insisted I couldn't risk being seen by any Glacians who might discover I was still alive, until he finally agreed, on the condition that I remain in disguise and keep Carrie by my side at all times in the public stadium.

  We stood behind the jade archway that separated the stables from the stadium gates. Spectators bustled past in colorful robes, but no one gave us a second glance.

  Carrie covered my sky-blue bob with a long, wavy light-green wig made of her plants, tiny flowers etched into it as decoration. It was a common hair color among Freshans, making it a good disguise. I also wore a white, elegant mask that covered half my face, leaving only my lips exposed to the sunlight. It was the kind of mask worn by Freshans during events like the Horse Racing Competition.

  "Am I still recognizable?" I asked Skymint, who was adjusting Golde's saddle.

  He finished and turned to look at me. "You're not the Ice Princess anymore. More like a fairy." He said with a smile.

  The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

  "You look like a true Freshan now!" Carrie added, her eyes glistening.

  "I need to line up with the other racers." Skymint said, patting Golde's neck. "I'll see you both after the final lap, unless I win, of course." He winked and turned toward the arena gates.

  I entered the stadium with Carrie. The sun sizzled on my skin, the noise of hundreds of spectators rang in my ears, and a creeping worry about what was to come settled in. We sat in the highest row reserved for us, where seating was arranged so that royals and nobles sat in the upper tiers while ordinary citizens filled the middle and lower sections.

  From this vantage point, I could see half of the Fresha Kingdom. The racing track stretched into the distance, vanishing into dense trees before looping back from the forest's edge. At the starting line stood a large flat panel made of glistening glass, elevated by its legs. It projected footage captured by a Magical Item, one that could fly at the speed of light, following the racers. The enchantments were cast long ago.

  Carrie gazed at it as if she might be warped inside.

  Below us, I heard the chatter of people speculating who would win and where their bets lay.

  "Too bad he's no longer here. I always bet on Prince Aerol." One man said. A sharp ache bloomed in my chest.

  "Prince Luceran will dominate the race for sure!" Someone declared.

  "I'm betting on the Light Prince!" Said another.

  "What are they talking about? I'm here to watch the Flame Prince." Carrie suddenly said, snapping me out of the crowd's noise.

  I chuckled. "You're into him now?"

  "No. I'm watching to make sure he doesn't lay a hand on any plants. I won't let him burn anything." She replied. I couldn't tell if she was joking or not.

  I scanned the half-circle stadium and spotted shades of blue and gray among the sea of beach and ocean-toned outfits belonging to the Aquamarinian nobles beside us.

  Before I could squint to identify which Glacians were in attendance, the massive flower where the race caller stood bloomed in midair, signaling it was time to begin.

  "Welcome to the Horse Racing Competition in Fresha!" He announced. "This year may be different, given the vast forests we have, but once again, our contestants include double-elemental fruit masters!"

  I looked down at Skymint, already mounted on Golde. He's just a Class 3 fruit master compared to the Class 4 competitors from other kingdoms. But I've always believed a Polarman is superior to a human, even when I was a child. I believe in him. This competition isn't merely about power. It's about strategy and horsepower.

  "Let's introduce our racers first! First up, the Plant Prince of Fresha: Luceran Pieverel!"

  The crowd erupted in applause, their cheers echoing through the stadium.

  "The Water Prince of Aquamarine: Wade Grandiluxe!"

  His long turquoise hair gleamed under the sunlight as he raised a hand and waved at the audience, clearly savoring his spotlight. I instantly recognized him: Aice's oldest cousin. Most of the applause came from the nearby Aquamarinians.

  The caller continued announcing the racers. Meanwhile, I turned my attention back to the Glacian visitors, squinting to get a better look. A familiar periwinkle-haired boy stood out amidst the surrounding sky-blue-haired nobles. Beside him was a boy with his hair tied in a ponytail. Claudius and Aice were here. But there was no sign of Dorsey's distinct lilac hair.

  "Dorsey didn't come for a reason." Carrie whispered in my ear. "She thinks the Glacians would complain about how she's here after 'cheating' her penalty in the dungeon. Honestly, I think she just doesn't care about the competition."

  "Perhaps." I replied.

  Guilt twisted in my gut. I'd stained her image just for defending myself. But I did the right thing... didn't I? Neither of us was guilty of General Dicester's death.

  The race caller drew my attention again, mainly because Carrie had turned to look at me.

  "A noble and double-elemental fruit master from Glacia Kingdom!"

  My heart skipped. A sudden headache throbbed through my skull, and the sun's heat burned into my skin.

  "Skadar Facienda!"

  I froze. All I could hear was yelling, cheering, clapping, like distant thunder muffled underwater.

  "Arie?" Carrie tapped my shoulder, snapping me back to reality.

  "You okay?" She asked, her face lined with concern.

  "Water." I blurted out.

  "Here." A girl beside me handed over a flask. An Aquamarinian noble.

  "Thanks." I said, almost stuttering, startled she might recognize me.

  "I like your mask, by the way. You must be even prettier without it." She added with a smile.

  Her pink coral earrings stood out, and her fine white teeth glistened when she smiled.

  I opened the lid and took a sip. For a moment, I forgot I was a presumed-dead princess. I felt like just another Freshan noble. It was a nice feeling. Normal.

  "An ordinary citizen turned warrior from the Greatspire Kingdom: Elion Champ!"

  More cheers. He looked slender but muscular, and his rare orange eyes shimmered beneath the sun.

  Then, at last, it came. Skymint's turn.

  "Lastly, a Polarman representative from the Grizzly Kingdom: Skymint Polarion!"

  The applause wasn't as loud as the others', but I didn't realize I was clapping more than anyone else. A strange, intrusive thought crossed my mind. I wanted to freeze everyone's throat.

  "He's an underdog. The Grizzly King's representative is always at a disadvantage." The noble girl commented.

  "But he has a Polarman this time. I believe in Skymint." I said.

  Carrie shot me a look. Oops. Too enthusiastic.

  "I believe in everyone who participated." I added quickly.

  "That's what I'm thinking too." Carrie said with an encouraging smile.

  "Hey, you're the Plant Princess! Nice to meet you." The noble girl said, as if just realizing. I found it a little funny.

  The race caller's voice rang again.

  "Here are some rules to follow before the race begins. For light and electric users, teleportation is strictly prohibited. Doing so will result in disqualification. Use of any Magical Items is considered cheating. Killing a horse or a racer is not allowed. This isn't a gladiator match. So good luck, and use your wits to outlast your opponents... or you'll be last!"

  And then trumpets blared, echoing through the trees. The race was about to begin.