The Hidden Knave, Arlecchino In Who Made Me A Princess

°Time Passes°

Lucas knew Arlecchino had great potential, but she still exceeded his expectations in the best, and worse ways possible. Making the bubble and extracting her abundance of mana was easy. The curse worsening with her usage of mana, is what he didn't expect.

He knew they were connected. But seeing the black blur around her fingers grow, along with her increasing pain, made him frown.

"Did this happen in the other world as well?"

Arlecchino stopped looking at her hands to glance up at him. After considering how to answer, she nodded.

"It's much bearable now thanks to the children. My body just needs to adjust like before."

Lucas nodded and ruffled her head. It was a much softer touch than all the other times.

"You're a strong person, Arle."

She knew that much. At her unamused look, Lucas chuckled and kept his grin as he spoke.

"Are you still curious about how I know so much?"

She finally shoved him an eager expression while nodding.

He hummed and jabbed her forehead, smiling at her scowl and glare.

"Simply put, my eyes are special. Like yours. With a single look, I know everything about a person. Their personality, past, and magic potential."

He knows everything about a person with a single glance?

Lucas smiled at her clear interest.

"When I see you, I see a soldier. One that's been taught about death, and one that chose to be different from the only role model you knew. You've saved many children, and killed just as many. You're a ruler, a leader, and a killer."

Arlecchino nodded softly.

"You know that much, so what are you hoping to get from helping me?"

Lucas scoffed and looked at the foot of their new bed. Where two cats were trying to climb up while a small penguin jumped in place. Failing to catch the bed sheet to follow after them.

He smiled at the sight before catching himself. He scoffed again and used his finger to push Lyney's forehead down, stopping him from moving further. At his small meow of complaint, he finally answered her.

"Since you have trust issues, I'll be honest. There's two reasons I'm helping you."

Arle pinched Lucas hand to make him let go of Lyney. He did so with a small smile and moved his hand to annoy Lynette, but unlike Lyney... She bit his finger, he quickly took his hand back with a frown while Arle helped the cats reach her.

"Ow... The main reason, is the world fruit."

Arlecchino pointed at the small Fremi still hoping in place. His eyes had little tears ready to spill at being left behind. Lucas sighed and easily brought the penguin up with his magic, letting Arle catch him and gently soothe its cry with a gentle pat.

"To put it simply, every world has a magic tree. That tree grows a fruit called the world fruit. Eating it extends a person's lifespan, and gives them all the knowledge of the world stored inside the fruit."

She hummed and placed Freminet beside his siblings, who stared comforting him as well. Rubbing their faces on his while meowing softly. At their attention, the penguin stopped resisting the urge to cry and instead blushed and tried to hide its face.

"And what does that have to do with me?"

"Well, Arle, as someone that's eaten a world fruit before, I'm quite in sync with it. You see, after you eat one, you're forced into a long slumber where yo absorb all the information gained from it. My slumber was cut short because of you."