"This book...." Arthur frowned and directed his serious gaze at the book in front of him.
Then, his attention shifted to Arthasia as he asked softly, "Arthasia, did you set this book down earlier?"
His voice held a mixture of confusion and doubt.
Indeed, in this room, there were only Arthur and Arthasia; even the surrounding servants had been dismissed.
While he hadn't witnessed Arthasia placing any books down, the idea of a book suddenly appearing out of thin air without his notice seemed implausible.
Unable to resist, he continued to stare, seeking clarity from Arthasia.
Upon hearing Arthur's sudden and peculiar question, Arthasia, who had been gazing elsewhere, swiftly turned her attention to him.
Her expression mirrored his, a puzzled curiosity etched on her face.
"A book? What book?" She tilted her head, her confusion evident.
Arthur gestured to the white book positioned beneath the third one in the stack, a book he hadn't yet perused.
"Did you bring this book here or set it down?" he inquired.
Arthasia's gaze followed his indication, her perplexity deepening.
She responded with genuine bewilderment, "Huh? Isn't that the book you brought for reading?" She lightly scratched her head, failing to comprehend Arthur's reaction.
Exasperated, Arthur rolled his eyes and clarified, "Not the blue one, but the white book beneath the blue one."
His tone carried a hint of frustration as he pointedly referred to the specific book.
Arthasia's eyes finally landed on the white book he had specified, realization dawning slowly.
Arthasia swiftly took flight, positioning herself directly in front of his face.
"Master, are you feeling overly fatigued today?" Her countenance carried a trace of concern, and her hand extended toward his forehead.
Witnessing her mildly impertinent demeanor, Arthur playfully pinched her cheek, his irritation evident.
"Do you dare to tease me like this, little girl?" Arthur applied gentle pressure to her cheek, careful not to cause her any significant discomfort.
"Ouch! That hurts!" Arthasia flailed her arms, a tear or two welling at the corners of her eyes.
Promptly, Arthur released his grip, a faint smile gracing his lips.
"How about that? Still in the mood to taunt me?" Arthur let out a soft sigh; his mood had notably lifted.
Arthasia rubbed her cheeks tenderly, a frown marring her features.
"When did I ever tease you, master? I genuinely meant to express concern, wondering if exhaustion might be causing you to perceive things inaccurately!" Her countenance shifted to one of sadness, feeling somewhat victimized by Arthur's response.
Her words struck Arthur, his eyes widening as a peculiar sensation settled in.
"Is that really the case?" Arthur's gaze flicked momentarily toward the white book that still rested on the table.
Subsequently, his attention returned to Arthasia, and his expression turned grave.
"Indeed! Other than the blue book, I didn't lay eyes on any of the books you indicated," Arthasia retorted, a tinge of irritation in her tone as she pointed at the blue book.
Taking a deep breath, Arthur finally comprehended.
"I understand now... I apologize." His fingers brushed over Arthasia's petite cheek as he acknowledged his misjudgment.
Nonetheless, his demeanor remained somewhat distant, his gaze occasionally drawn back to the white book.
"Was I the only one who saw the book, and Arthasia couldn't?" Arthur's heartbeat quickened, a faint chill creeping over him as he entertained the notion.
Detecting the evident shift in Arthur's demeanor, Arthasia's concern resurfaced, mingled with a touch of unease.
This countenance was unfamiliar to her when it adorned her master's face; an inkling told her that something must be amiss.
Instinctively, she extended her hand, tenderly caressing Arthur's cheek in an attempt to offer comfort.
"Is something amiss, master? If there's anything bothering you, please share, and I'll do my best to assist!" She nibbled on her lip, her voice laced with anxiety.
Arthur, upon hearing her, regarded her with a gentle expression and gently shook his head.
"Don't worry; it's nothing." Arthur declined to elaborate, the circumstances being too implausible to explain.
How could he expect Arthasia to perceive a book she hadn't even seen?
Observing his reaction, Arthasia, attuned to Arthur's ways, simply offered a slight nod.
"Well, if you ever need to talk, remember I'm here to listen!"
Arthasia clenched her hands, the anticipation evident in her voice.
Arthur's lips curled into a light smile as he chuckled at her response.
"Of course, I'll keep that in mind." A sense of contentment washed over him, finding solace in Arthasia's presence.
With the white book set aside, their conversation continued, with Arthasia nestled against Arthur's shoulder.
"By the way, master, have there been any recent developments?" She posed the question with genuine curiosity, seeking to engage Arthur in discussion.
Having spent considerable time within the confines of the system room, Arthasia remained unaware of the events unfolding beyond her awareness.
Upon hearing her inquiry, Arthur proceeded to provide a comprehensive explanation.
"Lately, the entire empire has fallen into a troubling state," Arthur conveyed with a deeply serious expression.
"Unfavorable conditions? Has something significant occurred?" Intrigued, Arthasia's question tumbled out with a touch of urgency.
