Gareth was stunned as he heard Lucien's order. Lucien before never had the confidence to request such a meeting, even on such an important matter. Simply because he knew he wasn't competent enough to entertain the king with his words and ideals.
However, today was different. The moment Gareth first met Lucien after his isolation, Lucien's behavior seemed a bit different. As someone who had been with Lucien for quite some time, he knew Lucien better than most people, and he was never the confident type.
The way Lucien talked, behaved, and acted before was somewhat timid. Although there were a few similarities between the way the current Lucien and the old Lucien talked, Gareth thinks that maybe Lucien had simply reached a state where he had nothing to lose anymore; therefore, he isn't letting his personal feelings hinder him anymore.
A somber expression appeared on Gareth's face. Although he didn't want to admit it, he had judged Lucien in the past, viewing him in the same way others did. However, after being assigned by the king as the Head Butler at Lucien's estate following Lucien's marriage, Gareth began to see qualities in Lucien that others had overlooked.
Lucien was someone ambitious, passionate, and hardworking. It's just that he was slow and fragile mentally and spiritually. He was easily broken and slow in terms of intellectual capabilities. He was lacking in many aspects as someone who was meant to be the next in line for the throne.
What truly made Gareth admire Lucien was that, despite his poor image, no matter how many times he fell, he never faltered and always found his way back. He was slow and weak in many aspects, but unlike other royals and nobles out there who take too much pride in their status, Lucien was a humble man who always chose kindness.
It saddens him to see Lucien like this; he could only hope that he would never lose that part of himself, even at times when he feels like nothing matters anymore.
Gareth was silent for a moment, then finally, he spoke in a mannered tone.
"I shall do as you asked me to, Your Highness," he said, then added. "However, it might take a while until the meeting can be scheduled. I hope you understand."
Gareth tried to maintain a neutral expression as he said those words. He had prevented himself from asking any more questions to not drag the conversation any longer. He could somehow feel an impatient feeling coming from Lucien, so he didn't try to ask any more questions.
Gareth stood up and bowed, taking his leave.
Lucien watched as Gareth headed towards the door, pulling it open and disappearing completely. He stared at the door motionlessly for a moment, then looked towards the window beside him.
'I kinda feel guilty living as Lucien.''
'But then again, it's not my fault that I'm in this body. Still, I can't help but feel guilty about it.'
Shortly afterward, a man with orange hair, wearing a white dress shirt, a black waistcoat, and black dress pants, knocked on the door. He then entered and greeted Lucien respectfully.
"Your Highness, what kind of outfit would you like today?" He said solemnly.
"I will be meeting my father, so I would like something formal," Lucien answered.
Hearing Lucien's words, the valet almost stumbled on his feet.
The valet remained quiet for a moment, then said in a bewildered tone.
"Excuse me, Your Highness. Could you please confirm if what I heard is correct?"
Lucien stared at him blankly, a hint of annoyance forming on his face. 'This is starting to get annoying… I keep getting this kind of reaction. But I guess it's understandable.'
"What you heard is correct; I am meeting my father today, so please prepare a formal outfit for me," Lucien said in an assuring tone.
The valet stared at him with disbelief for a moment.
"I understand, Your Highness," he said, bowing his head afterward, then leaving the room.
Lucien is now alone in the room once again. He stared at the space of the room, where the valet had once stood, then slowly tilted his head towards the window beside him, staring at the graceful view of the estate's garden.
Lucien waited for a while, gazing at the beautiful view of the estate's garden. Then, his outfit was finally prepared, moments later. He stood up from his seat and headed to his dressing room. When he arrived, he was greeted by his valet, the one responsible for his clothing and appearance.
A wooden mannequin could be seen beside his valet. Displayed on the polished wooden mannequin, the pristine white uniform shimmered with golden trim and medals. A royal crimson cape cascaded from one shoulder, its bold hue contrasting with the pale fabric.
Lucien stared at the outfit with awe, his expression neutral so as not to show his amazement. Lucien may have worn this kind of outfit his whole life, but to Seojun, this was his first time, about to be.
"How is it, Your Highness?" The valet asked with a bright smile.
Lucien examined the outfit for a moment, then a soft smile formed on his lips. He nodded and said in satisfaction.
"It's great."
Seeing as Lucien was satisfied with the outfit he had prepared for him, the valet's smile grew even brighter. He then motioned for Lucien to come closer and try on the outfit. Lucien did as he was told and willingly wore the elegant outfit.
With that, he now resembled a true crown prince. Earlier, the maids had given him strange looks, and now he fully understood why. Before, he had appeared to be on the brink of death and was not very visually appealing.
He was aware that he didn't appear particularly visually appealing. However, he hadn't considered how he looked to the maids who had served royalty for so long; he had grown accustomed to his appearance from his past life, which was not significantly different from how he looked when he first woke up.
He stood before the stunning mirror, admiring his reflection.
'This guy is a lot more good-looking than I thought.'
Information Drop:
Hair Style - Lucien's hair was soft and slightly wavy, parted to one side. A few longer strands gently fell over his forehead, giving him a calm and elegant look.
Outfit - Lucien wore a clean white uniform with gold buttons and shiny medals. A royal red cape hung from one shoulder, standing out against the light fabric. Gold cords crossed his chest, and the outfit fit him perfectly, making him look proud and noble.