I won't fall for the queen who burned my world-Chapter 123: You stole?

Malvoria inhaled deeply, trying to shake off whatever that moment was.

She turned her attention to the food stall ahead—a simple wooden setup with a large iron griddle sizzling behind it, sending the rich scent of roasting meat and spices into the air. The stall belonged to an elder demon woman, a figure as familiar to Malvoria as the scent of the food she was cooking.

She had been coming here for years.

Since she was a teenager.

Since the days when she would run from the castle, ditch her guards, and vanish into the village streets just to breathe in something that wasn't responsibility and duty.

And the woman—Mira—had never treated her like a queen.

Never once bowed, never once fussed over her title.

She had simply handed Malvoria food, sometimes with a scolding, sometimes with a joke, and always with the kind of warmth that was impossible to find within the rigid walls of her palace.

Now, as she approached, the old demon looked up from the sizzling griddle, squinting at her.

Then, with a knowing smirk, she wiped her hands on her apron.

"Well, well. Thought I smelled trouble," Mira drawled, leaning on the counter. "And here she is. Haven't seen you in ages, girl."

Malvoria crossed her arms, unimpressed. "I've been busy ruling an empire."

"Busy sulking in that big empty castle, more like," Mira shot back.

Elysia let out a laugh before quickly pressing a hand over her mouth, as if realizing she shouldn't be entertained by Malvoria getting teased.

Mira's eyes sharpened, her gaze flicking between them before settling on Elysia with a slow nod.

"And this must be her," she mused. "The human wife everyone's talking about."

Malvoria exhaled sharply. "I see gossip spreads fast as ever."

Mira waved a hand dismissively. "This village thrives on gossip, dear. You should know that."

Elysia, to her credit, didn't look intimidated—only curious. "You knew Malvoria before?"

Mira barked out a laugh. "Oh, knew her? Sweetheart, I used to feed her when she was a rebellious little thing, sneaking into the village like she wasn't the crown princess. Stole food the first time she came here, too."

Elysia's eyes widened. "You stole?"

Malvoria sighed, rubbing her temples. "I paid her back later."

"Only after I caught you," Mira countered, flipping a skewer of spiced meat with a knowing smirk. "And threatened to tell your mother."

Elysia beamed, clearly enjoying this far too much. "This is great information."

"It's irrelevant information," Malvoria muttered.

Mira chuckled before grabbing two pieces of warm, fragrant bread, stuffing them generously with sizzling, seasoned meat and a slathering of a thick, spiced sauce. The scent hit Malvoria like a memory—a time when she had no responsibilities, no crown, no empire. Just the taste of this food and the thrill of freedom.

"Here," Mira said, handing one to Malvoria, then Elysia. "I expect to be paid this time."

Malvoria rolled her eyes but passed over the coin. "Your prices have gone up."

Mira grinned. "Inflation, dear."

Elysia took a tentative bite, her eyes going wide as she chewed. "Oh, this is—this is amazing."

Malvoria hummed in agreement, taking her own bite. The moment the flavors hit her tongue—rich, smoky meat wrapped in soft, pillowy bread—it was like stepping back in time.

The burn of the spices, the warmth of the bread, the way the sauce clung to everything—

It was the exact same.

And for some reason, that mattered.

She glanced at Mira, who was watching her with too much knowing. The old woman just nodded.

Malvoria looked away.

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They continued eating as they walked, weaving through the bustling streets. Elysia, ever the curious one, kept watching everything around them—her attention darting from stall to stall, her body loose with the kind of relaxation Malvoria had rarely seen in her.

And then, as she turned to say something—

Her bread nearly slipped apart.

Malvoria moved without thinking.

Her hand shot out, catching the falling piece before it could hit the ground.

For a second, neither of them moved.

Malvoria held the piece of food in her hand, and Elysia stood frozen, eyes locked onto it.

Then—

Elysia lifted her gaze to Malvoria.

Malvoria, very belatedly, realized how this looked.

How this felt.

She should have just handed it back.

Should have tossed it into Elysia's palm like it meant nothing.

But instead—

She was holding it there.

Like some kind of invitation.

Her mind screamed at her to pull away, to let Elysia fix her own damn food—

But before she could, Elysia did something that made Malvoria completely freeze.

She leaned in.

And took a bite from her hand.

Not from the side, not in a way that could have been accidental.

From the exact place Malvoria had caught it.

The moment stretched, thick and heavy, like something caught between them that neither could name.

Elysia chewed, swallowed, and—

Said nothing.

Malvoria, still holding the rest of the piece, felt her fingers tighten.

She forced herself to look away.

Damn her.

Malvoria exhaled sharply, forcing herself to move—to do anything that would shake off whatever had just passed between them.

She finally handed Elysia the remaining piece of her food, making sure their fingers didn't brush this time. Elysia took it without a word, her expression unreadable, her lips still slightly parted as if she wanted to say something but thought better of it.

The marketplace noise swirled around them, merchants calling, laughter ringing out, the scent of spice and charred meat heavy in the air.

And yet—

Malvoria felt like the world had gone quiet.

She hadn't meant for that to happen. Hadn't thought before catching the food, before standing there like a fool, letting Elysia take a bite like it was natural.

It wasn't.

Nothing about this was natural.

It was dangerous.

So Malvoria did what she did best—she ignored it.

"You're lucky I have good reflexes," she muttered, voice carefully even.

Elysia blinked at her before scoffing, rolling her eyes. "Yes, thank you, mighty Queen, for saving my bread."

The teasing should have eased the tension.

But it didn't.

Because Malvoria's eyes flickered—just for a second—to Elysia's lips.

And damn it, she needed to stop looking.