Ruby had ordered Aleister to collect firewood leaving her alone in the house to prepare the snacks for her afternoon tea which the demon would sometimes join in to converse with her since he has no one else to pester. The witch is currently brewing the tea and preparing the coffee beans since Aleister preferred coffee over tea or sometimes he would just steal one of her blood meads and pair it with her confectionery treats which Ruby found exceedingly mismatched.
The witch heard her doorbell chime in and she instantly paused on her activity to check out her visitor because it surely isn't Aleister since the demon would usually burst into the door and make a mess in dropping the firewood. Ruby went to her front door and opened it revealing an unexpected guest. A casual smile decorated the witch's lips as she greeted her guest.
"To whom do I owe the pleasure of your visit, Miss Venice?" Ruby greeted.
"May I speak with you privately? I need a potion that only you can concoct." Leanna answered looking at the witch seriously.
"Please come in." Ruby invited the assassin inside her house leading her to the living room and serving her with an espresso and a slice of her blueberry cheesecake. The witch settled opposite of the marksman and smiled at her, business mode on.
"So what do you need? A forgetting potion to erase your memories of Gallen, although I can't guarantee that you won't lose your other memories. Or do you need heroin, milk of the poppy, or opium? Hmmm, no?" Leanna shook her head declining her offer.
"I'm just playing. I know exactly what you want. You want a love potion."
"Yes, how did you know?" Leanna questioned, astounded.
"You love Gallen and you're very desperate. A love potion is your only option."
"Then you can give me one, can't you? You know about how I feel. You've been through what I'm currently experiencing so you can sympathize-!" The terrifying look on the witch's face silenced the sniper.
"What makes you think that I will betray my only friend for mere sympathy? Much less for you?" Ruby questioned looking at the sniper threateningly.
"I also did a little research on you and I know of a way on how to break your curse, your majesty. Princess Ruby Edelweiss of House Pendragon, first of her name and Sanggreal of the North."
"You should have started with that. It's been so long since I heard my true name uttered again. So you did a little research, but what can you really do for me and how did you know all of this?"
"I consulted Constellicia before going to you and now I know about your past. You're much more of a nobility than Offelia, Geneva, Gallen, and even the Venice family because you came from the noble house of Pendragon. The original family that ruled the Macedonian empire, formerly known as Camelot before the death of King Arthur. Your mother was a direct descendant of King Arthur himself making you the last true-born princess. You were even supposed to marry the prince of Neo Macedonia but Constellicia cannot seem to delve deep into that." Leanna took the cup Ruby offered and drank from it. Her face had a sudden surprised feature due to the magnificent taste of the beverage that perfectly matched with her preference.
"This is... Utterly amazing. Like you just manifested my perfect version of coffee." Leanna praised looking at the witch with wonder.
"To be frank it was a guess on my part but I always noticed you buying an espresso so I just had to whip out my best according to your personality. Well, enough about that and my past. What I want is what you can offer for my future. What did you find about my curse?"
"Your lover whom you called Rel, made a deal with Neherra to make the both of you immortal as well as for you to be bound to the soils of his land so that you can never leave him alone but there is a weapon that can break such a curse. A weapon well acquainted to your family and its scabbard to sustain your life as long as you please when the curse is broken."
"Now you are only bluffing. Excalibur and Avalon no longer exist in this world. Both weapons have disappeared after the Great War. My mother, Althreya Pendragon, was King Arthur's granddaughter. She faked her own death after the war between Camelot and the Northern Rebels to live in peace. She was able to live long due to Avalon and Excalibur so you got that part right. However, I suspected that before her execution, ordered by King Aurelius, my mother had instructed her mage to return them back to the Lady of the Lake after allowing me to use them for the Great War. Her mage had foreseen the whole thing and informed her of her death and the things that needed to be done. She accepted her fate and passed the sword and its scabbard for me to protect the people. Once I vanquished the forces of the Chasm Horde, I passed out for a really long time and the Sword and the scabbard are nowhere to be found when I awoke." Ruby explained in melancholy.
