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When steward Aaron finally regained his composure, he didn’t immediately question Aresia about the authenticity of the beast companion contract scroll. Instead, his inquisitive gaze turned towards the other people in the room. First, he sternly ordered them not to disclose anything they had just heard. It seemed unsafe, so he produced a magical contract for someone to swear an oath, signing this confidentiality agreement.
The contract scroll was precious, and Aaron handled it with care. Aresia’s recent words might caused quite a stir, and the news spread quickly. Even as a duke’s daughter, her safety couldn’t be guaranteed.
Although Aresia didn’t intend to conceal the beast companion contract scroll, not even from the public, it was indeed a significant matter in this world.
The magical beasts in this world were extremely powerful, and if the world were divided proportionally, humans and other intelligent races would only occupy a fraction, while the remaining nine-tenths belonged to the magical beasts.
These magical beasts were not only formidable but also reproduced rapidly, especially the lower-level ones. They multiplied in large numbers, and if not restricted, they would eventually overrun the world with their reproductive capabilities.
In addition to a special event that occurred periodically, the world experienced beast tides of varying scales, causing considerable damage to the intelligent races.
And often, it was humans who suffered the most from this devastation.
Although humans had the advantage in terms of numbers among the professional practitioners, they generally had lower ranks compared to other intelligent races. In particular, magic practitioners were so scarce that it was difficult to comprehend. Among the various human empires, commoners made up the majority and were powerless to withstand the beast tides. Every time a beast tide came, it was the common people who suffered the most.
However, if the Beast companion contract scroll were to spread, even commoners could possess some power. But promoting it through magic scrolls was challenging since the scrolls themselves were costly, and ordinary people couldn’t afford them.
In reality, although the Beast companion contract scroll was complex, the magic within it was of an extraordinary level.
The so-called extraordinary level magic required mastery of the correct incantations and a magical source—an appropriate magic crystal imbued with magic power. It didn’t matter who used it; as long as someone had reached this level of magical understanding, they could wield this special magic.
Or perhaps there was a kind of contract scroll magic that could be used by everyone, a universal contract scroll magic that people in this world could employ without reaching the level of magical research necessary for extraordinary-level magic. But such magic required a mage to cast it.
However, even if one wanted to form a contract scroll with a non-extraordinary-level magical beast, it required a certain amount of magic power. In the absence of sufficient personal magic power, this magic power had to come from a magic crystal. The more magic power needed, the more precious the magic crystal, making it impossible for ordinary people to afford higher-level magical beasts.
Even if it was a low-level magical beast in the contract, it still provided a considerable amount of assistance to commoners with little to no protective power.
In addition to their inherent strength, magical beasts also possessed resources that circulated within them. If someone could form a contract with a suitable magical beast, their lives would be significantly improved.
The Beast companion contract scroll didn’t require any of this because the incantation and magic power were already sealed within it. It was provided by its creator, and the prepared contract for the Beast companion contract scroll wasn’t complicated. The primary purpose was to form a contract with higher-level magical spiders, while the lower-level ones were intended to be controlled by the leader.
Aresia truly intended to promote the Beast companion contract scroll, but when she saw Aaron’s reaction, she decided to keep it a secret for now. It wasn’t that she wanted to stop the servants from signing the confidentiality agreement, but rather, she was preparing a surprise.
Aresia didn’t prevent the servants from signing the confidentiality agreement. Instead, she waited for the contract to take effect before asking, “Does anyone here not fear spiders? If you don’t, choose a low-level magical spider egg to take care of. Once it hatches, you can form a Beast companion contract scroll with it.”
There were quite a few low-level magical spider eggs, and the servants were selected to assist in this task. They were already trusted individuals, and since they were required to sign the confidentiality agreement, if they didn’t dislike spiders, Aresia didn’t mind letting each of them form a contract with a spider.
Although these magical spiders were low-level, ranging from third to fourth rank, the servants were just ordinary people. Even if they were not fond of spiders, at this moment, they couldn’t refuse this intriguing proposal.
Higher-level beings had the responsibility to supervise lower-level magical spiders. In addition to the apparent benefits, they could see a potential opportunity to climb the ranks in the near future.
One could either remain an ordinary servant in the duke’s household or become a supervisor of a particular aspect. The servants knew how to choose.
