A week has passed since the conversion with Rhea.
A lot of hard work and thinking went into her next decision.
One that has changed the course of history forever.
Seraphina found herself standing in the bustling kitchen of her new venture.
The Chicken Shack
Yes, she'd decided on the name herself.
It wasn't too grand, but it was simple, and that's exactly what she needed right now, something simple, something approachable.
"Are you sure this is going to work?"
Argi asked, her brow furrowing slightly as she adjusted the apron tied around her waist.
She had been working tirelessly with Seraphina, and the shop was finally ready to open.
Seraphina tossed a piece of chicken in the hot oil, watching it sizzle with a satisfied smile.
"Of course, it will work! People love chicken"
"Who doesn't want crispy, golden goodness paired with a cold drink?"
She turned to Argi, a glint of mischief in her eye.
"Besides, it's free today. Free fried chicken and beer for all the new customers"
"Are you sure that's a good idea?"
Argi raised an eyebrow.
"I mean, giving away food and drinks just like that?"
"Hey, I'm not a charity, but I can't exactly sell the first batch of chicken"
"The last thing I need is for the first impression to be a bunch of burnt bits and soggy batter," Seraphina quipped, looking over her shoulder at the pots and pans.
"Besides, who's going to turn down free food?"
She couldn't help but smile.
The thought of her chicken shop in full swing was exhilarating.
As she tossed another piece of chicken into the oil, she mentally referenced the novel's version of Seraphina.
'I know that one of her main skills was cooking up potions and spells, that applies to food as well right?'
'I mean she was given the title of god's hand'
'But… even that wasn't enough to stop her heart from bursting like a balloon'
She could practically hear the plotlines of the novel wrapping around her like chains.
'Seraphina the villainess, doomed to die, betrayed by all'
Well, she would rewrite that narrative with each piece of fried chicken she served.
Each crispy, golden bite was a step away from the tragic ending she was destined for.
'She said one step at a time… can I bring food into the dream world?'
"You know," Argi said, a teasing smile playing on her lips, "I thought you'd be in the royal palace today, not here, flipping chicken like some commoner"
Seraphina snorted, wiping her hands on the cloth.
"I'm a princess, not a queen. Besides, my father is probably too busy throwing away my potential on some ridiculous political alliance"
"No one's going to care if I'm here selling chicken, right?"
She turned to grab a tray of fried chicken, glancing at the sign hanging above the door that read, "First Piece Free: Beer and Chicken on the House!"
"Are you sure you didn't get this idea from some old tavern?"
Argi asked, wiping a smear of oil from her cheek as she arranged plates.
"Well, maybe I did, but you know what they say," Seraphina grinned, a touch of wickedness in her smile.
"If you put a plan into motion, it's bound to work, right?"
"Besides, people don't just need medicine. They need joy in their lives. And what's better than a cold beer and fried chicken to spread joy?"
The door swung open, and the first customer hesitantly entered.
He looked around the small shop with wide eyes, scanning the modest décor and the odd sign hanging above the door.
He was a scruffy-looking man, wearing a patched-up tunic, clearly not someone who frequented the noble courts.
Seraphina gave him a welcoming smile.
"First time here?"
He blinked and nodded.
"Uh, yeah. The sign said something about free food, so..."
"Free it is," she said, her voice warm, her eyes glinting with humor.
"You get one free piece of fried chicken and one free beer. On the house. Take a seat, my good man"
He looked around, still skeptical.
"Really? Free?"
"Yes, really. No catches, no gimmicks. Just free food. Enjoy it while it lasts"
She motioned for him to sit at one of the tables, and when he did, she placed a large, steaming piece of golden fried chicken in front of him, alongside a frosty mug of beer.
Argi walked over, setting down another plate of fried chicken, her smile just as bright.
"Enjoy your meal. I assure you, this is the best fried chicken you'll ever taste"
The man took a bite, and for a moment, the world seemed to fade as he closed his eyes, savoring the flavor.
"By the gods, this is amazing!" he exclaimed.
"Where did you get this recipe? I've never tasted anything like it!"
Seraphina smirked.
