What? I Actually Reincarnated As Stepping Stone In Another World?-Chapter 140 Lucia’s Two Souls And Maria’s Hatred!
[Statistical Data]
[Name: Lucia Balka]
[Title: A Girl with a Sky-Defying Talent, a Special Element Holder, an Incredibly Beautiful Face, and a Figure That Will Shake the Continent]
[Special Title: The Only Daughter of the Balka Family, the Future Empress of Balka, Having Two Souls]
[Age: 15 years old]
[Awakened Core: Light (Special)]
[Level: Two-Circle Elemental]
[Hobbies: Reading, Practicing, Collecting Images of Arthur Asvold,...]
[Elemental Arts Mastered: Spear of Light (Two Star Light Elemental Art), Moves Like Light (Two Star Light Elemental Art), Destroyer (One Star Light Elemental Art),...]
[Ambition: Became the Female Emperor Who Replaced Her Father, Made Arthur Asvold Her Own, Became the Only Ruler of the Continent, Became Arthur Asvold's Wife,...]
[Talent: Extremely Strong (Special Core Holder)]
[Love: 100%/200%]
[Deepest Thoughts: Please Click Here]
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Reading Lucia's panel in great detail, Arthur gasped in shock, unable to believe the astonishing revelations laid out before him.
"Two souls?" Arthur muttered in disbelief within his heart as he absorbed the information in the [Special Title] column.
He couldn't help but be overwhelmed with wonder.
"It's no surprise he's been acting so strangely!" Arthur exclaimed internally, his mind racing to process this revelation.
The concept of possessing two souls was unprecedented in the novel's universe, leaving Arthur uncertain about the mechanics behind such a phenomenon.
Throughout the history of the elemental world, this occurrence has never been documented, except for one truly extraordinary incident involving a woman who wielded Supreme elemental power with an affinity for wind.
The woman was rumored to have reigned as the queen of the elves on the elven continent thousands of years ago; her downfall was attributed to the dual souls and personalities within her single body.
Thus, as Arthur delved into the particulars of Lucia's situation, discovering that she shared the same enigmatic duality as the elven queen of lore, he found himself unsure of how to react.
"Could this be her second personality manifesting?" Arthur pondered deeply, diverting his focus to the [Level] column, where a furrow creased his brow.
"She has truly attained the level of two circles," Arthur muttered, a faint suspicion forming that these circumstances might be intertwined with Lucia's second personality.
His gaze then shifted to the [Love] column, which intriguingly boasted two favorability levels: 100% and 200%.
"These statistics are truly confounding. How did all of this come to be in Lucia's case?" Arthur inhaled sharply, his gaze flickering toward Lucia, who returned his gaze with an enigmatic smile.
"Arthur, lost in thought, are you pondering something about my appearance?" Lucia's voice broke the silence, prompting her to sidle up to Arthur, her right arm wrapping around his with a tight embrace.
Her gaze held a disconcerting intensity, as if the girl beside him was an entirely different being, a far cry from the Lucia he had known.
Though he was aware of the softness and warmth of Lucia's chest pressing against him, Arthur's focus was far from dwelling on how to revive her original consciousness, now seemingly dormant and replaced by her second personality.
"It's alright, Lucia." Arthur feigned a reassuring smile, his fingers intertwining gently with hers.
Upon hearing his words, Lucia's initial suspicion dissolved into a beaming expression of happiness.
"I understand... I suppose you're not fond of my matchmaking endeavors, hehehe." Lucia's smile grew foolish as she playfully voiced her thoughts to Arthur.
Yet beneath her words, Arthur detected a subtle undertone of hostility, unsettling him further.
It wasn't fear that held him back; instead, it was the challenge of being unable to openly reveal Lucia's hidden secret.
The possibility of taking such a step brought with it a staggering risk: Lucia's original soul could plummet into peril, quite likely becoming irretrievable within her own body!
While this conjecture was speculative at best, Arthur wasn't willing to leave things to chance.
Even if there existed a mere 1% chance that the authentic essence of Lucia might be endangered and face an improbable return, Arthur refused to gamble with such odds.
A game without assured victory wasn't Arthur's approach; otherwise, he wouldn't have survived until now.
His way of life revolved around precision and certainty, strategies that had sustained him through life's most challenging trials.
Otherwise, he would have perished long ago, his existence reduced to that of a mere cadaver from his earliest years.
"Absolutely not, my dear." Arthur's tone was affectionate as he tenderly ruffled her hair.
His steely gaze never wavered from Lucia's form, and his vigilance was unwavering.
"I must find a way to rescue the true Lucia..." Arthur sighed softly, his words carrying a hint of weariness.
As the horse-drawn carriage continued its journey, the destination they had set out for loomed ahead.
...
Meanwhile, within the opulent chambers of the Balka Imperial Palace, a woman exuding both coquettish allure and an air of charm fumed as she glowered at the letter clenched in her hand.
"Furious frustration!" The woman's voice rang out in a frustrated wail as she tore the missive to shreds, allowing the fragments of paper to flutter to the ground like a cascade of defeated hopes.
"Unbelievable! Damnation!" The exclamation, infused with seething anger, was punctuated by an irate toss of her lustrous hair.
