CHAPTER 63: A PRINCESS AND HER THREE KNIGHTS

Liam sits cross-legged on his bed, eyes closed, trying to concentrate and feel his surroundings—just as Aldriana had ordered. He’s been doing this for almost an hour since getting back from the meeting.

But to his frustration, he cannot feel anything. Is she pranking me? Why can’t I feel anything?! What is it I’m supposed to feel?!

Oh! I forgot to tell Dad!

He reaches for his phone and calls Linus.

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Theo can barely open his window. His hand is shaking so badly that he misses the handle a few times. Once he’s inside, he drops his illusion and shield.

The reflection staring back at him in the full-length mirror is alarming.

His face is ghostly pale. His usually shiny white hair has lost its luster and clings to his head like a wet rug. His black top is soaked with cold sweat. He knows he should wash the sweat off, but he’s so exhausted that he just changes into his pajamas and climbs into bed.

The moment his head hits the pillow, he’s gone. He doesn’t even pull the covers over himself.

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Morning comes, and Arthur is up early. He’s been thinking about Aldriana’s demand, trying to figure out why she chose his sister to come forward.

How can I ask Thea this? She just got her freedom. Once she comes forward, that freedom will be gone again.

Not necessarily, Arthur. A small part of him replies.

You, as her brother, can arrange that she’ll hold it in name only, and she can point Montrose Corporation as her representative. That would remove her from the spotlight.

Yes, that’s right. I’ll go talk to her.

Arthur leaves his room and heads toward the guest room where Theo has been staying.

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"Morning, Mom." Julian yawns as he enters the dining room. "Where’s Dad?"

"Morning, Julian. Your dad’s doing his morning jog," Leila answers with a smile, finishing her coffee.

"Morning, Mother," Arthur says from the entrance. He turns to Julian. "I need to talk to you."

Leila frowns. Why can’t they talk here? Something I’m not supposed to hear? Then she sighs inwardly. Ah, forget it, Leila. You can’t know everyone’s business.

Julian gets up, his sleepiness quickly replaced by alertness. Both of them step out of the dining room, away from Leila’s hearing.

"Have you talked to her?" Julian asks.

Arthur shakes his head.

"Why?" Julian looks curious.

"I got a message from Liam. He said to talk to him first before talking to Thea. He has an update after meeting Aldriana last night."

"Hmm. She must’ve told Liam the details," Julian mutters. "Then let’s call him."

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"Is she insane?!" Arthur almost shouts into his phone.

"No, Arthur. She was very serious. She said she has her own reasons. And I don’t think she’s lying. After the meeting, I actually dropped her off not far from your gate," Liam says from the other end of the line.

"You mean... she’s really staying near Thea? Like... twenty-four hours near?"

Julian, who’s listening beside him, gasps. "Is she here now?!"

He immediately takes out his tablet to check the security cameras.

Liam’s voice comes through again. "I don’t know how she does it, but that’s what she said. She agreed to teach me but she has those three conditions."

"I can understand the other two conditions, but Thea as her only contact to the outside world?! That’s absurd! That’ll put her in even more spotlight and can bring unnecessary dangers!" Arthur voices his frustration.

Even without this role, a stranger is already grabbing her,

Liam says inwardly. He can’t say it out loud, because it will agitate Arthur further. I don’t know what she’s thinking making Thea her only contact.

"Well, Art. When I meet her during lessons or dungeon clearing, I can talk to her, right?" Liam tries to calm Arthur, but he perfectly understands Arthur’s feelings. He also has a little sister. And if Aldriana chose Claudia, he would react the same way.

"I can’t find anything suspicious," Julian finally says. He quietly appreciates Aldriana’s skill. He knows full well how sophisticated his security system is, and yet she can slip past it. That takes some skill.

"You’re checking your security system?" Liam asks through the phone.

"Yes. But I found nothing."

Liam shakes his head. "I don’t think you would. No offense to your system, but I think she’s beyond that."

"Was she the reason behind the 100% purity sound?" Julian mutters to himself, apparently loud enough for both Liam and Arthur to hear.

"What 100% purity?" Liam asks.

"Which time?" Arthur asks at the same time.

"Which time?!" Liam exclaims. "Hold on!" He taps his phone to ask for a video call. Arthur accepts it, and soon they can see each other.

"Please explain this 100% purity thing," Liam says.

"You know that I’ve enhanced the regular Arcatherm, right?" Julian asks.