"I just have a knack for knowing what people need"
She glanced at Argi.
"Good thing I paid attention during all those royal dinners"
Argi rolled her eyes but couldn't help the small laugh that escaped her.
"I swear, you've got more of a knack for making people laugh than running a proper kingdom"
"Who said anything about running a kingdom?"
Seraphina grinned, pouring herself a cup of beer.
"I'm just here to make sure no one ever calls me a stuck-up princess and all it takes is one fried chicken at a time"
She looked out at the man who was now devouring the chicken with gusto.
Her mind wandered to the novel again.
The tragic Seraphina, the one who was betrayed, who died alone.
It was such a ridiculous story, one that didn't fit her at all.
It still boggled her mind that the novel had so many fans despite killing off the only tragic character.
"I swear," Seraphina muttered under her breath, "If I have to live out my days as some 'tragic villainess,' I'm going to need more chicken"
Argi raised an eyebrow.
"What was that?"
"Oh, nothing. Just... thinking about how I'm rewriting the recipe to be more delicious"
Seraphina took a sip of her beer, leaning back with a satisfied sigh.
"And if that means I need to start a chicken empire to do it, then so be it"
The door opened again, and more customers filtered in.
Seraphina's eyes sparkled as she greeted them, ready to take on the world, one crispy bite at a time.
As more customers began to fill the small shop, the air grew thick with the sizzle of fried chicken and the sounds of contented chatter.
The first batch of chicken had been a hit, and as word spread, more people lined up outside, eager to taste the delicacy that had graced their tables.
Seraphina couldn't help but smile as she watched her shop come to life.
It wasn't much yet, but it was hers.
She'd gone from being a pawn in a political game to becoming the queen of fried chicken.
There was a certain satisfaction in that.
Argi, who had been working tirelessly alongside Seraphina, adjusted her apron and wiped her hands on a rag.
"You know, I think this might just work. People love this stuff!"
"I told you," Seraphina grinned.
"Who doesn't love a good, crispy piece of chicken? And the beer? Well, that's just a bonus"
She leaned against the counter, watching the scene unfold.
A small group of nobles entered, giving her a once-over as they made their way to the tables.
She could feel their gazes, but she was past caring about how people viewed her as the crown princess.
The truth was, she'd come to a quiet acceptance of her role.
It didn't matter if they saw Seraphina Lumastra as weak, tragic, or anything else the world had written her to be.
What mattered was what she was doing now, and the changes she was making.
"No one knows what you're really up to, huh?"
Argi teased, following her gaze.
"Not a soul," Seraphina chuckled.
"Except you, of course. And you're bound by the sacred oath of keeping your damn mouth shut"
'Keep boundaries… remember that'
She raised her mug of beer as if making a toast to their little secret.
Argi chuckled and saluted with her own glass.
"Don't worry, I'm in it for the chicken too. I won't ruin it"
Seraphina snorted.
"If you did, I'd make sure you never taste another bite again. That's a promise"
The nobles sitting near the counter glanced their way, but before Seraphina could muster a snide remark, one of them called her over.
"Princess, is this truly your shop?"
One of the men asked, his tone bordering on disbelief.
His name, she vaguely recalled, was Lord Francis Le Mona, an insufferable noble from one of the more prestigious families.
Seraphina straightened, putting on the polite smile she'd perfected over the year.
"Indeed, it is. Welcome to the Chicken Shack. The first round of chicken is on the house, of course"
The nobleman's eyes widened in shock.
"Really? Free food from the Crown Princess herself?"
"Absolutely," Seraphina replied, leaning on the counter with a grin.
"And who knows? If you eat enough, I might even throw in some extra beer"
"Now, that is something I could get used to," the man said with a smirk, settling into the chair with a loud chuckle.
"Do you plan to make this a regular business, Your Highness?"
"Oh, don't call me that," she said with a playful roll of her eyes.
"Just Seraphina will do. And yes, I have plans to expand. Maybe next month, I'll introduce some... 'royal' dishes," she added with a wink, relishing the subtle pun.
The nobles around him snickered, and Seraphina felt a brief surge of triumph.
She wasn't just a princess.
