The witch, Gala, nodded at Arthur in a greeting and looked at the leaf in his hand with desire. Her glowing violet eyes worked to remind Arthur that whatever she was, it wasn't human. The ceremony ended and Arthur returned to his suite.
As he lied on the bed to rest, his arm itched the moment the door was knocked. A light appeared on his arm, a signal that Arthur has been waiting for. He jumped off his bed and opened his door slowly.
The person who stood behind the door wasn't someone he had expected, it was the butler. The lizardman strode inside as soon as the door was opened and closed it behind him. He raised his hand and a gray bubble surrounded them both.
"I guess Traitor has already informed you of your objective." The butler defensively crossed his arms. "I'll be the one to provide the details."
"Why would you go against your master?" Arthur was confused. He didn't think that two out of three people involved in this would be Demis.
"That's none of your business." The butler frowned. "You humans always think that you get to know everything."
"I thought the Freda kingdom doesn't discriminate." Arthur raised his brows.
"Our king does not indeed," Lizardman said with a mocking smile. "Ideals are different from reality, we're far from achieving a beloving society."
"What's the point in me working with you if I would receive the same treatment?" Arthur frowned.
"You won't be treated as a slave, that doesn't mean Demis would accept humans easily. It's a goal, not a fact. Life is not that easy."
"Fine. What do you have for me?" Arthur sighed and nodded. What the butler said made sense, as social issues and discrimination was present even back on Earth. The lizardman smirked as if he had won something.
"For two weeks, you'll need to convince the princess to leave the mansion. There will be an Awakening Ceremony at the end for the princess to show off her new powers. That would be the ideal time, as the duke would be busy with the other nobles."
"You make it sound so easy." Arthur massaged his temples. "Convincing a nobility to sneak out with a slave is like teaching a chicken to fly."
"That's how dragons are born." The lizardman said nonchalantly. Arthur stared at him with wide eyes, but the butler didn't seem to catch it.
'Have chickens evolved to be dragons or is he referring to a metaphor?' Arthur wondered but he knew he had no time to ask. The butler continued explaining.
"The princess has never touched anyone. Her conflicting powers make her vulnerable to other's contact. Since her body has conflicting traits, any sort of contact with other traits or powers makes the balance break and her body starts breaking down."
"Except…" Arthur furrowed his brows.
"You'll be the first person she can touch. The harmonious powers you wield will negate any side effects she has. Use this to your advantage and entice her of the outside world. There will be a festival on the Awakening Ceremony, that's a good bait."
"What happens after I take out of the mansion?" Arthur asked with a troubled expression.
"At that time, the hunt begins." The butler smiled before leaving the room. Arthur stood there for a long time, wondering if it was worth it to deceive someone.
'What am I even thinking?' He sighed as he walked toward the window. 'The luxury of morals has been taken away from me the moment I was thrown into this world without my powers.'
[Recovery Percentage: 20%]
He had recovered fifth of his original strength. There was always the choice of giving up his arm forever through soul restructuring, but its availability made Arthur anxious.
'Does the Legacy think I would need it?' Arthur closed his eyes as he took in the sounds of the bustling city. 'Let's hope this plan goes unobstructed.'
***
Arthur was called out after dinner, which he had eaten in his suite. He was called out by a maid to visit the princess in her garden. As he walked into it, under the gazes of both awe and doubt of the servants, he found the princess sitting in the same place as earlier.
Her eyes were dropping and her eyelashes trembling under the frost that covered her face. She was staring at one of the flowers in the garden.
"Do you know what it's called?" She asked while caressing the plant lightly. Before Arthur could answer, the plant froze and burned at the same time. "Well, it doesn't matter anymore." She sighed.
'Phew, I got lucky.' Arthur was sweating bullets behind his facade of calm. 'Just because I'm called a gardener doesn't mean I know all plants in existence.'
"That's who I am." The princess turned to look at him, her eyes were unfocused. "A freak who destroys everything she touches."
"That means powerful people are freaks because that's the kind of power they seek." Arthur shrugged as he strode forward and stood in front of her.
"The powerful ones don't fight against the world, but against others. To those, I'll be the one to be destroyed if I touch them."
"Not necessarily."
"So, you have heard of it as well." The princess smiled. "The imprisoned princess who has never touched anyone. Even my mother died because of me."
"Are you trying to earn my pity?" Arthur asked after being quiet for a while. Ever since he got here, she was pulling every miserable fact about herself.
"…" The princess looked at him silently. "When you're blind, it's hard to see how humans are different from the Demis. Winning everyone through pity always seemed to work out. Is it different for you, Seika?"
"Maybe you would have been more successful if you didn't reveal all of your aces the moment I got here. At this moment, I'm just here to do my job."
"You're the only person who can cure me. Earning your pity would demolish any malicious thoughts you might have."
"What's your plan now?" Arthur asked with a smile. "I have seen through your actions; you need to pull out something different."
"Your arm should be a proper bargaining chip." Princess Dia smiled. "As catchy as One-Armed Seika title is, does it outweigh your arm?"
"You don't have it." Arthur paused. "Lady Larza would never give it up. It means giving up a Seika, no sane person would do it."
"My powers are destructive right now," Dia said. "That's why I know they will be powerful once they merge. Not even a marchioness can stand in my way at that time. Follow me and you'll see heights you dared not dream of."
"Heights are too vague of a reward."
"This kingdom." Dia's eyes were unfocused and clouded, but they were resolute. "My father tried to create the strongest weapon to protect this kingdom, cursing me with this power for twenty years. It's only my right to take over this kingdom as revenge."
Arthur was silent for a moment. He hadn't considered this possibility. If Dia's powers are as strong as she claims, it would help him if she helped him. However, he can trust Solomon because he had saved Arthur back in the trial. The Daughter of Ice and Fire was a different case.
"Aren't you afraid I would reveal this to the kingdom?" Arthur
"Who would believe you?" Dia smiled. "You forget that you will help me regardless. Discussing this makes me thing you have other plans than curing me."
"Your belief that I do is my only bargaining chip. If you believed that I had no choice but to help you, I wouldn't be offered anything. I won't dismiss your worries."
"Ah," Princess Dia grinned. "A smart one has appeared. What is your choice now?"
"I want my arm." Arthur said as he took out the leaf from his leather bag. "And I want revenge." His killing intent was unleashed. Even with his powers sealed, his aura remained the same. The garden turned chilly as Princess Dia looked at him with a grin.
"That's an answer I like." She stretched out her arm. "Heal me, One-Armed Seika. That's how you will regain your arm back. Place your trust in me to free yourself of the chains of your fate."
"Yes, my lady." Arthur bowed and raised the leaf in the air. The light threw itself like a tide to roll over the garden. Every herb danced under the powers of Greatest Harmony.
The cracks disappeared from the princess's face as the herb grew brighter. She closed her eyes in contentment as Arthur's hand reached out to her hand and grabbed it.
Her hand was soft but the moment that Arthur grabbed her hand, she snapped her eyes open. She hurried to look at her arm but it was glowing with a warm light.
"It's alright." Arthur whispered as he pulled on her arm. He withdrew his powers of creation from the herb and the barrier around it grew weaker.
