The morning sunlight radiated inside the whole room, stirring Arthur from his deep slumber. He opened his eyes and saw the bright sunlight in the room.
"Hmm..."
He stretched his body before carefully waking up and sitting on the bed, scratching the back of his head gently, he yawned.
'I wonder what time it is right now... I was supposed to have breakfast with grandfather.'
Just then a knock came.
Knock. Knock.
'Huh? Who could it be?'
Arthur moved down from the bed as his feet touched the floor.
"Who is it?"
The answer came shortly after.
"It's Julia, young master. I will be serving as your personal maid from today onwards."
Arthur had a confused look on his face.
'Huh...? But as far as I remember, I never asked for a maid.'
Arthur moved a few steps further as he said:
"Come inside for now."
"Yes, young master."
The door creaked open and Julia entered the room. She had dark brown hair and black eyes with an expressionless face.
"I believe I never asked for a maid."
Julia bowed slightly as she replied:
"Yes, young master. However, I was assigned to this task by Lord Demetrius."
'He really is eager to spy on my every move, isn't he?'
Julia.
On the outside, it might seem that she's nothing more than an ordinary maid; however, there is no such thing as ordinary in this household.
She must be one of the two cases: one is that she has somehow gained favor from Demetrius and therefore, now wants to pay off the debt, and the second is that she is probably an assassin whom Demetrius wants Arthur to figure out how to handle by himself.
'I hope it's the former and not the later one, that way I wouldn't have to get rid of her.'
"Hmm... I see. Alright, do your work for now."
"Yes, young master."
Julia gave a calm and professional look to Arthur as she asked:
"Would you like to freshen up at the basin or shall I prepare the bath?"
"I believe, I shall bathe."
"I understand."
Before Julia could turn away, Arthur spoke up.
"Where is Grandfather?"
"He has already departed for the Royal Palace."
"I see. You may continue."
Arthur turned and headed toward his bed.
"Yes, young master."
She turned and strode toward the bathroom. As she stepped inside, the sound of running tap water filled the room.
Arthur sat down at the edge of the bed as he intertwined his fingers and became engrossed in his thoughts.
"Sigh... I already have a lot to do, and now I'll have to take care of her too."
Another task was now added to the already long list of things Arthur had to do.
***
Arthur cut down the freshly baked bread and ate a piece of it in the quiet silence of his room. The only sound that came into the room was the chirping of the birds outside.
"Hm... so did you bring what I asked?"
Arthur didn't even bother to glance at the boy.
"Yes, sir."
Arthur then placed his fork down on the table and looked at the boy.
"I see. Good job, Archie. Now hand it over, let me take a look at it."
Alfred took the pouch from Archie that contained the coins and stepped toward Arthur, handing him the pouch.
Arthur looked at the pouch thoroughly and found the mark Archie was talking about. The pouch had a mark of a scorpion on one side.
"Hmm... a scorpion, huh?"
Arthur lifted his gaze up, locking it onto Alfred.
"Alfred, find out if this is the mark of some kind of secret organization or the crest of some noble family."
"Yes, young master."
Arthur handed the pouch to Alfred without a second's waste, and Alfred left the chamber to do the assigned work.
"Now, tell me, how are your siblings doing? Do you need anything else?"
"No, sir. We are good as it is."
"I see. Then... tell me about the arena you mentioned in the carriage yesterday."
Archie hesitated for a moment but then chose to tell Arthur everything that he knew about the arena.
"That... As I said, it's a fighting arena for illegal fights between commoners, and illegal bets are placed on those fighters."
"Hmm. How do you know about it in such detail, Archie?"
"That's... because my older brother died there."
As Arthur heard what Archie told him, he went silent.
'Urgh...! Should I have not asked that?'
Arthur then cleared his throat and spoke up:
"Ahem! Anyway, so when did the man ask you to deliver the envelope?"
"There are designated days when the arena is open and nobles attend the competition as they enjoy the misery of others and place large bets. And coincidentally, tomorrow is the day the competition will be held."
Arthur nodded, understanding that he had no other choice but to go there tomorrow.
"Alright. Then, I'll see you tomorrow. Until then, spend the day with your siblings and ask the butler if you need anything else."
"Yes, sir."
"You may take your leave now."
The boy bowed slightly and walked away. As he opened the door, the butler stood there, and it seemed that the door had opened right on time. And thus, the butler spoke up:
"Young master, your aide, Lady Eloise, has arrived."
Arthur had a confused look but then remembered that he had indeed asked for an aide who could help him with the work.
"Ah, right. I asked for an aide, didn't I?"
Eloise Whitmore.
The only daughter of the Whitmore Barony. A family renowned for producing the finest aides in history.
A name that had barely been mentioned in the novel. A woman of sharp intellect and unshakable resolve, yet bound by the rigid traditions of the kingdom.
Though she surpassed her brothers in ability, the law refused to acknowledge a woman as a rightful heir. What should have been her future had been stolen from her, leaving only a door forever closed.
But for Arthur, she was invaluable.
The sound of the faint rustle of fabric and the deliberate rhythm of heels striking polished wood came as she announced herself long before a single word left her lips.
When Arthur turned his gaze towards her, she stood poised in the threshold like a figure etched from moonlight and resolve.
Her silver hair, sleek and immaculate, caught the morning light, gleaming like moonlight. It was neatly gathered, exposing the proud lines of her neck and drawing attention to the cold clarity of her eyes, amethyst in hue, sharp enough to slice through pretense.
She regarded Arthur with a stillness that felt more like evaluation than observation, measuring the weight of his existence without a word.
Then, with a grace too precise to be mere habit, she dipped into a flawless curtsy. Her calm voice followed, a tone that betrayed neither apprehension nor awe.
"It is a pleasure to meet you, young master."
Arthur arched a brow.
"Young master? Who asked you to address me as such, when you haven't even begun working here?"
Arthur's eyes drifted to Butler Robert, stationed like a statue near the doorway, his silence far too knowing. He had schooled her in protocol long before she even crossed the threshold. That much was evident.
Yet she did not retreat. She didn't fidget. Her posture remained resolute, her gaze unwavering as she spoke up.
"I may not have started yet, however, that does not mean I won't be, sir."
As if the matter had already been decided by some unspoken contract that only she was privy to.
Arthur leaned back into his chair, the leather groaning faintly beneath him, his interest piqued.
"Are you certain you can handle any task given to you?"
Her reply came without delay.
"As long as it serves the right purpose."
After a brief pause, Arthur continued:
"And if you were to uncover a ledger filled with records of corruption?"
Her eyes didn't flicker. Not even once.
"Have you engaged in corruption, sir?"
"No... Never."
"Then... that is more than enough for me."
Arthur watched her, searching for the faintest twitch of doubt, a falter in the rhythm of her breath. However, he could find nothing. She stood still, with a composed posture that hinted at her professionalism.
"And if I were to tell you that, in the future, I might?"
A low-ranking individual would have shifted, hesitated, faltered under the weight of such a suggestion. But Eloise only tilted her head as if he had merely asked whether it might rain tomorrow.
"Would it be for the good of your people?"
A slow smile curled at the edge of Arthur's lips, dry and faintly amused.
"You could say that."
"Then it would not be a concern of mine."
Arthur narrowed his gaze slightly as he asked:
"Why?"
"Because it would mean you consider me as your own, sir."
What she said was indeed true, because loyalty was not always about which side was right or wrong. It was about choosing a side and never stepping away, no matter the cost.
Arthur held her gaze a moment longer before nodding his head.
"I look forward to your work, Lady Eloise."
A faint smile was barely across her lips, but it was there nonetheless.
"And I look forward to working for you, young master."