The Lowest Royal Returns

Raelis was speechless, simply staring at his mother as she confidently drank tea out of her cup.

"And yes, I noticed all her advances. She had been trying to get closer to me since the first time I met her all those years ago. She's someone who sucks up to those in power," Sophia said. "So we just need to be more powerful than the people she's being bribed by. Simple, right?"

"Unbelievable..." Raelis sighed. "I'm sorry for doubting you, Mom."

His mother smiled. "I'm not saying you should change because I love you as you are, but I believe you need to be more strategic. Power is great, but having intelligence is even greater."

She put aside her cup and picked up a butter knife, aiming it toward him. "Imagine this: you knew me ever since I was born, and then I suddenly betrayed you. You would never expect something like that to ever happen, yes?"

With a smile, she played around with the butter knife in between her fingers, then stuck it into a piece of warm bread.

"That's why... if you're ever in a situation where the only two options are to kill or to spare... choose the option that will bring you future gain, not momentary satisfaction."

With those final words, she neatly cut the bread and put it in her mouth, then washed it down with the tea she had yet to finish.

And in the meantime, Raelis stared at her, admiring her intelligence.

He had been shortsighted yet again.

He thought that most problems could be solved by simply getting rid of the problem.

But like in all instances, there was always a reason why the problem festered in the first place, and that was exactly what he needed to set his sights on.

"You came here after talking with Lydia, yes?" Sophia asked, then continued. "I'm not sure what you said, but don't forbid her from establishing contact with the other Varekans. After all, she's the only double agent we have at the moment."

Raelis nodded slowly.

"She's going to tell us whenever someone gets in contact with her. Or she promised, anyway... not sure how much her promise means," he said.

"That's good." Sophia smiled. "Now let's stop with this serious talk. I dislike speaking so formally with my own son. Especially about such boring matters... Raelis, don't worry about me. While I'm here, I know what the people around me are capable of, and I definitely know who I can or can't trust."

She extended her hands forward, her smile widening. "Now, as for the price of interrupting my nap time, you owe me a hug."

He was once again left speechless, but not in a bad way. So he simply stood up and gently hugged his mother.

The hug lasted a few minutes, with her playing with his long white hair every now and again. But eventually, he parted, giving her a kiss on the cheek.

"I'm going to actually leave now," Raelis said. "I... I don't think I'll be able to make it here next week or the week after that. At the earliest, I'll be able to visit you again in three weeks... Is there anything you want me to buy you?"

Despite the disappointing news, she didn't show it on her face.

"Hmm... books, maybe?" Sophia replied, tilting her head.

All of a sudden, her eyes widened. "Right! Can you get me one of those new Magitek typewriters? I heard you're able to print out letters directly onto the parchment!"

Her look of excitement didn't go unnoticed, but he was a bit confused.

"Uh... you can just send me a normal letter," Raelis said, but upon seeing her puppy-dog-eyed expression, he gave in immediately.

"Fine... I'll get it for you next week... but what for? Is it really only for letters?"

"Of course not," Sophia replied confidently. "You might not know this, but your mother was once a journalist. I was the maid who always knew everything. I was like the Varekan information maid... those days were pretty fun, and I even had my own newspaper where I wrote down everything interesting that happened in a week. I even saved up a bit of money... that later got confiscated."

She returned to sulking yet again, but soon picked herself back up, meeting his gaze.

"I want to try writing a book... your father's life was interesting, and my life was very hectic. I believe that whatever I write, it might make us a lot of money. With that money, I can afford to buy you nice things, and I could even buy myself some nice jewelry."

"..."

Raelis nodded with a smile.

"I'll get you a Magitek typewriter. You don't have to worry."

And some jewelry if I can afford any.

Then he remembered—he still had the Black Lotus organization to turn to. Specifically, the missions.

If he could get a high-paying mission near the Azteran mountain range at the same time he had his excursion, then he could make bank.

Not only from killing demons and selling what was left of their corpses, but also from the high amount of money a mission in such a dangerous place could net him.

So with that in mind, Raelis delivered a kiss on her forehead, and as he was about to leave through the door, his mother coughed once, getting his attention.

"Be safe out there. Make sure to bring me back a souvenir. Anything is fine, even a pebble to commemorate your first excursion. Just... make it back, okay?" Sophia said, her voice trembling.

Raelis could assure her however many times he wanted to, but he knew that her worries wouldn't disappear. Therefore, he simply smiled at her, and in the next instant, vanished into the shadows.

He swiftly left the mansion, and then traveled into the woods. Yet as he was about to head back to the academy, he heard a few clangs in the distance.

Approaching the noise, he spotted Lizbeth, training the sword technique he had given her.

Unsurprisingly, the swordsmanship was fluid and beautiful, almost like a goddess was the one swinging that sword, not the brutish Lizbeth.

But that only further assured him.

Lizbeth and Isabel were enough to defend his mother. And within the span of a couple of hours, they had only confirmed it further.

So with a lightened mood, Raelis made his way back to the academy.

After all, in a bit over a week, the excursion would officially begin.