Dragon Monarch System Chapter 5

Evening had arrived, and the southern breeze blew gently as the sky shifted into a soft shade of crimson. Aditya sat in the middle of a garden that had been reduced to a barren field, focused on reading through several documents when Julia approached, carrying a tray of tea and light refreshments.

“Master, I have brought your tea.” Aditya gave a distracted nod, his expression distant as he remained absorbed in the budget reports.

‘He has transformed entirely.’ Having lived undercover as a maid alongside her husband for two years, Julia was intimately familiar with Aditya’s old ways.

Aditya used to be a man whose world revolved solely around wine and spirits. During her two-year stay, she had never once seen the former Dragon Prince step foot in the castle gardens. It felt as though the Aditya everyone once hated and looked down upon had simply vanished.

The man standing before her now felt like a stranger. Only last night, Julia had suspected Aditya was merely scheming to get more money for his drinking habits. However, after witnessing his actions throughout the day, she had to admit that he was truly a reformed man.

Upon his return to the castle, Aditya had instructed Watson to clear out and sell every single bottle of alcohol in his chambers. For someone struggling with addiction, this was a monumental step.

‘It all feels like a beautiful dream. A world where Aditya is a diligent King striving for the prosperity of his nation. If he remains this way, I wouldn’t mind being his wife and staying by his side forever.’ Lost in the thought of their marriage, Julia couldn't help but steal a glance at Aditya, who remained preoccupied with his paperwork.

‘No, no… what on earth am I thinking?’

Julia was confused by her own racing thoughts. ‘But looking at him now, Aditya is actually quite handsome.’ In the past, her disgust for him was so great that she had never truly looked at his face. Most of the time, he had been either intoxicated or passed out.

‘Perhaps now that he is changing, that old feeling of repulsion is fading.’ She was so deeply immersed in her reflection that she failed to notice the tea overflowing from the cup.

“Julia, stop!” Aditya’s voice pulled the young woman back to reality, where she realized her clumsy error.

“Oh no! Master, please forgive me. I was daydreaming and didn't see the tea spilling onto the table.” Julia bowed her head immediately in apology. This was her first blunder in a long time. After two years of service, she had become a highly skilled maid who rarely made such mistakes.

“It’s fine, don’t worry about it,” Aditya answered, quickly checking to see if the liquid had ruined any of his documents.

“I’ll clean this up right away.” Julia prepared to leave, but her master’s voice halted her.

“It’s alright. You can handle the table later. Why don’t you sit and have a cup of tea with me for a moment?” Aditya had already finished the budget reports. Normally, such a stack would take days to process, but thanks to his innate talent for instant learning, his reading and comprehension speeds had reached incredible levels.

After a brief moment of hesitation, Julia pulled up the chair beside him. She then poured fresh cups of tea for both her master and herself.

As she poured, a memory from the past surfaced in Aditya’s mind. “You know, I remember when you first started as a maid. You used to mess up everything. You couldn't even finish the simplest tasks without a mistake.”

“Master, please don't bring up my old blunders.” Julia felt a flush of embarrassment. She was actually the princess of the most powerful noble house on the continent. Before arriving here, she had lived a life of luxury. Transitioning into a maid's role had been difficult, and she had struggled far more than the others. Had Watson not shielded her, she would have been dismissed long ago.

“By the way, Master, how much did you collect in taxes today?” Julia was genuinely impressed by Isaac’s efficiency. Observing how Aditya handled his affairs, she suspected her husband was destined to grow very powerful in a short time.

At the mention of taxes, a bright, genuine smile crossed the young King’s face. “You wouldn't believe the amount we gathered in just five hours.”

“First, by seizing the Norlor family’s assets, we gained approximately 100 royal gold coins. Sam’s public execution really struck fear into the hearts of the others. The strategy worked perfectly. Even without being prompted, the city’s merchants and shopkeepers rushed to pay their back taxes. Our total is now over 306 royal gold coins.”

“I’m finally wealthy. I have the funds needed to launch my new plans for the Kingdom.” Julia was stunned by the innocent spark in Aditya’s eyes as he held a white gold coin.

“I’ve given Watson six royal gold coins to cover the back pay for you and the soldiers. I also told him to use the remainder for castle supplies and to recruit two chefs and five more maids. It should take some of the pressure off you.” Julia felt a flicker of warmth, touched that Aditya was being so considerate of her workload.

“I also instructed him to purchase some young, robust slaves who have the potential to grow stronger.”

“But Master, why slaves?” While slave trading was legal in most kingdoms on the continent, Julia didn't see the necessity for them here.

“Julia, I am rebuilding this Kingdom from the ground up. I’ve realized that aside from you and Watson, we lack formidable warriors. As the King, I can’t be everywhere at once. I plan to buy slaves with high potential and train them to be the foundation of our defense. Even though training will take time, it is a necessary investment for the future.” Julia found herself increasingly impressed by his foresight.

The more she listened to him, the more her admiration grew. Subconsciously, she began to look forward to the day Aditya would establish his own Empire. As they sat together, a sudden question occurred to the disguised wife.

“Master, have you heard of one of the seven fairies, the one known as the Goddess of Alchemy?” At the mention of one of his wives, Aditya’s posture instinctively straightened.

“I know of her, but I’ve never had the honor of meeting her personally,” Aditya replied, staring up at the sky with a hint of melancholy.

As he spoke, neither of them had any idea what the Goddess of Alchemy was currently thinking.

Shortly after, Watson returned accompanied by seven slaves, though they weren't exactly what Aditya had envisioned.

Seated upon his worn, rusted throne, Aditya let out a sigh as he inspected the group his butler had brought. “Watson, who are these people? I assume you have a good reason for this.”

Watson nodded respectfully and began his explanation. “Young Master, I understand your goal in acquiring slaves. I believe selecting these individuals was the most strategic move.”

Aditya remained silent, allowing Watson to continue. “As you can see, their Dantians—their Mana hearts—are ruined. They are all practitioners of external Cultivation, or body cultivators. Despite their crippled hearts, their physical forms are as powerful as First-order warriors. If we can repair their Mana hearts, they will regain their Second-order status. I am confident that each of them has the potential to reach the Fourth-order at the very least.”

Aditya rubbed his temples and sighed. “Watson, the issue is the healing process. In this world, no one knows a way to restore a shattered Mana heart.”

“Master, I believe you are overlooking someone. While it may be impossible for others, there is one person in existence who can achieve the impossible.”

“Fine, who is this person? And how are we supposed to track them down?” Aditya had reached his limit with thinking and decided to trust Watson’s judgment entirely.

Before answering, Watson looked at the seven slaves. “All of you may go and rest at the training grounds.” The slaves gave a silent nod and exited the room without a sound.

“Master, that individual actually resides right here in this city.”

“Truly? Where?” Aditya’s interest was piqued.

“Before I reveal her location, let me describe her. She is an Alchemical prodigy. At twelve years old, she surpassed a grandmaster of the craft. Her talent for Alchemy is said to be unmatched across the globe. By fifteen, she was a living legend whose fame reached every corner of the world.” The excitement on Aditya’s face began to fade as he realized exactly who Watson was describing.

The doors swung open suddenly, and Julia entered the room, her usual demeanor replaced by a much more serious expression. “That person is known as the Goddess of Alchemy. And her name is…”