“I’m not entirely sure about that.” Sis reached for a stack of documents on the coffee table. These were his official orders: to receive Her Highness of the Taegeuk Kingdom.

  The folder contained her background dossier and flight information.

  “This young woman is also a Hidden Css,” Sis noted as he scanned the pages. “She only underwent her Css Awakening half a month ago, but she’s already Level 15. Her power is quite formidable.”

  “Given her performance, every academy in the Dragon Federation would be tripping over themselves to recruit her. I heard the Top Ten Academies all sent her invitations, but she hasn’t decided where to go yet.”

  “As for why she’s coming to Riverport City… that’s the mystery. Even I can’t see any reason for her to be here.”

  Sis frowned, his eyes narrowing at the text. “It seems something in our city has caught her eye. Otherwise, she’d be in the Dragon Capital, heading for Jinghua or Capital Academy.”

  He set the files down and gave a light shrug. “Whatever. She’s coming to the Dragon Federation for legitimate reasons. As the Lord Mayor of Riverport City, I’ll simply py the good host.”

  Chloe couldn't figure out the princess's motives either, so she pushed the thought aside.

  The next morning.

  Lucian looked at the breakfast table and didn't know whether to ugh or cry.

  Kara had fully recovered. She was glowing, her beautiful face flushed with a hint of excitement. She sat across from him, beaming.

  “Try it. Tell me how my cooking is.”

  Lucian picked up his chopsticks with a wry smile. “Kara, it’s just breakfast. Did you really need to make this much?”

  Kara stuck out her tongue pyfully, looking uncharacteristically adorable. “I… I was actually trying to see if there’s a pattern to my Enchanted Cooking skill. I got a bit carried away and ended up making too much.”

  “But I learned something. The Braised Ribs and the Chicken Stew both grant permanent stat increases. Hurry up and have a bite.”

  She pced a serving in his bowl.

  The night before, Kara had already experimented with the skill, producing several dishes that boosted attributes. However, most of those effects only sted about two hours and provided meager one or two-point buffs.

  Lucian had initially assumed her cooking would function like temporary potions—a quick buff that faded over time. But then, Kara had steamed a batch of buns that changed everything.Meat Bun (Enchanted Culinary Food): Restores a portion of Health. Permanently increases Strength by 1 (No effect if consumed repeatedly).

  A single bun providing a permanent point of Strength was revolutionary. A potion that offered even a tiny permanent stat boost would sell for nearly two hundred thousand credits on the market.

  In other words, that one tray of buns was worth over a million credits.

  Kara had been so ecstatic she’d practically tackled Lucian in a hug, jumping for joy until she finally calmed down. Since then, it was as if she’d discovered a new continent. She began experimenting with every recipe she knew, desperate to see if she could recreate those permanent gains. If she could produce them consistently, people would be tearing each other apart just for a chance to buy them.

  Seeing Kara so happy—acting like a teenage girl at the prospect of her newfound success—made Lucian’s heart swell. They weren't hurting for money, but if she wanted to cook, he was happy to supply the ingredients.

  Still, the sheer volume of food this early in the morning was a bit much.

  Lucian surveyed the eight dishes. Most offered minor two-hour buffs, but the Braised Ribs provided a permanent point of Endurance, and the Chicken Stew provided a permanent point of Spirit.

  Pure gold.

  Though he wasn’t particurly hungry, the aroma was irresistible. He dug in, eating with a sudden, fierce appetite.

  Suddenly, a high-pitched draconic chirp echoed from upstairs. Nyx streaked down like a bolt of bck lightning, nding squarely on the table. She didn't hesitate, diving into the meat dishes and cttering her bowl against the wood.

  “Nyx, slow down! You’re getting sauce everywhere!” Lucian tapped her lightly on the head with a chopstick. Nyx gave him a pitiful look and chirped before settling down. She sat upright, suddenly acting like a refined princess as she took delicate bites.

  It was strange. Nyx hadn't cared much for Kara’s buns before, but ever since she awakened as an Enchanting Chef, the dragon was obsessed. If Nyx hadn't been there to finish the leftovers the previous night, half the food would have gone to waste.

