112 Connections Just Got Stronger
Roswiser was slightly surprised.
Just a moment ago, she had interacted with Donkey, and indeed used Soul Judgment to soothe Donkey’s stubborn temperament.
However, that mild magical fluctuation was completely undetectable unless one was paying keen attention.
But Claudia was able to catch that…?
In response to Claudia’s question, Roswiser responded generously, “Well, just a little cleverness here and there.”
Most of her ability to learn Soul Judgment could be credited to Claudia.
So, it was necessary to be a bit humble in front of her.
“But how did you know I practiced Soul Judgment, Senior?”
At first, when they asked Taige to find some books on Primordial Magic, the couple had claimed it was “for Leon to study.”
Therefore, logically, Taige should have used the same excuse when asking Charlotte.
Yet, when it came to Claudia, she directly stated that the magic Roswiser used was Soul Judgment.
That can’t just be explained with “sharp observation.”
Upon hearing this, Claudia smiled, “At first, Charlotte wanted to get some books on Primordial Magic from me to help Leon practice, but Primordial Magic belongs to my Dragon Race, making it much harder for outsiders to learn.”
“So I thought maybe Leon told his master he wanted to practice it to help you.”
Roswiser nodded, “As you said, Senior, back then we didn’t know the relationship between you, Taige, and Charlotte, so we told that little white lie.”
Claudia waved her hand, not caring, “Not necessarily a lie, just a considerate husband trying to get a magical tome for his beloved wife.”
“……”
Why do all you dragons love using “husband and wife” as a punchline?
Do Leon and I look like we’re all lovey-dovey or something?!
Do we?!
Seriously.
After quietly grumbling, Roswiser looked down at her palms, then picked up on Claudia’s thread, saying, “I’ve been practicing Soul Judgment for quite some time now. After the battle in the Extreme North Land, I’ve gained a deeper understanding of Primordial Magic. With this… I should be able to protect my people better.”
Claudia listened quietly, propping her chin on one hand and slightly squinting into the distance, “Most dragons are inherently driven to pursue greater power, and you’re no exception. But unlike other dragons who seek ‘conquest’ after gaining power, your desire to become stronger and your thirst for power are for ‘protection.’ That’s a noble aspiration.”
Roswiser smiled lightly, “You’re overpraising me, Senior. It’s really not that great.”
“Constantly honing yourself for the sake of those you care about, enduring countless hardships, even if it doesn’t seem ‘great’ in the grand scheme of millennia, it’s more than enough for you,” Claudia said.
No wonder she’s a professional ancient text translator; her speeches are always so polished.
Without excessive flattery, such praises and discussions would make anyone feel good.
Roswiser nodded, accepting Claudia’s compliment with humility.
After a brief silence, Roswiser asked, “Senior, isn’t the Sea Dragon Race about to pass the throne of the Dragon King?”
“Yep, once my father returns, the succession and coronation ceremony will begin.”
“You’re the next Sea Dragon King?”
“What, you gonna fight me for it?” Claudia teased.
Roswiser stifled a chuckle, “No way, Senior.”
In the Dragon Race, the throne is not passed down by inheritance; it’s about who has the strength to do so.
Like Isar always jokingly tells Little Light, “When you grow up, Auntie will hand you the title of Red Dragon King,” it’s all just banter.
To actually sit on the throne and be revered by all dragons requires strength and wisdom.
However, that doesn’t mean the offspring of the Dragon King won’t compete for the next throne.
Claudia, as the eldest princess of the current Sea Dragon King, secured her qualifications to become the next king through a series of competitions and elections.
After spending so much time with Claudia, Roswiser could see that Claudia completely has what it takes to be a Dragon King.
Well, Leon’s connections just leveled up again.
Not only does his wife hold the title of Dragon King, but his sister-in-law is also one, and now “mother” is about to become a Dragon King too.
“Though I’ve never been a Dragon King before, in this field, you’re my senior,” Claudia said.
“Not really…”
“By the way, you became a Dragon King at such a young age; your future is definitely bright.”
Most Dragon Kings don’t ascend until they’re at least five hundred years old.
