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

"Young master..." Runa's eyes fluttered open, and she whispered Arthur's name.

In an instant, tears streamed down her cheeks as she cried her heart out.

"So... you are really alive, my young master..." Runa attempted to wipe away her tears, but the flood of emotions—both sorrow and joy—prevented her from stopping crying.

After shedding tears for a few minutes, Runa slowly got up and settled herself on the bed, searching the room for any sign of Arthur, but he was nowhere to be seen.

"Young master?" Runa's gaze swept across the room, but it yielded no trace of him.

Just as she was about to stand up, a sharp pang of pain shot through her underside.

"Ugh~" Grimacing, Runa peered down, trying to discern the source of her discomfort.

"That's right! Last night..." The memories of the previous night's incident rushed back, causing her cheeks to burn with a deep blush.

As she shifted on the bed, she felt something and saw a red stain on the sheets, which only heightened her embarrassment.

"I'll have to keep this as a memorable moment!" She mumbled to herself, still feeling awkward, and then, mustering her strength, she managed to stand up.

"The pain is quite intense..." Runa bit her lip and proceeded to carefully straighten and fold the bed sheets.

Afterward, she gazed at a large mirror positioned at the end of the room.

She approached a large mirror positioned at the end of the room and gazed at her reflection.

Her hand caressed her face while she murmured, "So, it seems I have indeed reincarnated. Or rather, my memories as Mira should have reawakened a long time ago..."

Runa's brow furrowed as she slowly closed her eyes, calmly absorbing the implications.

However, amid this process, a haunting memory of her contemplating suicide in her previous life due to her intense longing for her young master, Zayn Welston, stealthily resurfaced in her mind.

"And it's true that the young master has indeed reincarnated into this world as the heir of Duke Asvold's family..." Runa's eyes widened, and a sense of longing and love shimmered within them.

"I don't know who orchestrated this, but it seems fate has inexorably tied us together..." Her eyes glistened with tears of joy, and she struggled to put her happiness into words.

Initially, she felt hopeless and decided to end her life, yearning to reunite with her young master in the afterlife.

However, she could never have anticipated that she would regain her memories and be reborn as the personal servant to her young master, who had also experienced reincarnation!

How could she not be overwhelmed with profound happiness?

In an instant, her eyes narrowed and her expression turned icy, consumed by the memory of the person she loathed so deeply.

"Charlotte!" Runa ground her teeth, seething with hatred at the mere thought of the woman who had robbed her of her young master's life!

"I'm uncertain if she, too, has been reincarnated into this world, but since I've experienced reincarnation, I must remain vigilant about the potential of her returning as well!" Runa deftly formulated some strategies in her mind.

With her newly awakened memories as Mira, she realized she needed to be strategic in choosing how to protect her young master.

"Strength... I must attain extraordinary strength to safeguard my young master and prevent a repeat of the tragic incident that led to his death in his previous life as Zayn Welston!" Runa clenched her fists and took a deep breath.

Swiftly, she turned her body around, pushing aside the lingering discomfort in her underside as it became insignificant in comparison to her determination to grow stronger.

Her entire focus was now dedicated to finding ways to increase her strength!

However, just as she was about to leave with the bed sheets in her hands, her eyes caught sight of a letter and a book on the table.

Curiosity piqued, she glanced at the author's name on the letter and was taken aback to see "Arthur Asvold."

"A letter from the young master?!" Runa placed the bedsheet on the table, her hands trembling with excitement as she carefully unfolded the letter and began reading.

After a few minutes of absorbing the heartfelt contents, tears once again welled up and escaped from the corners of her eyes.

"How long has it been since I've seen his handwriting, which still feels so familiar?" She embraced the letter, overcome with a wave of nostalgia.

Though she had done such a thing with her young master, that was before her full awakening as Mira.

"I understand that the young master is currently away from the mansion, having departed with Lady Vivian for Arkham." Runa carefully put the letter away and nodded to herself.

Her eyes then fell upon a book containing notes on various governmental issues and their solutions—a valuable resource she could utilize during her young master's absence!

"You never change, my dear young master~" Runa laughed foolishly and immediately hugged the book tightly.

Afterward, she picked up the bed sheets, walked out of the room, and paused to take one last look around.

"I will ensure that the same incident as before never happens again, young master." She whispered to herself.

"I promise!" She vowed to herself, and with that determination, she turned her back to the room and limped away, heading towards the outside.

On a horse-drawn carriage.

Arthur gazed up at the sky, his mind seemingly preoccupied with thoughts that left Vivian feeling a little confused.

"Honey, are you thinking about your engagement?" Vivian asked, her concern evident in her voice as she gently rubbed his cheek.

Startled by Vivian's question, Arthur swiftly turned to face her, mustering a reassuring smile.

"Don't worry, Mom. It's just that I have a few concerns on my mind, and they are causing me some stress." Arthur sighed and shook his head.

