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Remaining by her brother's side throughout the night, Celestie kept a vigilant watch over him. Thanks to Arbious, his fever had subsided, and Fear no longer suffered from the dark magic's pain that had gripped him. Nevertheless, he still twitched ever so slightly every few minutes, a lingering sign that the dark magic had not entirely left his system. Hours passed, and just as Celestie's eyes were closing, the door creaked open slightly.

It was one of the guards, a man named Hector, the larger of the two. Hector had served in the estate for two decades under the previous lord and acted as a parental figure to the children. He had a deep affection for them, often watching over them when the lord was absent. Despite recent days creating a distance between him and the children due to the new lord's presence, Hector sought to appease him, even though the new lord was a difficult man to please. To Hector, Arbious was more than just another lord. Back in his hometown, his wife and children often spoke of Arbious, describing him as a prominent figure who supported the prince extensively. Rumors even suggested that Arbious played a pivotal role in the prince's successful rise to power.

However, what struck Hector as strange was that Arbious's name was always mentioned whenever there was a political rumor circulating. He must have been a remarkable man, or so Hector thought, despite the sense of dread that his red eyes conveyed.

Hector's hand gently rested on Celestie's head as she drifted off to sleep, his gaze shifting towards Fear, who remained unconscious. He smiled softly at the two children and draped a blanket over Celestie. As he did so, a pair of red glowing eyes watched through the crack of the open door, the sinister presence of Arbious filling the room.

Alert to his surroundings, Hector turned to see what was happening, moving slowly to avoid waking the children. His eyes locked onto Arbious's shadowy figure, but those piercing red eyes never wavered. Arbious gestured for him to follow, leaving Hector with a sense of anticipation. Quietly, Hector ascended the steps and entered the great hall, where Arbious stood facing the reinforced door. He offered a slight bow, his eyes darting around the room and then back to his lord. "My lord, should you be awake at such an eerie hour?"

Arbious turned his piercing gaze toward Hector and inquired, "Do you have a relationship with those two children?"

Hector hesitated, a nervous tone in his voice as he scratched the back of his head. Despite his words, a warm smile betrayed his true feelings. "Well, maybe a little... you see, they are the closest thing to children that I have."

Arbious's eyes widened a reaction that surprised and pleased Hector. "Ah, have I piqued your interest?" Hector continued, a hint of nostalgia crossing his face. "I know this may come across as reluctant, but when my son Albert succumbed to the demon plague two years ago, these two children... they stood by him until the very end. They played together, learned together, laughed together..."

"I am sorry to hear that," Arbious replied, his comment devoid of emotion or sympathy. Arbious however, saw this as an opportunity to test Hector, a sinister plot forming in his mind. "If the time comes, would you put your own life on the line for these children as if they were your own?"

"I would," Hector affirmed.

Arbious appeared somewhat disappointed by Hector's answer but sensed the truth in his words. Nevertheless, he smiled and placed a hand on Hector's shoulder. "I'm pleased to hear it, and I am putting my faith in you to protect them when the time comes."

This was merely empty word play from Arbious at this rate, but to that point Hector remained oblivious. He nodded with an acknowledging gesture.

With his small talk with Hector out of the way, Arbious took his leave with his mind turned elsewhere. His plans were set into motion, however he had to return to the capital. He had visited the infirmary to those ends, seeking to take Celestie with him as a way for her to pay off her debts, however, she seemed far too tired for any journey, so he hesitated to probe further.

Leaving Hector behind, a chill ran down Hector's spine. He couldn't explain why he had been so honest with Arbious, but something about the new lord had utterly charmed him. Now, as Arbious departed, Hector's senses began to return, but it was already too late.

[https://i.imgur.com/7fgH3qs.png]Arbious had departed for his office on the second floor of the keep, where he had spent the night. With an inkwell and quill placed to his side, his eyes carefully scanned the documents before him. He had learned the importance of record-keeping, writing, and management during his time in Hupu Village. Over the two years of his secrecy, he had even adapted to the human form of writing. To his surprise, he found pleasure in the act of writing itself.

The documents currently before him were letters written by Morgana. Unbeknownst to Arbious, these were secret love letters from her, filled with her disturbing enjoyment of torture and new methods she had discovered. One particularly gruesome method involved gouging out eyes and healing them with magic, a concept she somehow found romantic.

Initially, Arbious had regarded these letters as reports of Morgana's whereabouts. It was his idea for her to come out of hiding after Alpos's failure, though he had made her swear never to reveal the details of their arrangement. Despite not knowing her exact location, he maintained communication with Morgana through his connection with dark magic.

However, recent events had forced him to pay closer attention to her letters. She had targeted a new victim, someone Arbious cared for deeply—Graybeard. Morgana had specifically mentioned his name, knowing that Arbious had connections to him, which was why she had taken an interest in the dwarf in the first place, all to please Arbious.

