As the three of them stepped inside the palace, Arthur found himself captivated by the grandeur of his surroundings, and his curiosity compelled him to look around in awe.
"I'm at a loss for words to describe the magnificence of this palace," Arthur murmured softly, feeling overwhelmed by its sheer vastness and splendor.
In comparison to Duke Asvold's mansion, the palace was on an entirely different scale.
"It truly deserves the title of an imperial palace," Arthur praised in awe as they continued walking through the magnificent halls.
As they proceeded down a hallway, a breathtakingly beautiful garden appeared on his right side, adorned with a wide variety of unique and exquisite flowers.
The sight was enchanting, and Arthur couldn't help but pause to admire the garden's beauty.
"What a stunning garden!" Arthur exclaimed in surprise, thoroughly impressed by the unique and colorful flower arrangement forming a circular pattern.
In the center of the garden stood an imposing statue of a man wearing a robe and a crown, towering at an estimated height of five meters.
"That statue is of my brother, dear," Vivian quickly informed Arthur, realizing his fascination with the garden.
Arthur nodded, then turned to Vivian beside him and inquired, "Has this statue been here since you were little, Mom?"
Upon hearing the question, Vivian shook her head and responded, "No, this statue was actually crafted by Empress Balka herself."
Slightly taken aback, Arthur nodded understandingly and refrained from asking further questions about it.
Suddenly, Maya, who had remained silent, turned to Arthur with a mischievous glint in her eyes.
"Young Master Arthur, did you know that Lady Vivian used to climb up that tree when she was a child?" Maya pointed to a lush tree at the center of the garden and giggled.
Vivian's face turned red with embarrassment, and she exclaimed, "Grandma! Why are you telling my son about that?"
"What about my dignity as a mother?" She looked at Maya with annoyance, playfully complaining.
Arthur chuckled and gazed at Vivian with affection.
"I never expected the character portrayed as cruel in the novel to have such a cute childhood," he mused to himself, casting a playful glance at Vivian.
Realizing Arthur's amused gaze, Vivian playfully glared back at him.
"Oh, so now you're brave enough to tease your mother, huh?" Vivian teased, pinching Arthur's cheek with mock annoyance.
Unfazed, Arthur allowed Vivian to gently pinch his cheek.
"I'm not making fun of you, Mom," he reassured her with a smile.
"I was just genuinely surprised to learn about your childhood bravery," he explained, shaking his head.
Vivian was taken aback, and her cheeks flushed red.
"Humph! You know too much!" She looked away, pretending to sulk.
Meanwhile, Maya observed the lively and cheerful interaction between them with a warm smile.
It was evident that Vivian's spirits had lifted in Arthur's company.
Since childhood, Maya knew that Vivian had endured immense pressure from rebels seeking to take over the imperial throne.
Furthermore, Vivian's isolated upbringing without friends her age had shaped her reserved and cold demeanor towards others.
The marriage with David had completely transformed Vivian's life, and Maya had witnessed her weeping through the night due to the arranged union.
Deep down, Maya was incredibly grateful to Arthur for bringing joy and happiness into Vivian's life.
Seeing Vivian's lively and cheerful interactions with her son warmed her heart, knowing that Arthur had been a positive influence on Vivian's life, which had been burdened with challenges and responsibilities from a young age.
"Lady, I can see that you appear happier and more cheerful than before," Maya said with a smile, expressing her observations.
Indeed, Vivian's expression immediately shifted to surprise, and she contemplated deeply for a moment.
Soon, a charming smile graced her face, and she looked at Arthur with an affectionate gaze.
"You're right, Grandma Maya," Vivian admitted.
"It's all because of my son, who always looks after me and cares for me," she answered honestly, radiating happiness.
Arthur, hearing Vivian's sincere confession, felt a warm glow in his heart.
Truth be told, his initial approach to Vivian was motivated by access to the imperial palace.
However, as time passed, his feelings for Vivian became genuine, and he truly loved her as his mother.
"You're quite the dramatic one, aren't you, Mom?" Arthur teased her with a chuckle.
The three of them burst into laughter, enjoying the lighthearted moment before continuing their steps toward the throne room.
...
Not long after, the trio finally reached the grand doors of the throne room.
"Well, I can only escort you up to this point." Maya smiled as she gazed at Arthur and Vivian.
Hearing this, Arthur and Vivian nodded in understanding.
"We appreciate your guidance, Grandma Maya." Vivian and Arthur both expressed their gratitude with a nod of acknowledgment.
Maya nodded graciously, bowing her head respectfully.
"It is my honor, Lady Vivian and Young Master Arthur." With that, she raised her head and respectfully stepped back, allowing Arthur and Vivian to proceed ahead towards the throne room.
Shortly after, the doorkeeper of the throne approached them and bowed with utmost respect.
"His Majesty is expecting you, Young Master Arthur and Lady Vivian," the guard said with the utmost respect.
"Very well, open the door," Vivian replied lightly, and the guard rose to his feet, making his way to the throne door.
