They ran, the sound of hurried footsteps echoing against the narrow streets. Dust kicked up from the cobblestones as Kayla’s grip on her elder sister’s hand tightened with every step. Her heart pounded, each breath sharp and uneven.

“We’re almost clear!” Evelyn urged, her voice low but firm.

Kayla nodded, though fear still flickered in her eyes. Sweat slicked her hair to her forehead, her chest heaving as adrenaline pushed her forward. The city around them blurred, a whirlwind of alleyways, merchants, and stray animals.

They surged forward without slowing, until Evelyn stumbled. With every step, her legs trembled, as though the ground itself conspired to betray her. Her breathing broke into ragged gasps, each inhale unsteady, and each exhale shallow and strained.

She came to an abrupt halt, releasing Kayla’s hand and hurrying toward the nearest stone wall. One trembling palm pressed against the cold surface for support as sweat beaded on her forehead and slid down her temples.

Kayla moved at once, slipping to her side, her left shoulder braced firmly against Evelyn’s frame to keep her upright. She felt the weakness radiating from her older sister, Evelyn’s body quivering faintly in her grasp.

“What’s wrong?” Kayla asked, her voice tight with worry. Her eyes searched Evelyn’s face, pallid skin, lips drained of color, her entire expression painfully fragile.

Evelyn forced a small, shaky smile, shaking her head slightly.

“I’m… fine. Just… this body… has been starving, that’s all. I… I can’t run for too long, hehehe…” Her laugh was weak, almost hollow, and her voice trailed off.

“Don’t worry. If we rest for… two seconds, I’ll be fine. We can resume running then.”

Kayla’s brows knitted in concern, her instinct refusing to accept Evelyn’s attempt to downplay it. She scanned the crowded street, heart pounding with every step of those pursuers that could be drawing closer. Then she spotted it, a small tavern, tucked into a corner between a bustling market stall and a narrow alley.

“Come on,” Kayla said firmly, tugging gently yet insistently at her elder sister’s arm.

“Waiting for your strength to come back won’t do. I can’t let you die, leaving me here alone. Let’s go.”

Evelyn’s legs felt like lead, each step a battle. But Kayla’s grip was strong, and surprisingly, her own body felt almost weightless from starvation. She allowed herself to be guided, stumbling but not falling.

“Where are we heading? We’re not far enough from them yet, they might catch up,” Evelyn managed to say, voice faint and strained.

“To that tavern over there,” Kayla replied, pointing with urgency.

“We can hide inside for a bit. You need to eat.”

Evelyn simply nodded, too exhausted to speak. Her mind wandered briefly as her body trembled.

How long has this body been starving?

The question loomed, a quiet echo through her frazzled senses.

They reached the tavern just as the sound of clattering footsteps and shouting grew faintly behind them. Kayla pulled open the door, guiding Evelyn inside. The warm smell of cooked food and the low hum of conversation hit them immediately, a stark contrast to the chaos outside.

Kayla led Evelyn to a corner table, sliding onto the bench first, then gently helping Evelyn down. She sat close, her presence grounding her elder sister. Evelyn sagged against her, every muscle aching, head spinning.

“They won’t find us here, that quickly.” Kayla murmured, gently brushing a strand of hair from Evelyn’s sweat-damp forehead.

“Eat something first. You need it.”

Evelyn’s lips curved into a faint smile, though her eyes remained heavy-lidded.

“You’re taking such good care of your elder sister.”

Kayla clicked her tongue softly.

“Don’t get used to it. It’s supposed to be the other way around.”

That drew a breathless laugh from Evelyn.

Kayla glanced around, spotting a server passing nearby, and raised her hand.

“Some food, please, something quick,” she said, her other hand never leaving Evelyn’s, keeping her as steady as she could.

Evelyn released a soft sigh and closed her eyes, choosing to rest for a while.

The food arrived quickly. Steam curled from the dishes as Kayla drew them closer, urging Evelyn to eat. At first, Evelyn moved cautiously, fingers trembling as she lifted her utensils, but after the first few bites, something shifted.

Warmth spread through her chest, strength returning in steady pulses. Her appetite surged, and soon she was eating with an urgency that surprised even herself, finishing portions far faster than she ever had back in their own world.

Kayla watched with open relief, a small smile tugging at her lips. Evelyn’s color slowly returned, her shoulders straightening, her breaths evening out. When she finally paused, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand, her eyes were clearer, sharper.

Evelyn leaned back, exhaling softly as if testing her renewed strength. Then she looked at Kayla, expression thoughtful.

“So I’m right,” she asked, her voice steady now.

“You truly woke up as a princess in this world?”

Kayla nodded.

“Yes. And those three people chasing us,” she added.

“are this woman’s family’s most trusted servants.” She hesitated only briefly before continuing, voice calm but precise.

“Kayla Bail Ryder is this woman’s name. She’s the only daughter of the Emperor of this country, Bart Carson Boone Ryder.”

Evelyn raised a brow slightly.

“Oh. Surprisingly, you have the same first name as this woman, but different middle and last names,” she remarked.

“I figured,” Kayla replied, lips twitching.

Evelyn tilted her head, studying Kayla.

“Did you just wake up?” she asked, repeating the question from earlier.

“No. I woke up three days ago,” Kayla answered, then pointed at her.

“How about you?”

“Me?” Evelyn huffed softly.

“I just woke up.” She paused, then added with mild amusement,

“Oh, and this man’s name is Ye Run Chu. Something.”

Kayla blinked, then smiled.

“Ye Run Chu sounds nice.”

“Yeah, it’s better than yours,” Evelyn replied with a snicker, eyes gleaming with familiar mischief.

Kayla rolled her eyes dramatically.

“Tsk! At least mine is in English.”

Evelyn chuckled and returned to munching on the food, unhurried now.

“You know,” she said between bites,

“I don’t know if you already know this, but no matter how you run or hide, your big daddy will still find you.”

“I know that already,” Kayla replied with a long sigh, watching

Evelyn eat with resigned acceptance.

Evelyn laugh softly, her strength fully restored now. Whatever this world was, whatever roles they had awakened into, it was clear they would face it together, just as they always had back in their own world, which was likely nothing more than ash now.