"Alex, you wretch! How dare you defy your own sworn oath?" The woman, Maria Alvas, a figure of beauty who became Emperor Alex's second wife and also the younger sister of Emperor Savaran, unleashed her fury in a torrent of hysterical screams.
Seething with a profound aversion towards Emperor Alex and her heart ablaze with resentment, Maria's emotions were stoked by the contents of the letter she had just perused.
Within its lines lay a somber truth: her brother, Emperor Savaran, was now ensnared in an unfortunate predicament.
Their painstakingly crafted strategy to assail the Balka Empire lay in ruins, waylaid by the unyielding resistance entrenched at the border, masterminded by the indomitable Duke Asvold.
This resolute defense formed an insurmountable barrier, obstructing any semblance of a successful military incursion.
This intricate web of obstacles had been orchestrated by Emperor Alex as a ploy to thwart the Savaran Empire's covert assault.
"How can they prevail when the border is under David's watch?" Maria's fingernails bore the brunt of her anxiety, her thoughts racing in a frenzied bid to uncover a solution.
Her once alluring and captivating countenance had now transformed, consumed by an amalgamation of terror and detestation.
Locked within the confines of her room by Emperor Alex, Maria found herself ensnared in a perpetual state of isolation.
The escalating conflict between the two empires had reached its crescendo, holding her captive in this self-imposed exile.
A knock resounded, fracturing his contemplation like a shard of glass.
"Knock!"
Abruptly jolted from his reverie, the sound of a rap on the door fractured the silence. ｂｅ𝚍𝚗ｏｖｅ𝚕．𝚗𝚎𝚝
"Who dares?" Maria's brow furrowed, her irritation palpable as she reacted to the unexpected intrusion.
"Apologies for the intrusion, Your Highness!" The resonant voice of a man filtered through the door, abruptly startling Maria.
"Dan! Is that you?" Maria's pace quickened as she moved toward the door, her hand extending to unlock the door.
The door swung open promptly, revealing a man of robust build, his muscles exuding strength.
His bald head and sun-kissed complexion were countered by a penetrating, no-nonsense gaze that added an air of authority to his presence.
"Princess, greetings!" Dan inclined his head, offering a respectful salutation to Maria.
"No need for formalities; quickly update me on the state of the palace and the progress of the conflict between the empires!" Maria implored, her urgency palpable.
In response, Dan hesitated momentarily, his gaze flickering warily to both sides.
"Shall we move inside first?" Dan's voice was hushed, as he suggested.
Maria swiftly comprehended his implication, stepping into his chamber to receive what might be crucial information from him.
"Get to the point!" Impatience tinged Maria's exclamation as she eagerly absorbed the news relayed by Dan.
Locked in her room for an extended period, Maria's access to information had been severely curtailed. Information about the war and the palace's state had been stifled, with Emperor Alex even imposing restrictions on the servants, forbidding them from divulging any details to her.
This draconian isolation fueled Maria's detestation for Emperor Alex, intensifying to the point where she yearned to tear him apart!
Dan drew a deep breath before embarking on a comprehensive explanation.
"I extend my apologies for intruding, Princess." Dan's head dipped slightly as he began.
"The situation at the border has escalated to its zenith. The Savaran forces have been strategically deployed for a head-on clash with General Don and the five hundred thousand troops that the empire has managed to muster!" Dan's excitement was palpable as he relayed the news to Maria.
Upon hearing this, a smile of genuine joy graced Maria's lips, her fists clenching in exhilaration.
"You've truly outdone yourself, marshaling such substantial forces amidst these trying circumstances!" A subtle smile curled Maria's lips as her pride in her brother swelled to its zenith.
Yet Dan, witnessing Maria's jubilant expression, couldn't help but interject even more animatedly.
"Princess, there's more to the news I bring." Dan's mysterious smile deepened, a twist that only served to amplify Maria's intrigue.
"Could there be even better news?" Maria's voice carried a tinge of excitement, her anticipation palpable as she awaited Dan's revelation.
"Indeed," Dan confirmed, launching into his next piece of information.
"In a matter of days, Princess Lucia is set to be betrothed to Arthur Asvold, the son of Duke Asvold!" The words hung in the air, and as Dan spoke, a thundercloud seemed to descend upon Maria's countenance, her hands balling into fists.
"Even the affections of my own daughter have been stolen by that cursed father and daughter!" Maria ground out, her teeth clenching in frustration.
The memory of her daughter, Alya Balka, a frail and affection-starved child since her infancy, weighed heavily on her mind.
Alya lived in the shadow of the illustrious Lucia Balka, the empire's sole princess recognized by all.
Alya, being Maria's daughter and linked to the enemy Emperor, held no favor within the palace.
Devoid of the elemental prowess Lucia possessed, Alya remained an ordinary, delicate girl plagued by illness.
Her solace came from stories about Arthur Asvold, a source of motivation for her to persevere.
Hearing of Lucia's intended engagement to Arthur Asvold, the very person Alya adored, ignited a fierce rage within Maria.
"It seems I must expedite the plans I've laid..." Maria's hand slipped into her dress pocket, retrieving a small black vial.
"Hehehe~" A sinister chuckle escaped her lips as she contemplated the small, ominous bottle in her grasp.
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Sorry for uploading the wrong chapter earlier; this is the original version!
I really apologize profusely!
