Don't Want to Be Ordinary Even Though I'm an Extra Character-Chapter 133: []

"I offer my greetings to Her Highness the Crown Princess," said Arkan, slightly bowing with one hand over his chest—a formal gesture typical of nobles.

His movement was calm and composed, filled with respect yet not excessive—a gesture he had learned from palace etiquette books since first entering noble circles. His gaze remained steady, indicating that while he bowed to the title, he would never bow to political games without calculation.

Princess Marie returned the greeting with a graceful nod, wearing a friendly smile that was almost too perfect for someone who had just traveled a long distance. She sat down after being signaled by a servant, carefully tucking the edge of her dress and straightening her back. Her movements were refined, but to trained eyes like Arkan’s, something about it felt just a bit... rehearsed.

"I’ve heard of Lord Arkan Lawrence for quite some time," said Marie gently. "Your territory is frequently mentioned within the palace circle. They say you’ve achieved remarkable things in a very short time."

Arkan offered a small smile and responded politely. "Thank you, Your Highness. I simply strive to ensure my people are not left hungry or feeling abandoned by their ruler."

"Humble too," Marie murmured as she gently rotated her teacup and took a delicate sip. Her eyes briefly scanned the room—gray stone walls lined with shelves of records, a large wooden table covered in maps and open construction plans.

Arkan observed how Marie’s smile barely shifted, even when she wasn’t smiling. Her gaze seemed ever so performative, trying to charm yet failing to hide one thing: nervousness. Not fear—more like someone carrying an agenda, uncertain of how it would be received.

"I hope your journey was pleasant?" Arkan asked, his voice neutral yet courteous.

Marie chuckled softly and turned toward him. "If you call muddy roads and snoring guards pleasant, then yes, it was delightful."

"Ah," Arkan replied with a slight nod, hiding an amused smile. "At least Your Highness arrived safely."

"Indeed... and rather eager to finally see the man said to have made an iron carriage run without horses," Marie replied, raising an eyebrow in half-jest. "You’ll have to show me later."

"Gladly," Arkan answered without hesitation. "But before that... may I know the reason behind Your Highness’s personal visit?"

Marie looked at him for a moment. Her smile was still there, but the subtle tension at the corners of her lips became noticeable. Arkan didn’t miss it—and from how her fingers gripped the teacup a little tighter, he knew that whatever the reason for her visit, this wasn’t just a ceremonial royal call.

Marie held his gaze for a moment before handing over a scroll sealed with gold. "For that... please read this letter first," she said, her tone slightly more serious than before.

Arkan nodded slowly and accepted the letter with both hands. "With your permission," he said briefly before breaking the seal and carefully reading its contents. 𝓯𝙧𝓮𝓮𝒘𝓮𝙗𝙣𝒐𝒗𝒆𝓵.𝓬𝓸𝒎

His expression slowly changed. The calmness in his eyes gave way to a faint frown, revealing surprise kept in check. The letter was an official request from Queen Cynereth—asking him to become a strategic partner in handling the growing tensions between Lutharia and the Empire.

After a few heavy seconds of silence, Arkan slowly folded the letter back and looked at Marie. "My apologies, Your Highness... I’m not sure I fully understand. The Queen is asking me to be a royal partner in confronting... the Empire?"

Marie gave a small nod. This time, the smile had completely vanished from her face. "Yes. My mother—Her Majesty the Queen—believes that this crisis cannot be resolved through diplomacy alone. And we need someone who thinks... differently."

Arkan leaned back slightly in his chair, resting both hands on the table, then looked calmly at Marie. "I’m honored to have earned Her Majesty’s trust," he said, voice flat but cordial. "But I also believe a request of this magnitude must come from a highly unusual situation. Would Your Highness be willing to share more... background?"

Marie hesitated briefly, then sipped her tea—a small gesture not lost on Arkan. "Our government is under pressure," she replied softly, but clearly. "Not just from outside, but from within. The Empire wants our lands. And within the palace... not all nobles believe a soft approach is the right one."

Arkan pressed his palms together in front of his face, forming a triangle as if in thought. "So, what you need isn’t just a partner in logistics or defense. You’re looking for someone who can... operate in the shadows."

