Civilization Chronicles: Rise of the Divine Creator

Half-an-hour later, back at the Manor, Ariana was sitting in a luxurious reception room where high-quality tea and snacks the kitchen staff had hurriedly prepared were provided.

Lucas was still playing host, mostly because the former queen found him an engaging conversation partner and a surprisingly useful source of information.

”So, you’re saying the root cause of the disaster is still unknown?”

”200,000 refugees... that certainly must have created a huge burden on the kingdom’s treasury.”

”Oh? New agricultural machinery?”

”Increasing cross-provincial investment to stimulate the economy?”

”The Royal Council actually approved that much relief money? It seems the kingdom’s finances have improved quite a bit since my time.”

In this way, the former queen asked questions, and Lucas answered as best he could, filling the time until early evening arrived and a knock was heard.

Knowing exactly who it was, Ariana smiled and waved her hand, using her Spirit Qi to open the door as she called out, ”Come in.”

Still dressed in rough travel clothes, Celestina Balfour entered the reception room and respectfully saluted the queen who had ruled the Rockwell Kingdom when she was born 298 years ago.

When the red-headed Marquess tried to take a knee, however, Ariana moved faster and held her up, shaking her head as a warm smile spread across her face, ”It’s been too long, Celestina. You’re looking well.”

Facing one of the few figures she considered a role-model and elder, Celestina also revealed an innocent smile, ”You also look as radiant as every, Your Majesty.”

”Oh, enough of that,” Ariana laughed, patting Celestina’s shoulders, ”We’ve known each other for nearly 3 centuries now, and I’m no longer your queen, you can relax and act casually.”

Celestina was about to refuse, but seeing the nearly motherly look of expectation on the former queen’s face, she closed her eyes and muttered, ”I will try... Lady Ariana.”

”Well, I guess that will do for now,” Ariana smiled wryly before her gaze turned towards the other occupant of the room and commented, ”You’ve taken an excellent Disciple. He’s been keeping me company this whole time and hasn’t given me any reason to criticize him.”

”En,” Celestina didn’t bother trying to conceal her pride as she nodded, ”Lucas is indeed one of a kind.”

”Hahaha, I suppose it’s just like you to say something like that,” Ariana laughed and beckoned towards the seats.

Popping another ’cookie’ as they were apparently called into her mouth, the former queen enjoyed the pleasant sweetness on her tongue for a moment before saying, ”Young Lucas here has been getting me up to speed on the situation of the kingdom, and I must say that things are much better than I had originally feared.”

”It’s all thanks to the strong resilience of the kingdom’s people,” Celestina also reached for one of the cookies as she casually stated.

”Don’t be so modest,” Ariana, however, narrowed her eyes slightly, ”I know you took the central role in stabilizing and supporting the nation.”

”Is that the story my First Disciple has been telling you?” Celestina asked with slight amusement.

”No,” Ariana shook her head, ”It’s what I have surmised after gathering my own information, including what Lucas has told me today.”

”I see. In that case, I will humbly accept your compliments, Lady Ariana,” Celestina said casually.

The two powerful women exchanged a few more pleasantries while Lucas took up the role of server, ensuring their tea cups were filled and the platter of snacks was replenished.

Only after about half-an-hour did the pair finally get down to business, with Celestina taking the initiative to ask, ”I know after the last war, the kingdom received a fair bit of help from the Vast Ocean Trading Company in the form of low-cost goods. Can I assume something similar will happen this time?”

”Better than that,” the former queen shook her head, ”My position in the Company has improved significantly since then, as has my personal wealth, so I have arranged for some essential supplies to be delivered regularly over the next year or so and managed to secure some discounts on other goods for the kingdom.”

”It’s not much, probably just 2 or 3 million Low-Grade Spirit Crystals worth of materials in total, but it’s the least I can do to help my homeland in its time of need,” Ariana explained, treating this massive amount of money as nothing but pocket change.

It really opened Lucas’ eyes to just how great the gap in prosperity was between a Mid-Sized and Large-Sized Kingdom.

On the other hand, Celestina wasn’t all that surprised by the former queen’s generosity. Even she could amass that much money on her own, though it would probably come close to bankrupting her, so the much older and stronger Ariana Rockwell being able to do so was only natural in Celestina’s opinion.

”That being said,” the former queen continued, ”Only about 10 of the ships I brought with me this time are filled with my relief aid. Another ship was donated by the Bennett Family in exchange for a favour, and once the Summers and Henderson Families learned of this, they also donated a ship worth of supplies each to not lose face in front of their rival.”

”I see,” Celestina grinned, ”I may not enjoy engaging in politics, but if it benefits the kingdom, I won’t be raising any complaints.”

”Indeed,” Ariana agreed, also finding the whole situation beneficial to her.

To behemoths like the three founding families of the Vast Ocean Trading Company, a ship full of grain, clothing, and simple medicine wasn’t even a rounding error on their balance sheets, but to the Rockwell Kingdom, it was a huge boon.

Quickly reviewing the sight she had taken in as she flew over Misty City’s docks just minutes ago, however, Celestina tilted her head slightly as she asked, ”What about the other 7 ships, then?”

”Oh, those,” Ariana mused, ”My favourite little niece put in a massive order for a wide variety of supplies from the Sovereignty a few months ago. It was actually because such a large convoy was being organized that it caught the attention of the Bennetts in the first place.”

”Ah, that makes sense,” Celestina nodded, shooting a glance over at her First Disciple.

The one who put in that order might have been Second Queen Natasha, but she was only acting as a middle-man for Lucas.

Well, I guess that makes things simpler, Celestina thought to herself, with Her Majesty coming personally, we can just settle the bill now.