CHAPTER 48: WHO CLEARED THE DUNGEON?

Julian is in his lab, deep in thought. On the table in front of him lies a watch with a midnight blue strap – Thea’s watch.

After Thea was safely home, he took the watch and, out of habit, downloaded the recorded data. Then he forgot about it.

This morning, when he entered his lab again, he saw it. Only then did he remember he’d downloaded the data. Then, he forgot about it again.

A few hours later, he remembered once more. He took the data and began to read.

And his brain short-circuited.

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Arthur stands by his office window, his mind elsewhere. Sam has already asked the same question twice but received no response from his boss.

On Arthur’s desk are several documents and newspapers. One headline reads:

"Why did Liam Monfort give the Heartstone King to Theodora Montrose? Do we see a wedding in the future?"

Another headline:

"Has the Crown Prince of Monfort Industries finally found his Crown Princess?"

Arthur taps his finger on the table and sighs several times.

Sam clears his throat and tries once more. "Sir, how are we going to answer the mayor?"

When Arthur still shows no sign of responding, Sam calls out, "Mr. Arthur!"

"Hm?" Arthur finally acknowledges him. He blinks a few times. "Tell him we need a few more days."

"Sir, that’s inadvisable. The gate has been open for several days now, and neither we nor Monfort Industries has come forward to claim the mining rights," Sam reminds him.

Arthur nods absentmindedly. "Yes, I’m aware of that. But our answer is the same as yesterday: we’re waiting for Monfort Industries."

He looks at Sam. "Sam, we know it’s impossible for Thea to have cleared the dungeon. It has to be Liam. So the mining rights... are theirs."

Arthur leans back in his chair again and stares out the window.

Sam exhales quietly. He doesn’t know what to do. He has never seen his boss like this.

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Miranda and Claudia are back at their Sky Suite.

"So, what does Thea think?"

Claudia takes off her coat and hangs it up, grinning. "She thinks he’s good-looking."

Miranda lights up. "Really?! You’re not messing with me, right?"

"Mom, I wouldn’t dream of it!"

"Yes!" Miranda squeals, turning to her daughter. "Now we need a reason to make them meet!"

Claudia nods firmly.

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Arthur rushes home. He has just received news that Thea is awake. He’s running pass Sam’s office, "I’m going home!"

Sam has no time to reply. He sighs. "Ms Thea must’ve woken up." Then he smiles.

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Arthur meets his mother on the hallway in front of Theo’s room. "Is she really awake?"

Leila nods. "She is. Arthur." She stops him from rushing to enter Theo’s room. "She is okay. We can relax now. You can relax now."

Arthur looks at his mother. He moves forward to hug her. "Yes, she is. Thank you for reminding me, Mom."

"Now go." Leila hits his back.

Arthur lets go his mother and knocks on Theo’s door.

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Theo is reading the newspaper when Arthur knocks.

"Come in." He looks toward the door, curious to see who it is.

Arthur pops his head in and sees Theo sitting on the couch, a newspaper in hand.

"Hi." Arthur smiles.

Theo chuckles. "Hi, Arthur. Come in."

Arthur steps inside and takes a seat in front of him, observing him the entire time.

Theo smiles gently. "I’m okay, Arthur. I really am."

Arthur nods. "Yeah, you look like it."

Awkward silence.

Arthur gestures toward the newspaper. "Any interesting news?"

Theo flips it around so Arthur can read the headline: "The Azure Princess Is Still Sleeping. Does She Need Her Prince to Kiss Her Awake?"

Arthur reads it and his eyes flick back to Theo. "What do you think?"

Theo scoffs in disbelief. "What do I think? I think this is ridiculous!"

Arthur brightens a little. "Yeah?"

"Yes! It’s ridi – wait. You think I’m going to like this?" Theo looks at Arthur in disbelief. "Arthur! I’d love to think you know me better than that!"

Theo exhales. "What is it that you’re worried about?"

Arthur stays quiet, not meeting Theo’s eyes.

"You think I like him?" Theo asks.

"Don’t you?" Arthur asks in a small voice, still avoiding his gaze.

"Oh my god! Is that what you’ve been worrying about? Mother said you’ve been worried about me not waking up for three days, but she’s wrong, isn’t she? You’re worried about this!" Theo hits the newspaper.

"Well, you just turned sixteen a few months ago, and he’s already twenty-four and –"

Theo laughs without reservation. "I don’t even know who he is, let alone like him!"

Arthur looks at him. "You don’t know?"

"No! I’ve never seen him."

"You didn’t see him in the dungeon?" Arthur mutters to himself, "He also said he didn’t see any white-haired girl."

"No, I didn’t see him in the dungeon. I didn’t really see anyone there. I was busy hiding and cowering in fear."

Theo feels another pang of guilt for lying. It’s the same lie he told Claudia earlier.

Arthur’s expression softens. "I’m sorry. I should’ve known."

Theo looks at him and says, "I’m okay now. But I am curious why that is here." He points toward the azure Heartstone.

Arthur also looks at it and sighs. "That’s part of why I thought you and he liked each other. Or at least one of you did."

Theo looks at him, puzzled.

Arthur shows him a picture on his phone. "This is him, the one who should have cleared the dungeon. But he said it wasn’t him. He held a press conference saying that a woman did it."

Theo takes Arthur’s phone and takes a good look at the picture. Yes, this is the green-eyed stranger. The same man Claudia asked me about earlier.

Theo returns the phone to Arthur. "I didn’t see him. And he said he didn’t clear the dungeon, but a woman did?" Theo feels a headache coming.

Arthur takes back his phone. "Yes. And of course, the media didn’t believe him. When they caught wind that you have the Heartstone King, they started spinning theories. The most popular one is that Liam is using the Heartstone King to propose to you."

"Liam? Propose?!" Theo is completely baffled.

Arthur nods. "I guess you don’t know. This is Liam Monfort. And he should be the one who cleared the dungeon. He hasn’t claimed the mining rights, and Monfort Industries hasn’t come forward either."

The green-eyed stranger is Liam?! No wonder Claudia, that little shit, asked me if he’s good-looking! Theo facepalms inwardly.

Arthur continues, "Do you know who cleared the dungeon?"