Duke Asvold's Mansion
"Phew!" Arthur stretched his waist as he disembarked from the carriage, a white fox draped over his head, his gaze fixed upon the night sky.
He couldn't help but shake his head, a wry smile gracing his lips.
"This journey feels longer than the departure," he pondered, recalling how he and Rian had swiftly reached Celestria thanks to Rian's adept use of elemental arts to enhance their travel speed.
Immediately, he shifted his gaze towards the guards and instructed, "All of you take a rest for now. Return tomorrow."
Upon hearing this, the guards bowed respectfully and accepted his command without any objections.
"As you command, Your Highness!"
Arthur smiled and nodded in acknowledgment.
As he was about to proceed towards the mansion courtyard, the guards, who had caught sight of him, hurriedly approached.
"Greetings, Your Highness," one of the guards respectfully bowed and greeted Arthur.
Observing this, Arthur returned the smile and nodded.
"Rise."
As the guard raised his head, his eyes widened upon noticing a multitude of unfamiliar guards and a luxurious horse-drawn carriage positioned behind Arthur.
He had never seen these guards before.
"Who are they? Why are they accompanying Your Highness?" The gate guard wondered silently, though he maintained a composed exterior, awaiting Arthur's instructions.
In response, Arthur gestured towards the guards who had accompanied him and addressed the gatekeeper, "I would like you to arrange a room for them and have the servants prepare a delightful meal."
Though puzzled by the circumstances, the gatekeeper responded with deference, acknowledging the command.
"As you command!" The gatekeeper promptly proceeded to relay the instructions to the guards who had accompanied Arthur.
Observing that everything was being taken care of, Arthur made his way towards the mansion, the white fox perched upon his head, curled up and peacefully slumbering.
Suddenly, Arthur sensed a slight movement above his head, confirming that the little fox had awakened.
"Hmm?" Arthur's attention was piqued as he felt the gentle stir, and indeed, the white fox had opened its eyes, gradually rousing from its deep slumber.
It surveyed the unfamiliar surroundings with curiosity.
"Oh, you're awake?" Arthur smiled and carefully lifted the little fox from atop his head, cradling it in his arms.
Without hesitation, the little fox affectionately nuzzled its head against Arthur's chest.
For some reason, ever since Arthur saved it, the little fox felt an unexplainable desire to be close to him.
Moreover, the distinct scent emanating from Arthur's body had an irresistibly addictive quality.
Arthur chuckled, gently stroking the little fox, and then uttered, "Come on, let's go to my home."
With that, the two of them entered the mansion, bathed in the soft glow of the moon and the shimmering stars above.
...
As Arthur stepped into the mansion, he noticed the serene atmosphere within, with only a few maids offering greetings as he made his way through.
Eventually, he arrived in the living room, settling onto his sofa and reclining leisurely.
Feeling a pang of hunger, Arthur called for a maid to prepare some food for him.
"Hmm? Are you hungry, little fox?" Arthur asked in a gentle tone, noticing the pained expression on the white fox's face.
"Huaa~" The white fox responded by rubbing its head against Arthur's palm, seemingly affirming its hunger.
Amused by its endearing interaction, Arthur couldn't help but chuckle before pondering aloud, "By the way, my little fox companion, what do you enjoy eating?"
He contemplated possible options, suggesting, "Do you eat fruits or vegetables?"
From the books he had read, Arthur knew that white foxes on the monster continent were generally omnivorous.
However, he also learned that they had a particular preference for a special fruit known as the "Fairy Fruit," which exclusively grew on the monster continent.
The name "Fairy Fruit" was derived from its unique trait of emitting a gentle glow when ripe and ready to be consumed.
This fruit was no ordinary fare, as it possessed formidable strength within its essence.
White foxes themselves cultivated Fairy Fruit trees within their territories, ensuring that their offspring grew strong from an early age.
Arthur's curiosity about the Fairy Fruit was piqued, as he believed consuming it could potentially bring about significant elemental changes within his space core.
However, he recognized that the monster continent was situated at a considerable distance, even for someone with the capabilities of an Elemental Saint.
The journey would be arduous and time-consuming.
Upon hearing Arthur's question, the little fox nodded in agreement, seemingly indicating its concurrence with whatever food options Arthur provided.
Having been kidnapped, it had grown accustomed to consuming whatever sustenance it encountered along its journey.
