I began to read your series. It's really good. +1 because side characters romance unless you are a sadist author that crush the hopes of it's readers. Curious about the childhood friends tag though as he didn't recognize the "queen" unless her looks changed a lot growing up.
For some reason, seeing them argue again i have a feeling there would be a death battle and during it or after that they would or he/she would understand his/her feelings for the other.