Arethia stared at Mina in astonishment, thinking: He's lying, these aren't the answers of someone who has reached this level of strength, but the contract hasn't changed, so he must possess something that deceives the contract. But how do I prove it? Think, Arethia, think.
Arethia's eyes lit up as an idea struck her. She stood up from the throne and approached Mina.
"Don't move, stay still!"
Arethia stood in front of Mina and placed one of her hands on his chest. Her hand began to glow blue, and the glow spread over Mina's entire body. His eyes began to glow yellow.
"I want you to repeat the answers to all the previous questions."
Arethia stood silently, waiting for him to speak so she could prove his lie. She waited, but heard nothing. She looked at his face to find out why he was silent and found him blushing with embarrassment. When she saw this, she couldn't control herself and said angrily:
"Do you think I'm a fool?"
When Mina heard her say this angrily, he didn't know what to say.
When Arethia saw that he wasn't speaking, she continued:
"First, your answers are foolish for someone who has reached this level of power. And now you're pretending to be shy because I touched you! Do you think I'm a fool and easy to deceive?"
Mina said, flustered: "No, I'm not trying to deceive you."
"Prove it."
"I don't know how, but what about the contract? Didn't you say it could determine if I was telling the truth or lying?"
"It can."
"Then why do you think I'm deceiving you?"
"Because to reach the level you are at in terms of power, you must have faced many deadly battles, and you should be able to control your emotions. But your answers are that you're afraid of the forest because it's quiet, and when I touched your chest, you blushed with embarrassment. These are not the actions of someone who has faced death more than once."
"But I don't know how I got this power."
"What?"
"I'm saying I don't know how I got this power. When I woke up, I found that I possess this power."
"Really? You want to tell me that when you woke up in this forest, you found yourself possessing this power?"
"Yes."
Arethia sighed: This is advice for you, when you lie, respect the intelligence of the person in front of you.
"So how do I prove that I'm not lying to you?"
"Answer my questions truthfully while I surround your body, inside and out, with my mana. If you lie, I will know."
"Okay."
Arethia placed one of her hands on Mina's chest. Her hand began to glow blue, and the glow spread over Mina's entire body, inside and out, to encompass all his internal organs. His eyes began to glow yellow.
"Now I want you to repeat the answer to all the questions I asked previously."
"Okay."
Arethia stood listening to his answers, focusing on his body in case any strange aura or oddity appeared to prove his lie, but she felt nothing. When Mina finished answering, Arethia stood silent, so Mina said:
"So?"
"I don't know what to say. Are you telling the truth, or are you a very skilled deceiver?"
"I'm telling the truth."
"Okay, I will believe you. Don't you want your freedom? Well, you got it, but you will remain in this palace as a guest."
Arethia clapped her hands, and a servant entered, bowed, and said: "Your command, My Lady."
"I want you to send Mina to the guest room."
"At once, My Lady. This way, honored guest."
Mina remained standing, trying to comprehend what was happening, as he was surprised by Arethia's sudden change in character.
"This way, honored guest."
Mina snapped out of it and nodded. The servant moved, and Mina followed him.
Arethia looked at Mina's back, thinking: I will observe him. If he acts strangely, I will kill him.
...
Author: Sorry for the interruption, I'll try to stick to it.