Arthur smiled and nodded, instructing the maid to bring him a selection of delectable fruits for his little fox.
Shortly after, the maid arrived with a trolley filled with food and respectfully greeted Arthur.
"Your Highness, this is the prepared meal," the maid announced, deftly removing the lid to unveil a sumptuous feast.
Arthur smiled in response and reached for a purple fruit, handing it to the white fox.
"Give this a try," Arthur suggested, presenting the fruit to the little fox.
Without hesitation, the white fox accepted the offering from Arthur's hand and began to eat.
The little fox's face brightened with happiness as it relished the fruit, savoring each bite with great pleasure.
"Take your time, little fox. I won't steal your food," Arthur chuckled, playfully teasing.
He then shifted his attention to the maid.
"Thank you. You may go now," Arthur said, expressing his gratitude and dismissing the maid.
The maid nodded in acknowledgment, responding respectfully, "Yes, Your Highness."
However, before leaving, she added, "By the way, Your Highness, would you like to move to the dining room?"
Curiosity piqued by the presence of the adorable fox nestled in Arthur's arms, the maid gently suggested a move to the dining room.
It was the first time she had seen the fox accompanying him, adding to her intrigue and fascination.
Hearing the maid's suggestion, Arthur shook his head and replied, "There is no need for that. Thank you for your advice."
It was late, and he felt inclined to remain on the sofa in the living room rather than walk into the dining room.
Additionally, he preferred the tranquility and lack of interference that the living room offered, as the dining room was typically bustling with maids.
The maid nodded, stealing a final glance at the little fox before taking her leave.
"Then, if you'll excuse me," she said, stepping out of the living room.
Observing her departure, Arthur swiftly retrieved the food from the trolley, settling down with the little fox to enjoy their meal in peace.
...
After chowing down for an entire hour, Arthur and the little fox finally made their way back to Arthur's room.
"Man, I'm beat." Arthur plopped down on his bed, with the little fox following suit right next to him.
In the carriage, he couldn't catch a decent nap thanks to all the thoughts bouncing around in his head.
The second he stepped into his room, his main camp, his heart instantly felt a wave of relaxation and tranquility.
"Hey, little fox, you..." Just as he was about to call out to the white fox next to him, he noticed that the fox was already knocked out, sleeping like a log for who knows how long.
It had only been a minute since they both laid down, and the fox was already sleeping.
Seeing this, Arthur couldn't help but smirk and let out a little complaint.
"Is this the fox I brought or a lazy pig?" He shook his head and chuckled.
So he grabbed the fox and plopped it right in the middle of his bed.
After that, he slowly hopped off the bed and unzipped the bag he was lugging around.
"I'm probably going to hit the road again with Mom to Arkham, maybe tomorrow or the day after." He thought to himself, then quickly organized all his stuff and packed some fresh ones.
He also jotted down a bunch of stuff about what Runa should do later because she would be away for a long time in Arkham.
Either talking about the war or his unexpected engagement with Lucia.
Reflecting on Emperor Alex's sudden engagement, Arthur couldn't help but get all tense and annoyed.
"This guy is such a mystery!" he grumbled to himself, and then he got right down to writing about his ideas for the plan he was going to carry out in the southern region.
"Knock!"
However, he was surprised by an unexpected rap on his door not long after he started writing.
"Who?" When Arthur questioned him, a recognizable voice emerged from behind his door.
"Are you still awake, young master?"
Arthur immediately stood up and opened the door as soon as Runa's quiet voice could be heard from behind it.
"Young master!" Runa was taken aback as the door unexpectedly opened and the person she had missed so much suddenly materialized in front of her.
She immediately leaped to her feet, tightly held Arthur, and began to cry, "Young master! Wooo!"
Her quiet sobs startled Arthur, and he became concerned right away.
"Runa?! What is going on?"
"Did someone make fun of you?" He asked while giving Runa a deep hug to sooth his yearning.
When Runa heard this, she screamed in outrage, "Of course it is because I missed you!"
"Wooo~" She cried while giving her explanation.
Laughing, Arthur rubbed her smooth back, comforting her with his gentle strokes.
"Okay, I am here." Runa began to calm down and stop weeping after hearing his gentle and calming voice.
The two happily parted ways after their embrace.
Runa smiled as she wiped the tears from her face.
"Young master, welcome back at last!" Runa's voice was raspy as she talked.
Arthur rubbed her head softly after hearing this.
"Yes! I am back!"
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