"The dwarf lives... his mind left broken," Arbious muttered as he read the report. His mind drifted back to his adventures, a hint of nostalgia creeping in. It was thanks to Graybeard that he had begun to accept the importance of strategy and preparation. Arbious felt he owed the dwarf a debt, but he wasn't willing to go out of his way to help him. A knock at the door brought Arbious back to the present moment. In a hurried motion, he scrambled to hide the documents, opening a drawer in his desk and placing Morgana's letters within.

"Come in," he called out.

The door swung open, revealing Fear standing tall. Though his eyes held a touch of gloom, he appeared to be in better condition. Without hesitation, he bowed his head before Arbious and began to speak. "I am forever grateful! Please accept my deepest apologies for worrying you, Master Arbious!"

Arbious sighed faintly for being so alert before responding, "It's no big deal." He then inquired, "Speaking of which, where is your sister?"

"My lord, she is currently resting in her room. Please allow me to take care of her duties for today," Fear replied.

Arbious took a moment to contemplate, his inner monologue musing, "Duties, huh? It's not like they do much around here anyway. Still, they are members of this estate, so killing them would be frowned upon. Letting them go isn't an option either. I could always summon demons to clean for me, but I suppose accepting his service should suffice. It should keep everyone happy, right?"

"Yes, with your sister currently resting, you should take over her duties. However, I want to speak to you personally while you are here," Arbious finally responded.

Fear's eyes widened at Arbious's request. "Yes, my lord. How may I assist you?"

Stolen story; please report.

"It's strange being a lord in a foreign land. I have yet to fully take into your customs. However, I would like to ask, when you think of me, what sort of person do you perceive me to be?"

Fear briefly considered telling him that he was terrified of Arbious and that his black aura was frightening, but he chose a more diplomatic approach. "A lord of great power, a ruler with absolute authority who employs his powers for the betterment of his subordinates."

"Mm... I see," Arbious acknowledged. "For the betterment of my subordinates, you say? There's some truth to that."

"But, my lord..." Fear hesitated for a moment. He felt a sense of trust toward Arbious after what he had done for him, prompting him to share the truth about what was bothering him. "The aura that surrounds you... I'm afraid it might be having a negative impact on the flowers and other plants within our domain."

It wasn't merely the plants he was referring to either, as the entirety of the estate, the walls, and even the soil had begun to deteriorate. Arbious wouldn't pick up on a detail such as that, however, because of his duties, Fear did.

This admission seemed to surprise Arbious. He hadn't realized that Fear could sense his aura. Arbious had gone to great lengths to craft special robes and accessories, like limiter rings, to suppress his aura. If Fear could still sense it, either his powers had grown further or the magical equipment he wore had lost their effectiveness. "So, you can sense my aura?" Arbious inquired, genuinely curious.

"Not a single person within this estate has failed to notice your aura, my lord," Fear replied honestly.

It was true that part as well. Auras, though difficult to detect, could theoretically be seen by all assuming the aura was powerful enough, or at the very least sense its presence. Arbious's aura had gone to those heights and even further.

Arbious was now certain that he needed to address this issue. To do so, he required unstable harmonic crystals to forge new rings. His current rings were for enchantment and proved ineffective in suppressing his aura. Feeling a sense of concern, Arbious turned quickly to look out the window, prompting Fear to speak, concern evident in his tone. "My lord...?"

"It's nothing," Arbious replied. He had considered delaying his plans, however, that would set him back and potentially ruin all he had planned out. He would have to personally suppress his aura to the best of his abilities. Turning back with newfound determination, he spoke. "I appreciate you bringing this to my attention. It has been my own shortcoming to ignore this detail, and It will be taken care of, however, as of now I will be taking my leave."

"Taking your leave?" Fear inquired.

"Yes," Arbious confirmed. "Some matters need my attention at the capital. The royal selection is approaching. I'm sure you've heard of it."

Fear nodded, recalling the details. The princes of the country were competing for the throne due to the current king's poor health, leading to instability. The previous lord had lectured him extensively on the topic, sharing opinions that went against the first prince Franz, whom he regarded as a gambling imbecile with no backbone. On the other hand, there was also a suitable candidate in the form of Princess Anna, a kind-hearted and exceptionally talented young girl who had already made significant contributions to Dorma Rhode at the age of 12. Although her age was a concern for some, she enjoyed widespread support.

"Do you plan to support Princess Anna in the royal selection?" Fear asked.

"Anna?" A voiceless question echoed within Arbious. He had not heard of Anna, and why would he have? The custom dictated that a male heir would always ascend to the throne. At least, that's what he had believed until now. As he pondered this mysterious figure named Anna, a thought crossed his mind. Fear seemed educated enough to be aware of such matters. Perhaps it would be wise to have him accompany Arbious to the capital.

