Ma almost had tears in his eyes when he saw that Arthur was here. When he rushed forward, the manager slipped on the wet bathroom floor, and all the paperwork was thrown into the air.
"No!" Ma shouted as his body was thrown into the air. Then, as he was about to hit the ground, everything froze midair. "What…?"
"How about you take it easy, Manager Ma?" Arthur walked over, and the papers gathered as the manager floated into a standing position. "Are these of great importance?"
"Ah, yes, yes," Ma bobbed his head as he coughed embarrassingly.
"Important enough for you to interrupt my bath?"
Arthur raised a brow, and it seemed his question gave the manager some clarity. Then, as if he was suddenly aware of how rude his actions were, he hurried to grab the paperwork and leave while apologizing constantly.
Arthur sighed as the door closed, and he didn't feel like resuming his leisure. So, instead, he wore some clothes he found in one of the cabins before walking out toward the hall.
He found Ma and a few others there: Big Bear, Dia, and a man that Arthur didn't know. Their eyes turned toward him in unison as Arthur sat behind the desk.
"You can come forth now," Arthur smiled at Ma, who hurried to give him countless papers that needed his signature and approval. He had yet to receive a seal from the king, so he needed to make all transactions under his name.
The paperwork included proposals to buy materials that they found in Aquamia, which would be essential to building a dock in their city. Arthur skimmed through them and made sure that there were no signs of scamming.
"I'll approve of these for now, but I'll check the prices myself afterward. I want receipts as well. Is that clear?" Arthur began signing as he gave his orders, and Ma saluted before taking a step back.
"Big Bear?" Arthur turned to him with confusion. "What brings you here?"
"Sir, there's a knighthood school in the city. From there, we can bring in promising recruits who are willing to serve under you. No law dictates who they serve, at the expenses are paid by the kingdom."
"And what do you need me for?"
"I believe that you have a keener eye for people," Big Bear glanced at the outsider who was sitting quietly on the side. Arthur understood his hidden meaning and nodded.
"Very well, wait for me after this," Arthur would love to hire some promising youth, as his city needed the potential to grow stronger. Big Bear also saluted, and Arthur's eyes met those of the princess.
There was a silent agreement between them to leave their conversation for last, so Arthur turned toward the man. Ma came forward to introduce them.
"Sir, this good man is a shipbuilder that I chanced upon in the harbor. It seems he heard of your plans to build a dock, and he said that he has a proposal to you."
"Oh?" Arthur was surprised, as his arrival wasn't something exactly public. There were rumors, but nothing specific. He turned toward the man, who looked in his fifties, as the latter stood up to bow to him.
These gestures of excessive respect still gave an alienating feeling, and he would love nothing more than simply abolishing all such things. However, his followers and strangers refused to do so, as it was embedded deep in their culture.
"Greetings, great Seika," the man said with a hoarse voice. "I have seen you once before in Hidden Gems Auction back in the City of Contracts, so I knew of your plan to build a city. Ever since then, I counted the days until his majesty's approval."
"I understand that you placed great expectations for my city," Arthur nodded politely. "But what's your proposal?"
"I want to be your shipbuilder, and I promise to build you a dock in three days. In return, I want a tax imposed on all goods transferred by my ships and dock."
"You can leave now," Arthur smiled as he gestured toward the door. "I would have considered it if you asked for golds or artifacts, but for you to impose a tax, then it means you want to rob us in broad daylight."
"It is nothing but a testimony of how much I believe in you," the man grinned. "My tax won't be too excessive: 10%."
"Haha," Arthur laughed as he stood up. "I believe that you have another piece of news for me, right? Tell me, shipbuilder. What happens if I refuse your offer?"
The man looked at Arthur with a stoic expression as a smirk appeared on his face. Then, he took out a badge of some sort, and a ship was drawn on it.
"I am from the carpenter association. If you refuse my generous offer, then I don't think any other proper shipbuilder would help you."
"Are you threatening me?" Arthur smiled as he realized that this was another ploy to extort money out of him.
"Not at all, My Lord," the man bowed respectfully. "I dare not harbor such intentions. But as you know, we shipbuilders need to stand up for each other. My comrades would refuse to build a ship for you once an internal agreement is done."
"Of course, you harbor no ill intentions," Arthur grinned at the shipbuilder. "However, I still refuse your offer. Even if I have to build ships myself, then I will do as such."
"You underestimate our craft," the shipbuilder smiled before bowing again. "Then, I will take my leave. If you rethink my offer, you can find me in the association. My name is Rony, and I'll be waiting for your approval."
As he said so, the man took his leave. Ma was standing there full of rage as he almost crumbled the transactions in his hand. Big Bear also had a frown on his face, but he didn't take any actions against Arthur's wishes.
"You two can leave now," Arthur waved them off, and they followed the shipbuilder outside. Then, he turned toward the silent Dia, who was staring at him all this while.
To call it awkward was an understatement, as their last interaction wasn't exactly favorable. However, it seems that Dia wasn't rageful, but Arthur wasn't quite sure what she was feeling.
"You have grown stronger again," she said with a hint of awe. "Every time I look at you, you seem changed in some way. Then, after your absence, beside the river, and now…"
"I'm still going through puberty," Arthur cracked a joke as he sat back down. However, Dia didn't laugh and simply kept staring at him.
"Why didn't you force him into obeying you? He isn't exactly strong to resist. I've seen you do it into stronger people, like Eleven."
"You call her by her name now?" Arthur smiled as his chin rested on his hand. "I don't think you ever called Gala by her now, so what's the difference?"
"The difference is that the witch betrayed me, her lord, to be with you. I knew her before you two met, and she would always see through my acts. So in a way, you two are similar but different."
"Similar in seeing through you?"
"Don't overestimate yourself," Diana stood up and walked to his side before standing over him. "If you are so capable, then tell me how I feel now?"
She said without the hint of emotions, and Arthur found himself at a pinch. After all, he wasn't exactly the sharpest in reading people, and Dia wasn't the easiest person to read.
"Are you angry?" Arthur tried as he squinted her eyes. However, the princess simply smiled and flicked his forehead affectionately.
"No," she said. "I feel the same way as I did before, and what you said back there doesn't change a thing. Even if you send me away with Eleven, my feelings won't disappear. You have the right to refuse them, but I have the right to keep feeling them."
"And what about how I feel?" Arthur grabbed his forehead with furrowed brows. The princess smiled and shrugged instead of replying. "Am I just supposed to deal with it?"
"That would be fear then," Dia smiled as she stood over him. "Your reasons weren't because you didn't like me, but because of something bigger than that. If the time comes and I overcome them, then you wouldn't have a choice but to be mine."
"Are you forcing me?"
"You aren't one to say that. Did you forget about the Bestial Order?" Her voice was teasing and warm, unlike any time that Arthur had seen her.
As the sunlight passed through the window, it passed through the princess's ashen blonde hair. At that moment, Arthur realized that he would probably never meet someone who looked at him in such a caring way.
Eleven was right. Diana Eistar was a person of very few emotions. However, when she felt something, those feelings disregarded everything else. If Arthur had to describe what he felt, he would say it was the feeling of sunlight after the coldest mornings in winter.
