It was a rare, sunny winter day, yet instead of enjoying the sunshine in the Kingdom Royal Garden as he usually did, Lampari the Thirteenth lay half-reclined in bed, wrapped in a thick goose-down quilt with three layers of bedding beneath him, slowly leafing through the documents in his hands.
Standing beside him, his personal aide Derma watched his face, so pale it seemed almost bloodless, with deep concern in his eyes. He wanted to urge Lampari the Thirteenth to rest, but although his lips parted, he said nothing. Instead, he turned up the Magic Lamp in the room so the king could read more clearly.
"Heh, that boy Eric really has surrounded himself with a bunch of idiots." Having finished reading the documents, Lampari the Thirteenth gave a cold laugh and turned to Derma. "Derma, has Servini been doing anything these past few days?"
Derma paused, then quickly answered after a moment's thought, "The Princess Royal has been in Bunta City lately, busy with the city's comprehensive redevelopment project. The canal connecting the Sandy River and Rum River officially opened a while ago, and she personally presided over the ceremony."
Lampari the Thirteenth nodded lightly. "Bunta City is developing very well. If every city in the kingdom gave me as little cause for concern as Bunta City, why would I still need to worry about the threat from the Sark Kingdom?"
Derma hesitated, then said cautiously, "Your Majesty, to be honest, although the Xinfei Merchant Guild has made the greatest contribution to Bunta City's development, it could never have grown so smoothly without the Princess Royal's strong support."
"What? Are you trying to remind me of Servini's excellent judgment?" Lampari the Thirteenth asked with a chuckle.
"Your Majesty is wise. You surely see it already." Derma hastily lowered his