The Queen Who Shares Love
Chapter 32 The Clear Agreement

"Where did you get this stone, Grand Duke?" ask Count Landell.

"It doesn't matter where I get this stone. Can you make it with a sword that can hold this stone?" Gerald took the stone back.

Count Landell thought for a moment. 

"Actually this stone is a new product. I will make it and I will try to make a sword that can hold this stone. You can come back here in two days, Mr. Grand Duke."

"Alright, I'll be here in two days, Count." Gerald stood up leaving the room.

The Landell couple breathed a sigh of relief after Grand Duke Faust left. Countess Landell was speechless due to the pressure from Grand Duke Faust.

"Is she trustworthy, my husband?" ask Countess.

"Come on, but it was Empress Leticia who suggested that she come here, my wife. The proof is that stone. The stone that the Grand Duke brought was the Empress's ordered stone," the Count explained.

"I'm afraid of the rumor that says that he's a cruel person."

"However, he recently caught Viscount Gremaroft kidnapping children. Maybe he's not a mean person."

Countess Landell was silent. Landell's family finances are bad. This was a golden opportunity to cooperate with Grand Duke Faust who had a lot of money. However, he hesitated, at times Grand Duke Faust could threaten them.

"What are you going to do with my husband?"

"I will try to accept Grand Duke Faust's request. I trust the man the First Empress sent. He has helped us a lot. He won't send anyone who'll hurt this family."

Countess Landell who was still worried nodded slowly. She would trust her husband's instincts. Hopefully with the ongoing cooperation with Grand Duke Faust, the Landell family can improve.

***

Two days have passed. Gerald came back to Landell's residence. Count Landell gave Gerald an order, a sword with a stone that can absorb the aura is in the middle of the sword hilt. The stone was crystal clear, in contrast to the previous one which was turbid white. 

Gerald saw the stone. Before he could ask, Count Landell answered what Gerald was about to ask. "As I said this stone is a new product. I am still improving the quality of this stone. The stone you brought two days ago was the first stone I made. So there is still a weakness in the stone. This stone is a new and more powerful version. The clearer this stone is, the more aura it absorbs. You can try it, Master Grand Duke." 

Gerald understood and followed the Landell couple who escorted him to the vast training ground. 

Gerald drained his aura. The sword he was carrying, absorbed the aura that Gerald was emitting from the stone. He tried to attack using the sword. The result was that the ground in the training was split. Extraordinary damage power, greater than the stone yesterday.

The Landell couple were astonished by what they saw. The power of Grand Duke Faust and the stone made by Count Landell was deadly. The countess tightly embraced her husband's arm.

Gerald looked at the sword intently. A very powerful weapon. It's turning around on the Landell couple.

"You made an incredible item, Count. What is the name of this stone?" ask Gerald.

"I hope you only supply swords with this stone for me one, Count."

"Do you want to monopolize our product, Mr Grand Duke?" ask Countess Landell.

The Countess' fear vanished, for her husband's labor was in vain. Her husband poured sweat to make this product in hopes of selling hard in the market. This is a new breakthrough in the military field. There must be a lot of fans on her husband's products.

Count Landell tried to stop his wife's reckless actions. He was afraid that Grand Duke Faust was angry that his wife was a little brash.

"This product only. Of course I will pay it at a reasonable price. I will also pay for the damage I have done. Is this enough?" Gerald gave a bag of money to Countess Landell.

Countess Landell counted the money. The number is more than he anticipated. He looked up at Grand Duke Faust, then lowered his head while thanking him.

"It was only for this one sword and stone. I will order it in large quantities. As for the weapons and other supplies, I will also take from you. You can sell those items to others, except for the sword with this stone, Count."

"Thank you, Mr. Grand Duke. You can name this stone because only you buy it" replied Count Landell.

"Because this stone is crystal clear I will name it Clear" Gerald said

"Okay, Mr. Grand Duke." Count.

"This cooperation agreement will be included in the paper, and signed by both parties so that if one party violates the agreement, the other party can sue it. Did the Count and the Countess agree?" ask Gerald.

The Landell couple looked at each other. Countess Landell nodded to her husband. The Countess' message was well conveyed to her husband. The Count said, "We agree, Lord Grand Duke."

They entered Landell's residence to sign a cooperation agreement.  Gerald wrote the deal. The content of their agreement was the same as Grand Duke Faust had said. With the addition, Grand Duke Faust would each month give some money for the survival of the blacksmith Count Landell's business. The money could be used to improve the quality of the products made in Count Landell's blacksmiths. And if Count Landell creates a new product, he'll have to tell Gerald first. Gerald will buy the new product when it's good and pay for it even more. If both parties violate one of the agreements, the party will pay the fine and be prosecuted by the other party.

The Landell couple read the agreement. The terms of the agreement, however, greatly benefited Landell. With this agreement their family's financial problems will be resolved. They agreed. Grand Duke Faust and Count Landell signed their cooperation agreement.

The Landells drove Grand Duke Faust up to his carriage. The bad prejudice against Grand Duke Faust slowly dissipated. They would repay the Grand Duke's good deeds by making weapons for him as best they could. The money from Grand Duke Faust might exceed the profits they would get when marketing the stone in the Empire.

They thanked the First Empress for giving the idea to create a stone that could absorb the aura. The First Empress also told Grand Duke Faust about the existence of the stone. Without Empress Leticia, they wouldn't have gotten the right business partner.

The Count wrote a letter to his daughter.

To my dear Emilia,

I've got a new business partner. Our family finances can be overcome. I ask that you continue to serve the First Empress. The Empress's order of payment will I use to expand our blacksmith's business. Take care of your. Mom and Dad love you.

From your beloved father