All six male servants made their choices almost simultaneously. This opportunity was not to be missed, and they were determined not to make a mistake.
Apart from the six male servants who were helping, there was Luna, Aresia’s personal maid.
Although Luna didn’t need to serve Aresia closely during her studies, she remained her personal maid. Wherever Aresia went, Luna followed closely.
Luna, the personal maid who was only a few years older than Aresia, so Aresia was well aware of her fear of insects. She was particularly afraid of being associated with arthropods in this world, which made her fearful of spiders.
Seeing Luna’s hesitant expression, Aresia comforted her maid, saying that if she didn’t like spiders, she could choose a different low-level magical creature instead.
Luna, on one hand, felt grateful that despite being busy in school, Aresia had always been there for her. On the other hand, she didn’t particularly like spiders. If she were to raise a magical creature, she would have to change her role as a personal maid. Since she wouldn’t frequently encounter magical creatures, she didn’t think it was necessary to choose one, as it could strain her eyes.
Upon hearing this, Luna relaxed and quickly thanked Aresia for her understanding.
Aresia then arranged for the six male servants to select their low-level magical creatures. Since the servants knew little about these creatures, they sought Aresia’s guidance.
Aresia declined their request and recommended a few gentle and easier-to-handle low-level magical creatures. The servants quickly chose the recommended magical spider eggs.
Aresia instructed them to take the eggs that would hatch earlier, like Arachnes, the one that Aaron had sealed. The other eggs had a longer incubation period. With Arachnes under control, even in Aresia’s absence, the low-level magical spider wouldn’t harm anyone.
The magic circle was not specifically arranged; it was a privilege only Aresia had. Aresia planned to draw a new magic circle in her room and incubate the remaining spider eggs there.
To set up the magic circle, certain materials were needed, which Aresia planned to acquire later.
The servants who were asked whether they feared spiders had returned with their report. Their handling had been satisfactory, so Aresia and Luna decided to return to their room.
As they walked, Aaron accompanied them and guided them to Aresia’s bedroom. Aresia sensed that Aaron had something to ask, so she instructed Luna to prepare tea and asked Aaron to have a seat.
“What do you want to ask?”
“Miss Aresia, is this Beast companion contract scroll real?”
It wasn’t that Aaron didn’t believe it, but the concept was too unbelievable. Even though he had immediately silenced the servants, he himself was still skeptical.
“It is real; I am not joking about this.”
Aaron became even more concerned upon hearing her assurance.
His already furrowed face showed even deeper wrinkles. It wasn’t just him as a guardian who was worried; he cautioned Aresia, “Miss Aresia, this beast companion contract scroll is significant. You should discuss it with the duke first.”
Aresia nodded. “I understand. I will wait a little longer. My brother’s birthday is coming soon, so I want to surprise him first before telling our father.”
The commoners in Holy Lotean City didn’t have the habit of holding grand parties or celebrating birthdays, though the nobles did. However, it was rare for the nobles to hold such events, especially the male nobles. Even Duke Rogest’s son, Amos disliked having such parties.
He rarely had a birthday celebration, and if he does, it’s only a simple gathering with a few close friends and family members.
Originally, Aresia wanted to arrange a party. Since it’s her first time celebrating her brother Amos birthday in this life.
Regardless, as soon as it was mentioned, the steward reaction is stern.
“I understand that Miss wants to celebrate young master’s birthday but this matter is not simply as what you think. So, I suggest that we tell this matter about the beast companion contract scroll to the Duke as soon as possible.” Says the Steward.
“Steward Aaron, you can directly tell me right now your thoughts. So? What’s bothering you?
The steward expresses his worries, “Miss, the beast companion contract scroll is so important, I believe it can make the Entire Holy Lotean Empire strong. If the first known user of beast companion contract scroll would be the Rogest Family, it may be seen as the family is so capable and probably stronger now, but it can also bring problem to the family. Specially, it may attract envy, and the Emperor may feel more threatened by the Duke Rogest new found power.”
“More? So the Emperor feared my Father?”
Aresia is not clueless, she knows her Family’s history, and why the Emperor feared her family.
