In the bustling streets of the Royal Capital, the sounds of merchants shouting, wheels clattering over cobblestone, and townsfolk chattering filled the air.

At the center of the commotion, Felt—the former slum thief now thrust into nobility—strode forward with an unmistakable swagger.

Her short blonde hair ruffled slightly in the breeze, crimson eyes sharp and restless as they scanned the crowd. Her clothes were still simple compared to the lavish robes nobles expected from a royal candidate—she refused to change just because some rich nobles said so.

At her side, a knight followed closely, his posture stiff, armor polished, eyes constantly scanning for threats like some wind-up soldier.

Felt rolled her eyes.

Felt:"Tch… Hey, lighten up a bit, will ya?"

She jabbed him in the ribs with her elbow, a smirk tugging at her lips.

Felt:"We ain’t at some uptight noble party right now, y’know? Loosen those shoulders before you pull something."

The knight said nothing, his expression remaining stone-cold serious.

Felt groaned, running a hand through her messy blonde hair, the black ribbon tying her bangs swaying behind her ear.

Felt:"Ugh. You're givin' me a headache with all this doom and gloom."

As they continued weaving through the crowded marketplace, Felt's gaze flicked from vendor stalls to back alleys, her old habits still kicking in. She wasn’t some delicate flower just 'cause she’d been picked as a royal candidate.

Her lips tightened for a second, eyes narrowing thoughtfully as she muttered under her breath.

Felt:"Bein' a princess is way more of a pain than I thought."

The words left her mouth in a half-whisper, half-grumble, but they were honest.

She wasn’t made for silk dresses or tea ceremonies. She was a girl from the slums, the kind who’d swipe a purse faster than she’d curtsy.

But still—she had no intention of backing down.

Her crimson red eyes gleamed with stubborn fire as she looked ahead at the crowded streets.

Felt:"Whatever. I’ll figure it out. I always do."

With a confident huff, she picked up the pace, leaving the knight to scramble after her.

Even if she didn’t understand politics or etiquette, Felt wasn’t the type to quit.

If the nobles wanted a ruler who’d shake things up, she was damn well gonna give them one.