A Condition

In the parlor, Sharon sat on the sofa, her face clouded with worry.

Her eyes remained fixed on the direction Jason had taken Arthur.

"I hope Aron's okay," she murmured, clenching her hands into fists.

Celine's birthday party had been ruined, and she feared the Duke might harm Aron.

If that happened, she'd have to find a way to save him—no matter what. Even if it meant begging the Duke, she'd do it.

Just then, two figures emerged from that direction, chatting and occasionally laughing.

The moment she saw them, her anxiety melted away, replaced by unmistakable joy.

"Aron—no, I mean, Young Master Avaron!" She exclaimed happily, springing to her feet.

Hearing her voice, Arthur paused his conversation with Jason and smiled at her.

"Sorry to keep you waiting, Princess," he said, stopping beside her.

Sharon shook her head, a radiant smile blooming on her lips. "It's alright, Young Master Avaron."

Watching their interaction, Jason seemed to realize something important and couldn't help but clear his throat.

"Ahem! In that case, I'll escort you to your carriage," Jason interjected.

Sharon and Arthur nodded slightly. With Jason leading the way, they stepped outside toward their waiting carriages.

Arthur halted and turned to Jason. "Thank you for the warm welcome, Sir Jason."

Jason smiled and gave a small nod. "You're welcome, Young Master Avaron. Visit anytime if you have the chance."

"Of course," Arthur replied.

Beside him, Sharon observed their exchange with growing confusion.

She had feared that the Duke of Everhart would harm Aron and impose a severe punishment. But from the way they interacted, it didn't seem like that had happened.

Question marks seemed to hover over Sharon's head as confusion took hold of her.

Just as she was lost in thought, Arthur gently took her hand. "Let's get going, Princess."

Sharon flinched slightly, her face reddening, but she didn't pull away.

With a shy expression, she gave Jason a small nod before stepping into the carriage.

Arthur followed her, and soon after, the carriage set off.

Watching them leave, Jason let out a quiet sigh, rubbing his temples.

"Who exactly is this man named Avaron? How did I not know that someone this remarkable existed in the kingdom?"

Despite his young age, Avaron exuded a subtle pressure—one that reminded him of facing his Lord.

Moreover, his speech and reasoning far surpassed those of any noble's son. Even the First Prince, renowned for his wisdom, fell short in comparison.

After pondering for a while, he found no answer and decided to set the matter aside for now.

He would investigate the man once he received his Lord's permission.

With that in mind, he turned and went back inside the mansion to deal with the chaos left in the wake of Celine's birthday party.

...

Rudy stood silently by the large window, his gaze fixed on Arthur's departing horse-drawn carriage.

His expression was a mix of doubt and contemplation as he pondered their earlier conversation.

***

"I have a way to cure her."

A faint smile appeared on Arthur's lips as he spoke with firm confidence.

Rudy was stunned, his eyes widening in disbelief. "What did you just say? You can cure her? Are you… serious?"

His fists clenched tightly, and he bit his lower lip hard.

For over a decade, he had searched tirelessly for a cure for the woman he loved. He had even held a secret contest, offering a massive reward to anyone who could find one.

Yet, after all these years, nothing had worked, leaving him drowning in despair.

And now, with Arthur's sudden claim, how could he not feel both shocked and skeptical?

No matter how extraordinary the man before him was, Rudy still struggled to believe his words.

Arthur, however, showed no sign of offense at his doubt. He already knew the plots and characters of this world, so he understood just how much Rudy had endured.

It was precisely that persistence that made Arthur want to cooperate with him—both through the Maple Leaf Trading House and personally.

"As I said before, I never speak nonsense. If I say something, it means it's true," Arthur replied casually.

In an instant, Rudy's anxiety and skepticism melted away, replaced by overwhelming joy.

"Young Master Avaron… If you truly have a cure, I beg you—please save her!" Rudy stammered, bowing his head. "I swear, I'll do anything in return!"

That woman was his entire world, and he couldn't bear the thought of losing her. As long as there was hope, he would do anything to save her!

Arthur, seeing this, was satisfied but not in a rush. He calmly said, "I appreciate your gesture, Lord Duke. But since this is a cooperation, I will first present my condition."

Rudy looked up, took a deep breath, and nodded with determination.

"Please, go ahead, Young Master Avaron," he replied, his expression serious.

Arthur smiled and laid out his request. "I want the Everhart family to fully support Princess Sharon in the upcoming battle for the throne."

Rudy's eyes widened in shock.

"Support Princess Sharon? Young Master Avaron, you…"

Before Rudy could finish, Arthur nodded slightly and interrupted him.

"Yes, I want her to ascend the throne as the future ruler of the Magic Kingdom of Valdom."

***

"Making an outcast princess the Queen and ruler of the kingdom? If anyone else had said that, I'd have thought they were insane."

Rudy snapped out of his thoughts and let out a helpless sigh. He lifted his gaze to the bright moon overhead.

"But since it's Avaron… I believe it can truly happen."