Chapter 452 - Avadil

The war summit was happening today, and the city was in full swing. It would begin when the two lines cross at the Schelera Temple, and that would be the beginning of the talks between Alva, Freda, and the lords.

During the summit, two meetings will happen. The first would be between the lords of Freda to discuss the ongoing issue with the Mernars and what they know about these monsters. The second one will be about the peace treaty between the two kingdoms, involving only the guests, the king, and the high circle.

The high circle included lords of major cities, the titled knights, and the heads of the noble families. Arthur fell into the first group, despite having no official noble title. After all, his city has yet to be finished, and it was a giant project with many observing eyes.

On such an important day, Arthur slept the most peaceful night of his life. His eyes adjusted to the unfamiliar ceiling, and his skin felt the warmth of the person on his right.

As he turned over to look at her face, he saw that a few of her hair strands fell on her face. Arthur pushed her hair away from her face and saw the sleeping face of Dia.

It was too innocent, and she didn't look like the cruel princess they made her seem. However, Arthur knew that there was a side of her that he only saw at the beginning when they were enemies.

There was a great relief in being loved by your enemy. It was reassuring that this person had seen your different sides, hated you, and still loved you when he got closer.

"Mm," the princess furrowed her brows, and her eyelashes fluttered before opening. Her eyes focused on Arthur before a smile appeared on her face.

"Hey," he said, a smile mirroring hers.

"Hey," she replied while reaching out toward his hand and grabbing it.

They didn't say anything and simply stared while sleeping beside each other, only covered by the bedsheet. A moment was needed to process what happened between them yesterday.

"I think that we need to make an appearance since auctions are happening in the morning, preceding the war summit in the afternoon," she said.

"Alright," he said, with half-closed eyes and a smile.

They stared at each other, carving the appearance of their lover into their memories. This moment might flee forever, slip past their grasp, and turn into a distant memory.

"We need to go," Arthur said as a reminder, but he did not attempt to stand up, nor did she. Then, a knock came to interrupt their time together.

"Miss Diana," it was Ma. "Are you awake? Have you seen the Seika? I couldn't find him in his room, and we have a guest," his voice was urgent.

Arthur sighed, and Dia snickered before standing up. Then, as the sheets slipped away to reveal her body, Arthur followed her with his gaze.

"Pervert," she said with a blush before throwing a robe around her body and using a band to tie her hair into a ponytail. Arthur saw the two ice crystals around her eyes, which ran through her hair.

If these two crystals didn't exist, Dia would have looked human, but he didn't think she would have been more beautiful than she is now. Maybe he was blindly in love, but that was what he thought.

"The Seika said he would investigate something last night," she whispered to the door. "He should be in his room by now."

"Ah, I see. Thank you. I will check again!" Ma hurried to walk away, and Dia turned to shoo Arthur away. However, he was already standing behind her, hugging her from behind.

"A bit longer," he said, missing her warmth already. She leaned her head back on his body and caressed his cheek.

"You need to go, my love," Dia said. "I will see you again."

Arthur reluctantly let go of her, and she turned to him and kissed him. After that, he teleported back into his room, carrying his clothes from yesterday.

After he wore them, a knock came on the door, and Arthur waved his finger to open it. Ma was surprised, and he rushed in with joy when he saw Arthur.

"Seika! Where have you been?"

"Shut up," Arthur frowned, and the manager halted his steps. "You better have a good reason for coming so early in the morning."

"We have a guest, and he has been waiting for you for almost an hour now."

"An uninvited guest?" Arthur squinted his eyes. "This is too disrespectful to be a welcomed visit. You should have turned it down."

"The guest is the son of the king, Avadil," Ma said with a nervous expression. "I told him that you are busy and need some time to come down, but he was alright with waiting."

"The son of the king, Avadil," Arthur repeated with a frown. Someone mentioned him before. It was Traitor, as he lied about the identity of the traitor. That wolf tried to make him believe that the traitor was the previous king's son, which meant he wanted to frame him. "Is he still waiting downstairs?"

"Yes, he said that he is alright with it," Ma backed out of the room slowly as Arthur pondered, lest he gets beaten to a pulp. "The prince mentioned a proposal that would benefit you both, too."

"Alright, you have been pardoned," Arthur waved his hand to shoo the manager away. "I will take a shower and change first."

"Where have you been all night, Seika?" Ma asked with confusion.

"Just living my life," Arthur said and waved his hand, raising Ma into the air and throwing him away. The door slammed after the manager bolted out, and Arthur could hear him groaning in pain.

Despite having a good reason to do so, the manager still interrupted his time with his... sweetheart? Thinking of it filled Arthur's soul with warmth, and he felt happy for the first time in months.

***

"Greetings, Beloved by Living Beings," the prince was bowing down, his voice clear and deep. As he rose, Arthur saw two symmetrical scars that ran from his eyes to his cheeks. "I fear that despite your title, you are far from being loved by most."

"We are not defined by how they see us, Prince Avadil," Arthur gestured for the prince to sit down as he tilted his head a bit. "What brings you here?"

"I am deeply ashamed that I interrupted your morning," the prince said with a sincere expression as he sat down, and Arthur sat in front of him. "But I have a proposal. May I ask that we find a different place to talk?"

They were in one of the guest rooms in the palace, and it was pretty private. However, Arthur used his spiritual energy to look for any eavesdrop artifacts and found one.

"There is no need," the artifact flew out of its hiding spot in a gemmed pot and floated between the two. Arthur grabbed it, and the artifact disappeared from its spot. "We can talk here."

"You are as capable as the rumors say, and I am relieved," Avadil said with a sigh. "I know that your city is facing an economic crisis. Prices had gone up in the past month when words reached merchants that the Seika is building a city."

"Not to mention, most nobles refuse to sell me what their state produces or simply ask for astronomical amounts," Arthur smiled. "Are you going to lend me some money?" he asked with a wide smile.

"It is the opposite, Lord of Hidden," Avadil shook his head. "The only reason that I have any standing in the capital is what I own, one of the top auction houses of the capital. I have a way to procure rare items to sell them, and it kept me going."

"That makes us competitors," Arthur raised his brow. "Tell me your proposal, your highness."

"I am no prince anymore," Avadil shook his head, "but I hold more value than an actual prince does," he said with a smile of confidence.

Arthur studied the young man in front of him. His posture was straight, and his hair was a tidy black. Yet, despite being called a prince, his hands were calloused, and they reminded him of his past.

"May I know how you get those scars, your highness?" Arthur asked with the politest of tones. "I mean not to intrude, but a man is trusted by knowing his stories."

"I see no intrusion," Avadil shook his head. "I prefer being asked than being talked about behind my back. These scars were given to me by my father, the previous king. A prophecy told him that he needed to use a divine sword to open up my eyes as a child, and it would save his throne."

"I guess that prophecy was a lie.. His throne is gone, and all that left are these scars."