Free Web NovelChapter 250: 250:After.
Two weeks after the coronation, the kingdom had finally settled.
Atheline had learned that "settled" was a word politicians used when disasters became organized enough to fit into schedules.
His life had become remarkably predictable. He wakes up at almost the same time, eats breakfast with Lilith, attends meetings, signs documents, attends more meetings, reviews reports, and then attends even more meetings.
Occasionally he would remember how blissful his life had been when he was merely the Queen’s husband, the good old days. Then attend another meeting.
Atheline was beginning to suspect the true rulers of the world were not monarchs but paperwork. He truly came to respect Lilith. She handled everything on her own most of the time, he’d taken half the burden off her but it still felt like a lot to him. All the training had really not prepared him for it.
Hands-on experience really hit differently.
This particular morning started much like every other. Lilith sat across from him at breakfast. A stack of reports rested beside her plate. Another stack rested beside his.
Atheline looked at them, then at his breakfast then back at the reports. The choice was obvious. He picked up a pastry. Lilith didn’t even look up.
"Those reports aren’t going away."
"Must you remind me while I’m eating?"
"You’ll get used to it eventually."
"I hope it happens sooner."
She finally glanced at him. The look suggested she pitied him.
"It’s going to take a while."
Atheline smiled innocently and took a sip of his tea. She returned to reading. The breakfast room settled into comfortable silence.
Eventually one of the servants entered.
"Your Majesties."
The servant bowed. He had finally gotten used to the switch in titles.
"The council meeting begins in thirty minutes."
Atheline groaned. She continued eating unaffected. The servant wisely left before becoming involved.
He looked toward the ceiling.
"I miss hunting monsters and running around the forest."
"You almost died several times," she said flatly.
"Those were the simpler times."
Lilith actually considered that and then nodded.
"Thats true. You’ve even lost weight now." freewёbnoνel.com
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.
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The Imperial Council Chamber had become his second home. A fact he deeply resented. The enormous room was already occupied when he arrived. Everyone looked painfully awake.
Atheline suspected some of them actually enjoyed meetings. Lilith sat beside him at the head of the chamber.
This was one of the places he had never visited, since it involved the kingdom’s deepest discussions and he hadn’t been king yet,no one trusted him at that point. Now, he was fully tied down to the kingdom.
The meeting immediately began. They reported on trade reports, harvest projections, winter preparations that had been put in place, Gladia kingdom’s updates, infrastructure requests, and Military budgets.
Atheline listened carefully. Despite his complaints, he actually enjoyed ruling and the decision-making process. He was slowly getting better at it.
Several months ago, as a typical High elf, many of these discussions would have sounded like nonsense but he understood all of them now.
The meeting proceeded smoothly which should have warned him that something was wrong, because peace never lasted. Especially with things having gotten more chaotic in the palace.
Sure enough, the doors opened halfway through the session.
A nervous-looking female attendant entered. She bowed quickly.
"Your Majesties."
Lilith raised an eyebrow.
"What is it?"
The attendant hesitated.
"The Demonic Prince is requesting another audience."
Silence filled the chamber. Several ministers immediately looked tired while others visibly aged. One military commander actually buried his face in his hands.
Atheline blinked then chuckled mirthlessly.
"Again?"
The attendant nodded.
"Again."
Everyone in the room sighed heavily. Apparently, everyone had reached the same conclusion. The Demonic continent’s Crown Prince was becoming an annoying problem.
Lilith finally spoke.
"Bring him."
The attendant hurried away. Several council members visibly prepared themselves, which he noticed.
The doors opened once more. The Demonic Prince entered confidently, as always.
The man looked entirely too relaxed for someone who had overstayed his diplomatic visit by nearly three weeks.
Prince Lucifer Beldaz
He was tall, with sharp features and long dark hair. He would have passed for a high elf except for his darker hair coloured and black eyes with red pupils.
He was elegantly dressed, carried himself with confidence, and had absolutely no intention of leaving.
Atheline was beginning to understand why the Demonic Continent frightened people. Their nobility apparently lacked all sense of embarrassment, he could already imagine their commoners.
Prince Lucifer smiled.
"Your Majesties."
Both Lilith and he nodded.
The prince sat without invitation. Several ministers twitched. He ignored all of them.
"Have you considered my proposal?"
Lilith’s expression remained neutral. frёewebnoѵel.ƈo๓
"No."
Prince Lucifer nodded thoughtfully.
"As expected."
Atheline stared in wonder and amusement. The man wasn’t even disappointed anymore. He’d simply accepted rejection as part of the process.
Prince Lucifer leaned forward slightly.
"About the moon crystals."
There it was again, always the moonstones. That was what had been keeping him. Atheline knew the demonic continent would eventually come after news of them obtaining the stones but not this way.
He had expected them during the hunting competition and wished for it but the man hadn’t shown up after he said he would. He had thought war might follow, or increase their attacks on the borders more than usual, but it also remained the usual attack frequently.
He knew how important the crystals were to them just like to the dark elves. While the dark elves possessed the largest supply on the continent, the Demonic Continent possessed almost close to none.
The imbalance was severe.
Prince Lucifer continued.
"Our continent needs them."
Lilith remained unmoved.
"So I’ve heard."
Lucifer smiled.
"Repeatedly."
"Yes."
Atheline fought the urge to laugh. Prince Lucifer was remarkably persistent. Unfortunately for him, Lilith was even more stubborn.
A dangerous matchup.
Prince Lucifer folded his arms.
"Our reserves are nearly exhausted, your Majesties."
Several ministers exchanged glances. This wasn’t new information. The prince had mentioned it before, many times.
He continued.
"Trade routes cannot sustain demand."
"We know."
"Production continues declining."
"We know."
The prince pointed dramatically.
"Then help us. We’ll do anything in exchange."
