In the study room of the Weis Family's main mansion
A middle-aged man sat at his desk, flipping through the documents in his hands.
His face appeared somewhat dull as he read the document in his hand, occasionally sighing and rubbing his forehead.
Knock!
"Excuse me, Master. May I come in?" The voice of a woman, one of the mansion maids, sounded from behind the door of the man's study.
Upon hearing the request, the man redirected his gaze toward the door and responded, "Please, come in."
Without delay, the door to the study swung open, revealing a maid holding a letter.
"My apologies for intruding on your time, Master Lucas!" The maid spoke with a deep bow, displaying the utmost respect.
The man, none other than Lucas Weis, the patriarch of the Weis family, gave a slight nod and inquired, "Is there anything of importance?"
Lifting her head, the maid glanced at the desk, which was cluttered with an abundance of documents.
Although the workspace was neat, the scattered paperwork made it appear disheveled.
Quickly refocusing her attention, the maid set aside her thoughts and approached Lucas.
"Apologies for the interruption, Master," she respectfully expressed, handing the letter to Lucas.
Intrigued, Lucas took the letter and focused his attention on that. "What is this?" he inquired, flipping through the letter.
In response to his question, the maid clarified, "This letter was sent by an anonymous sender. There is no name indicated on the sender's side."
"It so happened that while I was tidying up Miss Anna's room, I came across this letter."
"As per your instructions, if anything suspicious is discovered concerning Miss Anna, I am to report it to you without delay," the maid elaborated, providing additional information.
Lucas nodded, understanding the situation, and remarked, "Ah, I see. That clarifies things."
As he flipped through the letter, he discovered nothing unusual or suspicious.
Glancing at the maid, he offered a gentle smile and expressed, "Thank you for your concern. I truly appreciate it."
"You may take three days off, and you will receive a bonus this month."
Upon hearing these words, the maid's face immediately lit up, and she repeatedly bowed while expressing her gratitude, "Thank you! Thank you, Master Lucas!"
Lucas nodded and gestured with a wave of his hand, signaling that the maid was free to leave.
The maid departed from his office, wearing a contented expression.
In the Weis family, it was customary for servants and subordinates to be rewarded when they performed well and showed thoughtfulness.
These rewards could be in the form of monetary compensation or other tokens of appreciation.
Money and material possessions held little significance for the Weis family, as they were considered commonplace and not a cause for concern.
This culture of reward and generosity contributed to the loyalty of everyone working for the Weis family.
After the maid exited the room, Lucas found nothing remarkable in the letter except for the fact that the recipient's name was his own daughter, Anna Weis.
Lucas swiftly tore open the letter and read its contents with curiosity.
After a few minutes, he abruptly rose from his chair, his facial expression undergoing a rapid transformation.
"Servant!" Lucas bellowed, his voice resonating loudly as he called out to the servant stationed near the front door.
Promptly, the door cracked open, and the maid standing by respectfully bowed, inquiring, "What are your orders, Master?"
Lucas took a deep breath, his voice filled with concern as he asked, "Is Anna currently not present in the mansion?"
The maid paused briefly, contemplating the question. "I haven't seen Miss Anna recently, Master," she replied.
"Perhaps she is in the library at the moment," the maid offered as an explanation.
Lucas let out a helpless sigh upon hearing this.
Recognizing Lucas' perplexity, the maid suggested, "Shall I go and find Miss Anna, sir? I can bring her to you."
Lucas shook his head, declining the maid's offer, and stated firmly, "No, there's no need."
"Very well, please resume your duties and don't concern yourself," Lucas added, waving his hand dismissively.
The maid, slightly perplexed by Lucas' response, bowed her head once more in acknowledgment, then quietly closed the door behind her.
Lucas took a moment to absorb the information in the letter, contemplating its contents. "So, young master Arthur is arriving in Celestria presently."
"However, why didn't he notify me in advance or send a message to announce his arrival? Is something amiss?"
A furrow formed on Lucas' forehead, and a sense of unease began to trouble him.
The resemblance between this enigmatic young master and Duke Asvold himself only added to his apprehension.
Furthermore, since assuming the role of the absent Duke Asvold, young Master Arthur has implemented a comprehensive overhaul of the social system, introducing a new and highly efficient mode of governance.
Particularly noteworthy is his emphasis on the well-being of the populace and the implementation of reduced taxation for merchants.
