Another story: Arthur's Arc #9

{Xu Ming Yu-ssi, if you fail, you will put the world into chaos. It is because this one seemingly unimportant encounter will decide this world's fate. It is no laughing matter.} Q's heavy tone had a tinge of seriousness in them. He didn't seem to be joking. {Also...,} He deliberately trailed his voice, making Arthur all jittery. {your butt is on the line.}

[...]

Arthur: Bewildered.jpg.

[Pardon?]

{If you want to keep your butt in its original state, you better succeed.}

[Wait? What? Wh-why my butt?]

{That's all. See you tomorrow, and good luck.}

[Hey-hey...wait!]

The long (beep-----------------------) inside his mind reminded him that Q had long gone.

That bastard!

***

After receiving such a shocking revelation from Q, Arthur was in a trance-like state the entire day. He spent most of his time staring at his little sister's face making her fidgety.

Seiran subconsciously touched her face. There was nothing on her face, but why was her brother so keen on staring at her?

Their eyes ended up meeting one another.

Strangely enough, those oceanic blue irises reflected nothing despite looking straight at her.

Was he gazing at the horizon?

Seiran waved her hand in front of his brother's face. As expected, his pupils were unmoving.

Seiran: "..." What's wrong with big brother Arthur?

During dinner, Arthur is still behaving the same, not even realising that half of his food entered someone else mouth(Julien's) rather than his mouth.

During their family relaxing time in the living room, he still unblinkingly stared at nothing. He is just sitting there, hugging his knees. And as if he was deaf, he completely disregarded everyone else questions and opinions. Talking to him is equal to talking with the wall. There's no reaction whatsoever!

The knights: "..."

Seiran: "..."

"What's wrong with big brother Arthur?" Seiran tugged Sean's sleeve. "Why did he look so weird today?"

Sean looked at his brother with a frown, but when looking at his sister, his eyes were brimming with tenderness. His gentle expression was reserved for his sister and never shown to unrelated people.

When facing others, he either ignored them or looked at them with a scowl.

Most people are already numb to the Knight's partiality, and they rarely feel offended by their behaviours. After all, this is one of the characteristics of the Knight family. They put nothing in their eyes, caring only about their family and ignoring anyone else.

They are even unafraid of the Emperor, and Alexander couldn't care less about it. The premise is that the Knight hasn't done anything that harms his and the Grandia Kingdom's interest. And among his courtiers, the Knight is the most loyal to the current monarch. Thus, as the benevolent ruler, he will turn a blind eye to most of their actions against him.

Sean gently caressed his sister's head, feeling how smooth her hair flowed between his fingers.

"You can ignore him, Ran." Sean patted her back in a comforting way.

"There's no need to worry about him." Julien chided in. "Isn't he always like this?"

"He will return to normal soon." Sean wholeheartedly agreed. "Probably."

The twin exchanged a glance and snickered.

"Well, there's no difference between the normal him and the abnormal one. As long as he didn't harm others, all is well."

The underlying meaning is; their brother had long turned abnormal. There's no need to waste their brain cells pondering about his abnormality.

Seiran: "..."

+++

Everyone returns to their respective room after saying goodnight to each other. They tacitly ignore Arthur, who poses like a statue on the single couch.

Forget it. If that guy wants to sleep, he can walk to his bedroom without anyone needing to say anything. There's no need to concern yourself with him and his strangeness.

Liliane gives her eldest son a last glance, shaking her head before switching off the lamp in the living room.

The once bright room suddenly turns dim and sombre, effectively startling the stone-like figure in the dark.

Huh? Huh?? HUH???!

Arthur, who wasted his time doing nothing, finally snapped from his trance-like state.

He rises to his feet and anxiously looks at the deserted living room.

Where-where's everyone?! Wait a minute. What time is this?

Arthur's eyes are as wide as a saucer. He chokes on his saliva.

Oh my god!

Look at the time! It is almost 12.00!

His task will start at midnight, and he only has 24 hours to complete it!

He has no time to stay still! Why did he waste his precious three hours staring at nothing but empty airs?!

Damn it! He wants to slap himself for delaying the inevitable when the time was very envious of him, ah!

Arthur's knees plop on the carpet. He buries his face into the couch, starting to rack his brain for a solution.

Alright. Calm down, Arthur Knight. You should mind your image.

It should be easy for him to persuade Seiran to enter the palace together, but how to create a chance encounter between her and the young prince?

With Danial's face, which can make children cry on the spot, will Seiran be willing to meet him?

He believes in his younger sister's character, but still, she is a young child who cannot hide her emotion very well. Sometimes, being too pure and innocent is not good.

What if Seiran cries in horror upon meeting him?

