"Mom?" Arthur exclaimed in surprise.
The person he referred to as "mom" was none other than Vivian Balka, the first wife of David and sister of Emperor Balka.
A few days after Arthur had become the heir, Vivian returned from her travels, and it was during this time that they met for the first time.
Recalling this, Arthur's smile widened, and he proceeded to open the door to his room.
Before him stood an exquisitely beautiful and mature woman.
The woman possessed a flawless face, accentuated by her stunning green eyes.
However, there was an air of indifference in her otherwise perfect countenance.
It was apparent at first glance that she shared a resemblance with Emperor Alex.
Her signature blonde hair, akin to that of Emperor Alex and Lucia, cascaded down her back in straight strands.
Arthur's gaze couldn't help but take in her immaculate physique.
She wore a pristine white dress that complemented her appearance, although it seemed slightly tight around her ample breasts.
Nevertheless, apart from his biological mother, Elizabeth, Vivian was the only woman who could compare to her in beauty. (f)reewebnovel
Upon seeing Arthur before her, the woman's expression transformed from indifference to a genuine smile.
"Why did you take so long to open the door for me, my dear?" Vivian inquired, her voice filled with concern as she gently stroked Arthur's face.
Arthur shook his head slightly and pressed Vivian's hand against his cheek, speaking softly, "It's alright, Mom. There are just some challenges that have made things difficult for me."
Vivian's expression turned surprised, and she clasped Arthur's hand, asking earnestly, "What is it? Let Mom help you."
Her tone conveyed a sense of seriousness as she looked at Arthur.
Once again, Arthur shook his head to reassure Vivian, saying, "It's truly alright, Mom. I can handle it on my own, you know?"
"I have my own problems to solve," he continued, speaking lightly and looking at the woman before him with kindness.
To be honest, when he first met Vivian, Arthur intended to manipulate her to further his own plans.
He had carefully considered the benefits and risks of approaching her, as Vivian was initially introverted and indifferent.
In the story, Vivian Balka is depicted as an exceedingly selfish and cruel woman.
One could argue that her high self-esteem stems from being the only daughter of Emperor Balka.
Vivian consistently displays a self-righteous attitude and vehemently opposes David marrying another woman.
However, it is important to note that her opposition is not rooted in her love for David.
Their marriage was arranged for political reasons, devoid of any genuine affection.
Vivian's objection to David marrying another woman stems from her belief that it would diminish the pride she has always taken in her position.
She perceives it as a personal affront, as if her pride were being trampled upon.
From the outset, Vivian harbored deep animosity toward Arthur upon learning that he was the son of Elizabeth, his second wife.
Arthur vividly remembers how Vivian incessantly targeted him and found fault in his actions.
As time passed, their relationship gradually improved once Arthur became aware of Vivian's vulnerabilities.
He discovered that she suffered from profound loneliness and a lack of emotional connection with others.
Vivian's privileged upbringing and the absence of genuine affection from her deceased father fueled her rebellious nature from a young age.
This trait persisted into adulthood, and Arthur, recognizing this weakness, swiftly shifted his approach.
Instead of exploiting her vulnerabilities through threats, he began employing emotional tactics to connect with her on a deeper level.
Indeed, Vivian's weakness had been outlined in the character introduction of the novel, and Arthur had a keen recollection of it.
As expected, after a decade of being acquainted, Vivian gradually started to reveal her vulnerable side to Arthur and even began considering him her own son.
Ironically, it could be argued that the person Vivian loves most today is himself.
Vivian gazed at Arthur, her face filled with distress, as if she still desired to persuade him.
However, Arthur, perceiving her inner turmoil, spoke softly, "Thank you for your concern, Mom."
"But you know that I am the designated heir to Duke Asvold's estate, and in the future, I will face challenges that may prove difficult for me."
"So, let me learn to confront my own problems, and if I do encounter difficulties, I will definitely seek your assistance."
"Please trust me, alright?" He gently caressed Vivian's palm, soothing her.
Upon hearing his words, Vivian acquiesced immediately.
She regarded Arthur with a tender expression and said, "Alright, please inform me if you are unable to solve your problem, okay?"
"After all, I still possess influence within the Balka Empire." With a smile on her face, she explained.
Arthur nodded, his curiosity piqued as he asked, "By the way, is there a specific reason for your visit today, Mom?"
"You don't usually come to see me like this."
Vivian's gentle expression quickly transformed into annoyance upon hearing his question.
She playfully pinched Arthur's cheek while retorting, "You mischievous boy, are you still wondering why I'm here?"
