"I shall declare the Cornell Earldom an enemy household until they submit themselves into our control!"

Arda who heard Pier's declaration felt everything in her world shatter.

'No, it was a mistake, I was impatient-' She thought but the damage had already been done and the announcement of the Young Master was already declared.

Maids rushed back and forth to clean the room that had been trashed. It wasn't because of Arda's actions that caused the room to be ruined but it was because of Pier's elemental abilities that the room had been turned upside down.

Servants who have seen their young master's magical abilities trembled in fear at the memory.

"Y-Young Master, p-please reconsider!" Arda begged as she kneeled on the floor. The cosmetics applied to her face were smeared and created a slightly unpleasant look on her face.

Pier stared at the weeping lady in front of him. He crouched down at Arda's level. He looked her in the eye.

"Those who have wronged me will get back a hundredfold times of the damage they have done. Cheers for the years of suffering, my lady." He then stood up and started to walk outside the guest room door. Servants rushed to tend their young master and knights escorted the weeping lady back to her carriage.

The announcement of the Cornell Earldom becoming an enemy household of the Belmiunde Household shook the entire nobility class of the kingdom.

---

It did not even take a day for the entire Earldom to surrender. Once the declaration of departure from the allegiance had been made, the Earl was left with no option but to let the Belmiunde Household take control of their own matters.

They were not considered as vassal houses of the Belmiunde Household but were the workers for them.

"Young Master, I would like to personally thank you for taking me and my family in your territory and allowing us to work here despite the sins I have committed," Martha said as she stood in front of Pier.

Pier who was reading a book glanced up at her and adjusted the comfortable glasses on his face.

"It was by no means my intention to help you one-sidedly, Martha. You played an important part with the Earl's information and I helped you find a shelter. It's a mutual contract." Martha nodded her head at Pier's statement.

Indeed, it was a mutual contract where the two had greatly benefitted from each other. However, Martha saw Pier's actions to be more valuable than hers.

"I understand, young master then I shall go back on my work once more," Martha said before turning around and starting to walk out.

"Hold on." Pier's words made her stop from her tracks as she turned around to look at the young master.

"How about you become the head of my personal maids, Martha?" Her eyes widened at the proposition that Pier made.

"P-Pardon me, young master but that position is too great for the likes of me." She said and clenched her hands.

'Becoming the young master's head maid? I would not even dare!' She thought. Would even the servant who burned the young master be worthy enough to rise in the position of the head maid for that person himself?

She could not imagine it.

"You're qualified. You already have experience with being a head maid so you know how to handle things, and the position has been vacant for quite some time now." Ever since Eliam fired Pier's previous servants, the position of the head maid had been vacant since the servant who took the position of Pier's head maid was one of those that got stripped of their job.

"B-But..."

"Do not worry, I won't order you to burn other nobles." Pier joked as he recalled Arda's obvious orders to the servant.

"You might take on a few jobs that I will order but rest assured your safety will be the priority." Martha had her eyes wide as she stared at the young master who was looking out the window while sitting comfortably on his seat at his study table

"Young Master, it's not my concern about what you will order me to do but I do not think I am worthy of becoming your-" She tried to explain but Pier held his hand up as a sign for her to stop.

"If you think you are still indebted for the things you have done, take the position and be of more use unto me. That way you'll be able to ease the guilt you feel." Martha paused for a few seconds and placed the pieces together.

"However, it is still up to your decision. I will not force you to accept my proposal but I am telling you to think about it." Indeed, what was the better option she needed to choose in order to repay her young master's kindness? She would gladly become Pier's ears and eyes from all of her connections with the servants just to help the person who gave her hope.

"Then I will gladly take on the position of becoming your head maid, young master. I shall serve you with dignity and respect!" She had a motivating look in her eyes and Pier smiled at her.

"Very well. Now tell the other servants to prepare the things I have requested for my trip to the Yuko Boundary." He commanded and Martha unhesitatingly followed.

---

"Y-Young Master, it is my pleasure to meet you!" A young noble successor from the lower nobility class greeted Pier. The latter turned to look at the young noble boy who had light brown hair.

The noble flinched when he met Pier's eyes.

"Hello." Pier only said a word of greeting but the noble was already sweating profusely.

Who wouldn't? It was the Pier Belmiunde from the Household of Masters that surpassed even the feared Dukes and Marquis rankings of the kingdom. It was also the individual who made an entire Earldom submit unto their control within an entire day only.