Roswiser became the current Silver Dragon King at just one hundred and fifty years old.
As Claudia mentioned, with such effort and talent, a bright future is guaranteed.
“Honestly, I’ve always thought… being a king has nothing to do with age. As long as you have the ability, it’s enough.”
That sounds somewhat profound at first glance.
But in reality, when Roswiser said that, her mind was elsewhere.
She was thinking:
Noia, dear, grow up quick! When you hit twenty, you can run for Dragon King, get crowned at twenty-five, then your mom can finally retire and open a farm with your dad!
Joking aside, the thought of a “twenty-five-year-old Dragon King” is indeed quite daunting.
Pulling her thoughts back to the topic of succession, Roswiser naturally transitioned to discussing the Empire.
“The current king of the Empire… could really use a break, don’t you think, Senior?”
Claudia immediately picked up on the implications in Roswiser’s words.
“Hmm, is Leon planning to formally declare war on the Empire?”
“Yep. He’s got all the evidence to prove his innocence and to overthrow the Empire’s conspiracy. Dragging this out will only result in more unnecessary sacrifices.”
“Sounds good, I’ve been itching to deal with that dog emperor since he dared to lay his hands on Charlotte’s Heartguard Dragon Scale.”
Ah, just as Leon said, Claudia doesn’t like the Empire either.
Which means… getting her on board for help might be easier.
“However, Senior, we might be a bit short-handed over here…” Roswiser said tentatively.
Claudia’s gaze, which had been admiring the scenery, paused slightly, then she slowly turned to look at Roswiser.
Roswiser met Claudia’s gaze without flinching.
After staring at each other for a moment, the blue-haired beauty chuckled, “So it was just a subtle way to ask for my help.”
“If you could help, it would be fantastic.”
After a pause, Roswiser added, “If Senior needs any conditions, feel free to name them; as long as it’s within our capability—”
“Conditions? Of course, I won’t help for free.”
Claudia looked down, fiddling with her nails.
Roswiser pursed her lips, already preparing for a hefty request from Claudia.
“How about this… could you let your eldest daughter come over to stay with me for a few days?”
“……Huh?” Roswiser thought she heard wrong.
Claudia shrugged, “Helena really wants to play with Noia. If that’s doable, I’ll help you with your request.”
Honestly, Claudia’s proposal was almost as good as not proposing anything at all.
There was no need for money or resources, just the chance for her daughter’s good friend to come over and hang out for a few days.
That’s practically a freebie.
Yet, after a moment of thought, Roswiser didn’t immediately agree.
Seeing Roswiser hesitate, Claudia looked surprised and asked, “What’s wrong? Can’t meet this little request?”
She knew her request was almost negligible, just an excuse to help this couple and offer Charlotte some relief.
But Claudia didn’t expect that even with that, Roswiser would still hesitate.
“It’s not that I can’t… It’s just… Leon and I have always respected our daughters’ wishes, so I’m not keen on using my daughter as a condition for you to help us.”
Claudia blinked in surprise, then realized, “Oh~ So that’s just the human parenting philosophy, huh?”
Claudia was a relatively traditional dragon; Helena’s upbringing had been very dragon-oriented.
There’s nothing wrong with this tradition, as Helena grew up healthy and strong.
However, compared to Noia and her sisters, Helena’s environment seemed a bit… stifling.
And when Claudia mentioned Noia, she hadn’t considered that Roswiser truly didn’t want her daughter involved in negotiations and trading.
This respect for the next generation was clearly different from the Dragon Race’s views, which means Leon must have influenced Roswiser.
“Well, Leon definitely knows how to connect with the girls and respects their choices. So… Senior, could you consider changing the condition?”
Claudia rubbed her brow, genuinely at a loss with this young crowd.
“Fine, let Helena stay at your place for a few days. As long as she’s with Noia, she can go anywhere.”
After a pause, Claudia added, “This was Helena’s direct request, so I’m respecting her too.”
It seems that the Sea Dragon senior is also soft-hearted under that tough exterior, wanting to help but still going through the “conditional request” process.
Roswiser gave a resigned smile, “Alright, our home welcomes little Helena anytime.”