  Lucian suspected that while Nyx didn't care for human food, enchanted items were a different story. She loved Kara’s magical cooking so much that she had completely abandoned raw meat; she now insisted on Kara’s home-cooked meals.

  Despite her love for the food, Nyx had zero intention of being grateful.

  Whenever Lucian showed even the slightest bit of affection toward Kara, the dragon would grow restless. She’d rub against him and wedge herself into his p, constantly reminding him who his "favorite" was.

  Lucian was helpless against it. Nyx was perfect in every other way, but she was a clingy, jealous little thing, and she even viewed Kara as a rival for his attention.

  Thankfully, Kara took it in stride. She found the dragon’s antics more amusing than annoying and had grown quite fond of the little creature. If Kara had been just as petty as Nyx, their home would have turned into a battlefield.

  As they ate, they discussed the mechanics of Kara's Hidden Css. Even after hours of testing, she hadn't found the logic behind the Gastro-Enchantment skill. Sometimes the same dish produced different results—permanent one time, temporary the next.

  The real value y in the permanent boosts, and Kara wanted to master that consistency, but she was still shooting in the dark.

  The only thing they knew for certain was that dishes made from a specific Blueprint, like the Meat Buns, yielded permanent stats. Meat Buns were the only recipe Kara had officially "learned," and every batch now consistently granted a point of Strength.

  Lucian figured that if Kara learned more professional Cooking Blueprints, she could produce a wider variety of permanent stat-boosting foods. He decided that after breakfast, he’d take her to the Auction House to hunt for Chef Blueprints.

  As a Life Css, Chef Blueprints were cheap—usually only a few tens of thousands of credits. Selling just one tray of her magical buns would cover the cost of a dozen new recipes. The Enchanting Chef css was undeniably powerful; if nothing else, it was a license to print money.

  A sudden knock at the shop’s front door interrupted their meal.

  Kara gnced toward the entrance. “Is someone here for buns? I put up the 'Closed' sign. No one should be knocking…”

  “Probably just a regur who misses your cooking,” Lucian said, dismissive. “Don’t worry about it. They’ll leave in a minute.”

  But the knocking persisted.

  Kara sighed and stood up to see who it was. Lucian set down his chopsticks and scooped up Nyx, stuffing her into the front of his hoodie to keep her out of sight.

  The rolling shutter groaned as Kara lifted it. She looked up and saw a young woman standing there, her pedigree obvious at a gnce. She wore white Cleric robes that looked both pure and elegant. Her skin was fwless, her features delicate and refined. She was every bit as beautiful as Kara herself.

  It was Chloe.

  Chloe’s polite smile froze when she realized the woman opening the door was a stunning beauty in her mid-twenties.

  She had come to deliver the ten-million-credit reward. Since her driver had dropped Lucian off here the previous day, she knew he lived at this bun shop. She knew his background—an orphan living with his aunt.

  She had expected a middle-aged woman. To find a young, beautiful woman instead caught her completely off guard. The thought that this could be the "aunt" didn't even cross her mind.

  Seeing Chloe’s stunned silence, Kara spoke up. “Are you here for the shop? We’re closed for the next few days. Please come back ter.”

  Chloe blinked, snapping out of it. “No, sorry. I’m looking for Lucian. He lives here, right?”

  As the words left her mouth, Lucian stepped up to the door. He gave Chloe a small smile. “Sterling. You’re here early.”

  “Lucian!” Chloe’s smile returned, brighter than before.

  Her eyes drifted over him, filled with a touch of surprise. Today, Lucian was clean and dressed in fresh clothes. Compared to the wreck she had seen in the Stony Barrens, he looked like a completely different person. Back then, he looked like a vagrant; now, he was a handsome, bright young man.

  Lucian’s natural looks were impressive, and the contrast from the day before made Chloe’s heart skip a beat. She felt a slight warmth rise to her cheeks.

  “The Awakening Trials are tomorrow,” Chloe said, her voice a bit softer. “I was worried you’d need the money for gear and potions, so I grabbed the funds from home and came straight here.”