In the morning
Arthur sat on the living room sofa with Runa beside him, her face still displaying a look of confusion.
"Young master, is there something you need me for?" Runa tilted her head in puzzlement, directing her question towards Arthur.
Half an hour earlier, Arthur had abruptly summoned her and requested her presence in the living room.
Having just woken up, Runa felt taken aback and swiftly tidied her room before heading to join Arthur in the living room.
Without any further explanation, Arthur suddenly gestured for her to sit beside him.
Upon hearing this, Arthur smiled warmly and tenderly ran his fingers through her silky hair.
"Just wait; I have a surprise for you," Arthur said in a gentle tone.
Runa simply nodded, refraining from asking any additional questions.
She had grown accustomed to following Arthur's lead, and deep down, she trusted that he would never harm her.
After a brief wait, a middle-aged woman approached the two of them.
The woman was dressed casually, yet her face retained a striking beauty despite her middle age.
Observing the arrival of the middle-aged woman, Runa felt a twinge of surprise.
This woman was the person she had been tasked to find by her young master's instructions.
They had crossed paths twice before, if one were to count their previous encounters, making this their third meeting.
"Greetings, young master Arthur and Miss Runa," greeted the middle-aged woman, none other than Natasya, as she bowed respectfully towards Arthur and Runa.
"No need for formalities," Arthur replied with a smile, and Runa beside him nodded, returning the smile.
Natasya lifted her head, directing her gaze towards Runa, and spoke with a smile on her lips, "We meet again, Miss Runa." She addressed Runa directly.
"Yes, indeed. This makes it the third time," Runa responded softly.
After the brief conversation, Arthur gestured for Natasya to take a seat opposite the two of them.
"Alright, Natasya," Arthur began.
"You probably already know the reason I asked you to come here," he said casually.
"Indeed, I do," Natasya replied with a smile, acknowledging her understanding.
Observing their interaction, Runa grew even more perplexed and couldn't resist asking, "What are you two talking about?"
Arthur shifted his focus from Natasya to Runa.
"Of course it's about you, my dear maid," Arthur replied, chuckling softly as he continued to caress her hair.
"What does it have to do with me?" Runa asked once more, her impatience evident in the slight pursing of her lips.
Arthur smiled and began to explain: "You're probably aware that I'll be going to the Weis family mansion to discuss some matters with Anna."
Runa's eyes widened, and she shifted her gaze towards Arthur, wearing an expression of disbelief.
"What! You want to go?" she exclaimed in surprise.
Observing her reaction, a faint twitch appeared at the corner of Arthur's mouth, sensing that the girl was pretending to be clueless.
"Didn't I mention it a while ago?" Arthur retorted, his tone carrying a playful undertone.
Runa furrowed her brows and eventually nodded reluctantly.
"Then, when will you be leaving exactly?" Runa inquired, her tone carrying a hint of sadness.
Arthur rested his chin on his hand and replied straightforwardly, "Today is the day I depart for the Weiss family."
Runa lowered her head and interlocked her fingers, a sign of her inner turmoil.
"How long will you be away?" Runa lifted her head, gazing at Arthur with a reluctant expression.
Observing this, Arthur understood that Runa was likely unaccustomed to being separated from him.
Arthur realized that Runa was accustomed to accompanying him wherever he went, whether it was taking care of his needs or attending to other matters.
His departure without her might have made her feel uneasy.
"It won't be for long, perhaps just two days. After that, I'll be going to the capital with my mother to visit Emperor Alex," Arthur explained, understanding that this news would likely deepen Runa's sense of sadness.
"I understand," Runa replied softly, her voice tinged with a hint of despair.
Arthur gently caressed Runa's head, seeking to comfort her.
"Don't worry, Runa," he reassured her.
"I'll return as soon as I can, so try not to worry too much, alright?" Arthur continued to stroke her hair, aiming to alleviate her concerns.
