Don't Want to Be Ordinary Even Though I'm an Extra Character-Chapter 85: [84] Power and Deception

Celeste’s eyes gleamed sharply, like a predator that had just found its prey. Arkan, despite knowing he had carefully concealed many things and built his strength in secret, remained aware that a single misstep in his words could trap him in this dangerous game.

With a relaxed expression, he leaned back in his chair, gazing at Celeste with unwavering calm. "Apologies," he said, his voice steady and without hesitation. "But what exactly do you mean by ’what I’ve done’?"

He let the question hang in the air, testing how Celeste would react. If she had concrete information, she would reveal it. If not, then this was merely a bluff he needed to counter with greater cunning.

Celeste chuckled softly, her delicate laughter echoing in the room, but Arkan could not ignore the sharpness hidden beneath her tone. This woman was clearly not someone who merely sat idly in her father’s shadow—she had her own thoughts, her own ambitions.

"What you’ve done?" Celeste repeated playfully, leaning slightly forward as she scrutinized Arkan. "Oh, no need to feign innocence. You already know exactly what I mean."

Arkan did not overreact. He simply offered a faint smile, allowing Celeste to continue speaking.

"You built your territory from nothing," Celeste continued, her voice turning more serious. "At a speed that even seasoned rulers would struggle to match. You attracted merchants, secured trade routes, and—most intriguingly—you monopolized the market there."

Arkan shrugged casually. "I only did what was necessary. Otherwise, that land would have remained a hopeless wasteland, as it was before."

Celeste narrowed her eyes before smiling again. "Of course. And in the process, you secured resources that should have flowed into the hands of other nobles. You see, this is very interesting... and dangerous."

Arkan could read between the lines. Celeste did not yet know his grand plans or the hidden power he was cultivating. She only saw the results—the wealth steadily flowing into Lawrence’s domain, strengthening his position. And for someone like Celeste, that was enough to pique both her interest and her suspicion.

"There’s no need to exaggerate," Arkan finally said, his tone light. "I’m just a minor lord trying to survive in this harsh world. Isn’t that what all nobles do?"

Celeste chuckled. "Perhaps. But most nobles squander their wealth on banquets and hunts, not on building a solid economic foundation. That’s the difference."

She crossed her legs again, tracing a finger over the table. "You know, Arkan... in a feudal world like this, wealth is power. And power that grows too quickly tends to attract unwanted attention."

The implied threat was clear. Celeste was warning him that the stronger his economic hold became, the more enemies he would attract—from both within and beyond.

Yet, Arkan was unfazed. He had accounted for this from the very beginning.

"I’ll keep that in mind," he said, then stood up. "Thank you for the warning, Lady Celeste. But for now, I have much to prepare."

Celeste studied him with an unreadable expression before finally smiling. "Of course. I’m sure we’ll meet again, Arkan. And when we do, I hope you’re still in a favorable position."

Arkan merely gave a small smirk. "I hope so too."

With that, he left the room, ensuring that this meeting had given him one crucial piece of information—Celeste might be intelligent, but she had not yet uncovered the full extent of his game. And for now, that was enough.

- Arkan Lawrence -

In short, Celeste wanted to reclaim Lawrence’s territory because its development was too promising. This wasn’t just suspicion—it was nearly a certainty. And if my assumptions were correct, my position could be in danger sooner than I anticipated.

However, there was something else that troubled me.

Had I made a mistake by taking in Kael Darnath?

Kael was no ordinary man. He was a former Royal Guard of the Northern Empire, someone who once stood at the front lines of the kingdom’s defenses. In his youth, he had even held the position of Vice-Captain—a rank reserved only for the most talented individuals with unwavering loyalty.

But many things had happened. His disillusionment with the empire, the betrayal he suffered, and the political downfall he could not avoid—all of it led him to withdraw from the main stage, eventually becoming a widely known fugitive. He became a high-profile criminal, an outlaw who disrupted the empire in ways they could not ignore.

And now, he was here. With me.

