Inside the Baronet's Castle, in the grand hall of formal occasions, all the prominent figures of the Barony of Thornsreach stood with deference and obedience, pledging their loyalty to the bewildered Arthur, who sat upon the Baronet's throne.
Beside him stood Baronet Edgar Valerius Blackwood, the lord of the region, and his eldest son, Duncan, both also bowing their knees in submission.
Ever since the knights learned of his identity, they swiftly escorted him to the castle and presented him to the other nobles. At first, the Baronet refused to believe it—but the moment he saw the noble seal pendant, crafted with such precision and artistry that it was impossible to counterfeit, he finally accepted the truth. He immediately gathered all the important figures to announce Arthur's arrival.
Despite everything unfolding before his eyes, Arthur still couldn't comprehend the absurdity of the situation. Just a few hours ago, he had been lost in the forest like a vagabond, and now he was being treated like royalty.
'How did things come to this? I can't even speak properly. If they find out the truth, they'll execute me in the most painful way possible.' He cursed his rotten luck, but as he pondered an escape plan, someone asked the question he dreaded most:
"My Lord Arvan, what happened to you? How did you end up in such a state? Where are your guards and attendants? And… you've arrived far too early?" The man who spoke trembled faintly, trying to mask his fear.
Arthur stared at him and sighed.
Arvan Ravenshade—the second son of the Duchy of Ravenholde—was, in the novel "Rise of the Sword Sovereign," described as the most depraved and wicked individual, despised to the core by everyone in the kingdom. In fact, he was one of the key antagonists in Volumes 2 and 3, alongside the protagonist, Novarian Eirnos.
In the story, Arvan had drunkenly assaulted the Third Princess in a moment of drunken stupor. His crime was so heinous that the king nearly beheaded him on the spot. Had it not been for the Duchess's desperate pleas, he would not have been spared. In the end, he was stripped of his rights as the Duke's son and exiled to the remote Barony of Thornsreach until tensions cooled. Though his exile was nominal, in reality, he was granted authority over the barony—the Duke would never allow low-ranking nobles to disrespect his son.
'He hasn't arrived yet… which means the events of Volume 2 haven't begun.'
At the start of Volume 2, Arvan and his retinue were ambushed by Fangclaw Wolves, a notorious bandit group in the region. By sheer luck, the protagonist, Novarian, saved him. After a ridiculous exchange, Novarian accompanied him to the barony and stayed by his side for a considerable time.
After a brief silence, during which he recalled all the events of Volume 2, Arthur asked in a voice laced with anger, doing his best to mimic Arvan's vile personality:
"What is today's date?"
The Baronet and the castle's men were stunned by the question, but fearing his wrath, one quickly answered:
"It is the 9th day of the Second Spring Month, Year 759 of the Fourth Era."
The man's words were precise, leaving nothing out—giving Arthur a clear idea of the timeline.
'The real Arvan is supposed to arrive on the 5th day of the Third Spring Month… That gives me nearly a month. I need to escape before then.'
In truth, Arvan would have arrived earlier if he hadn't wasted most of his time visiting every brothel and tavern along the way.
Once he fully grasped his position, Arthur hardened his voice, feigned fury, and roared at them all:
"You dare question why I'm in this state?! This is all your fault, you incompetent fools! Why have you allowed bandits to roam freely in this territory? Who is the captain of the guard?! Execute him at once for his negligence! My father's orders were clear—no threats were to remain in this region by the time I arrived!"
He spoke rapidly, reinforcing his identity in the most effective way possible—through intimidation and references to his lineage. And it seemed to work flawlessly, as everyone before him began trembling, bowing their heads in fear.
They understood his implication. Nearly a month ago, the Duke had sent them a letter urging them to eradicate all illegal factions in the region. At the same time, he informed them that his son would assume control and that they must obey his every command, no matter how absurd. Unfortunately for them, eliminating the Fangclaw Wolves was no easy task.
Since Arvan had been stripped of his status, he was only accompanied by D-rank knights, making their struggle against the bandits in the novel extremely difficult. Arthur used this knowledge to make his story more convincing—without even needing to explain, the Baronet and his men would fill in the gaps themselves.
The Baronet's legs shook as he suppressed all questions and doubts. All that remained was the terror that the blame might fall on him—and a desperate hope that Arvan wouldn't report this to the Duke.
'Damn it, why did he arrive so early? Didn't they say we had at least two weeks? There's no doubt—this is the real one. His rare black hair and the noble seal are proof enough, not to mention his flawless pale skin, just as the rumors say. Even his clothes are made of fine silk—I couldn't afford such garments myself.'
All of the Baronet's suspicions vanished, replaced only by envy and resentment.
Due to the harsh living conditions of this world, most people had dirty skin and unpleasant odors. Though Arthur had spent days wandering the forest, he was still far cleaner than them—and his faintly pleasant scent alone marked him as no commoner.
Not to mention, black hair was uncommon in this world. Everyone in the hall had light brown hair, the most widespread color.
'Damn it, why us? Why did they send this walking disaster to us?!'
Gathering his courage, Baronet Edgar began flattering:
"My Lord Arvan, I beg you to spare the knights—they are your loyal soldiers now. Rest assured, they will be punished appropriately without harming our collective interests."
"I see you are tired and hungry from your journey through the forest alone. We have prepared the finest room for you and will send the best food. For your pleasure, we have also gathered the most beautiful maidens in the city and the finest wines."
[Baronet Edgar fears you.]
[The Baronet's son, Duncan, despises you.]
Arthur glanced at the system screens and swept his arrogant gaze over the crowd. Fortunately, his Plot Savant ability allowed him to discern the intentions of those around him.
'I can't back down now. I am that bastard Arvan.'
Staying in character, he showed no willingness to compromise and cursed:
"Who do you think you are, bargaining with me? Do you think your revolting wine and hideous women are enough to soothe my temper? But listen well—I'll give you one chance. You have two weeks. Bring me the heads of those damned bandits, and I may spare your miserable lives."
"Hmph!" With a sneer, he stood from the throne. "Take me to my room. The food had better be good. As for your women and wine… keep them until I ask for them."
Immediately, the head servant stepped forward and guided him to his new quarters.