Shaping Narrative.

Author's Note:

>> Bonus Chapter <<

>> Just a note reminding you that if you like to read this work, then please take a bit of your time and give a review. It really helps.

Enjoy~

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"There we go. I hope you find these conditions satisfactory."

Arther stated as he presented the final contract to Garbell after discussing the minute details of it with him.

The contract basically had four provisions. They were-

Number 1: Arther will not harm Prince Garbell in any way or form or manipulate others to harm him and stay out of the race for the throne.

Number 2: Garbell will not try to harm Arther and his mother in any way or manipulate others to harm them.

Number 3: Arther must never announce that he is a child carrying royal blood.

Number 4: Garbell will provide 10,000 Asuran Gold Coins to Arther as compensation.

Garbell read the contract with details, trying to see if he had missed anything, before finding it satisfactory and giving it back to Arther, saying, "It is acceptable."

"Good. Let's proceed with the contract then." Arther said.

To which Garbell replied, "Alright."

"Drop your blood on the contract." Arther instructed as he proceeded to do the same.

After they both dropped their blood on the contract, it glowed before starting to tear itself apart until it finally vanished out of existence.

Simultaneously, Arther and Garbell experienced chains constructed with Mana encircling their hearts, a sign that the agreement had been made and that the one who violated it would suffer the agony of having his heart torn by those chains.

"Finally, it's done, Prince Garbell." Arther said with a smile.

"Indeed it is, Arther." Gabell replied with courtesy befitting a prince.

"I hope that you will not target me anymore as the Boreas family supports you to become the king." Arther made his position clear once more.

That's encouraging to know."

"Alright, it is time for me to leave for the household now."

That marked the end of Arther and Garbell's fruitful meeting.

-----

On the journey back.

Inside the carriage, Arther was fast asleep, and Ghislaine was staring at him intently.

This continued for half an hour until finally, "What is it, Ghislaine-dear?" Arther asked as he opened his eyes.

"I don't understand why you don't want the throne." She voiced.

"Who said I don't want it? I just don't want the burden of administering such a big kingdom.

So until I find people who will administer the kingdom for me, I have no interest in becoming the king." Arther answered honestly.

"I see. But won't the contract stop you from becoming one? Plus, you can't manipulate someone else to do your bidding and kill Garbell either." Ghislaine's query was viable.

"Indeed, I can't and I won't." Arther replied with a smile.

"Then how?"

"Simple. It's because he is unfit."

Ghislaine frowned at his answer.

How did he know that Garbell was unfit when he had yet to show anything in terms of policies?

Hmph-!

She snorted at him and said, "I don't understand you. It seems as if you know what he will do in the future."

To this, Arther just smiled and didn't reply.

While in his mind, he thought, 'Of course, I know. After all, Orsted will kill him anyway. That will be the time I seize the kingdom.'

Seeing him like this annoyed the curious Ghislaine, so she stopped speaking and looked away from Arther.

"Don't get angry, Ghislaine. Everything will soon be revealed. The narrative has been shaped now; just the wait remains." Arther spoke mysteriously.

"I still don't understand anything, but I will believe you this time." Ghislaine responded.

By this time, they had also returned to the household.

The first thing Arther did after arriving back was to meet his mother and tell her about the meeting between him and the prince, albeit a more downplayed version of it.

He didn't want Hilda to see him as some mastermind just yet.

"I am really sorry for you, my son. It's because of me that you will not be able to claim your rightful throne." Hilda expressed aggrievement.

She naturally desired for her son to become king and take the throne of Asura.

Alas-!

At least for the time being, her hopes would remain just that—hopes!

"Don't feel sorry, mother." Arther hugged her lightly and replied.

After that, they talked a bit more before Arther finally took his leave, saying he had some training to do.

As he moved towards the training area, he was greeted with the site of his brother, Phante Boreas Grayrat, who was swinging his swords. 

He was not very good at it and was only at Beginner-level.

It seemed as if he was trying to show off his sword skills to someone.

And indeed, Arther was right!

Phante was trying to impress none other than Ghislaine, who was still looking at him with the same cold expression.

-----

While Arther was busy with Hilda.

