(Scholars in this sense, is in the medieval way of describing people who do STEM)

The room was very quiet, aside from the faint sound coming from the floor below and the spirited, yet gentle chime coming off Martha’s decoration, nothing could be heard.

A gust of wind entered the room from the unclosed window, scattering the endless piles of paper in the room, but the gems placed atop Martha’s horn was completely unaffected, it’s swinging motion still unhurried.

A small crack on the recently revealed wooden board appeared beneath the feet on a petite individual that had entered the room. The person was carrying an umbrella created from leaves, so naturally, she was Irene, who had arrived at Straton with the intent of chastising Martha.

The weather of the South was more humid than the North or Central part of the Empire, so it was not uncommon to see women wearing nothing more than a piece of sheath dress to modestly cover themselves. Only those living in the Northern mountain ranges would dress in many layers of fur jackets.

Thus, the countless layers of woollen and fur coats that bundled Irene like a zongzi, which was even excessive for those living in the North, was a very weird site, even if she were someone in the level of a saint.

(It was at this time, that I realised… Irene and Ovid are both iceblock characters…)

“Wasn’t it that I have another year before Julia?” Martha’s domineering voice rang throughout the room, breaking the stiffening silence, only to replace it with an even more stiffening mood.

Irene looked at the tip of her shoes, after a while, she answered simply without looking up, “Early.”

Martha clenched her fist, her metal armour forming a well-shaped ball. looking at Irene, she said, “Why don’t you enter castle than. I thought you didn’t like to do things.”

Irene’s shoes were the same short that hunters worn in the mountains, made by turning the skin of a matured sheep inward so that the wool lining would be touching the feet, while the tough skin would be bracing the snow (Think UGG boots). Irene replied, “Under me.”

Martha’s expression immediately changed, narrowing her eyes, she slowly released her fist and asked, “You were brave enough to rob the Pope, that I didn’t expect.”

Irene gaze still remained at the tip of her shoes, but that does not mean she had not paid attention to the bottle of ink. Although her expression did not change, the mana surrounding had a slight fluctuation.

Finally, did Irene lift her head, placing her eyes on Ovid, she silently stared, her pupils unwavering. It was not difficult to understand what she wished an explanation for.

Unfortunately, the answer was not the one Irene sought. “I don’t know what the ink was, I randomly took it from Cai Hua’s collection,” Ovid answered.

Cai Hua’s importance to the relationship between Julia and the Northern continent’s emperor could not be understated. As the person who had stolen much of the Emperor’s treasury, and taken the purity of his daughter, it was understandable that, were Cai Hua not extradited, the semi harmonious relationship between the two Empires would become much more strained.

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

While the world had not seen any major conflicts ever since Julia had seized the throne of Alexander’s empire, and both rulers having a hands-off approach to governance, the occurrence of an embargo would likely occur.

Of course, to those of the upper case such as Julia, these embargos would hardly affect their life, and with the reemergence of the ravine that had been covered in silver, the cost would be largely mitigated. But to the subjects, it’s effects would be widespread, as the Julia empire relies on foreign imports of grain to sustain their cities.

Thus, Ovid did not place much thought when he voiced the name.

Irene pulled the thick coat she was wearing, after a moment of silence, she said with her usual voice that was like the breeze atop the highest peak, “I… did not hear what you said.”

The Southern lands that Martha governs over were the most fertile in the Julian Empire, being completely self-sufficient, were the subjects in the North and Central parts of the empire die, her power will increase even more.

“Tell that pervert that as long as he doesn’t interfere with anything, I will not tell this matter to Julia,” Martha sensed the increase fluctuation of mana in the room, in a calm, but swift mannerism, she said.

“From his reputation, I would have thought that he would have exiled himself to the mountains. Perhaps dressing like a Northern scholar improved his brain that is usually filled with semen?”

Ovid was not certain why he felt frustrated, but after some thought, he said, “While Cai Hua is indeed a pervert, but he isn’t stupid. Mother had once said that those that say vulgar words are those truly uneducated.”

An amused smile crept onto Martha’s face, decreeing her golden dragon to approach her position, she said while the ground shook, “Oh, I am indeed uneducated, I was born from a rock. After I gain consciousness, I already knew how to kill and live, after hundreds of thousands of years, I lived as a general. Unlike the scholars that Cai Hua is pretending to be, I am well aware that I am a vulgar person.”

“But scholars and bureaucrats never achieve greatness, they only live to serve men born greater than them. When they truly achieve greatness, they can no longer be considered scholars or bureaucrats, but rather, they have become a general and a ruler,” Martha concluded, projecting her voice throughout the city.

Ovid rubbed the bridge of his nose, he said, “But without scholars and bureaucrats, how can society function and progress.”

Martha turned toward the city, her brown eyes staring down as if from the heavens, she said, “A person only needs three things, no, two things; a warm bed to sleep on, and a full stomach.”

“A scholar’s job is to record knowledge, but I have lived long enough to know everything that has occurred, thus, they are unless. A bureaucrat meanwhile, is hated by all people, they are the ones blamed for the miseries of society, and can do nothing to improve their reputation. A ruler or a general, however, can earn glory and prestige, donate a mere fraction of their wealth to become beloved by the populace.’

“But scholars can invent things to improve the lives of people.”

A strange looked appeared on Martha’s face as she asked, “What world do you live in? The has not been any change in the world for more than a hundred thousands years.”

Hearing the news, a wave of shock overcame Ovid. After staring blankly into space, he asked, “Why to bother explaining these to me?”

Martha closed her eyes and answered, “Because you are annoying. If any other person as self-righteous as you are, I would have long ended their existence, but your backing is something only a monster won’t be afraid of, so the only thing I can do this.”

“Everyone knows that Cai Hua is overprotective of the people he is close to. You probably weren’t aware of the sword’s presence, but it actually has a strand of his soul. If it were to attack me recklessly, there is a 0.2% chance I might die.”

After making a gesture of courtesy to Irene, then turned and stepped out through the window.

“It hasn’t been that long,” Ovid gathered the paper scattered on the ground into his spatial ring, feeling a bit bewildered that the stacks atop the table have not shifted its location in the slightest.

It was unknown if Ovid was referring to the conversation he had with Martha or the time between when he and Irene had last met.

An ‘en’ sound was Irene’s reply as she folded the leaf umbrella.

“If you like this one, I will make you another,” Ovid offered.

“En”.

“Anna is still outside shopping.”

“En”.

Finishing what he intended to say, Ovid turned around and headed for the carriage.

Irene extended her hand, dragging back Ovid with mana, she said, “Cai Hua has a reputation of plucking flowers.”

Ovid said, “He said that he isn’t a fickle person, aside from those he married, he hasn’t slept with anyone else. Also, I heard that relationship between master and disciple is a taboo in the North.”

“And Anna?” Irene added.

“Ah, I didn’t think of that, but she seemed to dislike Cai Hua’s behaviour. Unless he was to force himself upon her, which he could have done many weeks ago, nothing would happen between the two of them.” Ovid answered earnestly after contemplating.

Though Irene’s expression didn’t change, a hint of dissatisfaction appeared at the depths of her eye, she said, “I will stay with you then.”

Irene said inwardly; since neither of you is talented in wind magic, I couldn’t teach you anything.