When Lady Hamilton was informed that a royal carriage had stopped in front of the manor, she hurried to greet the visitor. Her husband was out on some business, so she had no idea what could have happened for someone from the palace to come here. Of course, she did not expect the person stepping out of the carriage to be the Emperor himself!
Thanks to her husband, Lady Hamilton had learned to maintain her composure in any situation. Although she was excited by the Emperor's first visit to her home, she calmly responded to Elias's apology for arriving unannounced:
"Please don't say that, Your Majesty. We are honored to have you in our home."
They invited him inside. Before being taken to the guest room, Elias said he had come to see Arthur.
Lady Hamilton said apologetically:
"He's been very busy these days. Even we barely see him. I don't think I can get him out of his room."
"Then I'll go myself."
A servant guided Elias. They stopped at the door, and the servant knocked a few times:
"Sir, His Majesty the Emperor wishes to see you."
Arthur's shout came from the other side:
"Tell him I'm very busy!"
"But sir…"
Elias took hold of the doorknob:
"No need, I'll go in myself."
He opened the door and entered with a smile:
"Hello Arthur, how are you?"
The room was filled with stacks of papers scattered everywhere—from the desk and chairs to the corners of the floor. But aside from paper, there was nothing else in the room.
"Arthur?"
A voice came from behind the piles stacked on the desk:
"Didn't I say I'm busy? Come back later."
Elias stepped carefully and moved a few papers aside to make space for himself on the sofa. He glanced at one of the sheets:
"Looks like you're busy."
"Looks like? Yeah, right. And why would I be busy? In just these seven days, more than two thousand people have registered. Sorting them is easy, isn't it?"
Elias let out a small laugh:
"Stop complaining so much."
Arthur grumbled:
"Why shouldn't I complain? Fine, you do it yourself."
"As they say, everyone is made for a certain job."
Arthur pushed aside several stacks of papers. His face finally appeared. He was wearing only a simple shirt. His blond hair was messy, falling over his sunken eyes. With a sharp look he said:
"So that means I'm supposed to be your servant?"
Elias didn't let up:
"This is just the beginning. When you become my advisor, you'll be even busier than this."
Arthur pushed his hair back and glared at him:
"I don't think so. Otherwise you wouldn't have had enough free time to come see me this early in the morning."
"I, unlike some people, get my work done on time."
Arthur shouted:
"Are you throwing shade at me right now?"
Elias couldn't hold back his laughter. Arthur was still angry:
"Let me guess… were we His Majesty's little break-time entertainment without knowing it?"
Elias turned toward him:
"You're doing your job excellently. Thank you."
The sincerity in his voice was enough to soften Arthur. He backed down a little:
"You still haven't said why you came."
"I wanted to see the list of participants from the capital."
Arthur began shuffling through the papers on the desk and said as he searched:
"There are more participants than I expected. Both nobles and commoners. Looks like they really think they can win easily."
Elias stood and moved in front of the desk to catch the papers Arthur was clumsily tossing around:
"Didn't you explain anything about the stages in your announcement?"
While flipping through a stack of papers quickly, Arthur replied:
"No, because then they'll prepare themselves."
He finally found the paper he wanted. Elias sat again and began reading the list. Arthur, now warmed up, continued:
"I'm sure a lot of the city girls will be eliminated in the first stage. Literacy isn't something everyone has. Education is expensive, and most parents prefer their daughters learn housekeeping. Noble girls only learn to read so they can manage household expenses. Of course, many of them are top students from the academy, but—"
"Arthur!"
Arthur looked at him in confusion:
"Yes?"
Elias stood up and faced the desk:
"You haven't closed the registration yet, right?"
Arthur ran a hand through his hair:
"Well, honestly, since today is the last day, I doubt anyone else will come. I was thinking if I start tonight, I'll get ahead of my work."
Elias leaned toward him and said very seriously:
"Keep registration open until midnight. Understood?"
Arthur protested:
"Why should I do that? Anyone who wanted to join would've come by now."
"If you do it, I'll reward you."
"I'm not bribed that easily."
"Two weeks of vacation. In the coastal city of Leo."
Arthur raised his finger in agreement:
"Done! Don't worry."
Elias quickly turned and left the room. Arthur muttered under his breath:
"I'm sure he's going to see her."
Elias got into the carriage and headed toward the Walker residence.
Daisy's name wasn't on the list.