What he was about to do next greatly required these people to accomplish, and the only two capable individuals currently available were the two in front of him.
"So, what's your name?" Arthur's voice remained calm, devoid of any emotion.
"Evelyn. You can call me Evelyn, Lord Arthur." The woman was silent for a moment, her lips moving, and she finally spoke a clear, common name.
Arthur nodded slightly. He knew it was a false name but still indicated that he had noted it: "Evelyn, I've noted it. We need to reach a few agreements here."
Arthur looked intently at the two and slowly began to speak:
"First, you will be my advisor, but I will not interfere in your affairs, nor should you cause me trouble. What I need is your knowledge and assistance. You only need to be diligent and responsible."
Evelyn's eyes widened slightly, indicating some surprise. The young lord before her didn't even mention her beauty. Perhaps he was just not old enough yet. She listened quietly to Arthur's next words.
Even Olivier was somewhat shocked. He knew how much trouble his mistress's beauty had caused them.
"Second, starting tomorrow, you cannot cover your face with a hood. Excessive concealment will only attract unnecessary prying and suspicion, making things worse."
"People will say there's a mysterious person in my castle who wraps herself up tightly, which will actually provoke others to investigate. Therefore, your identity here will be my personal handmaiden."
"But you must wear makeup and try to minimize your presence, using accessories or something else to make you look less conspicuous, but it must be based on your true appearance. Sometimes, that is the best disguise."
Although Arthur hadn't seen much of women's makeup skills, he could feel that even after the woman in front of him had washed, there were still several layers of disguise.
"Third, and most importantly!" Arthur paused, letting the weight of the sentence settle, and he stood up.
Arthur's gaze swept over Evelyn, then past Olivier behind her: "I have no interest in your past. I will not ask, nor will I send people to investigate, and I do not want to get involved in any of your troubles."
His voice grew cold as he made a ruthless decision:
"But, if your troubles actively come knocking and threaten my territory, threaten me, you must! Leave on your own!"
"I will not pay any price for your past, and if it benefits me, I might even hand you over."
"So this is also my final advice! Do you really want to stay?!"
Arthur's words were incredibly unfeeling, yet also incredibly fair. He was making the master and servant carefully consider whether to stay. For Arthur, women would always be there, but life was singular. What good was even the most beautiful woman if one had no life to enjoy her? His identity was also that of a rare hereditary lord in Westeros.
Evelyn calmly watched Arthur, a hint of admiration and respect flashing in her captivating blue eyes.
She had imagined countless possibilities: being interrogated, being driven away, being forced to be a plaything. She had never expected such a pure transaction based on her abilities. The young lord before her was very mature, and his matter-of-fact attitude was indeed as oppressive as a lion.
She curtsied slightly, her movements elegant and standard, not like an exile but more like a graceful noblewoman bowing to a lord. "I accept your terms, Lord Arthur."
Olivier, behind her, also bowed deeply with his mistress, silently confirming this dangerous yet fair agreement.
The next morning, in the castle's Lord's Hall, voices were chaotic, and the atmosphere was lively.
Lucien and Hakon huddled uncomfortably in a corner. They didn't understand why Lord Arthur had summoned them so early, along with those scholars. The two of them didn't get along with the scholars.
Their gaze fell on the woman standing beside the lord's main seat. She was said to be Olivier's daughter, and she was too ugly. The red birthmark on her face, fragmented, made her otherwise fair skin appear somewhat grotesque and hideous, yet her blue eyes were still so beautiful that people dared not look directly at them.
It was said that this woman now served as Lord Arthur's personal handmaiden. So ugly, how could this be? The two had already decided to find some fertile women to be handmaidens for Lord Arthur. Lord Arthur's family only had Lord Arthur left; it was time to expand the family.
Arthur walked out of the room, and people quieted down, looking at him. Arthur ignored the confusion of the people in the hall. He walked slowly to a large wooden table in the center of the hall and spread out a rough map.
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