Upon hearing this, Vivian's eyes immediately lit up, sensing that this might be the right moment for her beloved son to confide in her.

"What is it, my son? Can you share your thoughts with me?" Vivian smiled gently, reaching out to hold Arthur's hand.

Arthur's expression furrowed slightly as he responded, "Emperor Alex."

"My concern lies with Emperor Alex, Mom." Arthur gave Vivian a serious look.

Taken aback by Arthur's answer, Vivian pondered for a moment before asking, "Do you have any reservations about him, my dear?"

Vivian, recognizing the sensitivity of the topic, inquired in a composed tone.

Noticing Vivian's sudden silence, Arthur realized that he might have inadvertently offended her.

However, he remained unfazed, fully aware of Vivian's deep love for him and certain she wouldn't get angry over a trivial matter like this.

With a nod, Arthur reclined on the sofa, seeking comfort in its embrace.

"Right, Mom."

"To be honest, I've always been wary of Emperor Alex for a long time because his mind is so profound and enigmatic that I can't fathom it at all." Arthur explained his feelings, and Vivian listened attentively, nodding as if she understood. 𝚋𝚎ｄｎｏ𝚟𝚎ｌ.ｎ𝚎𝚝

After Arthur finished speaking, he continued, asking, "You won't be upset if I talk about this, Mom?"

Upon hearing this, Vivian's expression softened, and she leaned her head against Arthur's shoulder, offering comfort and support.

"Fool, how could I get angry with you over something like this, my dear?" Vivian spoke softly.

"Instead, I'm upset that you didn't share your worries with me earlier." She grumbled in annoyance, her lips pursing slightly.

Arthur, already anticipating Vivian's reaction, chuckled and gently rubbed her palm.

"I'm sorry, Mom. I didn't mean to distrust you; I just didn't want to burden you with my concerns." Arthur said tenderly, trying to alleviate her irritation.

Suddenly, Vivian playfully pinched his hand and spoke irritably.

"You should have told me so that I could share all the information I know about my brother to ease your worries, you know?" She looked at Arthur with a touch of anger.

"As his sister, I understand some aspects of his nature, which might help you feel more at ease." She shook her head and sighed lightly.

Realizing his mistake, Arthur continued to play with Vivian's palm and earnestly apologized.

"Well, since this is my mistake, please forgive me, mother," Arthur said, pretending to be spoiled as he apologized.

Observing Arthur's admission of his mistake, Vivian felt a sense of joy in finally winning against her overly intelligent and clever son.

"Humph! You bet!" She smiled happily, her expression slightly smug.

Feeling assured that everything was now settled, Arthur chuckled and asked, "So, can you tell me about Emperor Alex, mom?"

Vivian nodded slightly, folding her arms across her chest so that her massive breasts were squeezed.

"When it comes to him, to be honest, Big Brother was quite jolly and affectionate when he was young," Vivian reminisced, her voice tinged with nostalgia.

"I remember how he used to smile at me and take me to play in the palace gardens."

"However, I can't pinpoint exactly when his nature started to change, but it was around the time when the Empress Mother passed away." She frowned, her expression turning gloomy.

"The emperor's father, devastated by the loss of the empress mother, soon followed her in death, leaving my brother and me, still young, behind." Vivian let out a small sigh.

Arthur, upon hearing this, felt a profound sense of surprise and sadness for Emperor Alex's past.

Nevertheless, he refrained from interrupting and continued to listen.

"My brother and I stuck together during that tumultuous period because we had to protect ourselves from a series of assassinations plotted by imperial traitors," she continued.

"The throne remained vacant, and even though my brother was the rightful heir, the power-hungry monsters and traitors refused to relinquish their ambitions for it."

"Numerous attempts were made on both our lives until he swiftly rose to become an exceptionally powerful elemental at a young age," she said with admiration in her voice.

"He vanquished all the traitors, but in doing so, many lives were lost. By the time he ascended the throne, he had gained a formidable reputation as the 'Emperor Who Rose Through the River of Blood' among the Luvic nobles throughout the four regions," she said, clenching her palms in annoyance at her brother's association with such a title.

Arthur was taken aback by the story and equally amazed by Emperor Alex's extraordinary journey.

"Damn! What a cool title!" Arthur marveled inwardly, but he refrained from uttering it aloud.

Vivian continued with her story: "Since becoming Emperor Balka, I've never seen him smile at all." She gazed up at the skyline outside the carriage and continued.

"However, there was an event that made me see him smile very happily..." Her gaze shifted to Arthur, and she looked at him intently.

Intrigued, Arthur met Vivian's serious gaze and asked, "When was it?"

Vivian briefly closed her eyes and then opened them again. "It was when he married his wife, the Balka's Empress, Emily Wilhem, the daughter of the Wilhem family!"