What? I Actually Reincarnated As Stepping Stone In Another World?

North of the Human Continent

Aurora Empire

"Your Majesty, there is urgent news from our spies stationed within the Balka Empire\'s territory!" The young woman, her face radiating beauty, bowed respectfully towards the curtained bed.

She donned a suit of armor in a captivating shade of water blue, her waist adorned with a gleaming longsword.

Undoubtedly, her striking allure and piercing countenance possessed a captivating allure that was entirely distinct.

The air surrounding her exuded an unmistakable distortion, a testament to her immense power.

Following the young woman\'s statement, the curtain veiled over the bed gradually parted, unveiling an exceptionally stunning figure.

Her cascading locks of silky blue hair gracefully trailed down her back.

Her exquisitely delicate countenance defied any attempt to label it as a mere work of art.

In the presence of this woman, women across the globe would unanimously declare her the epitome of beauty, leaving no room for disagreement.

Had Arthur laid eyes upon her, he would have been overwhelmed with terror, his voice involuntarily erupting into fearful screams as he pointed at her, exclaiming, "By the heavens, she is undeniably my mother, the Empress!"

"She deserves the title of the ultimate boss, second only to the main antagonist!" Regrettably, he missed the opportunity to witness her grandeur.

Indeed, this remarkable woman was none other than Elizabeth, Arthur\'s beloved mother.

Upon receiving the news, Elizabeth nodded ever so slightly, her expression unyielding and unchanged.

"Do you bring tidings of significance?" Her tone held a casual indifference, as if the information held little importance to her.

Observing the woman\'s apathetic countenance, the young woman before her revealed no signs of anger or resentment.

Instead, a distinct admiration shone brightly on her face, honoring the remarkable figure sitting before her.

"Indeed, Your Majesty," the young woman replied with the utmost respect.

"We have received crucial information from the Balka Empire," she continued reverently.

Elizabeth inquired in a composed manner, "Pray tell, what is the news?"

Promptly, the young woman rose and retrieved the scroll secured at her waist.

With deliberate poise, she unfurled the scroll, her gaze focused as she recited, "We have obtained three significant pieces of news."

"Firstly," the young woman began, her voice filled with urgency, "we have detected undeniable indications of an impending conflict that threatens to shatter the long-standing truce between the Savaran Empire and the Balka Empire—a truce that has persevered for over a decade but now appears on the brink of collapse."

Elizabeth listened attentively with her eyes closed, refraining from interrupting the young woman as she divulged the news.

"Secondly," the young woman continued, her voice tinged with a hint of secrecy, "we have unearthed a deeply concealed secret, acquired through arduous efforts."

"It has come to our knowledge that Duke Asvold, the ruler of the southern region within the Balka Empire, has departed from the heart of the Asvold family mansion."

"He now leads his main army to safeguard the borders of the southern and eastern regions of the Balka Empire, vigilantly monitoring any movements by the Savaran Empire." The young woman provided intricate details of the news.

Elizabeth\'s countenance subtly shifted upon hearing the second piece of news, her hands gradually clenching.

Unaware of the change in Elizabeth\'s expression, the young woman continued with her narrative.

Once Elizabeth had composed herself, she gazed at the young woman before her, curiosity etched in her eyes. "Then, in Duke Asvold\'s absence, who is tasked with overseeing the southern region, Noel?" she inquired.

Noel, the young woman, was caught off guard by Elizabeth\'s sudden display of curiosity, which ignited her own sense of intrigue.

"Why does the Empress display such an unexpected curiosity?" Noel wondered inwardly, her thoughts racing.

Suddenly, a realization struck her.

"It\'s possible that the Empress hails from the southern region herself, which would explain her interest in the matter," Noel deduced, finding a plausible explanation.

After a brief moment of contemplation, Noel\'s excitement grew evident.

"Of course! It\'s none other than the crown prince of the Asvold mansion, renowned for his remarkable demeanor and a striking appearance!"

"Arthur Asvold!" she exclaimed, her voice filled with fervor.