"Fear," Arbious spoke with determination, "you will accompany me to the capital. Pack your belongings immediately; I expect you to be ready within thirty minutes."

Fear was taken completely by surprise by this request. Somehow, he had earned the respect, or at least the attention, of his lord. Despite the intimidation Arbious exuded, Fear momentarily felt a sense of pride—a sin deemed the pinnacle of evil. Yet in the face of all that, he chose to ignore his teachings, for he had tasted the attention he craved. Without further questioning, he bowed his head and replied, "It would be an honor to join you, my lord! I will pack my things right away!"

He left his room, setting his sights on his own chamber. Descending the stairs swiftly, he had no intention of keeping his master waiting. Upon entering his room, he found his sister still asleep. Her faint breaths and her long, curly hair cascading from the side of her head captivated him briefly. To avoid waking her, he moved with utmost care, gathering his belongings. He didn't have much to take, but there was one item that held unique significance to him—an intricate red pendant.

Next, he headed to the bathroom, washing his face and fully awakening to the reality of the day ahead. It all felt surreal. Now that his consciousness had finally caught up with him, he contemplated the significance of his master's decision. Had Arbious genuinely seen value in him? For once, he had been recognized as someone of worth. He didn't linger in front of the mirror for too long, opting for a final glance and a smile before combing his hair neatly to avoid appearing like a commoner. He dressed in an appropriate outfit, a white suit with a red bowtie, attire gifted to him by the previous lord. However, upon closer inspection, he noticed that his master favored darker colors. Perhaps it would have been wiser to wear something darker? The thought crossed his mind, but he didn't want to tarnish the memory of the man who had essentially raised him.

With his attire sorted and his appearance well-groomed, he exited the bathroom and left the keep. Outside, Dorros waited patiently by the carriage. Dorros, the butler of Arbious, appeared noble with his aged visage that spoke of wisdom. However, Fear knew better than to judge a book by its cover. He approached Dorros with vigilance, ensuring his clothes were still impeccable. His heart ached for his sister; he didn't want to wake her. He had kissed her on the forehead before leaving, though he doubted she had noticed.

"Is something on your mind?" Dorros inquired, addressing Fear without the formal titles. There was no need for such formalities; Fear bore no titles and was more or less a guest at Arbious's estate. Dorros spoke without mockery, simply engaging in casual conversation.

Fear, his cheerful self, approached Dorros and stood before him with pride. "We're going to the capital!"

"Ah, so you're coming with us?" Dorros acknowledged with a nod.

"Yep," Fear replied with casual nonchalance, seemingly carefree about the upcoming journey.

However, as Fear was about to say more, Arbious exited the mansion. It felt as though the skies darkened upon his departure, but it was not the weather; it was Arbious's aura that cast a shadow over the atmosphere. Not everyone could see auras, but both Dorros and Fear possessed this ability. The aura seemed to retract itself, reducing its impact significantly as Arbious approached them.

Both Dorros and Fear bowed their heads in respect. Arbious's gaze turned to Fear and offered a compliment. "You look good."

Fear appreciated the praise, briefly considering whether he should have opted for darker attire. However, the contrast between his white outfit and Arbious's dark clothing would draw even more attention, so perhaps it wasn't a poor choice. It had certainly elicited a response.

"Thank you, my lord."

Arbious then turned his attention to Dorros and inquired, "Have the plans been set into motion?"

"Yes, my lord. The plans have been arranged. Prince Franz has agreed to hold a meeting in your honor at the royal capital."

"In my honor... Is that so," Arbious mused.

Both Dorros and Fear exchanged smiles, sharing an inside joke. Fear observed the two of them and began to understand—or at least have a strong suspicion—regarding Arbious's political leanings. But why Franz? He was widely regarded as the least suitable candidate for the throne, especially given the presence of well-qualified princes and the exceptional Princess Anna. What could Arbious possibly see in Franz?

Then it struck Fear: Arbious must have had the power and connections in the capital to sway the selection in favor of Franz. If Franz were to become king, it would mean Arbious held power throughout the entire Southern Empire, ruling from the shadows with a puppet king.

A sense of worry etched across Fear's face, leaving him momentarily speechless while the two continued their conversation. Arbious and Dorros eventually turned their attention to Fear, who remained in shock from his realization. Still, there was a possibility he could be wrong. Even if he wasn't, Arbious couldn't be an entirely bad person; after all, he had saved Fear's life.

Arbious ascended the carriage, and both he and Dorros noticed Fear's apprehension. Realizing that the weight of their conversation had caught up with him, Fear quickly gathered his composure, shelving his thoughts for now, and climbed the steps into the carriage. The interior was luxuriously appointed with red decor, and he took a seat in front of Arbious. Without delay, the carriage set off, its wheels turning as it was pulled by four horses. The carriage turned to face the gatehouse, and through the rear window, Fear's eyes lingered on the estate he was leaving behind.