Runa nodded slightly, her face still displaying a lingering reluctance that Arthur could perceive.
Suddenly struck with an idea, Arthur promptly suggested, "Alright, I'll fulfill three of your requests, as long as they are within my capabilities."
Upon hearing Arthur's statement, Runa couldn't contain her surprise and sought confirmation: "Really?!"
Arthur nodded, a warm smile adorning his face.
"Of course," he affirmed.
An immediate smile brightened Runa's face, and she nodded eagerly in response to his assurance.
Observing the interaction between the two, Natasya smiled, feeling fortunate to be working under someone as kind and considerate as Arthur.
Noticing that Runa could be persuaded, Arthur shifted his attention to Natasya and explained, "Well, I'll entrust Runa and her education to you, Natasya."
Turning back to Runa, Arthur spoke, "Please take care and fill in for me during my absence, Runa."
"I have handled all the major issues, and you and Natasya just need to attend to the minor ones," Arthur assured her.
"Moreover, with Natasya's capabilities, you can observe and learn from her, which will help you improve," Arthur added.
Confident in his decision, Arthur harbored no concerns about entrusting the leadership role to Runa and Natasya during his brief absence.
The major problems had been resolved, further assuring his peace of mind.
Additionally, Runa's experience handling smaller issues contributed to Arthur's sense of comfort.
Moreover, with Natasya's presence and support, he felt even more at ease.
Arthur had no apprehension about potential betrayal from Natasya, for he possessed the power of his beloved system, Arthasia, which enabled him to discern the deepest secrets of others.
This ability provided him with a strong sense of assurance and confidence.
Meanwhile, in the system room
Arthasia stirred from her slumber, her small nose twitching.
"Hachuww!" she sneezed, feeling a bit disoriented.
"Hmm? Was someone mentioning my name?" Arthasia glanced around the empty room, finding no one present.
"Perhaps it was just my imagination," she mused, shrugging her shoulders nonchalantly before settling back into a peaceful sleep.
Back to the living room
"Alright, you can count on me, young master!" Runa exclaimed, her small hand clenching with determination.
Her eyes gleamed with resolve, as if the earlier sadness had completely vanished, replaced by unwavering determination.
Arthur's eyes twitched, sensing that Runa's acting skills were improving with each interaction, to the point where he almost believed her display of determination.
Though he didn't take it too seriously, Arthur thought it was for the best if Runa also calmed down and approached the situation with a more composed mindset.
"Well, I'll be at ease leaving things in your capable hands," Arthur remarked, his tone light.
They proceeded to delve into a discussion about potential future problems and how best to anticipate and address them.
"Well, those are just a few of the potential scenarios that may arise, and it's important to be prepared for them," Arthur remarked, stretching his waist to relieve any tension.
Natasya, who had been attentively observing Arthur's meticulous and concise explanations, couldn't help but feel amazed.
Whether it was the introduction of an entirely new governmental system or the resolution of complex and challenging problems, Arthur made it sound remarkably effortless.
His ability to navigate such tasks with ease left Natasya in awe.
"As expected of our ingenious Young Master Arthur, his adeptness in governance is truly remarkable!" Natasya whispered, filled with deep admiration for his abilities.
Arthur rose from the sofa, and Natasya and Runa followed suit, standing up from their seats.
"This is all part of the necessary tasks at hand, so there's no need to fret about the challenges ahead," Arthur explained, his tone lighthearted.
Both Natasya and Runa nodded, their expressions filled with understanding and a sense of reassurance from Arthur's words.
"Then, I'll attend to the remaining tasks before I depart," Arthur stated, but as soon as he spoke, Runa tugged on his sleeve.
"Young master, may I accompany you to see you off?" Her voice was filled with anticipation.
However, upon hearing her request, Arthur shook his head and declined.
"No, you should focus on studying with Natasya as soon as possible," he replied firmly.
Runa pressed her lips together, refraining from saying anything further.