She was Seraphina Lumastra, the woman who would change her fate, one fried piece of chicken at a time.
As the day wore on, the shop was filled with laughter, the clinking of glasses, and the unmistakable scent of fried chicken.
Seraphina couldn't have been happier.
Argi was right, this was a business they could grow.
And unlike some of the far more political maneuvers that she had been forced into back at the palace, this was all her own doing.
There was no hand to guide her other than the ones she'd worked hard to create.
It felt like a breath of fresh air.
The door opened again, and in walked a familiar face… Reiner.
His armor, polished and gleaming, caught the light as he stepped inside.
He paused, clearly surprised by the bustling atmosphere of the small chicken shop.
Seraphina sighed in disbelief, it had been quite a while since he'd last spoken to her.
She hadn't expected him to come today of all days but there he was.
Argi shot Seraphina a look.
"Oh, this is going to be interesting…"
Seraphina nodded slightly but kept her cool, her voice smooth as she greeted him.
"Reiner. To what do I owe the pleasure?"
Reiner stood at the door for a moment, his eyes scanning the room, clearly uncomfortable with the casualness of the place.
But he was a knight.
He knew how to keep his composure.
"I was in the area," he said, walking over to the counter.
"I heard there was free food. Thought I'd check it out. Haven't seen you around the palace much, Princess"
"Well, you've seen me enough to last a lifetime, haven't you?"
Seraphina said with a teasing smile, her tone light.
Reiner chuckled, clearly relieved by the lack of tension in her voice.
"I guess you could say that"
He hesitated for a moment, as if unsure of what to say next before he finally added, "I'll take the free chicken, then"
"Of course," Seraphina said, motioning for the kitchen to bring another plate over to him.
"One free chicken coming right up, Sir Jiro"
Reiner gave her a half-smile.
"You've really changed, haven't you?"
Seraphina leaned back slightly, eyes narrowing in playful suspicion.
"You don't think it's for the worse, do you?"
"Nah," he replied.
"It suits you. Chicken suits you"
Argi, ever the sharp-tongued sidekick, quipped, "I'd say we could make a lot of money off the 'Seraphina Chicken' brand, but that might be pushing it"
Seraphina couldn't help but laugh.
"Hey, it's a real possibility. Just wait until the royal court catches wind of how much money this chicken empire can make"
The conversation continued as they served Reiner his free chicken and another round of beers.
As much as Seraphina had tried to shake off the past month of awkwardness with him, the truth was that there was still something about him, something that she hadn't quite figured out yet.
But today wasn't the day for heavy thoughts.
Today was about the chicken, the laughter, and the small victories.
One crispy, golden piece at a time.
As the last of the evening crowd slowly began to trickle out, Seraphina leaned against the counter, wiping her hands on a rag.
Her feet ached from standing for so long, but she couldn't have been more satisfied.
The chicken shop had exceeded expectations, and despite her many layers of armor as the crown princess, this felt like an achievement entirely her own.
Argi stood nearby, counting the profits for the day, her blonde hair cascading over her shoulder.
"You know, I think we might actually make a pretty solid business out of this. I've never seen people so excited about fried food"
"You're telling me"
Seraphina chuckled, glancing at the empty beer mugs and plates scattered about.
"I never thought I'd be running a fried chicken empire, but here we are"
Argi shot her a teasing grin.
"At least it's honest work"
"I like it"
Seraphina leaned back, staring up at the wooden beams of the ceiling.
"No political scheming, no royal duties, no pretending to be someone I'm not. Just… chicken and beer"
"Just what the kingdom needs," Argi agreed, giving her a knowing look.
"And what about your father? He won't be pleased about your absence from court"
Seraphina shrugged nonchalantly, then paused.
"I don't care. I've got enough on my plate, pun intended"
Argi burst into laughter at the pun, her bright laughter filling the room.
The door to the shop opened once more, and this time, it was a familiar face, Lady Elira.
She stepped inside with an enthusiastic wave, her red hair glowing in the soft light of the room.
"I heard there was some chicken left," she said, grinning at the sight of Seraphina and Argi.
