In the reading room, Arthur, on the verge of opening a white book, was suddenly startled by a knock at the door.
"Knock!"
At the sound, Arthur swiftly stashed the book in his space pouch and fixed his gaze on the reading room's entrance.
"Who is it?" Arthur asked, his tone tinged with annoyance since he had explicitly instructed the library guard not to disturb him during his reading.
"Apologies for the interruption, Young Master Arthur, but someone is seeking your presence," the familiar voice of the former library guard chimed in.
Hearing this, Arthur rose from his seat, approached the door, and turned the knob.
"Who's looking for me?" As Arthur opened the door, he found himself face to face with two figures: the library guard and, to his surprise, the last person he expected to be searching for him so soon—Diargan.
With his trademark fan in hand and a scholar's expression, Diargan regarded Arthur with a faint smile.
"Hello, Young Master Arthur..." Diargan greeted Arthur with a flourish, unfurling his fan and concealing his lips and chin behind it, instantly exuding an air of mystery.
Upon witnessing this, Arthur couldn't help but suppress a small twitch at the corner of his mouth.
He appeared to be watching an elaborate charade.
Indeed, from an outsider's perspective, her demeanor was undeniably enigmatic and stylish.
Yet, for Arthur, it was both intriguing and comical.
Struggling to stifle the laughter bubbling up within him, Arthur pretended to cough and regained his composure.
"Cough! "Is there a particular reason Prime Minister Diargan has sought me out?" Arthur inquired, attempting to appear earnest.
Although he had already surmised a few possible motives for Diargan's visit, he maintained a fa?ade of ignorance to prevent arousing any suspicions or wariness.
Diargan, on the other hand, felt a subtle sense of mockery emanating from the young man before him, though he couldn't quite discern its source.
He swiftly dismissed these thoughts and regarded Arthur with a playful glint in his eye.
"My apologies for interrupting your time, Young Master Arthur." He offered a slight bow as a sign of respect, acknowledging that despite his high position as prime minister, he stood slightly beneath the true heirs of the three great families.
Arthur was, after all, on par with Lucia, the future imperial heir.
The three families held equal status, and even though the empire nominally bore the name of the Balka family, the other two ducal families wielded equivalent influence.
In response to this gesture, Arthur smiled and extended his right hand.
"No need for such formalities, Prime Minister. They don't sit quite right with me," Arthur remarked lightly and respectfully.
He was well aware of his own intentions—following Diargan's script while feigning compliance—and was eager to witness the depths of cleverness and intelligence possessed by this renowned prime minister.
In response to Arthur's words, Diargan slowly raised his head, offering a warm smile.
"In that case, Your Highness, may I kindly request a moment of your time?" Diargan's words carried a meaningful tone, and Arthur couldn't help but chuckle inwardly.
"He seems quite impatient," Arthur mused silently.
Without delay, he turned his attention to the library guard.
"You may leave now," Arthur instructed the guard.
The library guard, recognizing that Arthur intended to have a private conversation with Diargan, quickly complied, understanding that there were secrets they were not meant to know.
"As you wish, Your Highness..." The library guard departed, leaving the two alone.
Observing the guard's back, he turned his gaze back to Diargan and extended a welcoming smile.
"Please, come in." Arthur opened the door and led the way, with Diargan following him.
The room Arthur had been reading in was an exclusive space reserved for those with close ties to the Balka family, and this marked Diargan's first visit to the room.
Despite his high status as prime minister, many privileges were reserved solely for the direct descendants of the empire, and he had not enjoyed this particular one.
Concealing his curiosity, Diargan couldn't help but admire the room's interior and opulence.
"What an exceptionally comfortable environment for reading!" he remarked, unable to hide his admiration.
Hearing this, Arthur chuckled and replied, "Indeed, this is a special room accessible only to the imperial family and those with a close connection to the Balka family."
As Arthur spoke, Diargan's expression suddenly shifted to one of coldness, and an unusually intense hatred emanated from him.
Arthur cast a quick, surprised glance in his direction, taken aback by this unexpected change in demeanor.
"Interesting... It appears this gentleman's animosity isn't solely directed at Emperor Alex," Arthur muttered to himself as he walked over to the sofa where he had been reading.
Diargan quickly regained his cheerful demeanor, as if his momentary lapse had been an illusion.
"Please, have a seat." Arthur gestured toward the sofa across from him and began preparing the tea that a waiter had set out earlier.
At Arthur's invitation, Diargan gracefully took a seat on the sofa, his eyes fixed on Arthur's expert tea-making technique.
"I had no inkling that Young Master Arthur possessed such exceptional tea-making skills," Diargan remarked, looking at Arthur with a playful glint in his eye as he offered praise.
Yet, beneath the praise, Arthur sensed a hint of surprise in Diargan's words.
He knew that, in addition to offering compliments, these words were also a subtle signal that Diargan's estimation of him was on the rise.
This was precisely what Arthur intended.
He aimed to gradually astonish Diargan with his various talents, setting the stage for the moment when he would unmask the fact that he had been playing the role of a seemingly foolish individual all along.
Acting as a clever fool who feigned ignorance and didn't acknowledge reality was a role Arthur relished.
Indeed, Diargan was a highly intelligent individual, possessing emotional acumen and talents that exceeded most.
However, at times, his own advantages led him to overestimate his intelligence, causing him to underestimate others.
Even Emperor Alex himself had been underestimated, highlighting Diargan's occasional folly.
"Your tea, please." Arthur handed a cup of tea to Diargan, who curiously tasted the brew.
In an instant, Diargan's eyes widened in astonishment, and he gazed at Arthur in disbelief.
"What a delightful tea!" Sincere praise flowed from him toward Arthur, as the tea indeed possessed a delightful aroma and flavor that suited his palate.
In response, Arthur merely chuckled and feigned humility.
"Don't exaggerate; it's just ordinary tea." He proceeded to prepare a cup of tea for himself, taking a sip before nodding in approval.
"It's quite enjoyable." Afterward, he regarded Diargan, who was still absorbed in his tea, waiting until Diargan had regained his composure and was prepared to engage in a serious conversation.
Immediately, Diargan set down his teacup, took a deep breath, and fixed his gaze firmly on Arthur.
"Your Highness..."
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