The young woman\'s eyes sparkled with admiration as she uttered his name, an unmistakable expression of her deep admiration for Arthur Asvold.

Upon hearing that name, a radiant smile graced Elizabeth\'s typically impassive face.

In an instant, her countenance transformed as she whispered softly, unconsciously running her fingers through his hair, "Arthur, my beloved son~"

Noel, now regaining her composure, refocused on the scroll, and her eyes widened in astonishment. "Ah!" she exclaimed, taken aback.

"Your Highness," she continued, her voice filled with surprise.

Elizabeth shifted her gaze towards Noel, her eyes filled with curiosity and a hint of astonishment.

"The third piece of news appears to be linked to Prince Arthur!" Noel exclaimed, her voice brimming with excitement that contrasted with her usual serious and sharp demeanor.

Upon hearing this revelation, Elizabeth was taken aback, her excitement evident in her voice as she spoke in a tone she had never used before.

"What is it?" she urgently inquired, her words laced with a sense of urgency.

"Tell me quickly!"

Observing Elizabeth\'s abrupt shift in demeanor, Noel couldn\'t help but feel a sense of strangeness and confusion.

However, she brushed aside her thoughts and began reading the latest news, aware of its importance.

"This information is classified as top secret and remains speculative at this stage," Noel explained cautiously, uncertain of Elizabeth\'s reaction.

"Even our sources within the palace are unsure of its validity. Would you still like me to proceed?"

Elizabeth, showing indifference, urged her on: "Go ahead, read it."

Noel nodded and began to read the news slowly, fully aware of the significance it held.

"It seems that Prince Arthur will be betrothed to Princess Lucia by Emperor Balka, hm?" Noel whispered, her voice filled with confusion as she absorbed the content of the news.

Unbeknownst to her, Elizabeth, who overheard this revelation, froze in place.

The brightness that had illuminated her eyes upon hearing about Arthur was swiftly replaced by somberness.

An unusually potent aura began to emanate from her, gradually intensifying as it permeated the air around her.

Elizabeth asked stiffly, "Do you think this news is true?"

Unaware of the impact her words had on Elizabeth, Noel instinctively nodded and responded, "The news is presented with such certainty that the likelihood of it being a mere rumor is exceedingly low."

*Boom!*

The entire palace trembled violently, causing Noel to shudder in fear as she instinctively sensed the disturbance.

With her head held rigidly, she gradually lifted her gaze towards Elizabeth, only to be met with a visage of deadly determination.

"This... Your Highness?!" she exclaimed, her voice filled with hysteria and disbelief.

...

At Duke Asvold\'s Mansion

Arthur, reclining on the balcony of his room, gazing up at the serene night sky, was abruptly jolted awake.

He swiftly straightened his posture, a strange sensation of goosebumps prickling his skin for no apparent reason.

"Strange..." he murmured, a hint of unease tainting his thoughts.

"Is someone cursing me?" Arthur pondered aloud, gradually regaining his composure as he tried to dismiss the unsettling feeling.

Shaking off the lingering unease, Arthur reclined back down in a relaxed manner.

Today, he felt a sense of contentment as he successfully gained Rian as his ally, and the prospect of delving into Rian\'s mana manipulation theory excited him.

However, he acknowledged that there were more pressing matters at hand before he could fully focus on training.

One such task was to visit the mansion of the high-level Luvic family—the Weis family!

Before delving into his training, he needed to fulfill this obligation and complete the tasks associated with it.

Arthur had made a commitment to Anna to visit the Weiss mansion the following day to address trade-related matters.

Over the course of more than a decade, their bond strengthened and their relationship blossomed.

Arthur took it upon himself to guide Anna, sharing his wealth of business knowledge and expertise.

Indeed, Anna\'s innate talent and acumen assured her future success as an exceptional businesswoman, independent of Arthur\'s guidance.

Nevertheless, Arthur recognized the need to expedite Anna\'s growth and enhance her acquisition of business skills, leveraging her exceptional talents.