With deliberate care, he slowly opened the majestic door and then positioned himself in front of the entrance, bowing deeply towards the throne room.
"Announcement! Young Master Arthur, heir to the esteemed family of Duke Asvold, and Vivian Balka, wife of Lord Duke Asvold, have come to pay their respects in the throne room!" The guard proclaimed loudly, as if conducting a ceremonial announcement.
Soon after, Arthur and Vivian took their positions and walked side by side into the throne room, stepping onto the red carpet laid out for their arrival.
As they entered the room, Arthur was met with a truly grand and festive scene.
On both sides of the red carpet, soldiers stood in a perfectly neat formation, raising their weapons in a salute to him and his mother.
In the upper corners of the room, chairs were arranged neatly and filled with people who stood respectfully, their eyes fixed on Arthur and Vivian.
"What an elaborate welcoming ceremony," Arthur mused to himself, taking in the grand display before him.
He also noticed noble lords from various lower and middle-level Luvic families standing behind the soldiers, all looking at him and Vivian with the utmost respect.
However, Arthur's composed demeanor and emotional control prevented any change from showing on his face.
He maintained his usual cold and indifferent expression.
On the other hand, the few noble maidens who caught a glimpse of Arthur and Vivian's arrival couldn't help but feel shocked and intrigued.
Furthermore, Arthur's indifferent appearance, resembling a man who cared about nothing, only heightened his allure.
After all, the cold and indifferent facade of a handsome man was a dream come true for many young girls!
"Celine, look! It's Young Master Arthur of the esteemed Asvold family, the one I've been telling you about!" A noble girl with shoulder-length black hair exclaimed excitedly to her female companion, pointing at Arthur.
"Oh my goodness! His face is absolutely perfect and handsome! Even better than the pictures in the books sold at the market!" The girl clutched her white dress tightly, her excitement evident as if she wanted to savor something delicious.
Upon hearing her friend's exuberant comments, Celine, her female companion, opened her previously closed eyes and glanced lazily at her enthusiastic friend.
"Isn't your behavior a bit too much, Vion?" Celine sighed softly, responding to her friend's exuberance with a hint of laziness.
The short-haired girl named Vion looked back at Celine with an annoyed expression.
"I don't know what to say to you, Celine," Vion muttered in annoyance, pointing at her ample breasts that barely fit into her dress.
"Is it necessary for all the nutrients and nourishment from the food you eat to be channeled here, so much so that even Young Master Arthur's renowned handsome face, known throughout the Balka Empire or perhaps even beyond, fails to captivate you?" Celine looked away, feeling perplexed by her friend's fascination.
In truth, according to Vion, Celine was an extraordinarily beautiful woman, and her body proportions were the envy of other women and the desire of men.
However, Celine never seemed to show any interest in any man, not even in Young Master Arthur, whom she admired.
Upon hearing Vion's words, Celine became a little indignant and crossed her arms over her unusually prominent chest.
"It's not that I don't like any man; it's just that my heart already belongs to the hero who saved me back then," Celine explained with a dreamy smile, reminiscing about the boy who had rescued her when she was kidnapped at the age of ten.
During that dark and desperate time, when she had been abducted and faced the prospect of being sold as a slave, a boy wearing a cloak and mask appeared as her savior.
His heroic act of defeating the kidnapper with his sword skills left a lasting impression on her.
She felt her heart race at the sight of him, and in that moment, she believed she had found the kind of pure love that fairy tales often speak of.
Since then, her heart has been dedicated to her hero, and her love has remained solely for him.
Unfortunately, the hero had left without leaving any information behind, leaving a profound impact on Celine even after five years had passed.
Having heard this story countless times, Vion just clicked her tongue in exasperation and couldn't be bothered to respond to Celine's infatuation.
"Hump! Anyway, Young Master Arthur is the best, and he's the one I adore!" Vion proclaimed, gazing at Arthur's handsome figure with undeniable admiration.
Observing Vion's antics, Celine simply rolled her eyes and looked away, muttering to herself, "Why is Young Master Arthur of the Asvold family so incredibly handsome anyway?"
"Isn't my hero more handsome, huh?" She whispered to herself with a hint of playfulness.
As Celine stole a slight glance at Arthur, she realized, to her dismay, that he had already turned his back on her.
Nonetheless, her heart raced, and she couldn't help but feel a sense of familiarity in his presence.
"Why does this feeling seem so familiar?" she wondered, holding her rapidly beating heart and staring at Arthur in confusion.
Meanwhile, Arthur had sensed someone's gaze on him from behind, but he chose to ignore it.
It wouldn't be appropriate to turn around while walking towards the Emperor, after all.
Finally, Arthur and Vivian reached the end of the carpet, and Arthur slowly raised his head to where the Emperor's throne stood, and the figure of Emperor Alex, with his wise and imposing presence, gazed back at him.
Upon meeting the Emperor's gaze, Arthur smiled slightly and muttered under his breath, "We meet again..."
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