Chapter 6: Chapter 6: Arrogant Miss Olivia

    In the King''s Chamber, Nightfall

    A soft creak echoed through the chamber as Arthur pushed the door open and stepped inside. He looked utterly exhausted, his shoulders slumped under the weight of the day''s burdens. With a heavy sigh, he threw himself onto the bed as he always did when he was back on earth. "Damn, it''s been a long day," he muttered, letting out a breath he didn''t realize he was holding.

    After his meeting with Duke Richard, there had been a flurry of things awaiting Arthur to do. He had to consult with the council to gather information about the kingdom situation, and then he spent hours in the library, poring over texts that yielded little of value. The weight of the kingdom''s issues pressed down on him, and he felt a familiar feeling when he was back on earth rushing to finishing his assignments.

    Even before his transmigration into Arthur Jr''s body, he had always been a workaholic. Back on Earth, he prioritized his studies and sought out projects to keep himself busy, often sacrificing social outings and gaming for the sake of academic success. When he felt overwhelmed by the works, he took some time to read manga and novels. It was a welcome escape from the pressures of deadlines. Compared to juggling three assignments due in the same week, this felt manageable, but it didn''t mean he wasn''t weary.

    Lying on his back, Arthur stared at the ceiling, lost in thought. After a few moments, he shook off his useless thoughts and began to review what he had learned that day.

    His discussion with the king''s council had been nothing but them kissing Arthur Jr''s ass. Most of the council members were so steeped in corruption that their discussions revolved around praising Arthur Jr. and congratulating him on the impending marriage to Olivia—a dream that the past Arthur had once dreamed of. Yet, amidst the flattery, there were a few who genuinely cared about the kingdom, but their voices were drowned out by the sycophants who dominated the conversation, faking that everything was under control.

    Arthur knew the council was corrupt, but punishing them outright would be disastrous. With 90% of the council tainted by greed, a swift retribution could lead to chaos. If they turned against him, the nation would crumble before he had a chance to restore it. So, he played the part of the dutiful king, listening carefully for any valuable information amidst the empty praise.

    Among the flattery, one crucial piece of information stood out: Keldoria was in a dire financial situation. When Chronos had helped defend in the war against Elysia, they had demanded an outrageous sum of 10 million Keldonian gold coins. The stupid Arthur in the past had accepted this demand without realizing the true cost of such a decision. Even if Arthur Jr that time doesn''t accept Chronos'' demand, Chronos still has to help Kelodria because when Keldoria were to get conquered, Chronos will suffer the most.No?v(el)B\\jnn

    "Ten million Keldonian gold, huh?" Arthur sighed, frustration bubbling within him. "That''s equivalent to three years'' worth of tax revenue from all the regions combined. What a foolish king." Even though the decision had been made long ago, the weight of that debt now rested squarely on his shoulders.

    "Where do I even begin?" he pondered, feeling the enormity of the task ahead.

    "Well, I should start with the problems right in front of me," he replied to himself, taking a deep breath to calm his racing thoughts.

    Olivia, taken aback, shouted, "What the hell are you laughing about?"

    "Do you really think you have the right to speak to a king in a arrogant way? Do you believe you can demand I not marry you simply because you''re pretty and you said so? There are lines in every situation. Let''s say I refuse to marry you and reject Duke Richard''s request—what do you think will happen to your family?" Arthur''s voice rose, filled with authority.

    Arthur paused for a moment before continuing, "I''ll tell you what will happen: the Dukedom of Luke will fall, and when it fall they might not kill you because of your beauty, you might be taken by another nation. Who knows what they would do to you?"

    Olivia fell silent, unable to respond, caught off guard by Arthur directness.

    Before she could gather her thoughts, Arthur pressed on, his voice firm. "Do you truly want that? Do you not know your place, Miss Olivia? Stop acting so arrogantly. Even if I did help, it won''t be just because I want to marry you. Do you have any idea how much three hundred thousand Keldo gold coins is? And remember, whatever decision I make tomorrow—whether to help or not—I still won''t marry you, Miss Oli... via...."

    As he was speaking, Arthur noticed Olivia trembling, fear evident in her eyes. When their gazes met, she suddenly burst into tears and rushed out of the room.

    Watching her flee, Arthur felt a pang of guilt. He opened his mouth to call after her, to offer comfort, but she was already gone, dashing down the hallway while wiping her tears.

    "Did I go too far? Will Duke Richard be angry?" he mumbled to himself, anxiety creeping in

    "Well, even if Richard is upset, it was Olivia who spoke so arrogantly and acted so childishly toward a king," he reassured himself, trying to quell the unease gnawing at him.

    "Well, she may be arrogant and rude, but at least she''s not like those cunning women who would exploit a naive man for their own gain. If only she were a bit more mature, she could be the perfect companion with that striking beauty of hers. I just hope she won''t hold a grudge against me tomorrow," Arthur mused, a mix of frustration and sympathy swirling within him.

    "I''ve made my decision regarding the request. I may need to negotiate with Richard, but if things take a turn for the worse, I can always use what happened tonight to my advantage in tomorrow''s discussions," he thought, determination creeping into his resolve.

    After a moment of contemplation, Arthur changed into his pajamas, eager to get some rest. He knew he needed to be alert and focused when facing Richard the next day, and a good night''s sleep was essential to regain his energy and fell asleep.