CHAPTER 47: THEODORA, THE AZURE PRINCESS

"The Azure Princess? Why?"

"You don’t remember?"

Theo shakes his head.

Claudia points toward a huge azure Heartstone in the corner of the room. "Because of that!"

Only then does Theo notice the Heartstone placed on the table. Isn’t that the 51% Heartstone? Why is it here?

Claudia watches his expression closely. "You... don’t remember?" she asks, sounding concerned.

"No, I remember. I just don’t understand why it’s here."

"Apparently, you fell asleep clutching that Heartstone tight," Claudia explains.

Theo looks at her. "I did?"

Claudia shrugs. "That’s what Arthur and Julian said. It should be true. They wouldn’t lie just so you’d own it."

Theo frowns. "I don’t understand."

Claudia shakes her head. "I don’t really either. From what I know about dungeon exploration and mining, whoever clears the dungeon holds the mining rights for sixty percent of the Heartstones found inside that dungeon. The remaining forty percent is divided equally among the other exploration teams."

Theo nods. "Yeah, I’ve read about that somewhere. What I don’t understand is why it’s here and not with the one who cleared the dungeon."

Why is it here? Have they found out that I did it? How?

Claudia grins. "Do you know who cleared the dungeon?"

Theo shakes his head slowly. "No, I don’t know." I can’t say anything.

Claudia takes out her phone, fusses with it for a few seconds, then shows it to Theo. "What do you think? Is he good-looking?"

Theo looks at the screen — it’s him! The green-eyed stranger.

Then he remembers Claudia’s question. "Good-looking?"

Claudia nods. "Yeah. Do you think he’s good-looking?"

"Why?"

"Just answer, and I’ll explain later," Claudia insists.

Theo looks at the picture again. He never got the chance to really see the stranger. They were busy fighting, and he’d been in pure magic euphoria. The man’s face, or whether he was good-looking, had been the last thing on Theo’s mind.

Now that he can see clearly, Theo has to admit the stranger is good-looking. Very good-looking.

He glances at Claudia, who’s still watching him.

Theo clears his throat. "He’s okay."

Claudia lights up. "You do think he is!"

"Who is he?"

Claudia’s grin doesn’t fade. "He’s the one who cleared the dungeon."

Theo nods. That makes sense, since they can’t find the real person who did it. I hope he doesn’t say anything.

"You didn’t see or meet him in there?" Claudia asks.

Theo shakes his head. "No, I was too busy hiding and cowering in fear."

Claudia’s expression softens. "I’m sorry. It must’ve been a terrifying experience for you."

Theo clears his throat again, feeling terrible for lying. "So, why is the azure Heartstone here and not with... that guy?"

Claudia sighs. "Because he said it wasn’t him. He said he didn’t clear the dungeon. A woman did."

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Liam is sitting on a couch in his father’s office. In one hand, he holds a tablet; on the screen, the headline reads: "Theodora, The Azure Princess. Did she really clear the dungeon?" In the other, he holds a cup of steaming coffee.

He puts the tablet down and sighs. The media has been using the same headline for three days now, twisting every angle they can. They keep hounding him for more information.

Following his father’s advice, he held a press conference and explained everything, but it didn’t help. They didn’t believe him when he said he hadn’t cleared the dungeon. The media still chases him everywhere he goes. It’s getting boring and exhausting.

What he really wants is to go find the woman who did clear the dungeon. But he fears his mother’s wrath. She blew up at him when he said he wanted to find the Warrior Princess. His mother accused him of cheating and adultery.

Liam loves his mother dearly and would kill anyone who hurt her, but sometimes he wants to kill her himself.

He has been waiting for his father for a long-overdue conversation. For the past three days, they haven’t really had the time to sit down and talk. Both have been busy dealing with the aftermath.

"You’re here. Good. Let’s talk." Linus enters the room and sits down on the couch.

Liam exhales in relief — finally, someone sane enough to talk to.

"Tell me everything. Don’t skip or sugarcoat anything. Then I’ll tell you about the dungeon."

Liam nods in agreement and begins to tell his father everything, starting with his frustration at his mother for pushing him to meet Thea.

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"A woman? Not just any woman, but a young

woman, you said?" Linus leans back in his chair, frowning. He’d heard about this woman during Liam’s press conference but never the full story.

Now that he has, he can’t quite process it.

Liam nods and continues reluctantly. "Dad, I didn’t really see her clearly. It was dark. The only light source came from her light orbs. And we were busy staying alive — well, at least I was." He chuckles softly.

"She was... very powerful." Liam’s eyes go distant, remembering how majestic she had looked with the wind gently blowing her jet-black hair as she fired those whitish-purple light beams.

"Honestly? She could have been an older woman and I wouldn’t have noticed. But her voice was soft and gentle. She sounds young," Liam adds.

When he notices his father’s silence, he turns to look at him. Linus is watching him carefully.

"You... believe me, right?" Liam asks. He can never quite read his father’s expression.

Linus gives a firm nod. "I do. I’m just searching my brain for any woman who could fit your description."

Liam doesn’t realize how much he’s been waiting to hear that. When his father says he believes him, he finally relaxes and exhales loudly.

Linus looks at his son, slightly amused. "What? You thought I wouldn’t believe you?"

"Well, it is kinda hard to believe, right? Even I’m having a hard time believing it myself. If it weren’t for the fact that I know I wasn’t hallucinating, I’d think I’d gone crazy!" Liam finally lets out his frustration.

Linus smiles slightly. "I’m proud of you for admitting in public that you didn’t clear the dungeon."

Liam lights up. "You’re not mad that we don’t get to keep the azure Heartstone?"

Linus shakes his head. "No, I’m not mad. I’m proud."

"Dad, I said that not because I was afraid the woman would come forward and call me a liar. I kind of had the feeling that she wanted to hide her identity. I said it because I wanted her to know I didn’t claim her win, and that I don’t want to lie. You understand, right, Dad?"

Even though Liam is already twenty-four, he still looks up to Linus and deeply respects him. His father’s approval means everything to him.

Linus looks straight at him. "Liam, I understand. And I’d do the same if I were in your shoes. You did the right thing."

Liam slowly grins. "Even if Mom said I’m a cheater?"

Linus bursts out laughing. "Your mother said that not because of what you said at the press conference."

He pauses. "Well... not all of it."

Linus exhales softly. "She doesn’t care about the azure Heartstone or who cleared the dungeon. You know that."

Liam can’t help but laugh too. "Yeah, I know. I just... want to find that woman from the dungeon and recruit her! Is that so wrong?"

Linus gives him a knowing look. "That’s why you want to find her?"

Liam grins. "And I want to learn how to use Heartstone energy like her. I want her to teach me. Dad, you should’ve seen her. That two-headed water serpent didn’t stand a chance."