With a yawn and a lazy expression, Arthur ambled toward the living room.
Genuinely exhausted, he longed to collapse into bed without delay.
Regrettably, he couldn't indulge in laziness given his overarching goal.
"Hey, if it were my previous life," he said helplessly, "I could simply recline lazily without grappling with such complicated problems."
If he had still been in his previous world, the sole heir of the esteemed Welston family and the cherished son of Richard and Carla, he wouldn't have needed to exhaust his mind with intricate tasks like devising plans.
However, if he chose to do nothing, his life would be destined for ruin, and the relentless world, which revered power above all else, would not release its grip on him easily.
"Oh, Charlotte! How merciless you are!" Arthur exclaimed, pressing his temples as he suddenly remembered his deranged ex-fiancée.
Moreover, it seemed like that crazy woman had also reincarnated into this world, which honestly made him a little scared.
Even he felt that David didn't make him feel the same way as Charlotte.
Because he knew David's own nature and abilities, he felt in control of everything about David, even though it might be because of his confidence.
Arthur shook his head, dispelling any superfluous thoughts.
Upon entering the grand living room, which resembled a majestic hall, he noticed Lucas serenely sipping tea, as though anticipating someone's arrival.
"Have I kept you waiting, Head of the Weis family?" Arthur greeted Lucas with a smile, approaching him at a leisurely pace.
Upon hearing Arthur's words, Lucas cast a brief glance at him and gracefully stood up.
"Lucas Weis acknowledges the presence of the Duke's heir!" He slightly bowed his head, offering his respect to Arthur.
This was fundamental etiquette that had to be observed and could not be disregarded.
Particularly as the sole heir, Arthur's status held paramount importance, and Lucas himself couldn't afford to treat it casually.
However, what truly astounded him were Arthur's extraordinary abilities to accomplish remarkable feats.
Whether it was in matters of governance or other remarkable endeavors, Lucas held deep admiration for someone as remarkable as Arthur.
Unabashedly, Lucas openly displayed his profound respect for Arthur.
Noticing this, Arthur swiftly waved his hand and playfully remarked, "No need to be so formal."
"After all, it's just the two of us here, isn't it?" Arthur glanced around, realizing that the room was completely empty, as Lucas had dismissed the servants.
Lucas raised his head and fixed his gaze on Arthur.
"Etiquette is etiquette; it must be adhered to without compromise," Lucas firmly replied, leaving no room for negotiation.
Arthur sighed, choosing not to pursue the matter any further.
Furthermore, he felt a sense of discomfort being treated with such formality.
Without delay, Lucas respectfully gestured towards the sofa opposite where he had been seated earlier.
"Please take a seat, young master Arthur!" he said, a smile gracing his face.
Arthur nodded and nonchalantly settled onto the sofa, while Lucas took his place across from him.
With deftness and swiftness, Lucas poured tea into the cup that had been prepared specifically for Arthur.
"I apologize if my welcome was not extravagant, young master Arthur," Lucas sincerely expressed, a trace of regret in his tone.
Nevertheless, Arthur shrugged his shoulders and gently replied, "No need to apologize."
"I preferred to arrive alone, and a grand reception would have only been a bother to me," he said lightheartedly, declining Lucas' unnecessary apology.
As Arthur and Anna arrived at the Weis family mansion, they were greeted by Lucas standing at the entrance, accompanied by a retinue of servants and soldiers, forming an impressive sight.
Given Lucas' distinguished status as the esteemed head of the prominent Luvic family, the reception was already opulent and grand.
Hence, there was no need for additional apologies.
Lucas smiled upon hearing Arthur's response and replied, "I'm delighted to hear that if it pleases young master Arthur."
Arthur caught the hint of pride in Lucas's tone, causing a faint smirk to grace his lips.
"He truly lives up to his reputation as a cunning fox," he amusingly mused to himself.
Subsequently, they delved into light conversations, covering a range of topics to ease the initial tension and foster a more relaxed atmosphere.
Eventually, Lucas abruptly shifted the topic of conversation.
"Young Master Arthur, are you aware of the ongoing conflict on our southern borders?" Lucas asked in a seemingly casual manner, as if assuming Arthur lacked knowledge on the subject.
Hearing this, Arthur had an urge to burst into laughter and retort, "Are you playing dumb?"
However, he exercised restraint, refraining from uttering such words in Lucas's presence.
Arthur feigned a brief moment of contemplation and then nodded, stating, "Indeed, I am aware."
"Lord Duke himself personally intervened at the borders to handle the crisis."