"Don't you know that I've been deeply concerned about you because you haven't visited my room lately?"
Observing her reaction, Arthur chose not to argue and simply smiled.
"Alright, Mom, I apologize, okay?"
"I've been quite busy lately organizing matters in the southern region."
Arthur expressed a sense of helplessness tinged with complaint as he acknowledged, "Moreover, ever since Lord Duke's departure, the responsibility for everything has fallen solely on my shoulders."
However, this was all part of Arthur's pretense.
He was well aware that David's departure was likely linked to his future rebellion plans, and the position he currently held was a chance for Arthur to turn the situation to his advantage.
As the saying goes, "While the cat's away, the mice will play," and with the ruler absent, the temporary authority fell to the heir.
Furthermore, considering the talents and abilities Arthur had exhibited thus far, David had some level of faith in entrusting him with temporary power.
However, Arthur was fully aware that David's trust had its limits, evident in the presence of shadow guards assigned to monitor his actions closely.
Nonetheless, Arthur believed that if he executed his plans meticulously, evading detection by David's watchful shadow guards, he had a real chance to alter the course of Balka's future and prevent David's rebellion.
Though he had a mere two years at his disposal before the rebellion was set to commence, a relatively short timeframe, Arthur's confidence in his abilities and talents remained unwavering.
Furthermore, considering the intricacies of the plot and the development of characters in the novel, his conviction grew even stronger.
Upon hearing Arthur's words, Vivian clenched her teeth, and her expression contorted into a frown.
"This wretched David, leaving the government affairs to my son and just abandoning everything,"
"Just wait and see how I'll deal with you later," she said with a tone brimming with animosity towards David.
Arthur, observing her reaction, couldn't help but feel a tinge of sentiment.
Truth be told, he initially perceived Vivian as an introverted and cruel woman.
However, once someone managed to breach her emotional barriers and become dear to her, she would go to great lengths for that person.
This was evident in her love for Arthur himself.
Arthur also believed that Vivian was better suited to be a mother than Elizabeth.
Unlike Vivian, who always treated him with motherly affection, Elizabeth's perspective on Arthur leaned towards a romantic and unsettling nature, which made him quite apprehensive.
Furthermore, recalling Elizabeth's madness towards him depicted in the novel sent shivers down Arthur's spine.
As he reflected on Elizabeth, Arthur couldn't help but miss her, despite the unsettling feelings she evoked.
However, the fact that they hadn't seen each other in over a decade only heightened his sense of unease.
He couldn't shake the thought that, upon their reunion, Elizabeth might attempt to imprison him to ensure they could be together forever.
Arthur sighed, dismissing the thought and hoping that such a scenario would not come to pass.
Soon, he shook his head, reassuring Vivian, "It's alright, Mom. I can handle this." He spoke softly.
"Anyway, let's go inside first, Mom."
Without waiting for Vivian's response, he took her hand, led her into his study, and invited her to sit down while he prepared tea for both of them.
"So, Mom, is there something you truly want to share with me?" Arthur playfully inquired, his tone lighthearted.
While he acknowledged that Vivian's concern about their infrequent visits held some truth, he couldn't help but feel that there was more to her motivations.
After all, they had been in each other's company for a decade, and it seemed unlikely that her worry was solely due to their recent lack of interaction.
As anticipated, Vivian's expression softened, and a faint smile graced her lips in response to Arthur's teasing question.
"You truly understand me, my dear," Vivian admitted, her voice gentle and soft.
"It's true that I came because I missed you," she confessed, her words filled with tenderness.
"However, I also have a slightly important matter to discuss with you," she added, her expression shifting slightly.
Arthur arched an eyebrow, his curiosity piqued.
He immediately inquired, "What is it, Mom?"
"Please share it with me, and I will assist you," he offered, his expression gentle as he looked at the beautiful woman standing before him.
Vivian's expression swiftly changed at Arthur's sudden approach, and her cheeks flushed with embarrassment.
It could be said that Arthur's charming appearance had a captivating effect on women, even on Vivian herself.
As Arthur noticed Vivian's peculiar reaction, he quickly realized his unintended influence and coughed awkwardly in embarrassment.
"Cough! So, how can I assist you, Mom?"
Hearing his question, Vivian attempted to maintain a composed demeanor, though her nervous expression betrayed her inner turmoil.
Suddenly, to Arthur's surprise, the words that escaped her lips were unexpected: "Can you accompany me back to the Imperial Palace?"
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