Chapter 218 (1/2)

"So, you decided to give your roses and get his tea in return?"

"No, I just gave him the roses. I gained his trust in return."

The king couldn't believe Rubica was talking about the fierce dragon's trust.

He asked with suspicion, "What… are you? Are you a nymph like Edgar's mother?"

"No, I am an ordinary human."

"Then, why did your name replace that missing ring?"

"Didn't Edgar explain?"

The king shook his head. He had talked about love when Rubica's name showed up in that box, mostly to tease Edgar.

The duke stayed calm at first, but then he started to get mad. After that, he kept sending reports, but he shut his mouth at the mention of his wife's name.

The king let him stop working on Stella when hearing Stephen might be a spy, but he had been wondering something. Who was this woman? He thought she couldn't be just anybody.

"I died about forty years from now. Then Edgar used the ring to send me back to the past."

"Aha!"

The king forgot everything about his authority and laughed. He had been right! That little boy who pretended to be the coldest and the most rational did have a fiery love.

"So, Your Majesty, I must ask you something."

"What is it?"

"Please give up on Stella. No, please do not have Edgar make any more weapons."

The king frowned hard.

Was she interfering too much? Maybe he was about to say she should care only about her own household like a proper lady.

Nevertheless, her tea meeting, which had significantly impacted the kingdom's economy, had started out as a small gathering she started just because she wanted to wear pretty dresses.

Edgar was Duke Claymore, but before that, he was her husband.

"We shouldn't make any more weapons? Do you want this kingdom to perish? As a duchess, you ought not to say such a thing."

"I am begging you because I want this kingdom to survive."

Thankfully, the king wasn't telling her to mind her own business. He was open to discussions and new ideas, which was one of the reasons that enabled him to rule in peace for many years.

"They are going to abduct Edgar and force him to make Stella for them. Because of it, a huge war is going to break out in four years. It was a long and exhausting war, more than half of the continent was destroyed and this kingdom was devastated until nothing could live on it."

"But we've caught Stephen, thanks to your help."

"Yes, he failed this time, but the people who want Stella are never going to give up."

"Just wait until we have the Golden Land. Then we will destroy Stella."

"Would… you?"

Stella was the most powerful weapon in history. Would anyone be able to give up that power after tasting it once?

It wouldn't matter if that person is good or bad since people can do bad things for good reasons. In fact, Stephen had tried to steal Stella to save his weak and poor homeland.

"After you take the Golden Land, you will want the trading route that leads to the eastern lands. Then, the fruits of the south. Next, the mana stones in the mountains you haven't been able to mine yet because of the slumbering dragon, and it would be all for this kingdom."

She was right. Although the king didn't lose his smile, he could say nothing. He couldn't defeat her on this topic. He took a sip of tea and changed to a different subject.

"Edgar's curse is getting worse. Do you know about it?"

"Yes, our butler told me."

"Then I must ask, do you know how to break it?"

"No..."

The king seemed quite disappointed to hear that. He had guessed so, but he couldn't help getting disappointed to hear it.