Reincarnated as a step-dad in a fantasy world

Chapter 362: It's time

"Is this Amy that healed you around? I would want to meet her if it's possible," Kizzarae said.

The words had barely left Maya's mouth when a sleek pair of glasses appeared in Kizzarae's hand with a small puff of smoke. "See these, sweetie? They're way better than the last pair I gave you! Once you put them on, they'll literally bind themselves gently to your eyes-no more slipping off or losing them like before. To activate the function, all you need to do is-" Kizzarae paused, her explanation faltering as she noticed the strange look Maya was giving her.

"She's a member of Arcane," Freya added, her tone measured.

A few seconds passed in silence before Kizzarae spoke again. "It doesn't look like this news troubles you," she said, eyeing Freya's laid-back demeanor with mild curiosity.

"Tsk, I can't stand you looking at me like that," Kizzarae grumbled, shifting in her seat. "Fine. I'll see what I can do. No promises, though. The Queen's been in a dark mood lately." She crossed her arms. "So don't get your hopes too high."

Before Freya could reply, the door to her office swung open and a huffing Maya barged in.

"I'm sure if I ask her she would accept to meet you, but you would have to wait as she isn't available right now," Maya replied, as she knew that right now, Amelia was busy.

"Than-"

Finding it hard to believe, she immediately made Maya go through a series of ocular tests. But even after Maya had passed each one with ease, Kizzarae still looked unconvinced.

Thinking back to what she had seen Amelia perform during the last few hours she was with her in the library, Maya started to sweat and a slight shiver ran down her spine.

"Huh? What do you mean..? Wait-where are the glasses I made for you?" Kizzarae asked, only now noticing Maya's bare face.

"Seriously?" Kizzarae blinked, visibly stunned.

Freya placed her cup of tea back on the table and smiled. "I shouldn't be saying this to you-not so soon, at least-but we have something that might serve as a replacement for your healing potions."

Freya slightly nodded, giving her approval.

"Who did this to you?" Kizzarae asked, her voice lower than usual, trying to compose herself. But the tremble in her tone betrayed how shaken she truly was.

"Let me tell you this right now," Kizzarae said, her voice unusually serious, "the Queen won't like this- not one bit." She leaned forward, locking eyes with Freya. "You know how we witches feel about money, right? Well, for that same reason, we don't take kindly to competition. She might not go after you or your family directly-you're just intermediaries, after all-but she will see Arcane as a threat."

"Nailed it," Kizzarae replied with a slight smirk. "But that's not the only reason." She shook her head. "Apparently, it's becoming harder to acquire the ressources needed to concoct the potions. So even if the Queen hadn't made this decision, the number of quality potions on the market would've dropped anyway."

"What did you just say?" Freya asked, stunned by Kizzarae's revelation.

"Is there really nothing that can be done to prevent anything from happening to Arcanor?" Freya asked.

Maya simply shrugged and did as she was told-it wasn't the first time Kizzarae had made her do this, after all.

"I don't want to disturb your reunion, but you will have to catch up later," Freya said, standing up from her position, "it's time for the auction to start."

As she thought more about what Kizzarae had just said, Freya quickly grasped the true motive behind the any harm come to him. Besides, if anything happened to Arcane-or to Alex, specifically-the financial loss her family would suffer was beyond calculation.

"Maya, stare into my eye for a second," Kizzarae said at last, pulling the eyepatch from her left eye and placing it over her right one, revealing an eye that looked nearly identical to her uncovered one.

Maya opened her mouth to answer, but stopped herself just in time. Her gaze turned instinctively to her mother, silently asking for permission.

"Umm, well, I might have phrased it wrong," Kizzarae said, scratching her head. "It's not that the deal between the witches and your family will be void. It's just that the Queen has ordered the delivery of potions to be suspended. It's not a targeted measure against your family either-supplies to all non- witches are being cut off."

Freya wanted to argue that the Queen of Witches couldn't just arbitrarily nullify that part of the contract, but as she reflected on it, she recalled that the Queen actually could. That clause had been added by the Queen herself, and at the time of signing, Freya hadn't paid it much mind. Besides, it had been either accepting the clause or losing the deal entirely.

By the time she was done, a deep frown had formed on Kizzarae's face.

It was a rare sight to see her display such an expression, but even Kizzarae couldn't bring herself to joke about it. What she had just revealed warranted that reaction-and perhaps even more.