Within Balka Palace,
Arthur's strides quickened as he moved forward, accompanied by Runa, whose expression carried a trace of discontent.
"Arthur, you'll keep your promise about resuming our date afterward, won't you?" Lucia grasped Arthur's hand, her eyes hopeful.
Assuring her, Arthur nodded swiftly, affirming, "Absolutely, Lucia. You know I wouldn't deceive you."
His gaze shifted toward Lucia, and his smile was gentle and sincere.
Lucia's smile deepened at his response, and she nodded in return, her optimism evident.
Subsequently, the duo entered a spacious room adorned with plush sofas and opulent furnishings lining its periphery.
Within, Arthur's gaze landed on Emperor Balka and his mother, Vivian, the two figures seated in silence, their exchange of words suspended.
At the sound of approaching footsteps, Vivian's eyes fluttered open, her affectionate gaze fixing upon Arthur and Lucia.
Arthur's smile warmed at the sight of his mother's expression, and his gaze met hers tenderly.
"Hello, Mother," Arthur greeted softly, offering a subtle nod to Vivian.
Lucia, trailing behind him, mirrored the joy on her face as she greeted Vivian with equal enthusiasm.
"Auntie!" Lucia let go of Arthur's hand, moving forward to Vivian and giving her a respectful salute, her smile radiant with warmth.
"Lucia, it's wonderful to witness your camaraderie with Arthur." Vivian's laughter filled the room as she playfully ruffled Lucia's hair, her affection palpable.
"Hehehe! Definitely!" Lucia's giggles radiated her delight, heartened by Vivian's approval.
Despite rarely having met in person before, the two had exchanged numerous letters, keeping each other informed about their respective lives.
Meanwhile, Arthur's attention shifted to Emperor Alex, who had maintained a reserved demeanor.
He offered his greetings promptly.
"Greatings, Emperor Alex," Arthur nodded respectfully, his gesture met with a slight smile and a nod from the emperor.
"No need for excessive formality," Emperor Alex's tone was light as he addressed Arthur.
Arthur's smile in response conveyed his understanding, and he took his place beside Vivian, Lucia following suit and casting a frosty gaze at Emperor Alex from her seat across the table.
In due course, the four settled into their seats, Emperor Alex leisurely sipping his tea as the atmosphere settled.
"Apologies for interrupting your time, Arthur." Emperor Alex's tone was light and casual.
Arthur's response matched the tone, his smile holding a touch of disregard for the emperor's feigned politeness.
"No worries."
He recognized this as a prelude to a discussion, likely about the ongoing war.
While Arthur expected the conversation to gravitate toward that topic, he was eager to gauge Emperor Alex's perspective firsthand.
After all, the emperor's stance could significantly influence both the war and Arthur's own strategic plans.
Aware of Arthur's subtle curiosity, Emperor Alex remained unfazed, his demeanor relaxed.
"As you're well aware, the war has been set in motion. Emperor Savaran has marshaled his forces for an assault on the border."
The revelation prompted a wide-eyed reaction from Lucia.
"What! The war has begun already?" Her exclamation was spontaneous, prompting Arthur to cast her a fleeting glance, his hands settling on her shoulders in a reassuring gesture.
"Calm down." Arthur's reassuring and gentle voice brought Lucia's emotional response back to equilibrium.
She offered a small nod and settled back into the comfort of the sofa.
Vivian, despite having been informed by her own subordinates, still found herself taken aback by the weight of her brother's words.
The reality of the situation felt surreal, akin to a dream.
Observing their reactions, Emperor Alex's perceptive gaze shifted to Arthur, whose demeanor remained unaffected—as if he had already foreseen this development.
"It appears you were not caught off guard by this news, Arthur." Emperor Alex's smile held a trace of amusement as he reclined on the sofa.
Arthur's nonchalant chuckle and relaxed demeanor set him apart from the surprise etched across the faces of the others in the room.
"Yes, that's correct. I was already aware of this development, and I presume I also correctly understood that all the invading Savaran forces were decisively defeated by my father, isn't that so?" Arthur's gaze briefly flickered to Emperor Alex, detecting a subtle shift in his expression.
Though adept at concealing it, Arthur's keen perception caught the momentary change.
This observation didn't elude Arthur's notice, causing a slight smile to grace his lips.
However, his statement once again caught Vivian and Lucia off guard, their disbelief evident.
"Is what you're saying true, Arthur?" Vivian grasped Arthur's hand, her inquiry tinged with urgency.