Phante, the apparent heir to the Boreas family, was in high spirits. This was the situation that had existed for the last few weeks since his older, illegitimate brother gave up the title.

He felt like he had won a big battle by being acknowledged, not like that brother of his, whom he felt was a disgrace.

This was the way his mind was wired from the start.

When he was three years old, his father and grandfather had already informed him the truth about his sibling since they intended for him to become the family's future head.

The youngster developed a loathing for his sibling and mother as a result of them. They knew Phante was their key to keeping Hilda chained and Arther by extension.

The 'old' Arther, of course. For the 'new' Arther, Phante was but a pawn to shape the narrative to make Hilda his and cuck Phillip again.

Coming back to the scene, today Phante was sent by his grandfather to fetch his brother, as he wished to know about Arther's actions in the capital.

After all, Ghislaine's actions had spread across the noble community like wildfire, and this had made Arther famous throughout the capital.

Phante also heard bits and pieces of it and was extremely jealous of his brother, whom he heard had a sexy and strong maid who even had a tattoo of his name on her intimate region.

From the housemaids, Phante learned that Arther was going to come to the training area to train soon. So he went there to call him but he was greeted by the sight of Ghislaine practising her sword skills.

Phante's eyes almost bulged out of their sockets, seeing how hot Ghislaine was.

Her chocolate skin was glistening with sweat, which made her look like a dangerous weapon both on the physical and emotional battlefield.

He had yet to reach five and didn't have a libido yet, so it was a relief, or else he would have jumped on Ghislaine directly, only to be killed.

He was excited about the prospect of getting her as his maid, but the sight of Arther's name on her lower abdomen made his blood boil as he pointed out, "Why are you a great warrior slave to someone like Arther?"

"Who are you, Pipsqueak?"

Ghislaine stopped swinging her sword and asked.

"I am Phante, the heir of the family. Don't you dare call me a pipsqueak again. And you haven't answered me yet." Phante snarled.

'So he is the brother, huh. Quite disappointing.' Her mind directly compared him to Arther.

'No, it would be better to say that nobody can compare to him.' She thought.

In fact, Phante was extremely talented, and the 'old' Arther's talent wasn't even near him but Ghislaine had only seen the 'new' one, so she didn't know.

And the 'new' one never showed what he was capable of to anyone except for her.

"I am not answerable to you, PIPSQUEAK!" Ghislaine smirked.

Arrgh!

Phante screamed in anger and yelled, "Shut up, bitch! You are nothing but a lowly slave of that illicit bastard."

Hearing him Ghislaine's eyebrows twitched for a second. If not for her having the control of a Sword King, the guy would be dead for insulting her.

'I feel pity for you.' She thought in her mind, as she knew even if she let him be, her owner would not.

Overlooking her reaction, Phante spoke, "Now you know, bitch. But as the benevolent heir, I will give you an opportunity.

Leave that bastard and become my slave. You will have all the riches of being my slave, and not only that, you may also have a chance to share a bed with me."

Now this guy was really irritating her, so she started swinging her sword again, completely disregarding his existence.

Phante was left flabbergasted, seeing her treat him as if he were not here, and he shouted again, "Bitch, don't ignore me. I am a lot better than that bastard in terms of swords."

"Oh really." She voiced in the midst of swinging her sword.

After completing the swing, she looked at him with a cunning light in her eyes and said, "How about you show it to me? And when Arther arrives, you beat him in a sword duel.

If you beat him in a duel, then I am yours."

As soon as she mentioned that, Phante became excited. He couldn't wait to get his hands on this beauty.

In fact, in his mind, he was already imagining her warming his bed.

Coming out of his thoughts, he replied, "You better remember that."

He took a sword and started swinging it, showing off the skills he had learned.

Of course, his great sword skills were only hilly-billy at best to Ghislaine, but she let him do that.

After all, one cannot truly experience the agony of falling until they have reached a great height.

…..

Author's Note:

>> Lemons coming back in next chapter. Get ready!

>> Check out my other work. I am sure you will definitely like it very much.

Title- LONE: The Journey Beyond

Link- https://www.webnovel.com/book/lone-the-journey-beyond_23576460306682905

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