"And I'm here to claim my prize"
"Of course, Lady Elira," Seraphina replied, smiling as she walked toward her friend.
"We still have plenty of chicken left. I think I can spare some for a friend"
Elira winked, sitting herself down at one of the tables.
"The way I see it, you're the one who should be thanking me. I've managed to recruit a whole new crowd of nobles who can't resist the allure of free food"
Seraphina raised an eyebrow, crossing her arms.
"Yes, you also convinced me to give the first round for free?"
Elira laughed.
"What can I say? It's all about building a customer base, right?"
"Right," Seraphina smirked.
"Next thing we know, they'll all be coming for the royal fried chicken"
"Don't knock it till you try it," Argi chimed in.
"I'm telling you, there's something special about this chicken. People will be lining up for it"
"Of course they are, I made it after all," Seraphina said with a smug look, puffing out her chest with pride.
"Alright, Seraphina," Elira said as she sipped from her glass, "what's next for this little empire of yours? You've got the chicken and the beer, but what else?"
Seraphina tapped her chin thoughtfully.
"Maybe a few more dishes, fried chicken sandwiches, crispy fries, something a little fancier for the nobles"
Elira raised an eyebrow.
"You're really going to cater to the nobles too?"
"Why not?"
Seraphina grinned.
"They'll pay a fortune for anything with 'royal' attached to it. Might as well make it fried chicken"
"And you're thinking of expanding?"
Elira asked, eyes twinkling with curiosity.
"I'm not sure yet"
Seraphina leaned back in her chair.
"It's a small step right now, but who knows? The world could use more good food and less nonsense from the palace"
"Sounds like a dream," Elira mused.
"And you're making it happen"
Seraphina gave her a faint smile, feeling the weight of the words sink in.
"Maybe. But let's not forget why we're really doing this"
"We're building something real. Something people actually want. I'm done with all the lies and the games. I don't need anyone's approval to live the way I want"
Elira chuckled softly, raising her glass in a toast.
"To chicken, freedom, and whatever else we decide to conquer next"
"To that," Seraphina agreed, clinking her glass against Elira's.
As they both took a sip, Seraphina couldn't help but feel the calm settling over her.
There was so much work left to do, so much to rebuild from the mess Seraphina had once made.
But with each new venture, with each small victory, she felt like she was on the right path.
The sound of a bell jingling as the door opened interrupted her thoughts.
Seraphina glanced up, her smile faltering for just a second as she saw who had entered.
It was Reiner again.
This time, his presence seemed less about the chicken and more about… well, something else.
He nodded as he entered and made his way toward the counter.
"I'll take what I hard earlier," he said, a bit awkwardly.
Seraphina fought the urge to roll her eyes.
Was he really coming around here to see her again?
She hadn't expected him to keep showing up, but here he was, the ever-dutiful knight.
As she moved to prepare his order, she heard him speak again.
"I'll admit," he said, glancing at her as she worked.
"This is a nice change of pace. I didn't expect to find the crown princess running a fried chicken joint, but... I'm glad I found it"
"Glad?"
Seraphina smirked, not missing a beat.
"What's next, Reiner? You gonna tell me how I've ruined my reputation with this?"
'I can never tell what this man is thinking, it always feels like his words are a double blade, hitting both my emotions and logical side'
He laughed softly, though there was a certain warmth in his eyes.
"Not at all. You've just surprised me, that's all. You're… different. In a good way"
Seraphina raised an eyebrow, surprised by the sincerity in his voice.
But she didn't let herself linger on that.
Not now.
Not with everything she had ahead of her.
"Different can be a good thing," she replied coolly, handing him his plate of chicken.
"But don't expect me to be a princess when I work here"
He nodded and smiled faintly.
"Fair enough, Princess. I'll just be here for the chicken"
Seraphina let out a light laugh as he took a seat by the window, watching the sunset outside.
He had no idea how true that statement really was.
2 Hours Later
Seraphina found herself stepping out of the shop, the cool evening breeze welcoming her as she walked toward the garden on the palace grounds.
The transition from the bustling chicken shop to the calm serenity of the palace gardens was always a welcome one.
It was her escape, her moment of quiet after the madness of the day.