This has proven advantageous not only for him but also for the merchants operating in the southern region.
Consequently, the community has experienced significant prosperity compared to its previous state.
Despite these remarkable achievements, Lucas found himself apprehensive about this young teenager.
How could someone of such a tender age possess such far-sightedness?
Lucas couldn't easily fathom how a teenager could possess the wisdom and foresight required for effective leadership.
Such capabilities typically require significant time and experience to develop.
Nevertheless, the undeniable reality lay before him, compelling Lucas to accept the remarkable accomplishments brought forth by this young master.
"And to think my daughter went to find young master Arthur without informing me..." Lucas sighed, shaking his head, his thoughts lingering on his daughter's actions.
"Well, perhaps young master Arthur has some important matters to attend to here, and I will extend my greetings to him when the time is right for Anna to bring him home," Lucas contemplated, refocusing his attention on the unfinished documents.
He didn't dwell too much on his daughter's actions.
After all, establishing a close relationship with the crown prince of the Asvold family could prove beneficial in various ways.
...
"Young Master Arthur, look! It's so funny!" Anna exclaimed with excitement, pointing towards one of the small animals being sold.
Observing Anna's enthusiasm, a faint smile tugged at the corner of Arthur's mouth.
He found her excitement endearing.
"You seem quite thrilled, Anna," Arthur chuckled, amused by her demeanor.
Upon hearing his remark, Anna's head lowered in embarrassment as she confessed, "Well... it's because it's my first time venturing out alone without a guard, and I get to accompany you."
Recognizing that Anna might often feel lonely and that his companionship could bring her joy, Arthur swiftly reached out and took her hand, declaring, "Alright, let's enjoy ourselves!"
Upon hearing his words, Anna's expression immediately transformed into one of happiness, and she cheerfully responded, "Yes! Let's go!"
Soon, the two of them began strolling through the bustling heart of the city of Celestria, which teemed with a dense population.
Whether it was visiting clothing stores for shopping or engaging in various enjoyable activities, they cherished their time together, finding delight in each moment.
As they spent more time in each other's company, Anna gradually shed her shyness and grew comfortable being close to Arthur.
She even boldly linked her arm with his, giving the impression of a couple on a romantic outing.
After a few hours of shared experiences, they decided to visit an elegant restaurant, securing a table for two.
"How has your time been? Are you happy with our moments together?" Arthur smiled, addressing Anna, who sat across from him.
"Absolutely! You have no idea how much I've been anticipating your arrival."
"Initially, I was afraid you might be too occupied and forget your promise to come see me," Anna beamed, her feet playfully wiggling beneath the table.
Arthur smiled warmly and nodded. "Yes, I had some crucial matters to attend to, which caused a delay in my visit," he explained.
Indeed, Arthur had made prior arrangements and had set aside this time to spend with Anna as planned.
However, Arthur's purpose in coming extended beyond accompanying Anna and teaching her.
He also intended to meet with Lucas and discuss important matters for the future.
Of course, he refrained from sharing this information with Anna, considering they had just spent quality time together.
"I understand. Have you been busy lately?" Anna inquired, curiosity evident in her voice.
Arthur took a sip from his drink, which had already been placed on the table, and confirmed, "Yes, I've been occupied with various tasks recently."
"And I will be staying here for two days, and then I will have to return," Arthur explained.
Anna's expression faltered, a tinge of sadness evident on her face.
Sensing Anna's disappointment, Arthur smiled affectionately and gently ran his hand through her hair, trying to comfort her.
"We'll make the most of our time together, so there's no need to worry," Arthur reassured Anna, his voice soothing.
The gentle strokes made Anna feel a mix of embarrassment and shyness, causing her to nod in a slightly clumsy manner.
Arthur couldn't help but chuckle at her endearing response.
In the novel, Anna is depicted as remarkably mature, with a high level of emotional and intellectual intelligence.
After all, how else could she become such an extraordinary figure in the future?
However, in the present moment, it seemed that when it came to matters of the heart, Anna might be somewhat naive or inexperienced.
As the playful banter between them continued, Arthur took a deep breath, piquing Anna's curiosity.
"What's the matter, young Master Arthur?" Anna tilted her head slightly, her brows furrowing in confusion.
Arthur shifted his gaze towards Anna, his expression serious but gentle.
"Anna, do you know the reason I came here aside from spending time with you?"
