Before everyone could take their seats and resume their dinner, a man ran in. He swiftly made his way besides Vago and whispered in his ear.
"Half of the scouts died again, we couldn't find it, chief." Vago's stoic expression softened in disappointment, and he simply gestured for the scout to sit. He then turned his solemn gaze toward the empty seat beside him, where his daughter would usually sit.
Except now, she was bedridden. She had the infamous Winter Delirium disease. This disease was a rare curse that no healer could cure. It was the only thing that could trouble the king. He had been looking for a cure for months, with no success. Symptoms included unconsciousness, high fever, and a slow weakening of the heart that led to death. Her body would slowly freeze from within, making her skin cold to the touch. Vago's sadness was more chilling than the mountain air itself. He could not bear to see his little girl suffer so, and this powerlessness was what truly ate at his heart.
The only cure for his daughters' disease was a potion made with materials that were considered impossible to get. The eye of a Frostmane Direwolf, like one that Vago himself had only slain with great effort and a deep sacrifice in his youth. Its species has never had another confirmed sighting since. As for the Everwinter Rose, only one petal was needed. It was a mythical flower rumored to bloom only in the heart of the most dangerous, mana-rich glaciers, a place no one had ever returned from. He was at a loss for what to do. The king's hands
clenched into fists on the polished wood.
____________
In Ravenna, a dinner table was set for a very tense and formal meal. Lord Royce, Lady Blair, Young Master Benson and Sir Rufus Mast were already seated.
"You're late. You made Sir Rufus wait." Royce said in a harsh tone, the boy already standing and bowed respectfully to his father, who's face was stern and unforgiving. He then looked at the guest.
Rufus was a balding, hefty man in his late 50s, who gave him a small smile. Rufus stood up and walked over to Arthur, with a extended hand meant for shaking. Arthur, seeing the extended hand, prepared to shake it. He noticed how firm the man's grip was, a sign of his authority in this matter. After the handshake, Rufus's smile widened slightly, and he gestured toward the empty chair next to him.
"So you are Arthur? I must say, you look very pleasant to the eyes." Arthur felt a small surprise at this weird and unexpected compliment. He gave a polite nod in return to the man's words.
"I hope you had a pleasant trip to Ravenna, I know it's quite the distance from the Royal Capital." After they both were seated, Royce addressed the man.
Rufus gave a small nod and a smile, confirming that the long journey was well worth it. He then turned his attention back to Arthur, his gaze was full of curiosity. The true purpose of his visit was not just to sightsee, but he was ordered to look at and judge the young man's character. Whether Arthur could be trusted to carry forward this political marriage, between the Percivell Empire and Terian Island.
The man's stare was slightly licentious as it fixed it on Arthur.
"Tell me, young man, what do you hope to accomplish in your life, besides this alliance with Terian?" The question caught Arthur by surprise.
Wasn't this too direct and personal for a supposed first meeting with a government official. Arthur quickly cleared his throat and prepared to answer.
But before he could, Blair Ravenna answered the question for him.
"Fret not Sir Rufus. He is trained to be obedient and will only do what we order him to." She said with a proud and boastful small. "He will make for a fine stand-in, substitute king for Terian."
Her words just now more or less confirmed what Arthur was thinking. They planned to use him to gain Terian and then replace him with Benson. Of course, with a used chess piece, all they can do after is discard it. Arthur's face remained calm. They are all underestimating him too much, they don't know the true dragon who has now replaced this young boy. He would act perfectly in order to fool them for now. In fact, Arthur already had a plan.
'I am sure that Rufus is somehow connected to the royal treasury, and he would jump at any opportunity given to him like a dog. The Mast's were well-connected and even managed to weasel their way into a chair as representatives for the royal treasury in the future. Very well, I'll give you what you want Rufus Mast.'
"I see…" Rufus said in a pleasant tone. Rufus leaned back in his chair, his lecherous gaze was obvious, and his eyes were now fully focused on Arthur. He then smiled faintly as if he found some truth in Blair's words. "It is good that the boy is so agreeable," he said, and then took a sip of his wine.
"Lord Royce, I hear that Ravenna is facing some difficulties agriculturally due to the winter." Rufus said in a polite tone but his eyes were keen like a hawk that was probing intelligence. Royce's managed his face into an expressionless poker-face, but his grip on his wine glass tightened imperceptibly. Arthur watched them both.
This was Rufus's way of saying that he was also here under orders to survey the state of Ravenna in accordance with their claim of less than average reported income.
"Our agricultural output is facing some minor setbacks due to the winter, yes." Royce said with a voice that was flat and unmoving. Rufus's smile widened slightly. It was clear that he did not believe the words.
"Sir Rufus, what will the procedure of inspection for Arthur be?" Blair said.
Rufus took another sip of his wine. "Lady Blair, it will be quite simple and shouldn't affect you all too much. In a few days, he will undergo understanding and language tests with the scholar I have brought from the Royal Capital." He said. "There will also be a small test to see if he can defend himself in case of an assassination."
"Sir Rufus, this was not something that was agreed upon and sent as instructions." Royce said, now his voice was slightly in tension. He would not let the opportunity to claim Terian go easily.
Rufus gave a small shrug, his face remaining pleasant. "The first prince has included this last minute. Don't worry, these are just new... formalities," he said with a simple wave of his hand. Royce's jaw tightened, and he shot a glare at Blair, who gave back an oblivious stare.
"Very well, shall we?" Royce said through clenched teeth as he gestured at the food on the table, forcing on a polite smile.
Both the hefty Rufus and rotund Benson, didn't delay or deny their stomachs any longer and began to eat with enthusiasm.
After the dinner, Arthur was stopped by Rufus before he could take his leave.
"Let's chat for a bit, I want to talk to you." Rufus's face was pleasant and he turned to Royce, "I will take a walk around the estate is that's fine, Lord Royce. I'll have this young man show me around."
Royce's face tightened, but he quickly forced a smile. He knew a refusal would be a direct insult to the First Prince. "Of course, Sir Rufus, Arthur will be happy to accompany you."
Blair, on the other hand, looked pleased. This was an opportunity for the boy to get on Rufus's good side.. She thought this would be best.
Arthur was pleased as well. This was exactly the chance he needed to talk to the man alone. The both left.
Arthur led the way, walking along side Rufus. Both their footsteps crunching on the gravel path. The night was cold with winds blowing from Terian.
"I was hoping for a chance to speak with you privately, Sir Rufus." Arthur said.
"Oh? And why is that?" Rufus said with a lecherous grin on his face. It was clear he was thinking of indecent thoughts.
"I believe I can give you what you want." Arthur said.
Rufus, completely misunderstanding the situation, placed his hand over Arthur's shoulder and attempted to pull him closer, with his lecherous grin still on his face. Arthur was completely disgusted and slightly shook off his hand and took a step back from the man. "Sir Rufus, I am talking about politics, not… this."
'What the hell! What is this old pervert doing?'
Rufus's face dropped from the lecherous grin, and he looked at the young man with some confusion and anger. "What do you mean by that?" he asked.
"You may go first, Sir Rufus. I mean you wanted to speak with me first. It would be ill-mannered to speak first." Arthur said, trying to maintain both politeness and distance from the old man.
Rufus stared at Arthur in confusion. "Very well," he said, "I believe the Ravenna family has been altering their financial records in order to pay less tax."