I knew from the start that bringing him into my fold was not without consequences. I knew that his presence would draw the attention of people who had no business knowing about this territory—especially the Black Hand, the Empire’s intelligence unit that relentlessly hunted internal threats.

And sure enough, it didn’t take long for them to sniff out Kael’s presence here.

This was bad. Very bad.

With this, my domain would be exposed far sooner than it should have been. The news would spread, and that meant spies from various factions would start watching me. I was still a newcomer in the political arena, but I couldn’t allow this to become a weakness.

There was only one way forward—I had to work harder and accelerate the plans I had already laid out. Fortunately, in the coming days, I had an important meeting that could be the key to everything. If I could play my cards right, I could secure my position before the real threats arrived.

And Celeste...

I couldn’t ignore her.

She was suspicious. She was far too clever for a noblewoman who was merely sitting pretty in her family’s mansion. I didn’t know her true intentions yet, but I was certain that we would cross paths again—somewhere else, in a situation far more dangerous.

And when that time came, I had to be ready.

###

After the banquet, Arkan returned to the villa prepared by the head butler. There, Florence and Rainer slept separately. Meanwhile, I remained awake, speaking with Florence about the information she had gathered.

Of course, no one would be eavesdropping while we were in my room.

"Tell me..." Arkan muttered, loosening his tight collar for comfort.

"A lot of things. Marquis Arleon has reportedly fallen ill, and his daughter, Celeste, has returned from the Imperial Academy."

The Imperial Academy—a gathering place for individuals of high social status from across the continent. When it came to education, no kingdom could rival the Empire, and most of the students there were nobles.

Arkan leaned back in his chair, staring at Florence with sharp eyes. This information only reinforced the strange feeling he had since his encounter with Celeste.

"So, she suddenly returned from the academy right after her father fell ill?" he mused, swirling the wine in his glass. "Interesting."

Florence nodded. "Yes. And according to what I’ve gathered, Celeste is not just any noble’s daughter. She has a reputation as one of the most brilliant students at the Imperial Academy."

Arkan raised an eyebrow. "How brilliant?"

Florence unfurled a small scroll and read in a quiet voice, "She graduated with the highest marks in political strategy and economics, is fluent in multiple languages, and is known for her sharp diplomatic acumen."

Arkan let out a long sigh. "So, she’s not just ambitious—she’s also skilled in politics and intrigue."

Florence met his gaze with a serious expression. "Even more concerning, there are rumors that she has connections to certain factions within the Northern Empire. I’m still investigating who exactly is in her network, but one thing is certain—she is not someone to underestimate."

Arkan stared at the ceiling for a moment, deep in thought. Celeste’s appearance was unexpected, but if she had returned not merely because of her father’s illness, then she clearly had another motive.

"And what about the Marquis himself?" Arkan asked after a brief silence.

"He is truly ill," Florence replied. "Not with an ordinary sickness, but with a condition that is slowly weakening his body. Several doctors have been summoned, yet none could determine the exact cause. However, there are whispers that this isn’t a natural illness."

Arkan narrowed his eyes. "Poison?"

Florence shrugged. "It’s still speculation, but if true, it only strengthens the likelihood that someone is trying to seize his position."

Arkan fell silent. If Celeste truly had grand ambitions, then Marquis Arleon’s downfall could serve as her stepping stone to power.

"What about the situation inside the mansion?"

"It’s stable, but some senior servants seem displeased with Celeste. Their loyalty remains with the Marquis. However, none of them dare to openly oppose her."

Arkan tapped his fingers on the table, deep in thought. If Celeste was indeed taking control, she would tighten her grip on this territory. And that meant she would keep a closer eye on him.

I have to play this carefully.

Florence observed the change in his expression. "Do you want me to dig deeper?"

Arkan met her gaze with a faint smile. "Of course. Find out who her allies are, who might be supporting her from the shadows, and if possible... confirm whether or not the Marquis was truly poisoned."

Florence bowed her head. "Understood."

Arkan stood up, walking toward the window of his chamber, gazing at the moon hanging in the night sky.