The next day’s luncheon.

The midday sun streamed through the high windows of the dining hall, bathing the long, linen-covered table in a warm, golden light.

Silver cutlery and crystal glasses gleamed in the light, and the tempting aroma of roast chicken and freshly baked bread filled the air.

Murphy sat at the head of the table, his posture slightly more relaxed than usual.

Aurora sat to his right, dressed in a soft, lavender-colored gown. Her golden hair was loosely pinned up, with a few strands trailing along her neck, lending her a soft, domestic beauty.

Their son, Kaiden, sat beside his mother, his face flushed with the characteristic excitement of a twelve-year-old boy.

The three young guests, Alina, Annie, and Sofia, were seated across from Kaiden.

Alina wore an elegant, light-blue dress, her posture impeccable as she strove to maintain the dignity befitting her station.

Red-haired Annie, in a pomegranate-red dress, let her lively eyes scan the dining hall’s decorations.

The blonde Sofia, dressed in a pale yellow dress, seemed a little timid, her hands resting primly on her knees.

The luncheon began in a friendly atmosphere.

Servants quietly served the food, first a clear meat broth, followed by the main course of herb-roasted chicken and honey-glazed carrots.

"Annie," Aurora began, gracefully slicing into a piece of chicken. Her voice was gentle. "I hear you’re an excellent equestrian. The riders of the Eastern Territory are known for their superb skill."

Annie’s eyes immediately lit up. She set down her fork and said with a hint of pride, "Yes, ma’am! My father says that all children of the Peric family must learn to ride by age five. I can already ride my little Sherry over low fences!"

As she spoke, she gestured with her hand to show the height, her movements full of vitality.

Hearing this, Kaiden’s eyes immediately lit up. He chimed in, "Jumping is really fun! My ’Whirlwind’ is best at cross-country riding. We often practice on the fields north of the castle. Last week, we successfully cleared a stream nearly one-point-two meters wide, and our landing was perfectly steady."

Murphy nodded slightly, looked at his son, and said calmly, "Kaiden has a talent for controlling his horse and judging the timing for jumps."

He then turned his gaze to Annie, his tone placid. "The Peric Clan is famous for its equestrian skills, and their training methods are surely unique. For Miss Anne to have such skill at her age is truly rare."

This objective praise made a smile bloom on Annie’s face. Her gaze toward Kaiden now held a bit more approval. "Clearing a stream in the wild is amazing! It’s not as flat as a training ground."

Aurora smiled as she watched the two children interact. "It seems you two can find some time to exchange notes on horsemanship. But remember, safety must be the priority in any training." 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺

Then she smiled and turned to Sofia. "Sofia, the Rose Garden in the Douglas Territory is very famous. They should be in full bloom this season, right?"

Sofia sat up abruptly, as if she had been called on to answer a question, and replied in a tiny voice, "Y-yes, ma’am. It’s very large, and very beautiful... there are many colors."

Her voice grew smaller as she spoke, her cheeks flushing red as she nervously clutched the hem of her skirt.

Seeing Sofia’s distress, Kaiden seemed to want to help her out of the awkward situation. He quickly said, "I... I really like flowers! The Snowball Flowers in the castle garden have bloomed, too. I can take you all to see them again after lunch!"

At this moment, Alina, who had been eating quietly, gently wiped the corner of her mouth with a napkin, her movements elegant and natural.

She picked up the thread of conversation, her voice crisp and pleasant. "I remember reading in an ancient tome that the Snowball Flower only grows in pure, high-mountain regions, symbolizing courage and purity. For it to be able to bloom in this castle’s garden, it must have a special affinity with this place."

As she spoke, her gaze naturally met Aurora’s and Murphy’s before she turned to Kaiden with a smile. "We look forward to admiring them again, Kaiden."

Her graceful and knowledgeable words brought a flash of approval to Aurora’s eyes.

Murphy also raised an eyebrow slightly, taking another look at the brown-haired girl.

The luncheon continued with more small talk.

The girls gradually relaxed. Even Annie was no longer so boisterous, and Sofia would occasionally add a quiet word or two.

Kaiden had clearly relaxed a lot. When the servants brought out dessert, he even took the initiative to recommend it to the girls. "This is delicious! The berries inside were picked from the nearby forest."

