Arthur took a deep breath, allowing the air to fill his lungs as he sought to calm his racing thoughts. Once he felt a bit more composed, he scanned the room for a wardrobe, eager to find something to change out of his pajamas. Spotting the wardrobe, he opened it to reveal a stunning array of neatly hung cloth, each one impeccably clean. A twinge of jealousy washed over him as he surveyed the collection. Back on Earth, he had never owned more than ten pieces of clothing and often found himself wearing the same outfits repeatedly due to his busy schedule and didn't have the time to wash.

After selecting a suitable outfit, Arthur began to undress and caught a glimpse of his reflection in the mirror. A wave of dismay washed over him as he took in his portly figure. "Why is this body so fucking fat? Couldn't I have at least transmigrated into someone handsome?" he thought to himself, frustration bubbling beneath the surface.

Once he had changed into his new clothes, he stepped out of his chamber and was met with the astonished gazes of three maids and the valet who had just come in to wake him. Their expressions were a mix of shock and disbelief. In the past, Arthur had never emerged from his room without someone attending to him. He was notorious for shouting for the valet to prepare his clothes while still lounging in bed, often in a foul mood.

Now, the sight of a once-lazy king stepping out of his chamber, fully dressed and composed, without a hint of anger or intoxication, left them all utterly speechless.

The valet shook off his initial shock and quickly moved to stand beside Arthur, his voice careful. "Your Majesty, is there anything you require?"

Arthur considered the question for a moment before responding, "Nothing in particular. How much time do I have left before Duke Richard arrives, and what is the purpose of his visit?"

The valet replied in a soft tone, "Your Highness, you have approximately two and a half hours remaining. The purpose of the Duke's visit is to discuss your engagement to his youngest daughter, Olivia Luke."

Arthur's mind raced at the revelation. "What the hell? I'm already engaged? I'm supposed to be a husband when I've never even had any experience dating or had a girlfriend back on Earth!" The shock of the situation flooded his thoughts.

As he processed this new information, Arthur recalled that the previous Arthur had a huge crush on Richard's daughter, Olivia. He had attempted to propose marriage multiple times, only to be rejected each time. Given her status as the legitimate heir of the Luke family, he had no power to force the issue.

"Now Richard wants to meet with Arthur to discuss the engagement of his beloved daughter," Arthur pondered, a sense of unease creeping in. "There must be some hidden agenda behind this meeting."

He took a moment to steady his thoughts. "At least it's not an official engagement yet; it's just a discussion," he reminded himself, trying to calm the rising anxiety of missing out on the fun part in dating and would have to went straight to the wedding process.

While Arthur was lost in thought, the valet broke the silence. "Your breakfast will be ready when you arrive at the dining hall."

Arthur's thoughts snapped back to the present as he replied, "I'm not feeling particularly hungry. Is there somewhere I can research and learn more about this nation, Keldoria?"

The valet was shock and surprise that Arthur Jr spoke that he want to learn more about Keldoria. However, the valet hid his emotion, in a shock tone suggested, "You could go to the library."

This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

"Yes, that's exactly it. Please take me to the library," Arthur responded eagerly.

"Your Majesty, would you prefer the Keldo library or the private one within the palace?" the valet asked, still unable to shake of that surprise in his tone.

"The private one will suffice for now," Arthur answered, feeling a sense of urgency to gather information.

"Very well, Your Majesty. I will lead you there," the valet replied, and they set off together. As they walked, Arthur realized that the previous Arthur had never visited the library, which likely explained the valet's surprise.

After a short while, they arrived at the library. Before the valet could leave, Arthur added, "Please ensure that no one enters while I'm here, and remind me thirty minutes before Duke Richard arrives."

"Of course, Your Majesty," the valet replied, nodding before stepping out and closing the door behind him.

After closing the door, the valet stepped into the hallway, where a few maids were gathered. One of them approached him, her eyes wide with disbelief. "Is that really King Arthur Jr., or am I still dreaming?"

The valet nodded, still processing the encounter himself. "It is indeed King Arthur Jr. I was just as surprised as you are. He actually asked to go to the library, and what's more, he spoke to me using phrases like 'please' and thank you.'"

"Really? He really used those words?" another maid asked, her voice tinged with astonishment. "It felt strange, but it's true," the valet confirmed, nodding his head in disbelief.

…

In the private library, Arthur began to scan the shelves, searching for books that would provide him with valuable insights into Keldoria. He needed to gather as much information as possible about his new kingdom.

Keldoria is located in the bottom left corner of the continent known as Nova. Nova has a total of eight nations and Keldoria shares the border with two nations: Elysia and Chronos. Among the eight countries on the continent, Keldoria is often regarded as the weakest in terms of military power, constantly engaged in conflict with Elysia.

The kingdom is divided into five distinct regions: Eldoria, Solarny, Ironhearth, Blackthorn, and Oaksted. Eldoria, the capital, is where Arthur currently resides. In addition to these regions, Keldoria is home to two significant dukedoms: the Dukedom of Luke and the Dukedom of Ashenfell. While the king of Keldoria holds full authority over the five regions, his influence over the dukedoms is more tenuous.

As Arthur continued his research, he discovered that despite Keldoria's weak military and ongoing financial struggles, the reason Elysia had not been able to successfully conquer the kingdom was largely due to the support and strategic alliance with Chronos.

Chronos, embroiled in its own conflict with Elysia, recognized that if Elysia were to conquer Keldoria, it would gain a significant advantage in the war. The terrain of Keldoria favored Elysia, making it easier for them to launch further offensives against Chronos. By assisting Keldoria, Chronos aimed to prevent Elysia from gaining a foothold that could tip the balance of power in their favor. This intricate web of alliances and enmities highlighted the precarious position Keldoria found itself in.

As Arthur carefully researched and assessed the situation, he was suddenly interrupted by a knock at the library door. The valet entered, his expression respectful yet urgent. "Your Majesty, As per your request, Duke Richard Luke will be arriving in approximately thirty minutes."

Realizing only thirty minutes left, Arthur set aside the books he had been studying. He understood that he needed to be well-prepared for the duke's visit. "Thank you for the update," he replied, rising from his seat. "I'll head to the Great Hall to await his arrival."

Before leaving the library, Arthur decided it would be wise to gather more information about Duke Richard Luke. Thus, upon arriving in the Great Hall, he summoned several members of the King's council to discuss information about the duke.

At first, the council members were taken aback, their expressions a mix of confusion and skepticism. They had long viewed Arthur as someone indifferent to the opinions of others, a ruler who rarely considered the impact of his actions. Now, however, he was seeking guidance on how to approach Duke Richard Luke, a shift that surprised them.

Despite their initial reservations, the council members gradually began to share their insights, offering what they knew about the duke's character and political maneuvers.

After a thorough discussion, Arthur dismissed the council, requesting some time alone in the Great Hall. As the advisors filed out, leaving only a few guards stationed outside, he took a moment to assess the situation regarding the Dukedom of Luke.

Just as he was deep in thought, he heard the announcement that Duke Richard Luke had arrived.