"Why did you leave your arm with that snake woman?" Dia asked as she handed him the cup. "Maybe you could have had it reattached or even healed." 

"I paid the price to get out of that place alive," he accepted the water with a smile. "The arm wouldn't have been preserved the way it is without her powers." 

Arthur could place the arm in his subspace, but he wasn't sure it would be preserved the same way that Larza's ability worked. Her powers worked to isolate things without severing their connection to the world, and that's why the soul restructure made it impossible to regenerate or attack his arm. 

To put it simply, Arthur needed less time to heal because Larza used her ability to sever his arm and isolating it.

"Is it weird if I said I like you better this way?" the princess said with a thin smile, and Arthur almost spat his water. 

"Uh, armless?" 

"Such wounds prove that you went through a lot to get where you are instead of being some nobility's son who never went through battle." 

"We humans tend to romanticize suffering and broken things," muttered Arthur and sighed. "There's nothing good about being armless or broken, and I refuse to wear my suffering as a medal of honor." 

"Then what can you feel honored about?" 

"What I have managed to protect and retain," Arthur stood up and walked to the sleeping Rega, tapping her forehead. "I'm ashamed of what I lost and proud of what I gained." 

Rega disappeared back into her tree, leaving only Arthur and Dia in the room. The princess stared at him silently before leaning back and closing her eyes. Arthur walked toward the couch, and his finger adjusted the hair around her ice shards, and he accidentally touched them. 

"Do they bother you?" she asked, opening her eyes again. Arthur shook his head as he touched them again, his finger gently running across its edges. "They are a reminder that we are not the same," she said in a barely audible voice. 

"They are a reminder of what brought us together," Arthur replied before retracting his hand. However, Dia seized it before he took it away, holding it tightly. The two stared at each other silently. 

"I'm sorry for betraying you in the beginning," her breath was shaky as if it was something she wanted to say long ago. "I had no choice, no..."

"You did what you had to do, and so did I, but I'm sorry too for hurting you," Arthur said as his finger ran along with her thumb. "What if we are in a situation where you also have no choice but to hurt me?" 

"My only choice," she muttered before kissing his hand gently, "is to never hurt you." 

*** 

The news of the Seika's disappearance came as a shock before everyone simply realized that it was to be expected. Anyone would shrink away from such an impossible endeavor as building a city from scratch.

However, the campaigns and slogans still roamed the streets, broadcasting the benefits of living in Hidden City. But, of course, despite being legal, the guards cut the activities whenever they could. 

Thus, when the Seika disappeared, it came as a relief to many whose interests were jeopardized. The envoy sent to reclaim ownership of the city, and the more precious divine tree, consisted of the Knight of Nobility and the Duke of Battle, a duo that even heavens feared. 

Their mind was at ease until the reappearance of the Seika and the failure of the duo. It was even said that the Knight of Nobility came back running with his tails between his legs, but no one would dare confirm it. 

The envoy's failure to reclaim the city was the spark that fueled the nobles to meet and decide what they were going to do. That's why they gathered to discuss, disguising the event by a festival celebrating the birth of the scholar guardian. 

The Lords of each city sat around the table, with the Dukes of Contracts, Shades, Battle, and Ores seated on each side. The other lords weren't dukes but marquesses and marchionesses who governed smaller cities. There were also some Titled Knights, namely the Knight of Nobility and Honesty. 

"I can't believe that a child sent you running away," the old lady sitting opposite to the Duke of Battle snickered and mockingly said. "You claim to be the strongest man, but I think you are the strongest kitten."

"Shut up, old hag. That boy has the approval of our King," the Duke of Battle bared his teeth. "Go back to your mountains and keep mining!"

"I'll whip your ass if you raise your voice again," the old woman almost stood up, and the Duke of Shades hurried to pacify. 

"Duchess of Ores, please calm down. We are here to..."

"Sit down, or I'll whip your ass too!" the Duchess of Ores shouted, and the pacifist sat down instantly. "Tell me why you called for me, pretty doll," she turned toward the Knight of Nobility.

"Ah, yes, as you wish, madam," The Knight stood up and cleared his throat. "I believe you are all aware that more people are leaving your cities to live in the new city, Hidden City." 

Nobility's words earned a few approving nods from the crowd as an increasing number of people moved away from all of Freda's cities. It was a problematic event, but their numbers were relatively negligible. 

"It might not be anything threatening, but you all forget that Hidden City is nothing more than a camp with a few walls." 

"And a Divine Tree," the Duke of Shades added angrily. His sentiment was understandable, as his only business was agriculture. 

"There's Mother Rega too, so why haven't there been any immigrants to your city, Duke of Shades?" the Duke of Contracts glanced his way. "Hidden City is becoming a destination because of their artifacts." 

'Is that even the point here?' the Knight of Nobility looked down on these simple-minded and proud men. However, he didn't dare interrupt. Despite being a Titled Knight, he knew that these people were ancient. 

"People can't eat artifacts," the Duke of Shades raised a brow. "Many farmers moved to Hidden City because of the appearance of the Divine Tree."

"Are you two fighting over the spot for the loser of the year?" The Duchess of Ores slapped the table. "Shut up, and let me hear what this fly has to say."

"Ah, thank you, madam," despite being called a fly, the Knight of Nobility didn't dare show his displeasure. "What everyone said is correct, but I think that people are going there for a single reason: the promise of a better future. They believe that Hidden City will grow to be better than the others." 

The Knight allowed a pause in his speech, waiting for these morons to digest his words. This matter was far more dangerous than a few artifacts and crops. 

"You are saying that we'll lose our people?" one of the marchionesses furrowed her brows. 

"Those that have anything to offer, at least," the Knight nodded. "Temporary greed is fine, but the people are looking at Hidden City like a utopia of unfulfilled dreams. When the time comes for Hidden City to open its doors for trade, the whole kingdom will turn their attention to it." 

"That boy aims for financial power," the Duke of Battle leaned back with a grin as he tapped on the table. Each tap left a dent in the wound, but there was no shaking. "He is trying to rule not through strength, but money." 

"Foolish," the Duke of Contracts spat. "If he thinks that his runemaster could outperform my city, then he is in for a big loss." 

"Says the man who lost his daughter," the Duchess of Ores shook her head. "I liked that girl, her only flaw being your daughter."

"Insolent!" the Duke of Contracts banged the table, but a simple glare from the old woman made him stiffen. He retracted his hand despite the woman's words stabbing into his heart like a knife. 

"We need to cut his growth short," the Knight of Honesty suggested, trying to change the subject for his older brother. "If we allow him to gather more money, more power, and more talent... then we will all be left to eat his dust." 

"You are all cowardly, ganging up on a single boy. Furthermore, our King approved of him and allowed him to build a city on our land. Do you think that our King is a fool?" the Duke of Battle glared at them. 

Politics was a delicate game, played against all and alongside all. Everyone was your ally, but they were also your enemy. If these houses lost power against the kingdom, then the King would rule unhindered, and he would make sure to crush any opposition. 

"This boy might be Solomon's Excalibur, a blade that allows him to conquer the whole world," the old woman cupped her hands in front of her. "If we allow it to sharpen and grow out of its sheath, it will behead us all in the end." 

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