Chapter 3 - I must get stronger

Arthur wanted to call for the maid from inside the room but didn't know how he was supposed to call her. He decided it would be easier to talk face to face, so he slowly walked towards the door and opened it.

"Uh… Miss maid, I want to take a bath…"

"… Huh?"

The maid appeared surprised at Arthur's words. Arthur felt anxious that he may have said something weird.

"Uh…is something wrong ?"

"No, it's nothing, your highness. Please wait, I will tell the servants to prepare the bath for you."

After saying that, she gave a slight bow and left. Arthur closed the door and went back to sit on the bed. For some time, he kept staring into space, unable to decide what he should do. Then, the maid returned.

"Your highness, the bath is ready."

"Ok."

Arthur followed the maid to the bath. He observed his surroundings as he walked. He was walking thorough a big, majestic hallway. The floor was covered in red carpet and there were many chandeliers on the ceiling. The walls were decorated by various paintings, weapons, and monster heads.

(They actually use the heads of the hunted monsters as decoration…this world seems to have a different sense of art.)

On his way, he felt many piercing gazes on him. He looked around and saw many servants looking at him with a cold gaze. He suddenly felt a shiver up his spine.

(These people are looking at me as if they want to eat me alive. What's their problem? )

"Your highness, we have arrived."

"Hm? Oh…"

Arthur went inside the bath. The bath was huge and spacious. The floor was made of marble and there were crystals around the bath, lighting up the area. The bath itself was as big as a swimming pool, and there were two statues of dragons. From the mouths of the statues, hot water was continuously pouring out.

(Holy shit! This is a bath? It's bigger than the swimming pool in the amusement park where I went during summer vacation. It looks like 50 people can fit in here at once. These people don't mess around with their baths.)

Arthur washed his hair and body using the soap like substance and entered the bath. He rested his against the edge and closed his eyes.

"Hah~the bath is so comfortable."

As Arthur was bathing, the maid stood outside while guarding the door. She had a nonchalant look on her face. Anyone who saw her would assume that she was just spacing out. However, the maid was actually thinking about the recent changes in Arthur.

(There seems to be something wrong with his highness today. Usually, he acts so arrogant as if he owns the world even though he doesn't even have strength to protect himself. But today, he didn't scold a single servant. He actually talked politely with me. He often asks for the maids to help him bathe, saying a prince need not bathe himself. But today he actually went into the bath obediently… It looks like being in a near death situation brought some senses back into him. It's better if he starts to change his behavior even if he can't become strong.)

The maid seemed to be convinced that Arthur had received too great of a shock, being poisoned and almost dying. He must have been acting carefully, unless he wanted to be assassinated again.

Inside the bath, Arthur was lost in his thoughts.

(The servants were looking at me with the gaze of predators. This little bastard managed to anger every single servant in the palace. How am I going to protect myself against the one who tried to kill me if every servant is ready to tear me to shreds!)

*sigh*

He sighed. Looking through the memories he had gained, he saw Arthur acting with arrogance towards everyone. He disrespected the government officials, looked down upon the citizens as if they were insects. He even angered his brothers and his father. He didn't care enough to speak to his sisters and as for his mother, although he was obedient towards her, he also displayed his arrogant behavior towards her.

(This ungrateful kid, even though his mother was the only reason no one killed him already, he even became arrogant with her. Throwing tantrums every chance he gets. Abusing his position as the prince and punishing the servants and common people without any reason…)

There was only one word that he had to describe his former self,

(Disgusting! )

(I must make sure that from now on, my reputation gets better. I also need to stay alert all the time to avoid getting killed. I can't deal with annoyed people everywhere when there's someone behind my life… I must get stronger, at least strong enough to protect myself.)

Arthur vowed to himself that he would get stronger and let the world see his strength.