Chapter 452: Lady Rosaline’s Advice

"Leone, my husband said that you plan to build a kingdom," Lady Rosaline said. "What kind of kingdom are you planning to build?"

"To be honest Grandma, at first, I just wanted a place to live in where the people around me can live happy and peaceful lives," Leone replied. "However, I was once again reminded that being weak is a sin."

The young man remembered his time in the Borderlands where he had to fight tooth and nail alongside the Alborin Tribe just so they could call a place their home.

"If you are weak, people take advantage of you," Leone added. "If you are weak, you will have no choice but to bow your head and listen to the orders of the strong. If you are weak, whatever you possess can be taken away at any given time, and there is nothing you can do about it."

Lady Rosaline nodded in agreement. "That’s right. So, if you want peace, then you must always be prepared for war. That is the only way you can protect that peace. But, Leone, let me impart you some words of wisdom."

"What is it, Grandma?" Leone asked.

Lady Rosaline’s expression softened as she looked at her great-grandson. "The former King of the Radiant Empire, who was also my father, used to say something to me and my brother. He said to us, ’A kingdom is not built for the sake of the King.’"

Leone listened quietly. This was something that didn’t cross his mind before, but he was genuinely intrigued by what his great-grandma wanted to tell him.

"It is easy for a ruler to become obsessed with territory, wealth, power, and reputation," Lady Rosaline continued. "The larger his kingdom becomes, the easier it is for him to forget why he started building it in the first place."

She looked at her great-grandson as if she saw her former self the time her father passed this message onto her and her brother.

"You told me that you wanted a place where the people around you could live happy and peaceful lives, right?" Lady Rosaline asked.

"Yes." Leone nodded.

"Then never lose sight of that." Lady Rosaline smiled faintly. "Your kingdom should grow because your people need it to grow, not because you simply want to see your borders expand."

Leone’s eyes narrowed slightly as he listened.

"Build roads because you want travel to become easier," Lady Rosaline added. "Build farms because you want them to have enough food. Build walls because you want them to sleep peacefully at night. Train soldiers because you want someone that’s capable of standing between your people and those who would harm them."

She paused for a while after that because she wanted Leone to digest her words first before giving him the last lesson that her father had imparted to her and her brother.

"Every decision you make as a King should have a purpose," Lady Rosaline stated. "However, there is something far more important than that."

The older lady didn’t know why she was telling her great-grandson these things. Perhaps a part of her just wanted to impart some words of wisdom to Leone. After all, the young man was her family as well.

"Most importantly, you need people who are willing to tell you when you are wrong." Lady Rosaline smiled faintly once more. "Because those are the people who really care for you and your kingdom."

"Thank you, Grandma," Leone replied. "I will remember it well."

Truth be told, that was what he was looking for as well. He didn’t want all of his vassals to become someone like Kael.

He already got the feeling that whatever he did, Kael would always think that he had a deeper and greater purpose behind it.

Even if Leone was just going to invade a place because he wanted to, Kael would simply say, "As expected of our Great Chieftain! He knew that the people were suffering, so he took it upon himself to make them part of his kingdom!

Leone almost laughed when he imagined it.

No matter what he did, Kael would somehow find a way to make it sound like it was part of some grand plan.

"Well then. Is there anything else that you would like to know?" Lady Rosaline asked. "I know that you are a very busy person."

The young man pondered for a while before asking his great-grandma a question.

"Grandma, is the current King of the Radiant Empire a friend or a foe of the Helion Family?" Leone asked.

"How bold of you to ask a question like that." Lady Rosaline sighed. "But, I will give you my answer. My brother and I may have fought many times when we were children, but he would not wish to harm my family. He is that kind of person."

"I see." Leone smiled at those words.

Hearing her answer made him feel relieved because the last thing he needed was for the Helion Family to suffer because they decided to support him.

Of course, Lugh understood that the King would also not do anything reckless against them.

This was why he had gone ahead and accepted Leone’s proposal to invade the Kingdom of Britannia while their defenders were away.

"Thank you, Grandma." Leone stood up and bowed respectfully towards his great-grandmother. "I’ll be going now."

"Be careful," Lady Rosaline replied. "And Leone, once things settle down in the Borderlands, feel free to visit me often, okay? I’m sure your Great Grandpa would like that as well."

"Understood, Grandma."

"Also, bring your ladies with you. My husband said that they are very pretty. That sly fox, he made me very curious!"

Leone could only chuckle as he promised to bring Yuni and Aria on his next visit.

He then went back to the hidden passage and teleported towards the Forgotten Temple after reaching the Dragon’s Nest.

He didn’t bother his vassals, the members of Lost Paradise, nor the warriors that accompanied him in his previous mission.

All of them were tired and were probably resting by now.

Truth be told, Leone was very tired as well.

Even so, he still needed to persevere for just a while longer.

He went straight to his room and let go of his consciousness so that he could connect to his clone back in Eden.

The moment he took control of his vessel, he realized that he was currently seated in a gathering where the chieftains of the Borderlands had gathered.

It seemed that the enemy scouts and the barbarian scouts had a little skirmish as the Aurelion Empire’s army advanced.

Fortunately, their side knew when to retreat, so most of them had only suffered minor injuries.

As Leone scanned the surroundings, he was surprised that the Chieftain of the Grimhowl Tribe, Hagen, was missing.

In his place, the great shaman of the Borderlands, Gundar, stood and represented his tribe in the meeting.