“So,” Evelyn drawled, continuously tearing into her food,

“are we going to continue running away, or—”

She slowed mid-sentence, catching the unmistakable twitch of irritation forming on her younger sister’s face.

“…What?” she asked innocently, blinking as though she had no idea what was coming.

“Can’t you eat quietly?” Kayla snapped, every ounce of her frustration bleeding into her voice.

“Why?” Evelyn replied, genuinely curious, or pretending to be.

“You don’t like this sound?”

To prove her point, she deliberately munched louder, chewing with exaggerated enthusiasm, a wicked grin spreading across her face as she watched her sister patience crumble.

Kayla could only sigh and glare at her, exasperation written plainly across her features. It was a look honed by years of enduring her elder sister’s, now elder brother’s, antics.

“Why did you have to be reincarnated as a princess?” Evelyn suddenly said, the teasing slipping away as her tone turned serious.

“You’re nothing but trouble.”

“It’s not like there was a menu to choose from,” Kayla shot back.

“I mean, look at you. Look at me. We woke up, and, surprise, here we are.”

Evelyn choked.

“Ahem!” She thumped his chest, coughing.

“Right. At least you’re still a woman. Unlike me.” She pointed accusingly at herself.

“You’re complaining like you hate it,” Kayla said, arching a brow.

“Didn’t you always say, ‘What if I were born a man? How would it feel?’ Well, congratulations. You got your answer.”

“Correction,” she said, straightening proudly.

“I’m not complaining. And yes… I’m very satisfied.”

“Of course you are,” Kayla muttered.

“By the way,” Evelyn added, her voice softening,

“how are your feet? Should we buy you some shoes after this?”

Kayla glanced down at her dirty soles and winced.

“A bit itchy. And yes, we should. I don’t think I can run much farther, there are way too many little rocks.”

Then her expression shifted, turning thoughtful.

“Going back to the topic… I don’t want to return to that place. Life there might be easier. Richer.”

Evelyn nodded slowly.

“But freedom is exceptional,” they said together.

Kayla lifted a cup of warm tea and took a careful sip.

“Either way,” Evelyn said gently,

“you don’t really have a choice. That body isn’t just yours. It belongs to the daughter of the Western Emperor.”

Kayla exhaled sharply and set the cup down, suddenly uninterested.

“This situation spoils my mood,” she muttered.

Evelyn slowed her eating, studying her younger sister in thoughtful silence. Her gaze lingered, mind turning over possibilities, what they should do, how they should move forward. Then, suddenly, her eyes lit up.

“I got it!” she shouted, clapping her hands together.

Kayla flinched, and several patrons in the restaurant startled, turning to stare. A few muttered under their breath, clearly annoyed, before eventually looking away.

Kayla stared at her, confused but patient.

“…What?”

Evelyn lean in close to whisper her idea into Kayla’s right ear.

Kayla straightened instantly, eyes widening as understanding dawned.

“Will that work?”

“Of course,” Evelyn replied, nodding with unwavering confidence.

Relief washed over Kayla’s face. She surged forward and wrapped Evelyn in a tight embrace.

“I’m so glad you’re here,” she whispered, her voice trembling.

“I would’ve died without you.”

Evelyn chuckled and patted her back reassuringly.

“Don’t say such a taboo thing.” She pulled back slightly.

“Now hurry up and let go, or my smell will rub off on you.”

Kayla released her at once, wrinkling her nose dramatically.

“Hey!” Evelyn protested.

Kayla only laughed, her eyes bright with gratitude.

Evelyn reached out and ruffled her hair.

“It’s good to see you smiling again. I’ve missed it.”

Kayla froze, staring at her in a daze.

“What?” Evelyn added quickly with a sheepish smile.

“Was that too much?”

Kayla nodded faintly, then smiled back.

“But… it’s fine. Having moments like this with my elder sister, or rather, elder brother, feels refreshing.”

Now standing side to side, both sibling face the open doors of the tavern. Sunlight spilled across the threshold, warm and blinding.

“Ready?” Kayla asked, a confident smile playing on her lips as she lifted her right hand and beckoned the errand boy over.

“How much is our bill?” she asked, her brow faintly furrowed as she reached into the long sleeve of her Hanfu and pulled out her purse.

“Twenty silver coins,” the young errand boy replied, keeping a respectful distance.

“Twenty silver coins for tea and one dish?” Kayla nodded.

“Alright. Here.”

She opened her purse and extended it toward him.

“Take what’s needed.”

Beside her, Evelyn watched in surprise at her sister’s actions, Kayla had just openly extended her purse to a stranger as if it were the most ordinary thing in the world.

Before the boy could even hesitate, Evelyn stepped forward. She gently took the purse from Kayla’s hand, counted out the coins with practiced ease, and passed them over.

“There. Keep the change.”

The errand boy bowed repeatedly, thanked them, and hurried away.

Evelyn turned to Kayla, his expression tightening.

“Why would you just hand your purse to someone?” she scolded.

“No matter how rich you are in this world, that doesn’t mean you should openly offer your money to strangers.”

Kayla winced slightly.

“It wasn’t intentional. I don’t know how much I’m supposed to give. I’m not exactly familiar with ancient Chinese currency, you know?”

“Right,” Evelyn said with a short laugh.

“I forgot we’re originally from the twenty-first century.”

She straightened a little, clearly pleased with himself.

“Looks like joining both the literature club and the historical club during my academic years finally paid off.”

Kayla glanced at her, amused.

“Well, I guess I’m lucky to have a bookworm elder sister—” she paused, smirking,

“I mean, elder brother.”

With that settled, they left the tavern and headed north.

Thirty minutes later, the sun hung mercilessly overhead.

“Where are they?” Evelyn groaned, wiping sweat from her brow.

“What’s taking them so long to find us? We’ve been walking forever.”

“They’re here,” Kayla replied curtly.

Evelyn narrowed her eyes and looked ahead, and there, at last, she spotted the familiar three figures from earlier, closing in.

A slow smirk curved her lips.

“About time,” she said.