Level Up Legacy

1339  A New Home

The driver from Nightroad waited outside while Arthur led Diana into the house. Although it was shabby and needed cleaning, it was their home. Diana looked around the small entryway, almost memorizing the house.

"You lived in this place while struggling? It doesn't sound so bad," Diana said as Arthur opened the door and allowed her inside. Similar to the state outside, the house was covered in dust.

"My mother and I worked every day to make ends meet and keep this house. We could have lived in a different district in a worse house, but we had a lot of memories here. Besides, we already had the mortgage approved for this one."

"I have no idea what you just said," Diana laughed softly, "but I understand that you had it rough. Is this the living room?"

Arthur smiled as he gave Diana a tour of the house. She seemed to admire every intrinsic detail of his life here. Every memory he told her made her excited as she asked more questions.

Diana was even emotional when she saw his height chart on the kitchen door frame. Her slender finger ran over the markings of his growth, and she looked at Arthur with a smile that he didn't understand.

After giving her a tour of the house, the two of them went into his room. As soon as he turned on the lights, Arthur felt embarrassed that someone had restored his room to its messy state. But for Diana, it was paradise.

Before Arthur could convince her to wait outside while he picked up his clothes or tidied his bed, Diana stormed in and began looking at everything. There were games he had as a child buried in a box underneath his bed and countless newspapers on his walls about his father's disappearance.

Diana seemed excited about knowing the previous Arthur before she met him. Arthur stood silent for most of the time, providing her with the explanations she needed about everything.

After going through most of his stuff, Diana sat on the bed, which Arthur had cleaned while she was looking through his toys. In her hand was a small wooden duck that Arthur had gotten from somewhere as a child but never bothered to throw away. She held it tight as she sat on his bed.

"This place feels like home," she said while looking at his room. Arthur wanted to argue that it was more of a dumpster in its current state, but she continued. "A place that I never had. My room in the palace was dark and cold. I had no memories other than suffering in my old house."

Arthur sat beside her, silent, as he allowed her to let out the past that tormented her. As she stared at the duck, turning it around as if she would find gold in its angles, Diana bit her lip.

"I want a home too."

"Then I'll build you one," said Arthur with a smile. Diana turned toward him, a little surprised. "We need to have a home, right? I'll build one just for us once my powers return. I'll build it in a place full of trees and flowers, a perfect place for our new memories."

"That sounds wonderful," muttered Diana with a smile. "I would love that a lot."

Diana then leaned against him, and Arthur pulled her into his arms, hugging her tightly. He knew the past she suffered from, and he knew better than anyone that she was just beginning to scratch the surface of her icy front.

Underneath the cold front of the duke's daughter, Diana was vulnerable—a child who had never received love or affection, still living in the shadow of her tormentor.

Diana hugged him tight and didn't let go for another few minutes. After she calmed down, the two of them returned everything to its place before leaving the house. The driver was waiting for them outside.

"Where should we go now, sir?"

"There are some places I want to visit," answered Arthur as he handed over a list he had prepared on the ride here. "It might take a while."

"I have all the time in the world," smiled the driver. "Please," he said as he opened the car door for them.

***

Julia stared at her reflection in the mirror. She was wearing a rather feminine dress, prompted by the man whistling behind her. Oriole admired his handiwork as he made her spin to show him.

"You look like a princess!" he threw in another compliment, but Julia could not hide how uncomfortable she was. "Let's hope that the mask also works to block his sight. Otherwise, he might mistake you for a wooden board! Loosen up a little!"

"How—how could I loosen up when you make me wear these things? I'm starting to think it was wrong to ask you for suggestions. I just wanted something elegant!"

"And this is elegant. The epitome of femininity and elegance!" Oriole clapped his hands with a smile. "Maryam helped me pick this dress, and we both agree that it suits you better than anything else!"

"I want a third opinion!"

"There's no more time for that," said Oriole while staring at the clock. "We haven't even done your makeup yet. I don't have any expertise in that regard, I'm afraid. So, I called someone I know."

"Someone you know? Wait, what do you mean makeup?" asked Julia in panic. Oriole was already pulling the door open and allowing someone inside. Julia stood confused as another tall man entered. Nôv(el)B\\jnn

"You might not have met him, but this is a member of Mistletoe and Arthur's friend, Reece. He's a master of disguise and acting, so he knows his fair share about makeup."

"With all due respect, I'm not putting on makeup," said Julia with a shake of her head. "It would be too much! This is just… a shared meal."

"Everything starts with a meal," said Reece with a grin as he walked inside, spinning Julia in her seat in front of the table. He examined her face with interest and placed her in different lights to see her skin tone.

"You've got a real hidden gem here, Ori," said Reece with a smile as he played with her hair. "Don't worry, miss. Don't expect me to make you into a clown. I'll share your elegance with just a few touches here and there."

And he did.

Julia stood speechless as she stared at herself in the mirror. Her features were the same, just highlighted. The makeup he used seemed to bring out her beauty and hide her flaws. It was subtle and elegant, as he promised, leaving her with no complaints.

"But is this really necessary? This is just a shared—"

"Just call it a date already!" demanded Oriole, and Julia blushed. "And it is necessary. You're literally dating a caveman from a different world. I doubt he'd be interested in knowing the latest economic changes in the world. He knows nothing about them!"

Julia was silent as she couldn't help but agree. She began to hesitate since she didn't know what kind of conversations they would be having. The two of them were as different as night and day!

"Alright, we don't have any more time," said Oriole as he checked his clock. "I told Li he should be waiting next to Arthur's statue in Kera."

"Oh, that's a nice spot. A lot of people confess their love before the great hero to obtain his blessings," said Reece with a smile. "I bet two kidneys that he wouldn't recognize the current you."

"And you couldn't pick a place other than THERE?" asked Julia as she glared at Oriole. "I feel like you're doing this on purpose."

"Kera doesn't have a lot of unique places, and Li gets lost easily," said Oriole with a shrug. "If you see him there, you should hold his hand tight. Otherwise, he— Ouch!"

Julia smacked his head before he could finish and was already walking toward the door to leave. Oriole and Reece laughed as they followed her, escorting her toward the portal where she could visit Kera.

Their portal was connected to Kera's public teleportation system after the Yalveran Union became their biggest ally. Julia walked into the teleportation array with a beating heart before she was transported to a nearby station.

The sun was setting in Kera, and she had to make her way to the public square before it got dark. Julia could feel the gazes of everyone who saw her burn into her body, and it made her die from shyness.

Oriole had picked a beautiful dress—she had to admit. It was a black summer dress with a white bowtie and red engravings. She saw her reflection in one of the windows and couldn't help but pause.

Julia knew she was beautiful, but she had never tried to take that one step further. But in her current appearance, she was sure that any man would fall for her, but only one awaited her arrival at the moment. Thus, she had to hurry.