Chapter 417: Sunlight After Winter (2/2)

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.