07. The King

"Eh?"

"Usually kids your age would just say what they think in a simple way, without going into details or anything like that. But you're different, talking to you feels like I'm talking to someone my own age..." Leo said, he looked at Reynard with an intense gaze.

"Well, maybe uncle Leo doesn't know children well enough. I'm only 7 years old and uncle knows that very well..." explained Reynard, without realizing it cold sweat broke out on his forehead. Gosh, he almost got caught.

Leo nodded his head, agreeing with Reynard's words, "You have a point, at first I thought there was a 30-year-old soul living in that tiny body of yours. But no matter how I think about it, it's impossible. Let's just say you were matured by circumstances. Many things have happened to you so far and without you realizing it, your brain works differently from most children your age. Honestly, I'm sorry for the calamity you've experienced, but because it can also strengthen you in the future. But still, being too mature at your age now is not the time, you are still 7 years old, you shouldn't have to bear all the pain alone. Being independent is good, but what's the point of human relationships if everyone can live alone? A rose may be beautiful, but its beauty is meaningless if it grows in the middle of a hot desert. No one sees it and the ecosystem around it doesn't support its growth. Then what would happen to the flower? Death. Wither away alone with no bees or butterflies to spare it."

Reynard listened carefully to Leo's words. He had to admit Leo sounded so wise and indeed his words had a certain meaning in them. Solitude was good, living independently without making others worry, but humans were social creatures, living interconnectedly was a nature that they could not change.

Reynard sighed softly, he was reminded of his previous life. Trying so hard to live independently and thinking that he would trouble others if he asked for their help. 'If I hadn't been so arrogant, maybe I'd still be living on Earth now...' he muttered to himself with regret.

"Aih, never mind. Everything I said earlier was just nonsense, I'm also not a wise person so just skip what I said earlier. By the way, what else do you want to buy?" Leo tried to change the subject, it seemed inappropriate to talk about something too serious with a child.

"How about some snacks to share with the others?" Reynard asked. He couldn't live alone in his little house forever, there was no harm in getting to know more people rather than being bored without playmates.

Leo thought about it for a moment before nodding his head, agreeing with Reynard's words, "alright..."

The two of them spent a total of two full hours in the shopping center. Reynard bought a few suits of clothes as well as a few bags of snacks for him to distribute to others in Oshley village. Leo was also bought some clothes by Reynard, Leo also did not mind getting all those clothes because he knew now Reynard did not have to worry about his finances.

"This is the first time I've carried so many bags of groceries. I thought I'd never get a taste of what it's like to be rich..." Leo said in a joking tone.

"Well, I'm rich now. So I can buy everything Uncle Leo wants. Uncle Leo only has to tell me..." Reynard replied with a chuckle.

"Even if you have a lot of money, you're still too young to give your money to others. I should be the one buying you things instead of the other way around," Leo said.

Reynard just shrugged his shoulders unconcernedly, "Alright, I won't insist."

***

"How is the situation of the western region now?" asked a middle-aged man. He sat on a throne, wearing royal robes and an ancient crown on his head.

The other kneeling man replied, "The situation has become inconclusive. After the enemy's ambush action, we have lost almost half of the entire army. If only we could get more help, the situation might be able to change as we wish."

"Help? I've handed over three messengers, but there's still no news until now. I hope everything goes well..." replied the man wearing the royal crown.

"Do you mean the Rodenhart, Valthyr and Reinsky families?"

"That's right, in our current situation, the Valthyr family's help is more important because we need a supply of weapons given the larger number of enemy troops. Rather than adding more casualties to the war, I'm thinking of increasing the supply of weapons instead."

The man sitting on the throne was none other than the King of Mondelez Kingdom, Vander Rovenwood, the only person who held the highest power in Mondelez Kingdom. While the man kneeling towards him was one of the five generals of the kingdom, Argon.

Argon raised his head to stare at his king with a stern look, "but the chances of us winning are very small. Please allow me to mobilize more troops so that victory is more assured!"

The situation in the western region was very bad, the war that had been going on for several months had resulted in thousands of soldiers dying in battle. Vander was trying to prevent more soldiers from dying in the midst of battle, but Argon's words were also quite reasonable.

Relying on weapons alone is not enough to win the battle, at least a new battalion should be created to be deployed in the bloody war in the western region of the kingdom.

Vander shook his head, not fully agreeing with Argon's words even though his reasoning made sense. "Retreating is better than having to sacrifice many troops. I'll order the other four generals to mobilize the troops, but not for now. The battle flag is still flying, but we've lost so many troops, it's not a good development going forward..." he replied with a calm voice but there was dominance in every word.

Argon wanted to say something, but he aborted his intention and could only remain silent while sighing heavily. The screams of the soldiers in the middle of the battle kept ringing in his head, he was determined to avenge them all and crush the enemy to the ground.

Hot blood churned in his veins, but the situation was not in his favor which required him to restrain his own emotions. There was a certain reason why Argon became one of the five generals of the Mondelez Kingdom.

"I will abide by your words, your highness. Then I beg to excuse myself from your presence because I still have a lot of business to attend to with the others..." Argon stood up and waltzed away from the royal hall.

Varden lightly massaged his dizzy forehead, he couldn't help but think of the kingdom and the welfare of his people. His absolute power was followed by a heavy burden piling up on his shoulders, he had to stay strong so that everything would run smoothly as expected for his kingdom in the future.

The hall doors opened again, revealing a mature woman dressed in Phoenix robes, her silver hair left loose, showing off her beauty to the fullest to those who saw her.

"My queen, what brings you to my chambers?" asked Varden, the woman in front of him was none other than his wife, the Queen of the Mondelez kingdom, Viana.

"Your Majesty, there is something I want to talk to you about. Not as king and queen, but as father and mother. The crown prince has finished his studies at the Rostuche Academy, three days ago he returned from the academy and decided to go hunting until he figured out what to do next..." Viana said.

"The Crown Prince has returned? Why didn't he meet his father?" Varden furrowed his brows, not liking the fact that his eldest son did not meet him right after he returned from the academy.

"I myself had asked him to meet you after he returned from the academy, but he rejected it immediately and said that he would meet you after he confirmed something..." Viana replied. She knew Varden gave less affection to his children, but that did not mean Varden did not love them. It was just that his daily life was always preoccupied with the kingdom's affairs making it difficult for him to spend time playing with them.

"Hahh... Never mind, just let him be. Is there anything else the queen wants to talk about?"

Viana didn't speak right away, she was pensive for a while then said, "please put Eve into the Rostuche Academy, she's already 10 years old, it's about time she learned about magic."

"If that's your wish, then I'll put her into the Rostuche Academy... I hope the academy can accept her..." Varden replied, his face looking instantly gloomy.