Count Wesley thought to himself that this only proved the princess's nobility and excellence.

  Because she was born noble, she didn't need tacky jewelry to show her status. On the contrary, things she chose were given expensive value—that was a royal princess's confidence.

  Her approachability was a superior's tolerance toward inferiors. She had noble character and extraordinary wisdom, easily seeing through ordinary people's thoughts, earning respect and admiration.

  Making friends with someone like her brought endless benefits. But making an enemy of her? The consequences would be unthinkable.

  At this thought, Count Wesley lost his appetite, his heart bitter.

  If he could, he wouldn't want to offend this noble princess who'd shown him such kindness. But those mines...

  "Your Highness," Count Wesley said heavily, forced to spoil this pleasant moment with unpleasant words, "I'm afraid I cannot fulfill my daughter's promise to you. I sincerely apologize. May I compensate you with other treasures instead?"

  Luo Wei's heart jumped. Here it comes.

  She slowly set down her fork, her mind rapidly cycling through various threats and inducements, before looking gently at Count Wesley. "Count, can you tell me why?"

  Her eyes were sincere. "You're not someone who breaks promises without reason. I'm sure you have difficulties."

  Count Wesley was moved. "Your Highness is kind and perceptive. To be honest, our family's magic stone mines have been sealed for two thousand years. Two thousand years ago, our ancestors set up a concealment magic array over the mines that no one can open to this day."

  Luo Wei frowned in confusion. "But Vina said anyone descended from your ancestors' bloodline could enter the mines?"

  Count Wesley said shamefully, "That child Vina loves to play and only half-understands family secrets. It's my fault for not explaining clearly."

  "Actually, our Wesley family are descendants of Justitia, Goddess of Justice. Because we lost the goddess's bloodline, we were too ashamed to call ourselves her descendants, so we changed our surname."

  Vina, who'd been eating steak with her mouth full of grease, froze. She stiffly turned her neck to look at her handsome, imposing father. The meat in her mouth dropped into her plate with a plop.

  "What?"

  "We're descendants of the Goddess of Justice?"

  "When did this happen? How come I didn't know?"

  Count Wesley glared at her in frustration. "I told you when you were five! I even took you to the secret chamber to touch the goddess's sword. You can't remember anything except food and dresses!"

  Vina argued back, "I remember going to the secret chamber to touch the sword! I remember it was called the Blade of Judgment, and it threw me back!"

  Count Wesley: "Yes, you only remember because you hit the wall and got a huge bump on the back of your head!"

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  Vina gasped and quickly felt the back of her head. "I wondered why the back of my head is flat—it got smashed!"

  Count Wesley turned away sadly and said to Luo Wei, "Your Highness, the Wesley family has few heirs, and our descendants are all disappointing. We can't gain the goddess's recognition and cannot open the mines."

  "Such mines are useless even if obtained. If I gave them to you as thanks, the Wesley family would be acting dishonorably. I rushed here tonight specifically to tell you this."

  "Forgive my selfishness for not telling you the truth earlier. Today when Sebanli retreated, my guilt was unbearable."

  "The Wesley family are descendants of the Goddess of Justice. Doing such dishonorable things, no wonder the goddess doesn't recognize us."

  "Sebanli's army won't fully withdraw until tomorrow morning. If you're angry, whether you want me to offer all my family wealth and land, or let myself be captured by enemy forces, I, Ferdinand Wesley, will comply!"

  "Father..." Vina choked out, tears falling into her plate in big drops. She couldn't swallow the meat in her mouth anymore.

  This was all her fault. She'd made her father a promise-breaker!

  Vina looked at Luo Wei through tear-filled eyes. "Waaah... L-Princess... sob I was wrong. Let my father go, I'll be your maid... sob I'm not worthy, I'll cut off my fingers for you waaah..."

  Luo Wei had been looking serious, but hearing Vina's words, she couldn't help it—her smile muscles twitched hard twice.

  She covered her face to calm her expression, then looked gently at Vina. "Stop crying, dear. I'm not angry. I won't make things difficult for the count."

  She turned to instruct the maid behind her. "Chris, get a clean handkerchief and wipe Miss Wesley's tears."

  If she kept crying, snot would flow into her mouth. Kind of disgusting to watch.

  "Yes, Master."

  Chris pulled out a clean white cotton handkerchief, walked to Vina's side, and bent down to gently wipe the tears and snot from her face.

  Vina's crying suddenly stopped. She violently sniffed back her snot, stared at Chris's delicate face, and awkwardly snatched the handkerchief. "Th-thank you! I'll do it myself, you can—you can go back!"

  She was afraid if Chris stood too close, people would think she looked more like the maid.

  Luo Wei withdrew her gaze and looked at Count Wesley, who was still waiting for her answer. "Don't worry, Count. Whether or not I can obtain the magic stones from the mines, I won't regret helping you."

  "Since you're being so honest, I won't hide from you either. The Western Continent is thousands of miles from my homeland. My guards and I accidentally ended up here. Getting home is nearly impossible unless we have large amounts of magic stones... sigh..."

  She sighed disappointedly, then asked hopefully, "Count, besides gaining the Goddess of Justice's recognition, is there no other way to open the mines?"

  Count Wesley answered, "The ancestor who set up the concealment magic array was a Grand Archmage. He used all his life's magical power to seal the mines. If we could find a Grand Archmage, perhaps they could open them."

  But everyone knew this was impossible. The Western Continent's current magic element concentration couldn't produce a Grand Archmage.

  Count Wesley said guiltily, "Your Highness, our family secret chamber still has a chest of magic stones. If you don't think it's too little, I'll have someone deliver it to you."

  The Wesley family hadn't produced a mage in ages. Those magic stones had been gathering dust underground for hundreds of years. After Vina awakened her magic talent, he'd briefly pinned his hopes on her.

  He'd originally planned to use those magic stones to boost her magical power, but seeing Vina's useless appearance, he felt using them on her was wasteful. Better to save them—maybe if Vina's children awakened magic talent, he could use them for his grandchildren.

  Good thing he'd kept them, or he'd have no way to answer to this princess now.

  "How could I be picky?" Luo Wei said, moved. "Every little bit helps. One day I'll save enough magic stones to return to my homeland."

  "Then I'll send someone tonight," Count Wesley said, feeling stingy even as he spoke, so he added, "Your Highness, I cannot repay your kindness to Golu City. My county has nine thousand acres of farmland. I wish to offer you one-tenth as a fief."

  Count Wesley had thought it through clearly. If Luo Wei returned to the Misty Plains in the future, she'd only use that tenth temporarily—it would eventually return to the Wesley family.

  If she couldn't return to the Misty Plains, she'd essentially be granted those nine hundred acres. Her remaining years would have land and wealth security, and as the count's vassal, she could also benefit the Wesley family.

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