Chapter 59: Negotiate

The wait was finally over. Swana and Nancy found the carriage carrying them stopped. Then came the sound of conversation from outside the carriage. The cessation of the conversation made Swana immediately put up a vigilant posture.

"Get ready Aunty, they will take us to the person who masterminded this kidnapping," said Swana.

Swana knew that Eden was waiting for her. There were many reasons why the witch had kidnapped her, and the most likely reason was revenge on Curtis.

"I can't believe we're going through this, my Queen. I hope the one who started Curtis will behead the one who masterminded this kidnapping," Nancy growled.

This was the first time she had seen the young lady she had raised with her own hands in such a pathetic condition. The beautiful Swana had not bathed all day and her hair and clothes were matted. What a sad thing for a queen.

Swana's prediction was confirmed. One of them pulled the carriage door and opened it.

"Get down," they ordered.

There was no reason to be stubborn. For Swana, meeting Eden was much better than waiting in the carriage. She got down even though her legs felt numb.

"Ugh..."

Swana almost fell when she stepped on the ground. Her feet were completely numb. Surprisingly, the man who told her to get down quickly helped Swana from falling. The man attentively carried Swana into the old castle where her parents were waiting. Well, Swana's beauty did make many people forget themselves. One of them was the kidnapper who carried her.

"Thank you," Swana said.

Little did she know that her words would make the kidnapper who was helping her blush. The man became so clumsy that his colleague pulled him from his position of helping Swana.

"What!?"

"Do you want to die?" whispered his colleague. Only then did the man who helped Swana realize that he had lost himself to Swana.

Nancy, who was watching, had to stifle her laughter. She could not have laughed at the kidnapper's behavior if she wanted to live. Because what she and Swana had to face in the future was much more terrible.

"Move quickly," said the kidnapper. Certainly not the man who helped Swana.

Swana, with Nancy's help, walked through the tall and large but old double doors. The walls had peeling paint and were dull. Fortunately, the castle was clean and odorless.

"You have finally come. I really missed you, my lady," Eden quipped.

The man sat on a chair that was positioned much higher than the floor of this old castle hall. The male witch looked much better, clean and well-groomed than when she met at Estelle's residence.

"For some reason I did miss you Eden. It is a pity that my soldiers could not bring you to come in front of me."

 Swana's sarcastic sentence was greeted with laughter by Eden. The man got down from his chair and headed towards Swana. But Nancy quickly stepped forward to prevent Eden from approaching Swana.

"How dare you get in my way!" Eden shouted.

With one swoop of his hand, he sent Nancy crashing into the wall.

Swana screamed as she ran towards Nancy who was clutching her chest. She coughed from the impact.

"Eden! If you really intend to drain blood then just kill me. All your grudges have nothing to do with my servant!" Swana shouted.

Swana was furious that the woman she considered family was seen trying to protect her,  lying injured.

"So you threatened me?" Eden asked with a cold face.

"No. I am currently warning you. Rest assured that we will definitely win when we attack. And you will continue to be a runaway for life." Swana knew that there was no point in talking politely with Eden. Especially in Nancy's condition.

"It was your husband who made me a fugitive, Swana. He destroyed my magic tower, slaughtered the young witches and left me stranded. It's all Curtis' fault!"

"Wrong," Swana hissed. She started to rise from Nancy's side and headed towards Eden. The girl was not at all afraid of Eden's overwhelming strength.

"It was all because of the greed of King Damian and the head of the magic tower before you," Swana continued. "Both of them captured werewolves and conducted cruel experiments on them. So Curtis is not at fault if he destroys the place that made his people research and be treated cruelly."

"Then what did I do wrong!? I wasn't involved with any of that!?" Eden was furious when he had to accept the fact of being a fugitive from several kingdoms that had diplomatic relations with the kingdom of Arta.

"You tried to create a civil war between Curtis and Arsion. That was your mistake."

Eden's eyes bulged. He did not think that it would cause him to be stranded.

"Just so you know, we didn't consider you a threat until you used magic for your revenge," Swana said.

Eden's tongue felt stiff as he realized that what Swana said was true. When the magic tower was destroyed, there was not a single soldier looking for him.

"So it's too late?" Eden murmured. "If so then I'll let the two kingdoms fight it out. I have nothing to lose anyway," said Eden. He was about to send his men to imprison Swana.

"You fool! Do you think human life is cheap? There will be many lives lost if there is a war!" Swana growled.

"I don't care! No matter what I do, I'll still be a fugitive!" Eden argued.

"No! I can make you escape from that fate. If you cooperate with me then I will make you free."

Swana's offer seemed to attract Eden's attention.

"Really? What do you want Swana? Tell me what reward do you want for my freedom?" Eden said.

Swana knew that this would make Curtis angry. But in order to cure Noel, she needed Eden.

"Heal my cousin," Swana replied.

When Swana said her wish, the earth seemed to stop spinning. Especially Nancy. She couldn't believe Swana would make a decision that could be categorized as betraying Curtis.

Tbc.