Arthur met Vivian's gaze with a composed expression and confirmed, "Indeed, that's the case. However, this information remains tightly confidential and is shared only among a select few."
Arthur's response carried an air of indifference; his attention was centered on Vivian's reaction.
He had already instructed his subordinates to relay this information to Rian and Carina, who were still based in Arkham.
Not to mention, he dispatched a letter to Runa in the southern region, forewarning her of any potential turbulence that might arise or was already underway.
With the strategies he had meticulously outlined and Runa's competent skills, complemented by Natasya's guidance, Arthur held confidence in Runa's ability to navigate and resolve the crises bubbling in the southern territories.
While certain aspects of his plans had been disrupted due to Duke David's overwhelming strength,
Originally, he had intended to leverage the turmoil in the southern region as a means to restructure the economy there, which had been destabilized by the war.
This wasn't a calculated exploitation of the crisis but rather a chance to reform an economic system largely under merchant control.
Consequently, news of this alteration in strategy had also been conveyed to Anna via the letter he sent, leaving her poised for the opportune moment.
Amidst this, Emperor Alex, attentive to Arthur's words, offered a smile imbued with depth as he regarded Arthur.
"You certainly possess a formidable intelligence network, Arthur." Emperor Alex's words carried an underlying implication, one that Arthur discerned.
However, Arthur's response was untroubled; he merely nodded in agreement.
"Your praise is appreciated, Emperor Alex." Arthur offered a respectful nod, his smile measured.
Both individuals were engaged in a subtle exchange of mental maneuvering, each harboring their own thoughts and intentions.
Continuing, Emperor Alex elaborated, "As Arthur has already noted, the force of five hundred thousand was indeed decimated by David's own hand. Meanwhile, Emperor Savaran personally directed an assault on the Northern region, where Wilhem is stationed."
Emperor Alex's explanation elicited a furrowed brow from Vivian once again.
"In light of these developments, big brother, how do you plan to address the situation?" Vivian regarded Emperor Alex, her expression earnest.
Emperor Alex's response was marked by casual indifference and a relaxed demeanor that exuded unwavering assurance.
"There's no need for concern; I have complete control over the situation."
His confidence radiated strongly, and an unshakable resolve was evident on his face.
Vivian's sigh of relief was accompanied by a nod; her worries were eased by her brother's demeanor.
"In that case, I'll eagerly await positive news from you."
A small smile graced Vivian's lips; her sense of ease was restored.
Acknowledging her sentiment with a nod, Emperor Alex shifted his gaze to Arthur.
"Well, due to the ongoing war, there will be a slight alteration in your engagement arrangements. I propose we postpone your celebration by a week." Emperor Alex's announcement triggered an immediate surge of anger in Lucia, who had been silent up until then.
She seemed ready to rise from her seat in protest.
Swiftly, Arthur intervened, gently guiding Lucia back into her seat. His touch was a calming gesture.
"If that's your decision, I'm in agreement." Arthur's voice was composed, and his gaze was steady as he offered his acceptance.
While he comprehended the rationale, Lucia's demeanor was starkly dissimilar; her face was a canvas of fury, her displeasure apparent.
Emperor Alex, doubtlessly aware of Lucia's anger, remained undeterred, his disregard evident.
"Very well, that's all I wished to convey. You can go." Emperor Alex's words were nonchalant as he closed his eyes, signaling the conclusion of their conversation.
Vivian, perceptive to Lucia's shift in demeanor, found it peculiar and recognized the opportune moment to engage her in private conversation.
"Lucia, could you accompany me for a moment? There's something I wish to discuss," Vivian proposed, her tone decisive as she took Lucia's hand and led her away from the room, leaving Arthur and Emperor Alex behind.
Lucia's surprise was palpable, yet she yielded to her aunt's guidance, allowing herself to be drawn out of the room without resistance.
Arthur, noting their departure, was on the brink of exiting the room himself when Emperor Alex's unexpected summons halted him in his tracks.
"Arthur, I have a matter to discuss with you." Emperor Alex's words caught Arthur off-guard, prompting him to pause.
Meeting Emperor Alex's gaze, Arthur acquiesced with a nod.
"Certainly."
With that affirmation, he resumed his seat, settling onto the couch and awaiting the topic that Emperor Alex intended to broach.
Emperor Alex's gaze bore into Arthur's, the atmosphere in the room undergoing a palpable shift.
"Arthur, do you aspire to become the unchallenged ruler of the South?" The question hung in the air, laden with a weighty gravity.
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