Candlelight flickered as Antonio gazed at the darkening sky outside the window, his tone suddenly turning contemplative.
"Mariana." He spoke slowly. "Do you think there's any chance we could bring Paul Greiman over to our side?"
Mariana was slightly startled, but she did not answer immediately. She simply waited quietly for the emperor to continue.
Antonio let out a soft sigh, as if recalling something. "To be honest, at first I thought he was merely lucky—that he had happened to win a small battle when the orcs first invaded."
He paused, a wry smile appearing at the corners of his mouth. "But later, I realized how spectacularly wrong I was."
He turned, his gaze settling on Mariana. "Did you know that all those new things that have become popular in the imperial capital over the past few years—the thin yet durable paper, the flasks that can keep water warm for long periods, the beautifully patterned porcelain sold at remarkably affordable prices... all of them came from Northwest Bay?"
Mariana nodded gently. "Yes, Your Majesty. They all came from there. The merchants of Northwest Bay transported the goods to every corner of the world by ship."
Antonio nodded slowly, a trace of respect and complicated emotion in his voice. "I used to think true power came from armies, magic, and political schemes. But now it seems that some forms of power can quietly change the way people live."
He walked to the table and picked up a thermos, gently rubbing its patterned surface. "Paul Greiman can't use magic, but he has other talents—the talent to create. He has allowed ordinary people to use things that were once enjoyed only by nobles."
He set down the thermos, his tone turning serious. "A man like that shouldn't be merely a frontier lord."
Mariana