Princess Priscilla smiled bitterly. "As expected."
Truthfully, she had already guessed Michael would not be fully satisfied with only this much. After all, whether one admitted it or not, the Tenth Prince's actions had nearly dragged Michael into the center of an imperial storm. Compared to that, even a fragnt from the Dragon Transformation Pool still seed insufficient.
After several seconds of silence, Princess Priscilla finally spoke again. "In addition to this…"
"The kingdom is prepared to officially elevate you to the rank of Duke."
Arianne's eyes widened instantly. "Duke?!"
This ti, even she could not maintain composure. Within the Lionheart Kingdom, dukes stood at the very peak beneath the royal family itself. Even her own father only possessed that status.
If Michael beca a duke now, his standing within the kingdom would imdiately rise to the highest tier of nobility. Yet before Arianne could fully process the shock, Princess Priscilla calmly continued.
"And the royal family is willing to grant you access to the kingdom treasury. You may choose an item for yourself."
This ti, Michael's brows finally rose slightly. Compared to the duke title, the treasury interested him far more.
After all, if even the Dragon Transformation Pool existed within the kingdom, then surely the royal treasury contained many other valuable things.
anwhile, the title itself honestly ant very little to him. Duke? King? To Michael, such things were tasteless.
The current Lionheart Kingdom simply did not possess enough strength for him to truly care about status within it. If the royal family offered him the throne itself, Michael honestly doubted he would feel much excitent.
anwhile, Princess Priscilla carefully observed Michael's reaction and inwardly beca even more complicated. Most nobles would probably go crazy upon hearing such conditions. A duke title alone was enough to make countless people lose sleep from excitent.
Yet Michael's expression barely changed. At this point, Princess Priscilla genuinely no longer knew whether Michael simply possessed terrifying self-control, or whether his perspective had already reached a level where ordinary worldly matters no longer ant much to him.
Michael quietly observed Princess Priscilla. Everything she had offered was not prepared on the spot. Especially the fragnt from the Dragon Transformation Pool.
For the royal family to separate a portion from the pool's core, damage its foundation, and hand it over as compensation already proved that Princess Priscilla genuinely did not wish to offend him.
Which honestly made Michael sowhat curious. Was she truly that worried about his impression of the kingdom?
Or perhaps she was not confident enough in the empire? After all, the Black Serpent Empire's strength was openly recognized across the surrounding regions. Even if Michael truly was guilty, shouldn't the Lionheart royal family be more concerned about offending the empire instead?
Several thoughts surfaced within Michael's mind one after another. In the end, he did not think too deeply about it. Regardless of her motives, the important thing was that the compensation satisfied him for now.
The conversation afterward beca significantly calr. Princess Priscilla explained several matters regarding the duke title and treasury access while subtly attempting to ease relations further. anwhile, Arianne sat quietly at the side almost the entire ti.
At so point, even she realized she had practically beco a decorative object in the room. This made her feel slightly depressed internally. More than a month ago she could at least speak with Michael, but now, aside from the power gap between them, there would soon be a status gap as well. At this point, even if Michael fancied her the way she had begun to feel for him, she didn't think she deserved him. After all, was the daughter of a Duke truly worth that much? Maybe she should just forget about this impossible goal of hers. It was becoming increasingly unrealistic.
Ti truly changed people quickly.
Eventually, after several more exchanges, Princess Priscilla finally stood up slowly. Arianne followed shortly afterward, though the girl still looked sowhat reluctant.
Before leaving, Princess Priscilla looked toward Michael one final ti. "The empire does not currently seem in a hurry to directly approach you."
Michael's eyes narrowed slightly.
Princess Priscilla continued calmly. "At least for the next several days, you likely will not see any movent from them."
"Sir Mic, let's talk again another ti, okay?!" Arianne said hurriedly when she sensed it was ti to go.
Looking at the innocent, pretty Arianne in front of him, Michael could not help but let out a smile.
"Sure thing, Miss Arianne. This ti I promise to make so of my hotown chocolate for you. I hope you'd like it as before."
"Surely! Rember, you promised!"
"Haha! Safe journey, princess!"
After saying that, spatial fluctuations quietly spread around the two won. Soon afterward, their figures disappeared from the office completely.
Silence returned once more.
Michael sat quietly in his chair for a few monts while lightly tapping his finger against the armrest. "The empire isn't in a hurry…" he muttered softly.
Truthfully speaking, Michael could roughly understand why. To the empire, he was currently only a highly suspicious target. If Michael suddenly fled after hearing the news, then from the empire's perspective, that would practically be an admission of guilt.
But if he remained calm and stayed where he was, then there was no real urgency. The empire could investigate him whenever they wanted.
Perhaps they were even hoping he would panic and attempt to escape. Michael suddenly chuckled softly at the thought.
Unfortunately for them, running was the last thing he intended to do. A part of him even hoped they ca to him with hostility. Who knew, he might be able to have the empire follow in the footsteps of the Lionheart Kingdom.
After waiting quietly for so ti, Michael finally left Thornvale once more. Though Princess Priscilla's sudden visit had disrupted his original plans sowhat, simply sitting around for the next few days while waiting for the empire to possibly move made him restless. Especially now that Wisdom's evolution was so close.
The Everlong Forest remained the sa as usual. Beside him walked the Rank 4 demonic supernatural. Compared to its true body, its current appearance was considerably more restrained.
Soon afterward, Michael arrived at a hidden region deep within the forest. "Okay, activate your domain. Let's see if it can hide the phenonon of evolving to Epic grade."
This was an idea Michael had on a spur of the mont a few minutes ago. Maybe a domain could hide a lightning tribulation, but since it was sowhat of a world unto itself, there was a possibility it could also hide the usual bright lights and mana absorption that accompanied evolution.
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