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

Morning

Arthur and Vivian continued their journey to the Imperial Palace in a horse-drawn carriage.

They opted for a special route, once used exclusively by high-ranking noble guests heading to the Palace.

This decision saved them several hours, as the usual path would have been congested with the large number of people passing through in the morning.

"Is that the imperial palace?" Arthur peered out of the carriage window, admiring the splendor of the grand structure from such a close distance.

From outside the city walls, the palace appeared to be floating in the sky, but in reality, its immense size created the illusion.

Vivian, upon hearing Arthur's observation, also turned her gaze towards the palace with a profound sense of nostalgia, and a gentle smile appeared on her lips.

"Yes, this is the Imperial Palace," she replied softly, her voice carrying a hint of wistfulness.

Ever since her marriage to David, it has been quite a while since she last visited the palace.

Her interactions with it had been limited, except for occasional news exchanges with her niece, Lucia.

Despite being Emperor Alex's sister, Vivian's encounters with him were quite rare, except for a recent invitation to discuss an impending war.

However, she knew the invitation was merely a pretense to discuss her son's engagement to her niece, Lucia.

Finally, the carriage reached the palace gates, which were grand and heavily guarded by many formidable soldiers.

"Even the gate guards possess powers of three to five circles," Arthur marveled as he observed the scene.

He now realized the true might and influence of the Balka family.

From this alone, the vast disparity in power between the Balka family and the Asvold family became evident.

"However, I'm well aware that there must be numerous formidable individuals concealed within this palace," Arthur remarked, his gaze fixed on the resplendent structure before him.

After successfully passing the identity check and completing other formalities, the carriage proceeded deeper into the heart of the palace.

During the journey, Arthur witnessed a multitude of non-elemental and elemental warriors, ranging from one circle to eight circles, roaming around.

"Does the imperial family breed these powerful individuals like they do with pigs?" Arthur's lips twitched, and he couldn't help but shake his head in disbelief as he settled back into his seat.

Vivian, who had noticed Arthur's earlier uneasiness, couldn't help but become a little concerned.

"Honey, is something bothering you?" Her worried and caring tone made Arthur aware that he had likely displayed his surprise too overtly.

However, he quickly composed himself, adopting a calm and nonchalant expression as usual.

"It's okay, Mom," Arthur reassured her.

"I'm just truly amazed at the incredible power and sheer number of elementals present in the palace," he continued, his curiosity piqued.

To be honest, the sheer quantity of these elementals alone was quite terrifying.

Furthermore, while every five-year-old child experiences awakening each year, they need to reach the age of fifteen for their full awakening.

Observing the vast number of elementals present, Arthur couldn't help but comprehend the generations of accumulated resources and time the imperial family must have invested in their cultivation, showcasing their formidable power.

Considering this, it became apparent that the Asvold family might not possess comparable strength and resources.

In light of this, Arthur pondered how David could dare to rebel.

Surely, with his status and intelligence, he must have been aware of this discrepancy.

As Arthur was lost in thought, Vivian finally grasped the reason behind her son's confusion.

With a gentle smile, she replied, "Of course, my son."

"Do you remember the agreement forged by the three great families thousands of years ago?" Vivian asked Arthur, her curiosity evident.

Upon hearing this, Arthur furrowed his brow, recalling the history book that detailed the origins of the Balka Empire.

"Are you referring to the three great families that played a pivotal role in the formation of the Balka Empire?" Arthur asked Vivian with deep interest.

Vivian nodded in confirmation and continued, "Exactly, the three great families are the Balka family, the Asvold family, and the Wilhem family."

"The founders of these three families, who are also their respective ancestors, came together and forged an agreement to divide the territories, which eventually led to the establishment of four distinct regions," she calmly and elaborately explained.

As Vivian shared this historical insight, Arthur pondered the significance of her words.

He regarded Vivian with seriousness and curiosity, eager to learn more about the profound history that shaped their present circumstances.

Arthur's curiosity remained strong as he questioned, "How can the Balka family have control over fifty percent of the territory, while the other two families only possess twenty-five percent each?"

Despite having access to the library in the main mansion, he found little information about the manuscripts and books explaining the tri-family agreement.

Even the novel "The Birth of the Elemental Lord" omitted any discussion of this issue, which he deemed normal since the novel primarily focused on Abel's story and details unrelated to the protagonist wouldn't be included.