"Your majesty it is true. The sword is currently in the possession of the House Cygne and being carried around by Offelia who doesn't even know of its formidable power while the scabbard is in the Lytebright Capital, mounted in the chamber of the prince." Leanna insisted, looking very determined at the witch. Ruby looked deep into her eyes to see if she was lying but after a few seconds, she found no trickery in her person.
"I detect no deception from your words. So those bastards are the ones that stole my mother's last memento. I wouldn't have known since I passed out after I used the Sword they must have taken it then. But the information you provided is very valuable. The only problem is how are you getting them back to me. The scabbard is very easy for me to reclaim however the sword is in the possession of Offelia. You will reclaim it while I have one of my familiars get the scabbard then we have a deal."
"Yes, your majesty." Leanna answered obediently.
"Good. However, a love potion is not what you need. What you really need is something to counter it." Ruby informed taking a sip of her tea.
"A counter? Why?" Leanna asked in puzzlement.
"Gallen loved you greatly you knew that and yet you didn't suspect why he would suddenly dump you over Geneva unless she used some foul play." Ruby mused suggestively before taking another sip in her cup.
"You mean to say that... She used a love potion on him that's why he left me? But he doesn't seem enchanted like how Mirra looked when Shine had accidentally doused her." Leanna mumbled in disbelief.
"That's because Shine bought a really cheap one. Well, it's still kind of expensive for poor people but in mage craft standards it really is nothing while Geneva bought an extremely potent one capable of destroying true love itself and making the person forget about all the good memories and feelings he had for you. Sorry but I really needed what she bargained with." Ruby apologized with little sincerity.
"I will be lying if I say that I don't have negative feelings about what you did however you only did business." Leanna whispered, picking her words carefully to not upset the witch.
"I know you probably hate Geneva but please don't do anything to harm her. The grief she will have will be more than enough. She's an entitled girl who gets everything that she wants. She's not as strong as you to bear losing someone she risked her whole family and status to get. She might appear to be strong-willed and determined but she is a flower raised to bask in the sunlight, she will wither once night arrives in her life. I will handle her and by the time that you come back the potion will be ready." Ruby implored with a more gentle and friendly voice. Her features have softened far from the intimidating one that Leanna was greeted with making the marksman a little more relieved.
"That is a very difficult request. To tell you the truth I want nothing more than to strangle her and torture her for the things she had done. But I will heed your majesty's order." Leanna answered truthfully.
"Thank you. You know to be honest I never really hated you. Sure I was kind of annoyed that Phoebus likes you more than me but I've always admired you. You are just so gallant and strong." Ruby said while a faint blush covered her cheek.
"Oh, thank you so much, your majesty." Leanna replied, also flushing a bit.
"I am also willing to assist you in any way that I can to get out of here. Once Gallen wakes up from the spell things will be really bad. The Bellthorne family as well as the Priestly will surely not be pleased. They will do anything to separate the two of you so you must flee as soon as possible. And if you don't, then I am willing to extend my power to aid you in any way that I can."
"Thank you, your majesty for your generosity." Leanna bowed before standing up.
"Please call me Ruby. I was only a queen for a week and now I am just a witch living peacefully in the Dark Forest." The witch replied, extending her hand. Leanna removed her gloves in respect and shook her hand.
"Farewell, Rubisviel."
"Ohh! I almost forgot. Let me cut a lock of your hair. It's an important ingredient so that it can be customized." Ruby informed before going to a drawer and taking out a pair of scissors.
"I see. Then take as much as you want." Leanna said as she untied her hair. Ruby held her hair and began snipping a foot length of her vibrantly red locks.
"There, all done." Ruby tied the lock using a small elastic band before making it vanish in a puff of butterflies. Leanna reached out for her hair and began tying it back but Ruby stopped her.
"Let me handle that for you." The witch pointed her finger on Leanna and her hair began braiding itself together at an incredible speed. It only took Ruby's magic 10 seconds to finish the braid impressing the marksman.
"Uhhmm, thank you very much, Ruby." Leanna smiled down at the witch gratefully before following her back to the front door.
Ruby watched as Leanna walked down the path and disappeared among the woods. The smile decorating her lips faded as soon as she heard the front door click into place. She laid her back on the wood and stared up the ceiling completely lost in thought. A single tear fell from her eye uncovered by the butterfly.
"I'm sorry Geneva."