As the chapter continues...
Selena: Ack!!!
Zilpher: Sel! *approaches Selena* I'll help you *worried*
Selena: No, I'm okay! Chase after that woman and don't let her escape!
???: Our game ends here for now, Selena. Until we meet again! *pulls out and opens something from her pocket*
Zilpher (Granade?!) Tsskkk!!! *runs towards the entrance of the mine*
But...
???: Boom!! Mwahh!!!
Boom! Boom!!
Zilpher: Tsskkk!!!
The entrance to the mine was blocked by rocks, leaving them trapped inside.
Zilpher: Haaahhh!!! *frustrated* (I can't use my power here because this mine is made of volcanic rocks, which are our weakness with ice and water powers. I can't use Selena's power to break through them either since she just got injured and...) She has another wound from this) Tsskkk!!!!
Selena: Zip!
Zilpher *approaches Selena* Are you okay? *tears a piece from his shirt and gently ties it around Selena's wound*
Meanwhile, outside...
Boom!!
People: What was that loud explosion and where did it come from?
Worker: It came from the direction where His Highness ran!
The worker immediately ran towards the mine.
Zilpher *hugs Selena* Haaahhh..., if I had known this would happen, I wouldn't have brought you here. I'm sorry if you got hurt again because of me.
Selena: You're not to blame, I'm the one who insisted on chasing that woman earlier.
Then they heard a voice.
???: Your Highness!, Queen?! Are you alright in there?!
Zilpher (The worker I was talking to earlier) Yes! *shouts*
Worker: Just wait there! I'll get some tools to remove the rocks blocking your way and I'll also ask for help to speed up the removal of the rocks!
Zilpher: Okay!!! *shouts*
Selena: Why do we have to wait for help? Isn't there another way out of here?
Zilpher: Ah, that route is also blocked by rocks, so we can't use it either.
Selena: Why?
Zilpher: Because according to the worker's story about the mine:
Worker: In the past, there were people who we thought were going to trade various products and gold with us, but it turned out they weren't. When it was time for the trade, they revealed their true forms as banshees from the East. They caused chaos, destroyed, and burned the homes and things near here. Then suddenly, we heard a loud explosion in the mines caused by pirates. They used the back of the mines as their route to steal our treasures. After the two groups were done causing trouble, they would pass through our mines to escape and blow up the rear to cover the passage with rocks so we couldn't chase them. We also learned that these two groups are led by a woman with long red hair.
Selena: It seems that the Anyoaego we faced earlier is the leader of the pirates and banshees from the eastern part of Exolorus.
Zilpher: Yes
Selena (It looks like we need to wait for help to get us out of here).
Zilpher: By the way...
Selena: ???
Zilpher: I saw that the woman earlier transformed into Almorante when you were trying to stop her from escaping.
Selena: ....
Zilpher: Ah, you know what I'm trying to say, right? *releases Selena from his embrace*
Suddenly, Selena went silent...
Zilpher: If she hadn't transformed into Almorante, you might have caught her (You wouldn't have gotten injured again).
Selena: There are many important people in my heart, so maybe that's why.
Zilpher: But Almorante is first in your heart, right? (I thought you didn't like him anymore, but why...) *looks away from Selena*
Selena: Look into my eyes, Zip
Zilpher: I don't want to *sadly*
Selena: Just because she chose to mimic Almorante doesn't mean I still love him.
Even though I don't feel anything for Almorante anymore, he's still important to me because he was my very first true and kind friend.
Zilpher *looks into Selena's eyes* What about me? Where do I stand?? And what number am I in there *points to Selena's heart* Are you numb? Don't you know why I always prefer to stay by your side rather than hunting or other important things?
Selena: I know! *holds her chest tightly* Right now, I can't answer that question, but I know that someday, I will be able to answer it.
The two fell silent...
An hour passed...
They both called out each other's names...
Zilpher: Sel?
Selena: Zip?
Zilpher: You go first. Tell me what you want to say.
Selena: Okay *takes a deep breath* Hoooh! I hope what we talked about won't affect our agreement.
Zilpher (Oh, is that all? I thought...) Yes, of course, and don't worry too much about what we talked about earlier. Forget what I said.
Selena: ....
Suddenly, Selena began to shiver and felt cold...
Selena (Brghhmmmhhh!!!) ....
Zilpher noticed...
Zilpher *removes and drapes his cloak over Selena*
Selena: Thank you
Soon after, Selena suddenly felt drowsy.
Selena: Hurrr!!
Zilpher: Are you sleepy?
Selena: Hi-not really..., I can still----, Hurr!!!
Zilpher: You're sleepy. You can nap on my shoulder. I'll wake you up when they arrive.
Selena: Okay *rests her head on Zilpher's right shoulder* I'll just nap for a bit *closes her eyes* zzzzz!!!
Zilpher: Selena seems really tired. I'm sorry that because of our country's problems, you're always getting exhausted and injured.
Another hour passed...
"Your Highness, we're here!"
Zilpher (Gusano!) *wakes Selena* Wake up, Sel, they've arrived *smiles*
Selena *rubs her eyes* Ah, okay
Zilpher: Can you stand?
Selena: Yes, but— Ack!! (My feet hurt so much!) It seems not *troubled*