CHAPTER 52 - Shady Matters

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After Arty had to deal with the negotiations upon discussing it with Lord Dark-grip and the other freedom fighters concerning the Ice Prince still lurking about, she now had to consider the other important matters concerning the enemies working with the Mad King, in the latter event they might find out on who is the Chosen Wielder of the Fiery Blade.

Even though the rebellion army is almost fully complete, Arty had to be prepared for anything, when something bad happens or anything like that occurs in the later future, so Arty made sure that she thought of contingencies and back-up plans, just in case.

Meanwhile, it looks like Arty had gotten the chance to meet with the Ice Prince privately, but she won't be alone upon meeting with him, as she decided to have her magician friend Emyrie along with her.

Even though Emyrie isn't powerful that much with her magic abilities, she'll defend her friend in case something might go awry with the meeting or trouble might come at them when it happens.

But Arty hoped that nothing will happen or something insidious will go too far during their private meeting, and she hoped that it will be a tame affair once she meets with the Prince.

So, with a deep breath to compose and calm herself, Arty got herself ready to go out on that very meeting errand and her friend Emyrie is also ready to go be with her, even when she noticed that the magician seemed to be trying to hide her nervousness on meeting the rumored enemy-sounding Ice Prince.

It didn't take long for them to go to the very spot where they'll have their secret private meeting, and Arty was glad that she talked to Lord Dark-grip and the other freedom fighters before to stand back and let her do the negotiations with the prince. Even though they didn't like the idea, they trusted her that much on her word that she'll be alright.

When Arty and Emyrie got there, the two girls instantly tensed upon noticing that the place they're having the private meeting is at another inn, but then they saw that there's nobody around, not even a small mouse in sight scurrying about somewhere in a shadowy corner.

Arty didn't draw out her weapon, because she didn't want to reveal that she brought the hidden Fiery Blade with her, but Emyrie had her magic staff out and looked like she's on the verge of casting out spells instantly without hesitation, judging from the sparking at the tip's end.

However, the two instantly relaxed when they saw that the inn's owner is there and he's directing them to where the prince is with his bodyguards and they followed him, but they still had their guard up just in case they're being lied to a trap or something.

When the male owner guided them inside a room, that is secluded and isolated enough from any listeners or eavesdroppers outside, Arty and Emyrie cautiously went in and saw the supposed Ice Prince, but then they couldn't tell whether it's him or not, because he's donning a dark hood over his head and mask to cover his features so that others wouldn't recognize him except his guards.

But Arty instantly knew that this hooded figure is the very prince because she can feel the same feeling she had felt when she caught a glance of him from the last time she's seen him, and she had never forgotten it because not only did she created this character herself, but she did make his icy countenance authentic to be unforgettable and such.

Then the prince spoke in a gravelly cold tone, sounding like an elderly male, like he's using the help of magic to change his voice so that they wouldn't recognize it either, and Arty had to admit that she's impressed that he would go to such lengths to protect himself from enemies, even those who wanted a private audience with him.

It didn't take long for Arty to talk to him about the matter of the rebellion she's been forming to fight against the Mad King and making up the convincing agreement upon allying with the Ice Prince with their forces to fight and defeat the enemies' side.

Though Arty has tried to give him the convincing benefits and good results that might come out in the future once they win this battle against the Mad King, she could tell that the Ice prince seemed disbelieving that the tyranny would instantly end, in help with the Fiery Blade's wielder.

However, she could tell that the disguised prince is listening to her intently and was thinking deeply over what Arty had been telling him, and trying to see through the benefits of this alliance.

It was a long tense moment after Arty finished telling him the offer she's giving out and then the Ice Prince spoke that he will contact her again on his decision over this and Arty knew better than to push it further on what he's going to decide on his choices so she let him be and will wait patiently on his answer.

She nudged her friend Emyrie for the two of them to leave first before the prince and his guards do, and they left swiftly before he might call them back upon changing his mind or something or he might decide to order his guard to take them both prisoner so that he would interrogate her more upon trying to find out any hidden motive of sorts.

Fortunately, nothing like that happened when the two of them walked back to the inn where they were staying, and Arty was relieved that the shady matters have been resolved and dealt with after they went to that very tense meeting with the Ice Prince himself, even under disguise.

When they came back, Arty noticed that it was very late at night and figured that the others have gone straight to sleep and rest, with only a few standing out on guard and watching out for any enemies, she decided to report to Lord Dark-grip on the outcome of their meeting with the Ice Prince the next day after she and her friend had their sleep as well.

When the two girls got to their rooms and settled to rest, Arty wondered what is going to happen in the latter future, with their possible alliance with the Ice Prince.

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