The knowledge that the plots and storylines he was familiar with had undergone significant distortions prompted him to strategize meticulously.

He understood that his current advantages might not remain his trump cards in the future.

With this in mind, Arthur devoted himself to thorough preparations and actively worked to accelerate the development of various characters, including Anna and Elena, who were already under his guidance.

He aimed to ensure their swift progression and equip them with the necessary tools to navigate the unpredictable future that lay ahead.

"By the way, speaking of Elena, that young girl is most likely still undergoing training under the supervision of Duke Asvold\'s main force commander," Arthur reflected, his mind drifting to the little Elena he had rescued long ago.

"It\'s fortunate for her to have the opportunity to refine her skills."

"In the future, she will undoubtedly fulfill her destiny as the revered goddess of light, just as in the story," Arthur mused, a faint smile gracing his lips.

Suddenly, a thought struck him, prompting him to call out to Arthasia.

"Arthasia, are you here?" he called out, seeking the presence of his Arthasia.

A soft glow materialized above Arthur\'s chest, revealing the ethereal form of little Arthasia.

"What can I assist you with, my master?" She inquired, her gentle smile adorning her face as she nestled against Arthur\'s broad chest.

Unfazed by her proximity, Arthur maintained his curiosity as he posed his query.

"Arthasia, can you inform me if there are any elemental arts associated with the power of space that could serve as a reward?"

His finger extended, gently caressing Arthasia\'s cheek as he continued, "You see, in this world, besides myself, no one else has awakened space cores—except for those who existed hundreds of thousands of years ago."

He recited the enigmatic words spoken by the mysterious woman.

Arthasia\'s sudden realization prompted her to sit up, perched on Arthur\'s chest, with a sense of urgency.

"Oh, Master, I completely forgot to inform you!" she exclaimed.

Arthur\'s brows furrowed as he questioned her, "What is it that you forgot to tell me?"

Embarrassed, Arthasia stretched and spoke softly: "I forgot to mention that you actually triggered the mission to conquer Rian Fanhard earlier."

Upon hearing this, Arthur\'s mouth twitched at the corner, and he wore a restrained expression as he inquired, "Does that mean my reward will be withheld?"

Arthasia scratched her lips, her laughter tinged with embarrassment. "Hehehe, well..."

At that moment, Arthur\'s demeanor changed, with a sinister smile creeping across his face as he nodded subtly. "I understand now. So, this is how it is."

As he abruptly stood up, Arthasia lost her balance and tumbled to the floor, letting out a pained "Ouch!" while rolling slightly.

Rubbing her slightly sore head, she complained, "Master, why did you suddenly get up like that?"

However, as she lifted her head to gaze at Arthur, her expression froze in an instant.

"Ma-masster, w-why are you smiling like that?" Arthasia asked nervously, feeling a sense of unease wash over her.

Hearing her question, Arthur\'s smile remained unchanged as he replied casually, "Oh, don\'t worry about it."

Arthasia\'s uneasiness grew, and she couldn\'t shake off the feeling that something was amiss.

"It\'s just that there\'s a naughty girl to be disciplined." Arthur continued.

As Arthur\'s words sank in, Arthasia\'s body stiffened, and she let out a forced, nervous laugh.

"Oh, haha, who might that be?" Arthasia nervously chuckled, desperately trying to lighten the atmosphere as she searched for an escape route.

But the intensity of Arthur\'s gaze made it clear that there was no escaping the consequences that awaited her.

Arthasia tensed her body, preparing to make a swift escape.

However, before Arthasia could make her escape, Arthur swiftly caught hold of her, preventing her from fleeing.

"Where do you think you\'re going, little girl?" Arthur\'s voice carried a stern tone.

"No!" Arthasia\'s scream filled the room as Arthur proceeded to administer his punishment.

The sound of her cries echoed from the balcony, reverberating throughout the chamber.

---------

This is a relaxed chapter before the next tense chapter, so nothing too serious unless Elizabeth is probably going crazy, coughing!