Arthur gently pinched her cheek, attempting to soothe her.
"I'm sorry, alright?" he apologized.
"Because I don't want my departure to distract you and interfere with your study time. I want you to be able to fully focus," Arthur explained, his voice filled with sincerity and concern.
Upon hearing Arthur's explanation, Runa nodded and replied, "Alright, if that's your order, young master, I will comply!"
Observing her response, Arthur smiled warmly and shifted his gaze towards Natasya.
"Very well, then I shall take my leave," Arthur announced.
"Please take care, young master Arthur!" Natasya bowed respectfully.
Arthur nodded, his eyes lingering on Runa's face for a moment, before he walked out of the living room.
With Arthur's departure, Runa and Natasya found themselves alone in the living room.
Runa shifted her gaze from where Arthur had left and turned her attention to Natasya standing before her.
"In that case, I'll count on your assistance," Runa said with a smile, expressing her trust in Natasya.
"Absolutely," Natasya replied, returning the smile.
...
Arthur walked out of the living room and made his way towards the garden, where Jack was waiting.
As he reached the garden, Arthur glanced at Jack, who stood there patiently, as if anticipating his arrival.
"Apologies for the delay," Arthur said, and Jack swiftly turned around to face him.
"No need to apologize, young Master Arthur," Jack responded with humility in his voice.
Arthur nodded and swiftly retrieved his space pouch, producing several scrolls that fell into his hands.
"Take these."
"They may prove helpful in your weapon-forging endeavors," Arthur said as he handed the scrolls to Jack.
Perplexed by the unexpected gift, Jack accepted the scrolls, but Arthur swiftly intervened, stopping him from opening them at that moment.
"Please refrain from opening them just yet. I have something important to discuss," Arthur cautioned.
Jack immediately halted, attentively listening as Arthur proceeded to explain the tasks at hand and provide him with relevant information regarding his departure.
"I understand, young master Arthur. You can count on me," Jack affirmed, patting his broad chest with determination.
Arthur nodded approvingly and retrieved another scroll from his possession, holding it out to Jack.
"I have a weapon request, and all the designs are contained within this scroll," Arthur explained, handing over the scroll to Jack, who accepted it with determination.
"Don't worry, I'll make it happen! Hahaha!" Jack exclaimed with a confident laugh.
Arthur smiled in response and continued their discussion, diving deeper into the specifics.
Once their conversation concluded, Arthur bid farewell to Jack and made his way back to his room.
There, he took the time to write four letters.
The first letter was intended for Alicia, the second for Vivian, the third for Carina, and the final one for Elena, who was currently undergoing training.
"Done!" Arthur clapped his hands and carefully wrapped each letter.
"Now that everything is taken care of, it's time to head to the Weis family and meet Anna," Arthur declared, rising from his chair.
He handed the sealed letters to a mansion maid, instructing her to deliver each one to their respective recipients.
After changing into a more inconspicuous outfit, Arthur left the mansion and made his way to the stables.
"All set, young master Arthur!" greeted an old man, the caretaker of the horses in Duke Asvold's mansion, with respect.
Arthur nodded in acknowledgment and expressed his gratitude. "Thank you."
He proceeded to the horse that had been prepared, gently petting its mane before mounting it.
"Alright, I'm off," Arthur said to the stablemaster.
"Take care, young master Arthur!" the stablemaster replied respectfully.
With a nod, Arthur spurred his horse, setting off from the mansion on his journey.
Within ten meters, Arthur noticed someone on a horse stopping in the middle of the road.
"Sorry to keep you waiting, Rian!" Arthur greeted the person, recognizing him as Rian.
"It's okay, young master Arthur!" Rian, who was wearing a black cloak, lightly shook his head.
Arthur smiled and said, "Alright, let's go!"
They proceeded together, riding side by side as they embarked on their journey.
This chapt𝓮r is updat𝒆d by (f)reew𝒆b(n)ovel.com