Yes, she loved working and cooking chicken but what annoyed her was how many times Reiner kept visiting.
'JUST BUY THE AMOUNT YOU WANT TO EAT'
This is what she would say had Lady Argi not been present.
Her heels clicked softly against the stone path as she strolled through the rows of flowers, lost in her thoughts.
She didn't have to think long, though, before a familiar voice stopped her in her tracks.
"Well, well, if it isn't the crown princess herself," Kaelen's smooth voice called out from a nearby bench, his figure lounging effortlessly beneath the soft glow of lanterns hanging from the trees.
Seraphina turned, a small smirk tugging at her lips.
"What are you doing here, Kaelen? I'm surprised the great Varian has time to visit the likes of me"
Kaelen chuckled, his crimson-red eyes glinting in the dim light.
"I like to keep an eye on things. You've been busy with your little chicken shop, haven't you?"
Her smirk deepened.
"It's more than just a chicken shop, I'm building an empire"
"Is that so?"
Kaelen raised an eyebrow, amusement dancing in his gaze.
"I must say, I'm intrigued. I never thought I'd see the day when the crown princess would be serving fried chicken"
Seraphina let out a soft laugh, shaking her head.
"Neither did I, but life's full of surprises. And let's be honest, the people love it"
Kaelen stood up from the bench, stepping closer to her.
He was tall, with an air of effortless confidence that made even the most dignified nobles pause when he entered a room.
"And how's the 'business' going? Making enough to keep the wolves at bay?"
He asked, his tone light, though his eyes remained focused on her.
Seraphina tilted her head, keeping her voice casual.
"Not bad. You know, it's a little secret for now, but the feedback has been… deliciously positive"
Kaelen chuckled again, a sound she had become accustomed to hearing.
He leaned against one of the stone pillars in the garden, his expression softening.
"I have to admit, you've surprised me. I didn't think you had it in you to rebel this much"
"Rebel?"
She repeated, her eyebrows raising in mock surprise.
"Kaelen, I'm just serving people what they want. Chicken. Beer. It's a service to the people"
"You call that rebellion?"
Kaelen grinned, the edges of his lips curling up.
"You've got more spunk than anyone gives you credit for. That's what I admire"
"Keep your admiration," Seraphina replied, her tone shifting slightly, though there was a flicker of amusement in her eyes.
"I'm just trying to do something that matters, something real"
"And yet, here you are, stuck in the middle of a game that's been in motion far longer than you've been alive," Kaelen said, his gaze turning more serious.
"How long are you planning to stay in this cage of yours, Seraphina?"
She stopped walking, her eyes locking with his.
"I've been stuck in it long enough. But I'm not staying here forever, Kaelen. Not if I have a say in it"
Kaelen regarded her for a moment, his gaze shifting to the garden's fragrant blossoms before he finally spoke again, his voice quieter.
"You know, I never took you for the kind of person who'd play it safe. But I suppose that's why I keep coming back to check on you"
Seraphina let out a slow breath, shaking her head with a light chuckle.
"Well, as they say, you never know what's coming next."
Kaelen smiled at that, his expression unreadable for a moment.
"Don't let anyone keep you in that cage, Seraphina. There are always ways to break free"
She paused at his words, a chill running down her spine, but she didn't let it show.
Instead, she forced a smile and nodded.
"Thank you, Kaelen. But as of right now, I'm doing just fine. Besides, I've got a chicken empire to run"
Kaelen chuckled, clearly enjoying their banter.
"Just don't forget, I'm watching. And if you need any help breaking those cages, I'll be here"
"Appreciate the offer," Seraphina said, turning toward the palace entrance.
"But for now, I'm just fine"
Before she could leave, Kaelen called after her.
"Don't let the world get too small, Seraphina. It's easy to forget the bigger picture"
She glanced back at him over her shoulder, a faint smile tugging at her lips.
"Don't worry, I haven't forgotten"
As she walked away, the lingering words of Kaelen's warning echoed in her mind.
But for now, the only thing she was focused on was the next step in her plan.
And maybe, just maybe, making the best-fried chicken in the kingdom.