Marie held her breath for a moment. That was a precise observation. "I didn’t say it outright," she murmured, slightly flustered.

"But I heard it, even if unspoken." Arkan gave a faint smile, his tone still respectful. "You came to a place outside the kingdom’s direct power structure, but with enough influence to rebalance what’s been tipping. That’s a... smart move."

Marie let out a quiet breath, finally meeting Arkan’s gaze more earnestly. "I didn’t come here because you’re a baron. I came here because your name has reached the nobles’ dinner tables and the secret war rooms of generals."

Arkan chuckled softly, a faintly sardonic smile appearing. "In that case, let me ask as a partner—not a subordinate. How deep are you willing to go?"

Marie was silent for a moment. No lies in her eyes—only the tension of a princess who had just shed her last layer of formality. "Deep enough... to save my kingdom," she said, voice quiet but resolute.

Arkan nodded slowly, his gaze locked onto Marie’s face. "Then... it means we’re walking the same path," he said, calm but certain, as if an unwritten pact had just been formed between them.

Marie sighed, and the tension in her shoulders finally began to ease. "Seems like this will be a long conversation... and to be honest, I’m hungry." She glanced toward the open window, catching the faint aroma from Arkan’s estate kitchen.

Arkan offered a thin smile, then rang a small bell beside his desk. "Florence likely anticipated that. Let’s continue this conversation over a meal. If I let an important guest go hungry, my reputation might suffer."

"I thought your reputation was already quite high, Lord Lawrence," said Marie, sipping her tea with a gentle smile.

Arkan raised an eyebrow. "Oh? And who’s been spreading such rumors? I thought I hadn’t done nearly enough to be called famous."

Marie shrugged, letting her smile turn slightly mischievous. "The merchants. Especially those who trade across regions and have ties to palace nobles. They call you ’the young lord of the frontier who built a civilization with his own hands.’"

Arkan let out a dry chuckle, his amusement barely masking faint surprise. "That’s funny. I thought I was still just a man buried in harvest reports and distribution routes."

"You’re mistaken," Marie replied lightly, tilting her head. "What you’re building isn’t just territory, but a narrative. And people—especially those hungry for change—love stories like that."

Florence knocked and entered, carrying a silver tray with light dishes. Arkan turned to her and nodded slightly, then looked back at Marie. "Well then... allow me to host a bearer of narratives from the palace."

Marie laughed softly, this time genuinely.

###

Marie cut a small piece of meat on her plate and chewed slowly. "This is really tender... thigh cut, right?" she murmured, tilting her head slightly, her expression serious—like she was evaluating a piece of art.

Arkan nodded as he took a bite himself. "Yeah, slow-cooked overnight with dried herbs. Then roasted at low heat. Just a random idea I had."

Marie took a spoonful of sauce from a small bowl beside her plate. After tasting it, her eyes widened slightly. "Is there honey in this sauce?"

"And a bit of mustard, apple cider vinegar, and reduced chicken stock," Arkan replied casually. "I got tired of the usual gravy."

"Honestly, this tastes better than what I usually get at the palace," Marie said openly. "And the vegetables aren’t overcooked either... they’ve got the perfect crunch."

"The chef just finished training last week. But she’s got potential," Arkan said with a faint smile, then pointed to the salad on Marie’s plate. "Those are fresh from the greenhouse. We grow them ourselves."

Marie nodded while continuing to chew. "Makes sense... the texture’s different. It’s got a natural sweetness, no bitterness at all."

One of the servants poured a chilled drink into Marie’s glass. She took a slow sip, then smiled. "Is this fruit juice? I taste orange and... something minty?"

Arkan nodded again. "Wild oranges from the south. We mix them with cool herbs—something like sabre leaf."

Marie leaned back in her chair, letting out a satisfied sigh. "I could eat like this every day."

Marie slowly set her fork down on the side of her plate, her fingers lightly tapping the surface of the wooden table, warmed by candlelight. She let out a short sigh—not heavy, but enough to catch Arkan’s attention. "If only all political matters could be resolved over a meal like this..." she said, a faint smile resting on her lips, though her eyes held something more serious.

Arkan took a sip of water from his glass and replied, his voice low but clear. "Unfortunately, the world doesn’t often grant us that kind of luxury."