At the duchess's office, the two representatives of the only companies that trade inside the duchy are with Ariadne. The serious Duchess tapped the table with her finger while looking at the two merchants before her.

  ‘So... how can we trade with the Markaz kingdom?’ She pulled back and relaxed in her chair.

  ‘?We need permission from the kingdom to make any kind of trade like this with other nations.’ Levi looked at Ariadne with a disappointed face.

  ‘Oh, my… As expected of an Arc, it doesn’t dare to do what it takes.’ The A-Dam woman beside Levi made a devilish smile while looking at him.

  ‘Hum… Do you have a solution, Persia?’ Ariadne asked.

  The brown-skinned woman looked at the duchess with clear brown eyes and a smile. Her light dress was characteristic of the coastline of Velvent to the east.

  ‘With the history of our company, we can make it work. Keeping these products under the table will be in everyone's interest.’ She smirked at Levi.

  ‘Of course, the Socher company would suggest such a dangerous thing; we need to think about the people, about Her Highness, not just profit, you witch!!!’ He raised his voice, looking at Persia.

  ‘What did you just call me? I demand to respect you, coward; if you will not give a solution, leave.’ She got up from her seat, facing the merchant.

  ‘I have no respect for someone who only looks for profit, not for the people of this land. How often have our people outmost gotten the end of a blade because of your company's actions?’ Levi got up and looked at Persia with angry eyes.

  ‘But all those times, I broth precious resources for our people. What if I profit by doing that? Don’t be a sore loser; our company is better than yours, and that is just a fact.’ She smirked at him.

  ‘This is not some of your minor operations; we are playing with the lives of everyone on the duchy.’ He ?shouted.

  Stolen novel; please report.

  Ariadne punched the table and startled the two merchants, who ?looked at her; her serious red eyes could drown out the two that ?sat on their chairs, looking at the duchess like a cornered animal.

  ‘That is better; I like Persia's plan not because it is good but because it is the only one we have. I also like that Levi cares so much about people, so the two should join in and split profits from this trade with Markaz.’ She showed the two a tender and caring smile.

  The two merchants looked at each other and nodded in agreement, letting out a deep sigh. The duchess exited her chair and walked around the room, refreshing herself with her fan.

  ‘I need to set up a meeting with the king; I think this trade would be very beneficial for all of us if he uses our products as a bargaining chip against the Confederate tribes that would bring him peace.’ She looked at the two, covering her mouth with her fan.

  ‘That is a good idea, Your Highness, but I’m sad to say that he can't leave his country, and it would be dangerous for you to go there; rumors would be the worst of it all.’ Levi crossed his arms.

  ‘How about using that device that the peasant…’ Persia stopped talking abruptly.

  When Ariadne noticed that she would call Edmund a peasant, she quickly rushed next to Persia and put a finger on her lips. It was so fast that the two merchants widened their eyes, looking at the duchess in shock.

  ‘Don’t call him that; only I can do it, do you understand?’ Ariadne looked right into Persia’s eyes.

  ‘I-I-I’m sorr-y-y-y Your Highness.’ Persia replied nervously.

  ‘Anyway, continue.’ The duchess continued her slow walk around the office.

  ‘The device your Highness uses to contact the villages, the mayor, and us. Even the soldiers are using it now; maybe you can talk to him.’ She looked in the duchess's direction, afraid of looking at her directly.

  ‘Humm, indeed.’ Levi nods his head.

  ‘That is good, but first, I want you two to establish a relationship with the king; only then can we use the phone to talk to one another and use the devices to lore him.’ The duchess returned to her chair and sat comfortably.

  ‘It shall be done, Your Highness!!’ The two of them spoke at the same time.

  The two merchants got up and left the office, leaving Ariadne alone. Her mind was racing, full of possibilities for the future, and the speed of the expansion of her town and the villages growing in so little time made her happy but uneasy at the same time. Last night, one person couldn’t write their name on the registration. It was an A-Dam. She thought it could be a spy trying to get into her duchy, but how could she know? Maybe they are expanding too fast.

  Alon looked at a cell where an A-Dam was being held. He had come alone, saying he wanted refuge. It could be nothing, but now he thought security needed to be a priority.

  ‘What you need to do is accept Her Highness Ariadne Melech as your ruler or, as some say, it's better to accept her as a goddess.’ Alon sat on a chair right in front of the cell.

  ‘Why did you imprison me? I didn’t do anything!!!’ The man shouted.

  ‘Just accept the duchess as your ruler or savior; then write your name in this device, which is kind of simple, my friend.’ He signaled a soldier to push the tablet and a pen into the cell.

  ‘I can’t agree; what are you talking about accepting her as my ruler?’ The man tried to write his name on the device.

  ‘Well, you can do things like this if you follow her.’ Alon turned a light on and held onto his hand.

  The man in the cell was amazed by the light. His mind couldn’t understand why this soldier was using magic like this in such a trivial manner, with no incantation whatsoever.