Maintaining a serious expression, Arthur responded with utmost sincerity.
Lucas scrutinized Arthur, attempting to detect any shift in his demeanor, but to no avail.
There were no discernible changes in his facial expressions or even his breathing.
"Is it merely a misunderstanding on my part, or is it genuinely pretense?" Lucas pondered, taking a deep breath to regain his composure.
Why was he feeling this way?
The unsettling possibility loomed in his mind: Could Arthur harbor intentions of rebellion?
Yes, he found himself contemplating something utterly unfounded and misplaced.
Lucas swiftly recognized the fallacy of his thinking and acknowledged its misguided and baseless nature.
Nevertheless, being a prominent member of the Luvic family, Lucas comprehended how power had the potential to alter a person's character and reveal their true nature.
Power was akin to a double-edged sword.
When wielded with responsibility and prudence, it could serve as a force for good.
However, when mishandled or abused, it had the capacity to lead to self-destruction!
Taking into account Arthur's abilities and his remarkably ambitious ideas for advancing the Southern region, Lucas felt compelled to probe if there were any traces of rebellious thoughts against Duke David in Arthur's mind.
Yet, upon observing Arthur's response, he detected no indications of such intentions, which alleviated his concerns to some extent.
Nevertheless, Lucas remained committed to conducting further investigations to ensure a thorough understanding of the situation.
"Indeed, young master Arthur," Lucas nodded solemnly.
"The conflict has escalated to an unprecedented level, and it appears that war is looming on the horizon, likely to erupt in a short span of time," Lucas sighed, conveying the weight of the situation upon him.
Undoubtedly, the impending war presented significant challenges, although not for everyone.
Merchants, in particular, stood to gain immense profits if hostilities broke out.
With the ability to manipulate the supply of goods, they could sell them at exorbitant prices, taking advantage of the skyrocketing demand.
Furthermore, it was likely that the Weis family, having prior knowledge of the impending conflict, had already taken steps to stockpile resources.
From the very start, Arthur had been aware of Lucas's peculiar demeanor.
He sensed that Lucas was observing him with an unusual gaze.
Despite Lucas's adept concealment and his every word being laced with respect, Arthur couldn't shake the feeling that Lucas's scrutiny resembled that of an interrogator.
"So, he wishes to test me?" Arthur pondered, contemplating why Lucas exhibited such behavior.
"Could it be because of my growing proximity to Anna?" Arthur speculated momentarily but swiftly dismissed the notion, recognizing that Lucas wouldn't be foolish enough to act on such a motive.
He and Anna had shared a close bond since the awakening of their cores, and Lucas seemed genuinely pleased by their connection.
Eventually, a realization dawned on Arthur, stemming from Lucas's earlier inquiry.
"Ah, I see now." Arthur gazed at Lucas with a meaningful look, finally comprehending the underlying purpose behind Lucas's actions.
"If you wish to engage in this game, then so be it."
"I'll play along," Arthur thought with amusement as he reclined on the sofa.
Maintaining an intense gaze fixed upon Lucas, he responded, "But shouldn't you be rather pleased with the current state of affairs, Head of the Weis family?"
A teasing undertone laced his words.
Lucas's expression froze momentarily, and he feigned hesitation as he asked, "Um, could you please clarify what you mean, young master Arthur?"
After a brief pause, his defensive tone emerged as he continued, "I fail to see how I could possibly benefit from such a situation."
"Are you aware that a war of this magnitude would undoubtedly undermine the vitality of the Balka Empire?" he added, emphasizing the potential consequences.
His tone now carried a subtle undertone of pressure, a departure from the previous atmosphere of respect.
As a distinguished member of the Luvic nobility, with trade being the essence of his position, he couldn't easily accept such a notion, especially when it came from Arthur himself!
Similar to Anna's previous display of anger when Arthur touched upon something she deeply respected and took pride in, Lucas experienced a similar, maybe more intense, reaction.
After all, as the head of the Weis family, his status and responsibilities weighed heavily on him.
From Lucas's perspective, it was understandable for him to feel anger and not be faulted for his response.
Observing Lucas's feigned ignorance, Arthur subtly shook his head, formulating a plan in his mind.
"If you want to engage in this game with me, Lucas Weis, prepare to regret it," he thought.
Arthur's previously warm smile swiftly morphed into a cold expression, and his gaze turned piercingly sharp.
"No need to pretend any longer, Lucas Weis," Arthur stated with indifference, his tone of address undergoing a rapid transformation.
"I can see through your deceitful intentions, you know."
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