The Goddess Made A Mistake Again

"A Bl- Black ring you say…" Arthur stuttered, the flicker between greed and realization numbing down, "That's Impossible, Henry."

"I mean, I understand the hope and goal you set, but no one has ever seen a black ring surface from a cave for what… hundred years I think." Arthur laughed bitterly as he said that.

In his mind, a Black Ring was exactly what he needed. Not to power his way through and reclaim the throne, but to show trust and bring in powerful allies who will help him in his journey.

Just a few weeks ago, he and his friends heard that Lord Haiel was assassinated and almost died. Going there, he could see the situation was bad… not only on the man's health but even his city was slowly abandoning him and reaching out to something dark.

Arthur's left hand sneakily made a strong knuckle at the thought of losing his only powerful ally. Elisabeth wasn't ready to handle the responsibilities yet.

Speaking of her, she had been somewhat disconnected with him for a while. It almost felt like she was distancing herself and trying to help him all the same… almost as if her mind was bordering on choosing a side.

…

I don't know what's going on under Arthur's mind but the guy looked like he was having a silent stroke.

'Is Selena such important to him that he's acting like that or is there something else?' I wonder and smile, "You might be right… probably more than maybe."

Arthur looked up, his mind disconnecting from his previous thoughts and listening.

"When you start getting good hauls for a period of time, you start to get hopeful." I say with a calm gesture, "You know, last week, the dig site dug 10 Pink Rings… 10! Can you believe that shit?!"

Arthur's eyes widened to disbelief and he muttered something inedible.

"That was a great haul for this week but it doesn't end there. If I were to bring out the books and start showing you the monthly stuff coming out… you'd be telling me that my work is illegal, friend." I laugh and point in the general direction of the cave, "That place right there… that's a literal gold mine, even better, a mine just for digging out money."

"Haha… tha- that sounds gre- great, Henry." Arthur had sweats dripping from his forehead, "Seems like you have a horde of high quality sigmat crystals lying in that place… what do you with them?"

"I do business."

"I understand but what exactly? What do you do with those crystals exactly?"

I look at him and see him giving me his utmost attention as I smile, "Well, since you ask… First I would clearly have to count them and prepare for the kingdom's taxes and their shares."

Arthur nods as I continue.

"It might seem little but I give 15% of the total to the royal family before breaking my own bread." Even though she's my gal, Abigail really does put business and pleasure aside at certain points.

"And when I say break bread, I mean, recover the cost for the team and everything. Those people in the mine don't just work for nothing, I give them special pay, housing and security which I must, you know." We come in front of a small drinking table in the garden and sit in it.

The Maids around, take our orders and quickly flee.

"Of course, without them, where would the money come from?" Arthur said lightly but he wasn't completely wrong. It's hard getting a loyal crew, especially when their digging out pieces of thousand pounds.

"Then I start selling. Most of it gets bought up by the army before I set aside some for the business and merchants who quickly dry it up." I say, "They buy it from me at a low price and sell it at the high zero's you see at the market."

The maids come back and start giving us refreshments.

Arthur nods slowly as he subconsciously asked, "And what about the black market?"

I, the maids and even Arthur froze. His mind realizing what he just spoke, "I'm sorry. I didn't mean it to come out that way."

"It's alright, let's just pretend that didn't just come out of you so smoothly." I smile and the maids finding the chance, run, "Why are you asking such questions, Arthur? You're almost making me anxious."

Arthur smiled for a moment before it drowned out. I could see something turning inside his brain.

He's going to say something quite stupid, isn't he?

"Henry… what do you think of Her Majesty?"

For a splinter of a second, my mask broke. But I quickly close it again and smile.

I knew he was going to say something stupid!

"Absolutely Horrible."

It was Arthur's turn to be shocked as he smiled, "So you think her reig-"

"Have you seen the amount of tax she rose in all the businesses lately? Almost as if she's targeting me, you know." I laugh.

"Haha… yeah… I didn't mean it that way, Henry." Arthur said.

"I know…" I sip the hot tea and take my moment as Arthur stayed quiet too.

In the far reach of our ears was the clear sounding of insults from Father Benipole as he almost castrates Selene.

As Arthur intended to break the silence, someone came.

It was Anna.

"Master, sir." She bowed to us both as Arthur smiled at her.

"I hope you liked our tea." Anna said as she placed a black box on the table.

But just as she was about to leave, I hold her hand and sit her down on my lap, shocking them both.

"I haven't introduced this wonderful woman to you before, right Arthur?" I say as I comfortably place Anna and hug her, "This is Anna, the love of my life."

"Anna, this is Arthur… Arthur Reginold, the only son of His Majesty."

"Oh!" Anna took a moment before bowing again, "It is an honor to meet you, your highness. I didn't know that his majesty had a son."

"Yes" I speak before Arthur, "Not many does."

Arthur's face broke slightly, "Open it, Arthur."

Arthur looked at the black box, "What is it?"

"A Gift."

"You didn't have to, Henr-" As Arthur opened it, he felt slightly shocked.

It was a Blue Rank Sigmat Ring.

He looked up, clearly about to deny, "Henry, I can-"

"Don't. It is the first time you visited my house. I can't let you go back without a souvenir and what better than the very thing my house flourishes at."

"Well… alright then." He smiled and closed the box, "I'll keep it close by."

I smile and lightly slap Anna's butt, "I'll let you go, darling."

Anna, clearly not shocked by my behavior, got up, bowed again and left.

With her leaving, the place became silent once more as I break it, "This is not an insult Arthur, but a fact."

"You're not a Royal anymore. You were disowned by the King."

Arthur's face didn't change, he had heard it before, "But the situation has changed and people are suffering-"

"The people have suffered before as well." I invade, "Long before that woman came, some would even say it was more under the king's rule."

"Right now, we have a system that is holding peace… even if temporary. We have a stronghold that is bordered by an enemy preparing his arms against us and Houses that are always thinking of ways to profit from others."

"What you are suggesting aren't petty words but Treason. I have a lovely home with a bright future, I will not throw it away recklessly. I suggest you don't as well."

"Because it won't be your fall but your Mother's."

Arthur got up and was about to say something… but stayed quiet.