Chapter 14: How did I end up with this guy? (1/2)

When Arima arrived at the hall, James was already there waiting for him.

”Mr. Blade, please follow me,” he asked him to follow and then turned around. He seemed to have gotten over his initial fear and was acting normally in front of Arima.

”Stop calling me like that. 'Arima' is fine. Last time someone addressed me as you do, he tried to assassinate me. I had to kill him in the end.”

But one more time, his composure was destroyed. 'Is he doing it on purpose or what?!' He screamed in his mind.

Arima followed James with Night behind, who was a wolf again. They soon reached a sort of treasure room with a stack of gold coins neatly arranged on a table.

”This is your prize, one thousand gold. You can take it. Or if you want it in white silvers you can make the request,” James smiled but Arima just froze.

”Huh?”

”What is it?” James was confused and Night tilted his head.

'Right! I was so focused on the audience with the royal family that I forgot about this. There's a one thousand gold prize! Just that is enough to compensate for my participation!' Arima faked a cough.

”Nothing. [Umbra, Manducare] (Shadow, eat),” he stowed all the gold coins inside his shadow.

”I see, that's good. Now, I'll act as an envoy and bring you to the castle. Do you want to go now?”

”Sure,” Arima immediately agreed.

”Then let's go.” They left the coliseum together and headed to the center of the city. As they neared it, they could see the castle more and more clearly.

When they reached their destination, Arima looked at it for the first time and thought that the castle looked like an old European one. James approached the gate alone and talked to the guards stationed there. One of them went inside the fort and came back five minutes later. He then said that they were allowed to enter.

After going through the gate, they ended up in a big corridor filled with decorations, cheap and expensive altogether. There, an old steward welcomed them.

”Greetings, sirs. The Queen and the princess will receive you shortly. Follow me please,” the old steward led them to a luxurious room, which was apparently a waiting room. And because his job was over, James left afterward.

Ten minutes after that, Arima was called. He almost fell asleep waiting. He was taken to a huge hall on the second floor. The throne room was around 2500 square meters big, and one of the walls was made of only glass, letting the sunlight illuminate the place. There was a row of marble pillars on the other side and really made this place look majestic.

There were three seats in the back. One was the King's throne and the two others were most likely for the Queen and the princess. Just that, right now, the throne was occupied by the Queen and one of the smaller seats was empty. As expected, the King wasn't present.

”Are you Arimane Blade?” The Queen inquired calmly.

”Yes, I am. Please to make your acquaintance,” Arima stood in the middle of the hall, he was not kneeling nor bowing but he still had a polite attitude. Night sat down without a care in the world though. Some of the court members present were a bit dissatisfied but they didn't say anything as long as the Queen herself didn't mention it.

”Congratulations on winning the tournament. You seem to be very strong from what I've heard. From the words of my soldiers, you were not even using your full strength,” she actually praised him.

”Thank you,” Arima simply smiled and nodded. ”Then?” His tone suddenly changed as he asked sharply.

The Queen trembled a bit but sighed in the end. ”Looks like you're also quite clever. I won't beat around the bush then. Will you help the Kingdom?” The Queen bowed her head. This kind of respect was already the best she could do in public as the temporary ruler.

Arima smirked. ”What if I said that I could destroy the Empire for you? Would you believe me?”

”What?” The other party couldn't help but be shocked by those words. Even the princess listening behind, who didn't show any expression before, was stupefied. The other people present raised their voices. Some sounded disdainful.

The Queen waved her hand to silence them. ”Why are you saying that?” She thought it was strange. It was true that she wanted to find talents with this tournament. It was her last hope. She knew that in this world existed people whom strength could make an entire continent shake in fear. But there was no reason for the man in front of him to propose that to her.

”Because I can. But I'm afraid it will only stay as a possibility. For now, at least, I don't plan to do anything. I merely wanted to have your attention. Instead of helping you in this war, let me see the King. I can help him,” Arima replied.

Ultimately, the Queen lost her composure when she heard about her husband. ”...Why should I trust you?”

”What about this? If I can't heal him, I'll help you win the war without demanding anything from you. You shouldn't be losing anything, right?” He smiled. ”There's also no risk for me trying to assassinate the King because if I'm not wrong, your husband will most likely die soon no matter what I do.”

After that, she froze. If the man in front of her could really save the King, that would the happiest day of her life. She gritted her teeth. ”Fine, I'll let you see him. No, I want you to save him please.”

”Your Highness!” The first minister shouted urgently.

”Enough! I made my choice,” she hollered. ”Come with me, Arimane.” She stood up and started walking to the quarters behind the throne room, her daughter followed her and glanced at Arima.

”What are you trying to do?” Night asked.

Arima grinned. ”Some 'business'.”

***

The Queen led them to a huge door made of fine wood. The room behind was as big as half of the hall, and even though there was a queen-sized bed it looked like a normal furniture in this room.

'Seriously? His room is bigger than my former house,' Arima thought. 'Well, not as much as my premises obviously but still…'

The Queen and her daughter walked to the bed with worried expressions. Arima also approached the bed. Lying there, was a burly middle-aged man with good features. His skin was pale, his forehead was full of sweat, and he was breathing heavily.

Arima looked at the Queen, and she nodded. Arima placed his hand above the King.

”The best healers of the country all tried but couldn't heal him, how could you do it?” The princess spoke for the first time and it was to scorn him.