Drawing a deep breath, Arthur responded, "The border conflict has escalated into an active war. The two empires are now engaged in battle."
Arthasia's reaction was one of disbelief at Arthur's revelation.
"The war has truly commenced!" Her astonishment was evident in her voice.
Observing Arthur's somber countenance, a realization struck her.
"Master? Is there more to this?" Her intuition was on point, as Arthur's wry smile confirmed.
"It's not of great consequence, yet something troubles me, and I find myself lacking the people confidant," Arthur admitted, his gaze dropping as a measure of frustration escaped him.
Such emotions—frustration and bewilderment—were sentiments he had never revealed to anyone, not even since his rebirth.
Nonetheless, for reasons he couldn't quite pinpoint, he felt an urge to discuss these matters with Arthasia.
The reason behind this inclination eluded her; after all, she had always been adept at masking her own frustrations.
In response to this, Arthasia regarded Arthur with a tender gaze, fully aware that her master often concealed his fatigue and vexations beneath a veneer of detachment.
There was a peculiar connection between them that allowed her to grasp his emotional state, even though he consistently shielded it from view.
It was as if she possessed an uncanny understanding of his heart.
She pondered if this was what people called love, and the thought caused her cheeks to redden, warmth suffusing her face.
Yet, witnessing Arthur in his current state prompted her to gently ask, "What has caused you to appear so weary, master?"
Her desire to delve deeper into her master's psyche was driven by her wish to comprehend him more profoundly.
Additionally, she experienced a sense of déjà vu, as if this scenario had unfolded in some distant, unfamiliar place.
Upon hearing her inquiry, Arthur lifted his gaze unhurriedly, his expression weighted with solemnity.
"The source of my exhaustion lies with my father, David Asvold," Arthur revealed, his tone tinged with darkness and gravity.
Arthasia's eyes widened slightly, taken aback by the unexpected revelation that the root of her master's frustration lay within his own father.
She was aware that Arthur's relationship with his father had never been harmonious.
This was apparent from his occasional murmurs concerning how to navigate interactions with the man.
"Your father? Has there been any confrontation or issue with him while I was absent?" Arthasia's voice held a hint of panic; her concern was rooted in the fear that Arthur might have faced harm due to his father.
She was acutely aware of the immense power exuded by David, and she dreaded the notion of Arthur being caught in a conflict where he might be vulnerable, given his current state of power.
Thankfully, Arthur shook his head, offering a gentle smile in response.
"Why would I do something as reckless as directly confronting my father?"
His answer brought a wave of relief to Arthasia.
"However, it seems my father has achieved Elemental Supreme," Arthur continued, prompting Arthasia's eyes to widen in disbelief.
"Elemental Supreme?!" Her astonishment rendered her momentarily frozen, her disbelief palpable.
Arthur nodded, reclining slightly in his seat.
"Yes... Truthfully, it's unsettling. I'm well aware that events are unfolding along the path I foresaw—a path that leads to ruin." He closed his eyes briefly, lost in thought.
Upon reopening his eyes, he massaged his forehead, continuing, "Perhaps even possessing an exceedingly rare and unique elemental affinity won't be enough for me to catch up. The gap might be insurmountable."
His words hung in the air, laden with a sense of apprehension and resignation.
Upon comprehending the situation and its complexities, Arthasia released a soft sigh.
"I see now..." She tenderly brushed his cheek with her fingers, a knowing smile gracing her lips.
"However, have you forgotten that you have me? Through the quests that arise ceaselessly, you can swiftly amass strength," Arthasia jested, her cheek receiving a gentle caress as she chuckled.
"Every moment brings forth opportunities for rewards, propelling you toward strength without requiring arduous training." Her voice carried a note of assurance.
Pausing for effect, she scrutinized Arthur's countenance, observing the gradual return of his composed and vibrant expression.
"You're absolutely right... How could I have overlooked this?" Arthur met Arthasia's gaze, a light laugh escaping him.
It wasn't that he had forgotten about these mechanisms, but he yearned for a confidant with whom he could share his concerns—someone like Arthasia herself.
Furthermore, Abel had yet to manifest, and conceding defeat was far from his nature.
"Hehehe~" Arthasia grinned playfully, perceiving the resurgence of Arthur's confidence as if it had sprouted from her own influence.
Yet her expression shifted, her brows knitting in consternation.
"Master, I regret to inform you that it appears another issue has arisen in the system room, necessitating my return." Her tone bore a hint of gravity.
Arthur responded with a gentle smile and a subtle nod, understanding the exigency of the situation.
"Very well! I'll be here, ready whenever you return." With Arthur's assurance, Arthasia offered a gentle nod, a trace of reluctance lingering in her expression.
She cherished the moments spent with her master.
"In that case, I shall take my leave for now." Gradually, Arthasia's form dissolved, leaving Arthur in solitude.
His attention shifted toward the white book.
"Indeed, it's time to resume." With renewed determination, Arthur's focus settled on the task at hand.
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