Liam sighs. "Yeah, I suppose only you would."

"Okay, my Arcatherm has a wider range for heartstone purity detection. And for the past two months, it has detected two times of 100% purity in Arvion," Julian explains.

"One—one hundred percent?! You’re not kidding, Montrose?" Liam is visibly shocked.

Julian shakes his head. "No, I’m not. And both times happened around Thea."

"And when she was in the dungeon, her watch recorded another 100% purity before it... recorded nothing. And Thea said it might be because Aldriana was there, using... you know, her abilities."

"Jesus! 100%! No wonder she’s that powerful!" Liam exclaims.

"Is she really that powerful?" Arthur asks, his voice tight.

Liam turns serious too. "I’ve never seen anything like it. She flies in the sky, shoots laser beams from her fingers, creates a shield I believe is stronger than any version of Aegis, and summons these... little light orbs. Oh, and those flying blue flame swords!"

"If I hadn’t seen it with my own eyes, I’d laugh at anyone who told me that story." Liam ends his tale with a long, loud sigh.

Arthur’s frown deepens. "If she’s really that powerful, it’ll be hard to coerce her or even negotiate with her."

"Coerce her?!" Liam is surprised. "What are you planning to do, Montrose?" He’s clearly wary of Arthur’s line of thought.

"I’m only thinking about Thea. If she can be negotiated to change her PIC to you or any of us, that would put Thea out of the spotlight and danger."

"I see. I completely understand that," Liam says, then pauses. "But have you asked Thea? Shouldn’t she be the one to make that decision? She might agree, you know." Liam thinks back on their time together yesterday. She doesn’t strike him as the fragile type.

Julian glances at Arthur. "That’s what we’re afraid of."

"Guys, I get where you’re coming from. Believe me, I do. But I believe it’s Thea’s decision. No matter how much we care about her, we can’t take away her freedom. We’re here to protect it, right?" Liam says carefully.

And he’s right to be careful. Arthur’s frown deepens at his words. "’We?’ How much we care? You care about Thea?"

Julian’s expression changes. He knows how protective Arthur is of Thea—but he’s not afraid of him either. He understands that being protective and being overprotective are two very different things.

"Arthur, look—" he starts.

But Arthur cuts him off. "She’s sixteen! Too young and too naïve to know how this world works! How evil people can be! She’s not ready!"

Liam immediately responds before Arthur can continue. "Yes—and what did you do when you were sixteen?"

"That’s not the same and you know it!" Arthur’s voice rises.

"How is it different? Are you saying she’s less capable than you were? Or that she’s not smart enough? Brave enough? What?" Liam keeps pressing.

"You know that’s not what I meant! She’s as smart, capable, and brave as I am. But she knows nothing, Liam!"

"And that’s what drove her to Thomas," Julian quietly adds.

"What?" Arthur turns to him.

Julian meets his brother’s eyes. "She was distant from us because we were never there for her. We left her alone, thinking she’d be safer—that she was too young and naïve. She wasn’t ready. None of us talked to her. We didn’t even tell her what we were doing, Art. Each of us was too busy with the company and abandoned her."

Silence.

Arthur, who had been standing before, now flops down and closes his eyes in defeat.

"So... you’re saying we should let her come forward and be the only PIC of Aldriana?" Arthur asks Julian. He may be the older brother and more than capable of making decisions on his own, but there are times when he listens to Julian’s opinions—especially when he’s too emotionally involved, like now.

"I’m saying we should ask her. And if she says yes—to come forward and to being the only PIC—then we should support her. Protect her, but not overprotect her," Julian says calmly but firmly.

"She may be too young, but we know that ever since she woke up, she’s been different. More mature and calmer in so many ways. Haven’t you noticed that when she looks at you, there’s such wisdom reflected in her eyes? Like she’s older than you?" Julian adds.

Liam stays silent on the screen. He knows he’s no longer part of the conversation, and he can see that Arthur is trying hard to listen — which earns his respect tremendously. He’s not sure he could do the same.

He watches as Arthur’s face goes through several changes of expression. Then Arthur closes his eyes and takes a few long, deep breaths.

When he opens them again, there are no traces of doubt left.

His whole aura shifts. The calm, collected, cold, and calculating CEO returns — the man everyone knows.

He turns to his phone screen, meeting Liam’s eyes, then looks back at Julian.

"Alright. We’ll talk to Thea."