The next day, a knock came on Arthur's door as he was inscribing artifacts. He hid the items before opening the door to find the Knight of Courage glaring at him.
"What's wrong?" Arthur asked lightly. "Why are you looking at me as if I killed your whole family?"
"The city is on lockdown now. No one can leave or enter." The Knight of Courage said. "Thus, our departure was postponed."
"Did something happen?" Arthur feigned shock.
"A noble was murdered yesterday. It was one of the duke's followers, so that it could be an assassination for political reasons. Whatever the case is, the duke is wrathful." The Knight of Courage squinted her eyes. "Do you know anything?"
"That's tragic, but why would I know anything about it?" Arthur tilted his head. "It can't be that you suspect me, right?"
"You do have a history of killing nobles." The Knight said as she walked in and closed the door behind her. "Whatever you say, it'll be between us two."
"And his Majesty," Arthur smiled. "I know nothing."
"Your followers' whereabouts are unknown. If the Princess of Ice and Fire leaves the city, then she..."
"She won't leave because I promised to give her Alva," Arthur said. "They're not my followers but companions."
"Do I need to remind you how this companionship started?" The Knight frowned.
"Are you worried about me?"
"I'm worried about the kingdom's safety." She said before changing the topic. "If you had anything to do with the murder of this noble, then execution is not unlikely."
"If you found evidence that I did it, then I'll present my head on a plate of silver," Arthur said as he leaned back in his chair. "Is that all?"
"Yes," The Knight looked at him silently and turned to leave. However, Arthur called after her.
"What did you find?"
"What?" She turned toward him with confusion.
"I know that you've looked into the noble I killed," Arthur said with an amused smile. "You wanted to unearth the evil deeds I mentioned."
"..." The Knight was silent before she sighed. "You were... right. I discovered traces of corruption in his estate. That doesn't mean that you can kill him."
"What else did you find?" Arthur wasn't concerned. The Knight glared at him in a fed-up expression. "Human trafficking? Demis? Cases of rape?"
The Knight was silent, and the atmosphere grew still. Arthur stood up and walked toward her until he stood close enough to stare her in the eyes.
"I can see it in your eyes." Arthur smiled. "You know that I did the right thing by killing him. You're even glad that he died, relieved, and grateful that I killed him."
"He deserved to die, but no one made you the judge." The Knight didn't back away. "There's a law and a King for a reason."
"Your laws wouldn't have executed a noble." Arthur's smile disappeared. "I've read about your kingdom. It's not as peaceful as it seems. King Solomon is a good king, but what about the nobles who remained from the previous system? As powerful as King Solomon is, he can't offend the nobility who hold most of the kingdom's resources."
"If you know that, then you need to understand the gravity of your actions."
"I do understand them, but do I care?" Arthur shook his head. "Things might sprawl into chaos, and a civil war isn't unlikely, but your peace is a bloody one. And this blood belongs to no one other than the people that you swore to serve."
"I know," The Knight tightened her fist. "I know that better than anyone, but what do you want me to do?" She said, almost shouting it. "There's no right choice here. There never was. Whatever you do, there will be blood."
"There is a way." Arthur's smile returned. "Help me as I aid your king to recreate this kingdom from scratch. For the resources, I'll help you get them. For the coins, I'll provide them. It's time to clean up this kingdom."
***
"I understand your sentiment, Duke of Contracts." The Knight of Nobility nodded in understanding as he sipped on his tea. "That man is nothing less than an untamed beast."
"Indeed so, he's not only unrestrained but also vicious. I hope you share these facts with His Majesty." The Duke of Contracts nodded as he traced the scar on his face. "Please make sure to send my regards to the Ancient One."
"I will," The Knight of Nobility gave a thin smile, knowing full well what the duke meant. "Where are they?"
"I summoned them, so they should be here at any moment." The duke said with a frown.
"Impudent peasants." One of the gathered nobles spat.
"No need to get angry. That Gardener won't be this disrespectful in the Royal Court." The Knight of Nobility said with a smile. It was then that the door opened, and the three guests entered along with the Knight of Courage.
The Knight turned to look at the 'Seika' that he was here to pick up. The man looked different than before, as he had changed his clothing into formal attire. His left arm was nothing but an empty sleeve, but it only served to make him look more threatening.
The Seika has combed his hair back and tied it into a short ponytail. The average features he had, which the Knight found irksome, seemed more prominent now.
"You seem relaxed for a prisoner, Gardener." The Knight of Nobility mocked. He didn't refer to him as the Seika but as his previous status.
"You seem well for someone who took a beating." The Seika rebuked without a moment's delay, with a tongue more venomous than serpents.
"As disrespectful as ever." The duke grabbed the armchair tightly. "Are you aware why you are here?" He asked with disdain.
"Naturally." The Seika nodded. "You think I killed another one of your nobles. If you can prove it, then I'll gladly accept any sort of punishment."
"There's no need to prove anything, as the only suspect is you." The duke said with a smile. "Yesterday, you left the mansion and left toward an unknown place. You've escaped from your imprisonment, which was also for the crime of killing a noble."
"Then, for the lack of other suspects, I'm the culprit?" The Seika smirked. "Are you all idiots?"
"Your insolence shall be tolerated no longer!"
The Duke of Contracts waved his hand, and a giant spirit appeared behind him. Arthur looked with interest at the uncommon ability of manifestation.
"Seika, please restrain yourself." The Knight of Courage turned to look at him with a frown.
"How about they restrain their idiocy?" The Seika said nonchalantly. "I won't admit to anything."
"You..." As the duke pointed his finger at him, the doors suddenly opened as a servant rushed in. "Speak." The duke commanded.
"Sir, I think it's best if I inform you in private." The servant said with labored breathing.
"I think not," The Knight of Courage glared at the servant. He shivered under her icy glare and revealed what he had.
"The new shop, Hidden Gems, is selling a new artifact."
"How is that of importance?" The duke waved his hand. "If there's nothing else," He was about to dismiss the servant, but the latter continued talking.
"The artifact is an improved version of the Vegetation Artifact!" The servant said before he was punished. The news made the hall turn chaotic, and even the Knight of Nobility stood up from his seat.
"What kind of improvement?" The duke asked with gritted teeth.
"Five times the area of effect for a fifth of the previous mana consumption." The servant said, and this time, every noble stood up from his seat.
"Five... times? A fifth?" The duke's body shook. "This can't be. Impossible."
"I fear this matter has turned grave enough for the kingdom to intervene." The Knight of Nobility stood up with a frown. "As for your matter, we'll discuss it in the royal court."
"Whatever you say." The Seika grinned.
It happened in a few moments. The duke and the nobles, along with the Knights, all rushed toward Hidden Gems shop. It was unprecedented for guests of this level to visit the shop personally, but the new artifact was this important.
The guards made way as the Duke of Contracts arrived on the scene. The farmers looked at him with both fear and a bit of resentment. They were the ones who would benefit the most from such an artifact, but there was nothing they could do against the nobles.
"Why did you want to come here too?" The Knight of Courage turned toward the Seika, who looked at the shop with a grin.
"I'm interested in this shop." The Seika said without hiding it. "If there's a way to accomplish what we have discussed earlier, this is a good start for it."
"It's the opposite." The Knight shook her head. "The runemaster, Ghost, must have foreseen this. The Duke of Contracts will be the one to outbid everyone and obtain the artifact."
"Is that so?" The Seika said without looking worried. The Knight of Courage squinted her eyes at him, wondering what kind of scheme he was up to now.
