Arthur walked through the sa corridor he usually took when visiting Anna.
He recognized the placent of the lights on the walls and the cozy atmosphere they created.
Arthur had once asked Anna and the other arions about the materials used to make these lights.
However, they always seed to avoid answering directly, and when they did respond, their answers were vague and evasive.
This was one of the things Arthur found suspicious about the arions and the Wilwatikta Kingdom. He felt there was a dark, hidden secret behind the origin of these lights.
Nonetheless, Arthur had to admit that the arions’ technology, especially their use of Mana, was far more advanced than that of humans.
Arthur glanced at Nash, who was walking ahead of him, and his face imdiately contorted with displeasure.
Despite his annoyance, the Mana aura around Arthur remained calm, ensuring that Nash wouldn’t detect his hatred. "Nash, why has Ann—Nevare called for ?" Arthur asked.
Usually, Arthur was the one who visited Anna, never the other way around. Even if Anna needed to deal with the Human Alliance, she would et with Robert or ask Robert to co to her.
This made Arthur jealous of his close friend. More than that, his disappointnt in Anna’s behavior grew, further convincing him that his sister had been brainwashed.
"I don’t know, Uncle. But I think Mother has so family matters to discuss with you. If it were about the slave trader base attack, she would have called Robert. So, as her brother, I think she wants to talk about her human family with you," Nash replied casually, without any hidden intonation.
"Really?"
Although Arthur disliked Nash’s casual tone, he ignored it because he was eager to hear that Anna wanted to see him as family.
Arthur was tired of the queen persona Anna always showed him. He felt that Anna was cold when speaking to him. Even though Anna as a queen was very charming, Arthur missed Anna as his sister.
"Well... that’s just my opinion, Uncle. My inner eye isn’t strong enough to read what Mother thinks from her expressions," Nash said, shrugging his shoulders.
Arthur didn’t notice Nash glancing back at him with a searching expression. He was too absorbed in his illusion of Anna eting him as a sister, not a queen.
If he hadn’t been so lost in his thoughts, he would have seen Nash’s smirk, which was no longer casual but mocking.
"Good... Good... Good... I knew Anna wouldn’t forget and her real family!" Arthur exclaid happily.
Once again, he failed to realize that he had called his sister Anna instead of Nevare, which could be a breach of status among the arions. Arthur knew that the na Nevare held significant importance for the arions.
Strangely, Nash, who heard it, remained silent and did not respond.
"We’ve arrived, Uncle," Nash said, snapping Arthur out of his imagination.
In front of Arthur stood a door he recognized well. He could even recall the intricate carvings on it, the sa ones he often saw on buildings in the West Fortress.
A mage interested in arion culture had once explained. Arions believe that these carvings symbolized the source of their power. One such carving, "itiak pulang patang," depicted a walking duck and symbolized returning ho at dusk.
Though the carvings were unique and beautiful, Arthur paid them little mind, even if they seed to co to life every ti he saw them.
Nash knocked on the door and said, "Mother, it’s Nash. I’ve brought Uncle Arthur," in a voice that was neither loud nor soft.
The door opened, revealing Gupita’s face. She first looked at Nash and then at Arthur. "Co in, Nevare is expecting you," she said, opening the door wider.
As usual, Arthur ntally prepared himself before stepping confidently into Anna’s room. He passed by Gupita without so much as a glance or greeting.
He knew Gupita had once been a slave saved by Anna.
According to what his wife had taught him, as a noble, Arthur needn’t be overly polite to soone like Gupita.
Additionally, Gupita was rely his sister’s servant, so even if Arthur weren’t a noble, he felt no need to show her much courtesy.
Arthur entered the familiar sitting room where he usually took his seat. The room was spacious, much like other noble sitting rooms.
Just as he was about to sit in his usual chair, Gupita cleared her throat and said, "Nevare is waiting for you in her bedroom."
Arthur was stunned.
He had never been beyond Anna’s sitting room. Now Gupita was saying that Anna was waiting for him in her bedroom!