However, in the real world, such crucial details should not have eluded him, especially given the high-stakes situation he might face when dealing with figures like Emperor Alex and David.

Arthur realized he needed a thorough understanding of three families histories to make informed decisions and avoid potential pitfalls.

Upon hearing his question, she admitted, "To be honest, I don't know much either. The information I came across was from ancient manuscripts in the imperial library during my childhood."

"I must confess, I never had much interest in reading ancient texts and delving into history, so I didn't go through them thoroughly." Vivian shook her head, feeling a tinge of regret.

She couldn't help but wonder if sharing this knowledge with her son would have made him love her even more.

Unfortunately, her lack of information meant she couldn't provide him with deeper details.

Arthur smiled warmly and reassured her, saying, "It's alright, Mom."

"I can always explore the palace library later to find out more." He didn't harbor any anger because he understood that not everyone found ancient texts and manuscripts engaging—they could be rather tedious for some individuals.

Furthermore, Arthur acknowledged that his mother had obtained this information when she was just a child, which was quite commendable.

He knew he could always continue his research at the library later.

Vivian nodded in agreement, and the two exchanged warm smiles until the sudden halt of the carriage.

"Have we reached the center of the palace already?" Arthur muttered to himself.

"Knock!"

A knock on the carriage door echoed, and a guard's voice came from outside.

"Apologies for the interruption, Young Master Arthur and Lady Vivian," the guard respectfully greeted them.

"We have arrived at the center of the palace, Young Master and Lady Vivian," the guard informed.

Arthur looked at Vivian, and they both nodded in understanding.

Subsequently, Arthur slowly opened the carriage door and stepped out, with Vivian following closely behind him.

Arthur smiled warmly at the guard and expressed his gratitude for their concern and care.

The guard humbly bowed and replied, "It is our honor to accompany you, Young Master Arthur and Lady Vivian."

Arthur nodded appreciatively and then turned to Vivian.

"Shall we proceed directly inside?" he inquired.

However, before Vivian could respond, an elderly maid approached, accompanied by several guards.

"Welcome, Lady Vivian and Young Master Arthur," the old maid and the imperial guards said, greeting them with respectful bows.

Vivian, standing behind Arthur, was pleasantly surprised to see the old maid and responded with a happy smile.

"Grandma Maya!" Vivian exclaimed with excitement, embracing the old maid with longing.

"Lady, you've grown so much, and you're even more beautiful since your marriage." Maya, the old maid, gently hugged Vivian back.

Tears welled up in the corners of her eyes, as if she were reuniting with a grandchild she hadn't seen in a long time.

Arthur smiled warmly, recognizing the identity of the old woman before him. 𝑏𝑒𝘥𝑛𝘰𝑣𝑒𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝘮

Maya was the nanny who had lovingly cared for Vivian since her childhood, following the passing of the Empress and Emperor Balka at that time.

He felt genuinely happy that Vivian got to reunite with the person who had been her caretaker all those years.

The two held each other in a heartfelt embrace for a long time before finally parting.

"Grandma Maya, I'd like you to meet my beloved son, Arthur Asvold." Vivian introduced Arthur with immense joy, as if he were her own biological child.

Upon hearing this, Maya politely bowed her head and saluted Arthur.

"Greetings, Crown Prince Duke Asvold." She addressed him with respect, a gesture that made Arthur smile while gently shaking his head.

"There's no need for such formality, Grandma Maya," Arthur replied, skillfully helping Maya back to her feet.

He looked at her with kindness in his eyes.

"You took care of my mother since her childhood, and I can't accept such formalities from you."

Maya smiled at his words and didn't push the matter further.

"Very well, as you command, Your Highness," she responded, her smile warm as she gazed at Arthur.

After some lighthearted conversation, Maya finally revealed her main purpose for meeting them.

"Lady Vivian and Young Master Arthur, my purpose for coming here is to deliver the Emperor's order for you both to join him in the throne room," Maya explained in detail.

Arthur and Vivian nodded, comprehending the importance of the summons, and exchanged knowing glances before nodding again in agreement.

"Alright, please lead the way," Vivian said with a smile.

"Please follow me," Maya replied warmly, taking the lead as she guided Arthur and Vivian towards the throne room.