It was well-known that the Ancestor of the Rogest family now is the younger brother of the Emperor of Holy Lotean Empire and was granted the title of Duke Rogest. The title had been passed down for generations until Aresia’s father inherited it. Although it had been many generations, the Rogest family was indeed a branch of the imperial family and had the right of inheritance. Moreover, every few generations, the head of the Rogest family would marry a princess from the imperial family. This ensured the purity of the imperial bloodline in the Rogest family, making it a threat to other nobles and the crown holder himself. Additionally, the Rogest family had always commanded the Gryphon Legion, which was not inferior in strength to the Emperor’s Imperial Legion. If, at this time, the Rogest family obtained a contracted beast companion, it would greatly enhance the legion’s strength, causing the Emperor to feel uneasy.
However, eliminating the suspicion of the Emperor was actually quite easy. Based on Aresia’s memories from her previous life, the Emperor was not a bad ruler. On the contrary, he was considered a good emperor. At least, that was what she knew until the end of her previous life. However, rumors began to circulate about the Emperor’s deteriorating health and the intensifying power struggles among the nobles during the last years of his reign.
Understanding this, Aresia agreed to manage it, saying, “I will inform my father first.”
Hearing this, the steward breathed a sigh of relief and asked, “Shall I send someone to deliver a message to the Duke? Asking him to come back for a visit?”
“Yes, please do that.”
The steward plans to send someone with a message but to ensure that there will be no leaks. Instead of waiting, he decided to go himself and invite the Duke on Aresia’s behalf.
The Duke returned.
In reality, it was Aresia’s vacation that brought the Duke back. Initially, the Duke of Rogest had no plans to return to the mansion, but the stewards information made him wonder if something had happened to Aresia.
When he returned, Aresia was listening to the staff’s report on the investigation conducted by the servants the day before.
Throughout the Duke’s mansion, there were three hundred servants and one thousand guards. Among these 1,300 individuals, finding someone who was afraid of spiders was quite rare, let alone finding someone who liked them.
Although there were very few who genuinely feared spiders, there were even fewer who were truly afraid. Among the male servants and guards, none of them showed fear of spiders.
After the discussion with the steward the day before, Aresia temporarily dismissed the idea of distributing low-level magical spider eggs to others in the Duke’s mansion and decided to clarify the situation with the Duke before making a decision.
The news of the Duke’s return quickly reached Aresia, and they paused their discussion to welcome him.
The Duke returned with his personal guards on horseback. His horse entered the courtyard of the Duke’s mansion, and he dismounted as he arrived at the entrance where Aresia was waiting. He casually tossed the reins to his attendant and gave Aresia a hug, carefully examining her.
He patted her shoulder and said, “You’ve lost weight. Have you been eating properly?”
Aresia, quickly explained, “Yes, I have. I have grown taller recently, so I appear slimmer.”
Due to the side effects of the potions and the magic medicine she had been drinking to address certain issues with her body, Aresia’s height had increased by nearly three centimeters in less than two months. She was now almost 166 centimeters tall.
Aresia remembered from her previous life that her height was around 167 centimeters. If she went through the process again, there was a good chance she would surpass 170 centimeters.
The Duke gestured with his hands, indicating that she had indeed grown taller, and he believed her.
He draped his arm around Aresia’s shoulder and walked towards his study, asking about her situation at school. Aresia concealed some details she didn’t want to reveal, such as her magical pen for writing. She only shared other general aspects.
Unbeknownst to her, the kitchen had already prepared a meal, anticipating the Duke’s return. They had worked quickly, and by the time the Duke and Aresia settled down, the meal was already being served.
Although it was not yet lunchtime, Aresia joined the Duke for a light meal.
With a full stomach, the Duke wiped his mouth with a napkin and stood up. “Let’s go to my study and talk.”
Upon entering the study, the steward brought in tea and was about to leave when the Duke stopped him. “Please stay.”
Curious about why the steward want him to return, the Duke decided to keep him present.
The Duke asked Aresia, “So, what is it this time?”
Having already surprised the Duke with her magical notebook before, Aresia felt that no matter what she told him, he wouldn’t be shocked again.
Indeed, Aresia not only surprised him once again, but also made him tremble with the tea cup in his hand, causing some tea to spill.
Concerned, the steward handed him a handkerchief.
The Duke’s expression remained unchanged, but his hand holding the tea cup trembled, spilling some tea. “Is this something from your magical notebook?”