Aurora watched her son gradually reveal the demeanor of a young host, a gentle, faint smile always on her lips.

At times she would exchange a few words with the girls, at others she would place a choice morsel on Kaiden’s plate, her every move composed and gracious.

Murphy remained silent for most of the meal, but his gaze was always observing, taking in every detail.

He saw how Alina subtly guided the conversation to ease awkward silences.

He also saw how Annie reined herself in after realizing she had been too boisterous.

He noted, too, Sofia’s tongue-tied shyness.

Of course, he also took in Kaiden’s different reactions when interacting with each girl.

As the luncheon neared its end, the servants cleared the plates and brought out finger bowls scented with a faint floral fragrance. Aurora said gently to the girls, "Children, let Kaiden take you to play in the garden. The Snowball Flowers look their best in the sunlight at this time of day, much more beautiful than in the morning."

Kaiden immediately stood up excitedly, his eyes shining.

The girls also rose to their feet, curtsying to take their leave.

Alina was the last to leave. She curtsied slightly again to Aurora and Murphy, her movements fluid and elegant. "Thank you for your gracious hospitality. The luncheon was delicious."

After speaking, she did not immediately turn to leave, but paused for a moment. Her intelligent eyes looked toward Murphy, and her tone became more formal.

"Lord Melfield, before my departure, my father specially instructed me to convey his sincere greetings. He knows that the Monte Territory’s recent achievements in ore smelting and armament forging are astonishing, far beyond what the complacent workshops of the South can compare to."

Her words were clear and composed; she had clearly prepared this speech in advance.

"My father also mentioned that while the iron ore in the Peric Clan’s lands is of superior quality, it is difficult to mine, and transportation losses are considerable. There are now several newly discovered mineral veins in the Southern Territory. Though their grade is slightly lower, they have the advantage of convenient transport. Should you have need, he would be more than happy to discuss with you in depth how such high-quality ore can find its way to where its value can be best realized."

She bowed slightly, her posture impeccable.

Murphy’s gaze rested on Alina for a moment.

The Monte Territory’s surface prosperity was built on booming agricultural output and the cheap cloth produced by new textile machines. These light industrial products were sold far and wide via the Northern Trade Route, accumulating immense wealth for the territory.

However, what truly forced the surrounding powers—and even the Royal Family—to take this former borderland seriously was its ore-smelting technology, which was unparalleled in the Northern Lands, and the resulting industry of fine weapon and armor forging.

The Northern Lands themselves lacked large mineral veins. The iron ore needed to forge sharp swords and sturdy shields mostly had to be transported long distances from the South.

The importance of the Peric Clan, which controlled the iron ore, was self-evident, and this was also an important reason why Annie had been invited.

But in Murphy’s eyes, this mundane military and economic value was merely the surface layer of his plan.

For ten years, he had been continuously using the knowledge from Celestial Craftsmanship to refine Spiritual Materials from massive quantities of ore.

Although Count Laura didn’t understand the full picture, his opportunism and greed had clearly scented a deeper opportunity, which was why he had extended an olive branch through his daughter.

A thousand thoughts raced through Murphy’s mind, but his expression remained as calm as still water.

He simply gave a slight nod, his tone even. "Thank you for Count Laura’s greetings and goodwill. The abundance of the South has always been enviable. Please tell your father that the Monte Territory will remember his kindness."

Hearing this, Alina’s face broke into a smile. She once again gave an elegant curtsy. "I will be sure to convey your words. Then, I shall take my leave, my Lord, my Lady."

She turned, her steps light, and caught up with Annie, Sofia, and Kaiden, who were waiting ahead. The hem of her light-blue dress quickly disappeared around the corner of the dining hall’s entryway.

The dining hall returned to tranquility, with only the faint, lingering aroma of food and flowers remaining in the air.

Only then did Aurora lift the now-cool cup of tea before her. She took a sip, her gaze shifting to Murphy, her azure eyes filled with understanding.

"Count Laura is certainly well-informed," she said softly, her tone unreadable. "He sees not only what’s on the surface, but also what you need."

Murphy did not answer immediately, his deep gaze fixed on the view outside the window, as if it could pierce through the castle walls.

"Clever people can always find more opportunities," he finally said, his voice low. "The key is how we make these opportunities ultimately serve only us."