Filled with doubts, Arthur left the study.
He knew his father meant well, whether by gifting him a Direwolf or by reminding him not to recruit prisoners as servants.
It was just that the current situation didn't allow Arthur to hesitate; he had to go all out.
The flagstones in the corridor gleamed coldly, and when that sharp voice pierced him from behind, Arthur couldn't help but feel annoyed.
“Look who it is? Isn’t this my disgraceful younger brother?”
He didn't need to turn around to know it was Richard's shrill and venomous voice, like a hen's squawk.
As the second son of Evil Wolf Earl, this effeminate handsome man perfectly inherited his mother Matilda's delicate features.
Like all noble offspring, he was arrogant, narcissistic, and keen on power struggles.
Because his eldest brother Robert and fourth brother Henry were truly too outstanding, Richard, like Arthur, was not favored by his father.
Therefore, he could only show off in front of his younger brother.
Arthur didn't want to bother with this fellow; he continued to walk forward.
“Stop, you disgraceful piece of trash!”
Seeing that his younger brother ignored him, Richard's anger flared. He, along with two retainers, blocked Arthur's path.
Seeing no escape, Arthur could only respond with a cold laugh, “Richard! What a coincidence, I didn't notice you just now.”
The expression on Richard's face was quite something, but he quickly composed himself and sneered, “I heard you were assigned to Qingfeng Valley?
“Haha, look, the most useless child in our family is actually going to become a Baron.
“This is a huge joyous occasion, why not share it with your elder brother?”
At this, he and his two supporters burst into laughter.
“Next time.” Arthur offered a distant smile, “When I have time, I'll invite you for a drink and tell you all about it in detail.”
This made Richard pause slightly. Usually, this face-conscious younger brother would have jumped up by now, but today he was like an iron plate dipped in ice.
If he didn't get angry, what reason would he have to lecture him?
Richard's mind raced, and he sneered again, “Don't worry, my dear brother. I will definitely escort you safely to Qingfeng Valley.
“Yes, that's right, Father sent me to escort you. I will absolutely not let you run away.”
To prevent appointees to Qingfeng Valley from taking benefits without doing work, Supreme Council stipulated that the noble of the appointee's territory must escort them to the border between Anm Empire and Qingfeng Valley.
This measure was to ensure that the appointee would not take the supplies and run away midway;
If the escort failed, the noble of the territory had to go to Qingfeng Valley to take up the post in place of the appointee.
These words indeed worked. Arthur's pupils contracted slightly.
Among all his brothers, Richard was the worst.
To spend a week with this unpredictable scoundrel? It was even more terrifying than being in the same cage as a Direwolf.
“Oh, and one more thing,” Richard continued to provoke, “Father plans to bestow a Direwolf upon me.
“By then, among us five brothers, you will be the only Son of the Wolf without a Direwolf.”
The supporters let out fawning laughter, expecting Arthur to erupt. But Arthur only suddenly began to murmur something.
“What did you say?” Richard instinctively leaned closer.
The next moment, a clear whisper sounded in his ear: “The nobles of Esputa all say you are more like a woman than a woman.”
Such humiliating words made Richard's eyes turn red with rage—because of his lack of masculine appearance, he hated nothing more than being told he looked like a woman.
“I think you're tired of living!” he roared, rushing towards Arthur.
Arthur deftly dodged, creating distance from Richard, and asked with a smile, “My esteemed elder brother, I didn't say anything at all. Hey, you two, did you hear anything?”
The two supporters looked bewildered. Aside from that vague remark just now, they hadn't heard Arthur say anything.
At this moment, the whisper sounded in Richard's ear again: “The prostitutes in the city all like to take your business.”
Richard stared intensely at Arthur, realizing he indeed hadn't spoken, which left him utterly perplexed.
“Shut up, shut up!” Richard shouted loudly.
Richard suddenly turned, seeing his two attendants looking at each other blankly, completely out of the loop.
“Damn it, idiots, didn't you hear?” he demanded.
One of them stammered in reply, “I… I… I didn't hear anything.”
“Enough, stop standing there, damn it, grab this kid, I'm going to teach him a lesson!”
The moment Richard finished speaking and turned around, the whisper sounded again: “Look at him giving orders, like a shrew, haha.
“He looks like a woman and still thinks he's superior to us.”
At this, Richard finally understood. His veins bulged, and he glared fiercely at the two supporters in front of him.
The two felt a chill from his gaze, and their steps involuntarily slowed down.
“Damn sissy, look at me again and I'll pull down your pants and screw you.”
Richard suddenly turned his head to look at the other person: “What the hell did you say? You've been muttering, right?”
“What?” The person retreated in confusion.
Arthur secretly laughed at these fools in his heart.
The whispers in Richard's ear were a magical art he performed, one of the priest's tricks, which, besides creating illusory sounds, could also amplify sound, cause small vibrations, and alter flames, among other things.
This was a very practical trick, often used by many priests who could cast divine spells during sermons to deceive ignorant commoners.
While Richard and the others were fighting each other due to the illusory sounds, the maid Anna came from the other end of the corridor.
Her appearance calmed Richard down; losing composure in front of servants was a shameful thing for a noble.
Moreover, Anna was his mother's personal maid. If this matter reached his mother, Richard would have to be called to the temple to repent again.
He pushed away the retainer, straightened his clothes, and after leaving a harsh remark for Arthur, he departed.
“Trouble always seems to follow you, doesn't it?” Anna said with emotion, looking at the retreating figure.
Arthur shrugged helplessly.
“The mistress wants to see you, come with me.”
Probably guessing what Arthur would ask, Anna added, “Don't worry, this time it's not to force you to pray at the temple.”
“I don't dislike praying,” Arthur admitted, “it allows me to calm down and think things through.”
This was indeed true.
Ever since he fell from his horse, fainted, and woke up, his mother had made him go to Mother Earth's temple to pray every day. Matilda believed that her youngest son's awakening was Mother Earth's blessing.
And Arthur, who had transmigrated, also used the time praying at the temple to read many books from the library. It was during that period that he fully adapted to life in the new world.
“Haha, how interesting.” Anna smiled. She probably thought the young master was joking again.
Seeing her disbelief, Arthur changed the subject, “That girl?”
“Don't worry, my little young master,” Anna glanced at Arthur meaningfully, “I've arranged for her to be your personal maid.
“But I must remind you, she's still young. It would be better to make a move in a few years—otherwise, you'll have to change maids again.
“I remember the last girl you took to Esputa only lasted less than three months, right?”
Arthur was speechless for a moment.
His predecessor was indeed a worse existence than Richard.