Pier's reputation of being a dominant noble skyrocketed after his declaration. Not just that, the Belmiunde Household's workforce and power increased for taking control of another nobility household.

The king nor the Crown Prince did not even bother in meddling with the issue because both households are supporting them and it would definitely be better for their number one supporter, the Belmiunde Household, to increase its power and influence throughout the kingdom as a means of strengthening their position as Royals too.

"What's wrong?" Pier asked the noble. The young noble restrained himself from showing any unpleasant things in front of Pier. He was afraid that their household which was barely clinging to the nobility would become the next house to be under the control of Pier's family.

"A-Ah, pardon my unpleasant display, young master. I am simply nervous about meeting such an esteemed noble for the first time." Pier was currently at the palace for this was the day that they needed to travel towards the Yuko Boundary.

"Don't be, keep yourself calm and collected at all times," Pier advised and the young noble nodded his head. His heartbeat slightly slowed down from the nervousness he felt.

'The young master is not that scary as they say from the rumors.' He thought as he looked at Pier. On his face were two eyeglasses that perfectly suited his pale face and blue eyes.

'And he's really handsome too!' The young noble thought as he further observed Pier's features. He was currently wearing a cream-colored suit that greatly complemented his skin tone and made his dark hair stand out.

Pier was definitely a show-stealer. His features were even enough to attract those he had met for the first time.

"I am wishing the young master a safe travel towards their destination." The noble said and Pier smiled at him.

"Thank you!" He said before entering the Royal Palace's door. Everyone was slightly nervous and anxious for their Crown Prince who will be going to the Yuko Boundary where the forbidden region was only in its backyard.

As he walked inside the palace, people could not stop staring and talking about him.

Pier Belmiunde that.

Pier Belmiunde this.

Pier sighed as he continued to walk in the grand halls of the palace. The place was seemingly all too familiar yet distant unto him.

When he reached the assembly hall, he immediately saw the red-haired individual who will be his main company on the trip.

"Greetings to the future sun of the kingdom, His Highness the Crown Prince," Pier said as he entered the elegant room. Others who were present in the room as well such as the prince's personal attendant and head butler turned to look at Pier.

"Young Master! I am glad to have seen you again!" Asher greeted with a smiling face. Pier grimaced at the Crown Prince's face.

Sometimes he'd wish that the original Pier would be here and annoy the prince again so he'll avoid talking in a friendly matter with Eliam.

"The same goes for me, your highness," Pier responded with a hint of nonchalance and disinterest in his voice whereas the head butler greeted him next.

"Greetings to the Young Master of the Belmiunde Household." Pier bowed his head in respect to the old butler who he had seen be by Asher's side for his entire memory. It had become a habit of him to lower his head a little bit especially to the elderly.

"Greetings, head butler. It's a relief to see you accompany us on our journey." The butler gave him a smile and spoke confidently.

"Of course, young master. Even though His Highness is only weeks away from reaching adulthood, I know he still needs me." Asher who heard the butler's statement reddened in embarrassment.

Pier laughed at the butler's sly statements and proceeded to look at the attendant who was standing beside the head butler.

"Greetings, young master. I believe we have seen a couple of times already but I will introduce myself once more. I am Caspian Von Edenburgh, the Crown Prince's attendant. It's my honor to meet the young master after such a long time." Pier looked at Asher's attendant.

He had long lilac hair that reached his shoulders which was tied with a small rubber band. He was approximately as tall as Asher which made him taller than Pier. His dark brown eyes and his sun-kissed skin were good to look at.

'Ah, it's the attendant who continuously chased Pier out whenever he comes into the palace to look for Asher. For an attendant, he sure has the looks.' He remembered certain memories that contained Caspian in them.

"It's my pleasure to have been acquainted with Sir Caspian as well. Please take good care of me in our journey." Pier said and directed his attention to the other seemingly insignificant individuals in the room.

Knights, clerks, and some priests were also there to accompany them in their journey.

They all greeted Pier with high regards one by one and Pier did not forget to reply courteously.

'Hmmm?' Caspian looked at the young master whom he had familiarly encountered a few times in a week.

'He really does look different.' He had not seen the young master for an entire month for he was sent by the Crown Prince as a proxy in another kingdom's gathering.

"Young Master, have you finished your personal preparations?" Asher started to talk with Pier.

Caspian's eyebrow rose in bewilderment at the sight.

'His highness initiated the talk with him?'

"Many things happened while you are away, Sir Caspian." The head butler commented when he saw Caspian's gaze towards the Crown Prince and the Young Master.

