The Adventures of an Overpowered Knight in Another World

Chapter 556: Chapter 556- Plans For the Future (2)

Elina tightened her fingers slightly. Now sitting across from him again feeling his presence so close those emotions stirred once more deep, tangled, and impossible to neatly categorize.

No doubt finding the High Elf priestess was her duty as a descendant of Elfenheim. However, if she were to be honest with herself wanting to walk beside him again to remain close to the man who had shattered her despair and replaced it with something fierce and alive.

Wanting to experience that night once again, it might also be part of why she was so insistent on joining him.

Reinhardt’s visit to their village was purely due to his need to raise the seed of the World Tree. If not for it, he wouldn’t have visited the village anytime soon.

Elina didn’t want this encounter to be her last; as such, she grabbed the opportunity by any means possible.

By the time Reinhardt returned back from Toto village, dusk had already settled around the horizon.

The sky was painted with an orangish hue.

After giving some instructions to the servants to prepare a guest room for Elina he headed for his room.

.

Late in the evening, the household gathered together for dinner.

It had been a long time since all the members of the Arcknight family had sat at the same table like this.

Raymond sat at the head seat, Reinhardt took his usual place, Arthur rocked his chair in excitement, and Verdia sat across from him her bearing graceful.

With the family eating together, conversation flowed smoothly.

Raymond questioned Reinhardt about Toto Village, about the elves, the demi-human tribes and whether his plans had borne fruit.

Reinhardt shook his head lightly. ”Not yet. The Origin Seed is real, but it cannot be nurtured by just anyone. Only a High Elf priestess can awaken a World Tree. Without one the seed remains dormant.”

He explained everything he learned, Elfenheim, the priestess requirement, and the resonance. After that, he told Raymond about his decision.

”I’ll be heading to the capital soon.”

At that moment, the table fell quiet.

Arthur was too young to fully grasp the weight of it, but Verdia did. Her fingers tightened slightly around her cutlery. He had only just returned and already he was preparing to leave again.

Raymond nodded thoughtfully. ”If that’s what’s required, then it can’t be helped. The capital is the right place to start.”

Not long after the dinner was concluded.

Servants cleared the table, Arthur was ushered off by maids for the night, and Raymond excused himself to his study, already buried in documents.

Inside Raymond’s study, Verdia visited him for a talk.

She wore a large shawl over her body that completely hid everything she wore underneath.

Raymond, who was busy stroking with his pen, noticed Verdia’s presence but didn’t seem to see anything unusual.

”Has Arthur gone to bed?” He questioned without putting his pen down.

”He is asleep. Given how exhausted he was today, I am not surprised that he fell asleep the moment he lay down.”

”Oh?” On the topic of his son, Raymond finally showed some interest.

Verdia explained Reinhardt was guiding Arthur in swordsmanship and how her little boy was now diligently training every day with a bright smile.

After hearing about the events of the day, the Duke of Arcknight showed a thoughtful smile.

”So that is how it is, huh. I did request Sir Lantis, a former comrade of mine and one of the previous Holy Knights of the order, to train Arthur in swordsmanship. However, if Reinhardt is guiding Arthur, then it is good”...

”With him teaching Arthur personally, there’s nothing to worry about.”

Not only did Arthur look up to Reinhardt as his role model, but the two were also half-brothers. Besides, it was much more beneficial for Arthur to learn from a knight who had stepped into the realm of heroes than from a former Holy Knight.

The difference was like day and night.

Verdia did not refute. At first, she did not like Raymond’s first son, who could potentially become a huge hurdle for her own son when it came to succession.

However, after repeated encounters, she let go of those worries. After getting close to him, she knew that Reinhardt was not interested in succession or titles.

His goals were profoundly different, and he had that unshakeable confidence in his power to achieve anything.

When she is with him, even she sometimes gets affected by his aura.

As a noble and Duchess of the house Verdia was keenly aware that Reinhardt was not her enemy but instead a huge tree whose shade could protect her and her son.

It was her instinctive biological reaction to seek that protection. Of course, the attraction she felt for her stepson also could not be denied.

As such, she made up her mind when she came here.

”Raymond, I wanted to discuss Arthur’s sword training with Reinhardt. But since you are busy, I’ll handle it myself.”

Of course, it was just an excuse, an excuse she needed to justify her meeting this late at night. After all, unlike the other times, she was not sick, it would seem inappropriate for Reinhardt to come to her room.

Raymond did not suspect anything.

If it were any other time, the duty to train his son should have been his. However, since there were disturbing movements on the western borders of the kingdom, all nobles were busy sending spies and compiling their reports.

As the Duke of the Kingdom of Solaris, the responsibilities on his shoulders were even more. Thus, he simply nodded and left Arthur’s training to Reinhardt and Verdia.

”This is absurd. What are they planning, amassing such military strength?”

Raymond’s voice could be heard from the end of the study.

After glancing at him one last time and seeing that he was truly distracted by his work, Verdia left.

.

Moments later, soft footsteps echoed down the corridor.

Inside his room, Reinhardt had only just removed his coat when a gentle knock sounded at his door.

Before he could respond, the person took the liberty to open it and stepped in.

Seeing who it was, Reinhardt was not surprised. He had long noticed her when she was standing in front of his room.

He nonchalantly went back to his work, packing his bag and preparing everything he needed for the journey.

Verdia slipped inside and closed the door behind her. Click... with a turn, the door was locked.

Seeing that Reinhardt was preparing to leave, a pang of pain assaulted her heart.

”You’re leaving again... and I thought it would be unfair if we didn’t talk.” She spoke softly, though the look in her eyes contradicted her words entirely.

”Yeah, time is of the essence. I need to get moving as soon as possible.”

Swish... At that moment, he heard the sound of fabric falling.

Turning around, he saw that Verdia behind him had discarded her shawl, revealing the sight that was hidden underneath.

A silken negligee, pale and dangerously see through, clung to her curves as if it had been designed solely to tempt. The fabric caught the lamplight, leaving little to the imagination while still hiding just enough to be maddening.

It was a stark contrast to the black innocent dress she wore during dinner. Her current apparel was provocative yet perfectly tailored made for a woman of noble birth like her.

With Verdia removing her shawl, the atmosphere inside the room shifted heavy with unspoken tension, old boundaries blurring further than either of them dared to admit.

Then without waiting, she drove into his arms. The negligee she wore was so thin that he felt her softness through his clothes.

Verdia’s arms wound around his neck, her body pressing tightly against his chest, and she buried her face in the hollow of his shoulder, inhaling his manly scent.

Time ticked by the two stood in the same position for a while.

Verdia finally whispered. ”When will you come back again?”

Being hugged so tightly, he could feel her trembling body. That said...

”There’s no way of knowing. The search for the Priestess... it could take months or even more.”

”Months!”

A small, distressed sound escaped her, causing her hands to tighten on his shoulders.

Reinhardt sighed, grabbed her waist, and held her close.

Looking at the absolutely gorgeous face he had the urge to kiss her. He knew that their relationship was far from normal; nevertheless, he did not care anymore and kissed her on her lips.

Those soft cherry lips that carried the sweet taste of her lipstick and herself was intoxicating.

Reinhardt kissed Verdia for a while before breaking up to catch their breath.

”Don’t worry, I’ll return again. But I’ll have to go. If I don’t revive the World Tree, if the demons aren’t stopped, the world will be in danger.”

Verdia kept silent. Although she understood his intentions, it was difficult to ease her heart.

”I know... I know it in my head. But my heart...”