His breath quickened, and his face reddened. Had he not been so lost in his imagination, he would have noticed the disgusted expressions on Nash and Gupita’s faces.
"Co on, hurry up! Nevare is waiting for you!" snapped Gupita, snapping Arthur out of his daydream.
Arthur ignored Gupita’s harsh tone, his mind too preoccupied with why Anna had summoned him to her bedroom.
He knew exactly where it was and hurriedly made his way there. He opened the door slowly, fearing that if he moved too quickly, he would wake from what felt like a dream.
Inside, he saw Anna sitting at her vanity, dressed in simple clothes, a stark contrast to her usual regal attire.
Arthur stood frozen, srized by her reflection in the mirror. Behind him, Gupita and Nash wore clear expressions of disgust.
mories of Anna before she disappeared into the Bog Forest played through Arthur’s mind. When Anna saw Arthur arrive and turned to face him, his breath caught in his throat.
The mirror’s reflection could not capture Anna’s current beauty; only by looking at her directly could Arthur truly appreciate it.
However, Anna did not give Arthur ti to bask in her beauty. In the sa commanding voice she used as a queen, Anna said, "Gupita, bring my brother a chair and close the door."
Gupita nodded and brought a chair for Arthur. Though his mind was still wandering and his eyes were captivated, Arthur’s body reflexively sat in the offered chair.
"Nash, thank you for fetching your uncle," Anna said to Nash before Gupita closed the door. Nash nodded, glancing at the srized Arthur, then shook his head slightly.
Now, Anna and Arthur were alone in the room. Anna seed to ignore Arthur, who sit there frozen, wide-eyed. She seed eager to shorten their ti together as much as possible.
"Arthur, I have a request for you," Anna said in a softer but still regal tone.
"What is it, Anna? Tell , and I’ll do anything to fulfill it, even if it costs my life!" Arthur replied enthusiastically.
Anna’s forehead twitched as if she was about to frown but quickly returned to its usual calm state. And anyone paying close attention would notice a slight twitch at the corner of her lips but sadly it’s not Artur.
"I want to et Gilbert and Cila," Anna said.
"Father and Mother? Of course, you can see them! I’ve been waiting for you to co ho! When will we leave? We should go as soon as possible—"
"Wait, Arthur!" Anna interrupted. Arthur’s forehead creased with displeasure, and he asked accusingly, "What’s stopping you from coming ho and seeing our parents? Is Moku forbidding you? If so, then—"
"It’s not that! Moku isn’t stopping , but you must understand that even with my husband’s permission, there are other barriers," Anna explained.
Arthur grew even more displeased at hearing the word "husband" from Anna’s lips. "What barriers? What’s stopping you from coming ho?" he asked, his face contorting further.
Anna sighed deeply, "Arthur, don’t you realize my position? I’m the wife of a prince from the arion species. Although I’m still human, I can’t just enter human territories freely. Even if the Wilwatikta Kingdom allows my departure, the Human Alliance may not permit to enter their territory!"
Arthur was taken aback.
He had forgotten that Anna was now the consort of a prince from a different species. Although she remained human, she could no longer be equated with ordinary humans.
Anna’s return ho could also be seen as a visit from a foreign queen’s delegation.
"Moreover, given my status, I cannot enter a foreign country alone. Even though the Wilwatikta Kingdom and the Human Alliance are allied against the demons, they are still two separate nations.
"Therefore, I would need to bring guards and attendants, not only to protect from danger but also to maintain my status as the prince’s wife in the eyes of the Human Alliance.
"If you tell Riri about this, she will surely explain it to you in more detail."
Anna reached out and grasped Arthur’s hand tightly. With eyes filled with longing, she said, "Arthur, I haven’t refused to co ho because I don’t miss our parents.
"What child doesn’t miss their parents? I want to co ho, but I face these difficulties!
"I can’t ask Robert for help because, despite our good relationship, it is rely a mutually beneficial business partnership. That’s why I can only turn to you for help in this matter!"
User Comments
0 comments from readers