"The Young Master had become a new individual." He continued. Caspian turned to look at the butler.

"What do you mean by a new individual, head butler?" The head butler smiled then turned to look at Asher who was chatting fondly with Pier while the latter was looking slightly irritated but mostly uninterested in the Crown Prince's words.

"He had become someone that made the Crown Prince realize his own flaws." Caspian's eyes slightly widened. Someone who made the Crown Prince realize his own flaws?

'Preposterous! That kid?' Even with only a two-year gap, Caspian saw Pier as a kid who still have needs to grow up. He knew and had seen Pier relentlessly become addicted to his affections for the Crown Prince and he knew how immature Pier can be when it comes to Asher.

"You might not see it right now but his highness had also come to feel fondness for the Young Master. It's a beautiful sight to see indeed." The head butler said.

Caspian scoffed at the thought. He knew Asher was only doing it with respect to the successor of their sworn household.

Right?

"Do you want some tea? You can rest since there are still a few hours before we depart." Asher asked Pier and the young master only shook his head.

"May I have permission to go to the music room?" Caspian shivered as he heard Pier's statement. The music room was a place he had come to love. It was where he had been spending some time with his mother who was a performer of the royal palace.

And he knew how terrible Pier was in playing instruments.

"Of course! It would be my pleasure to hear the young master play." Pier turned to look at Asher.

"Thank you." Asher's grin widened at Pier's expression of gratitude for him and Caspian who saw Asher's smile was submerged in extreme confusion.

'He's smiling? He never smiled at the young master before.' Each unfolding scenario between the two was a huge surprise for the Crown Prince's attendant.

The Crown Prince led the way for Pier and the butler and Caspian followed them.

"Are we really going to let the young master play in the music room? I have heard he played well during the Royal Banquet for the first time but it might have been out of luck" He hated the idea of letting their ancestors who managed the music room for many years hear the sound of terrible playing.

"Please do not worry, Sir Caspian." The butler shortly said and quietly followed Pier and Asher towards the music hall. However, Asher turned to look at them and started walking in their direction leaving Pier walking alone in the front.

"Caspian"

"Yes, Your Highness."

"Prepare the magic devices for communication," Asher told him and Caspian stiffened for a moment.

"I know it is rude of me but may I ask why your highness?" He asked Asher. Magic devices are types of machinery and other things imbued with magic that allowed them to do a variety of things.

An example of it is the communication magic items that allowed the Royal Family to make announcements to its citizens.

'There are no public announcements to be made? So why?'

"I wanted the people of our kingdom to hear the young master play," Asher was obviously excited as he said those words with an excited tone. Caspian's eyes widened.

'Is he out of his mind?!' Caspian could not believe the words he was hearing right now.

"A-Are you sure, your highness?" He asked hesitatingly.

"Yes, go prepare them now."

Caspian felt cold sweat trickle on his forehead. What did the young master feed the Crown Prince for him to act this way during the time he was away from the kingdom?

When they reached the music room, Pier silently walked towards the piano.

"Is it okay for us to be here as well, young master?" The butler asked as he and Caspian who just got back from doing something asked.

"Please feel free to listen, head butler," Pier said and the butler smiled in satisfaction.

"Young master, would it be okay if others will hear you play?" Asher asked Pier and Pier tilted his head, confused with Asher's words.

"What do you mean by others, your highness? There are only four of us in this room" Asher nodded his head.

"I wanted the people of our kingdom to hear the young master play as well." Pier, surprised by Asher's statements flinched.

"May I ask why, your highness?"

"Many have requested the royal palace to see the young master play after rumors of how good you were during the royal banquet had spread. Why not give them a show?" Asher said as he stared at Pier.

Pier scratched his head.

'I only came here because I missed playing for many weeks but now, I need to play for the entire kingdom. My poor life.' Pier nodded his head.

'I want to play something since I think it would be long before I can play something again.' He thought about his upcoming journey which was only two weeks away.

'It's also the Crown Prince's birthday celebration before the day I am to leave for the journey.' It was a memory that the original Pier treasured. On the Crown Prince's birthday where he would give Asher extravagant presents.

Pier groaned frustratingly in his head. It would be bad if he were to skip the celebration.

'Consider that as my last gift for you, Pier. It's time to let Asher go. You need to stop holding onto him anymore.' Eliam spoke to the non-existent Pier. He knew if Pier was still present here, he would have a hard time letting go of the Crown Prince.

'Let's go on a journey together, Pier.' Eliam said and prepared himself to play.