What if she says something that will leave Danial with a broken heart? What if she hurt him emotionally?

What if she despises Danial or otherwise?

Hmm? That's not good. His sister can despise anyone she wants to, but no one can dislike her! Not even Danial!

And the most important thing he needs to take caution of is how to reconnect the broken mate bond between his sister and Danial.

How can he do that? He is not a doctor or a healer.

Q asked him to reconnect the bond, but he didn't leave him with a clue on how to do that.

He is worried. What if he messed everything up and accidentally worsened the fated pair's relationship? This one encounter will decide the fate of this world. If something goes wrong-

No, no, no. Arthur smacks his mouth. This bad mouth!

Arthur walks back and fro in the dark, thinking of ways to accomplish his task.

His head hurt so much. How can Q burden him with this heavy responsibility? The fate of the world (and his butt) is on the line. Even if he desperately wants to let go of everything and run away, he cannot allow himself to do such a cowardly thing.

And, the notion of letting his butt suffer an unknown grievance at the hands of others frightened him very much.

He can accept everything else, but please spare his bottom. He does not know what kind of punishment awaits him if him failing his mission, but he never wants to experience it and become the victim himself.

No, thank you!

Arthur stands on his feet, his eyes solemnly looking upstairs.

It's time for him to find his sister.

***

"Going to the palace with you?" Seiran was baffled when her eldest brother asked her to accompany him to the palace tomorrow morning. "Why?"

"I want to teach you how to fight with a sword," Arthur replied in a righteous tone. "Didn't you say before that you wish to learn them?"

"...I've been asking you guys to teach me since I was six. But you always refused. Said that a noble lady like me shouldn't scar my hands with callous and blister..."

"Your brother has an epiphany," Arthur said solemnly. "I shouldn't restrict your freedom. You can learn anything you want, Ran." He took hold of his sister's slender hands and sighed. "At first, it was a shame to let these soft and beautiful hands suffer through the harsh training. But, on second thought, the more skills you learn, the better options you have when you encounter something dangerous in the future. I can't always protect you, but I can equip you with many survival skills."

Arthur was very eloquent when saying his points making Seiran half-convinced and half-doubting his reasoning.

"How about it, Ran? Starting tomorrow, you will first learn the basics from me. I will give my evaluation after seeing your aptitude in these few days."

Seiran was tempted but hesitated to agree. There was one big hurdle to overcome. "...Okay...but daddy will never agree to it. Can you persuade him?"

Arthur patted his chest proudly.

"Don't worry. You can leave father to me. He will agree." If he refuses, I will ask Q to help me. By hook or by crook, I must bring Seiran with me tomorrow. "After breakfast, please wait inside the carriage. Wear appropriate clothes, and you better tie your hair."

Seiran's beautiful eyes gleamed with excitement. She really wanted to learn swordsmanship alongside her brothers but never had the chance to do so because of her family's overprotectiveness, especially her father. She pestered Duke Aklight day and night, asking him to let her learn but to no avail. He was so stubborn that nothing could change his mind once he decided upon something.

"I understand, big brother Arthur." Seiran hopped to her feet, tip-toed to reach her brother's waist and happily hugged him. Her sweet laughter rang across the room. The corner of her lips curled, expressing her delight. "Thank you so much."

"You're welcome." Arthur felt a little bit guilty since he doing this is not for her sake but for his task, but he didn't let it show on his face. He returned her hug and gently patted her back. Seeing the little girl bury her face into his stomach while murmuring her delight, his heart softened. "Go to sleep, and let's meet tomorrow morning."

"Okay!" Seiran tilted her face, looking straight at him with a blooming smile across her tender, white face.

Aigoo, I feel like a scum for tricking this little girl into doing my bidding.

Arthur felt sore in his chest. Like his heart is being stabbed by countless needles. The pang of guilt intensified as he recalled the existence of another victim he needed to trick so that his success would go unhindered.

He might harm Danial in the process.

Alas. Arthur cannot stop sighing. The sooner he finishes this mission, the better.

***

Extra Chapter.

A silhouette clad in a black robe appeared inside the thatched hut. (With Q's assistance, he teleported directly into this place)

The person guiltily looked at the sleeping boy wrapped in a blanket on the cramped bed.

He stealthily put something inside the jar filled with water beside the bed. A faint hissing sound sounded after something resembling a pill made contact with the water's surface, slowly dissolving into it.

[Q, this pill will not kill him, right?] Arthur worriedly looked at the jar.

{Of course not.}

[Are you sure?]

{You can try it if you want to.}

[...I pass.]

After making sure everything looked the same as before, Arthur walked toward Danial's bed and stood beside it.

"I'm sorry." He whispered his apology. "All of this is for your good."