A Single Mother's Farm of the Gods
Chapter 464: The King’s Arrival

Chapter 464: The King’s Arrival

The King of Bernel Kingdom is considered to be a kind-hearted teen who rose to power to help his struggling people. Many have already seen his deeds and how he managed to overturn the problems of the Bernel Kingdom and lead it from the crisis their kingdom faced back to prosperity without sacrificing the lives of the people.

But behind the kind face he is showing to his people lies a dark secret that he is hiding. For the people under his command, everyone knows the real king’s behavior and how his persona in front of the people is a fake. One can say that even they would not expect that he is not the kind-hearted man they once thought he would be. He is a master manipulator and views everything as his pieces.

He doesn’t believe in failure, but he knows how to think rationally. He punishes failure, but he doesn’t punish tactical retreat in situations where things are uncertain. Which is why he didn’t punish the men who left the operation to infiltrate the farm. They might have failed to enter the farm, but they managed to bring forth information that is crucial for the king to know.

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Nighttime. While the harbor and docks of Darcero Kingdom remain operational even at night, there are fewer people compared to the morning, which makes the arrival of the king of Bernel Kingdom quiet. Of course, since the King himself did not say any way of saying that he is coming, even the royals of Darcero Kingdom didn’t know he would be arriving, which is why the reception at the dock is pretty dry. Still, there are a few of the Bernel Kingdom’s followers who know his arrival waited for him and have given him the sign of welcome.

"Ha, despite the kingdom of Darcero just recently repelling enemies from the Luminiera Kingdom, I still didn’t expect that the harbor was not even suffering any damage. Was the battle so one-sided that the Luminiera Kingdom forces were forced back before they could even strike back?" The young king looked around the docks and marvelled at how the place was untouched.

"The main battle and impact happened on the beach, and since the defense was focused there, there is less to nothing to see here," his secretary said as he compiled the schedule of the king.

"Has the information regarding the farmer of the farm been compiled? After all, we came here to ensure that we get to claim the farm that was said to be quite a marvel."

"We did, but I haven’t reviewed it yet since it arrived just now, being handed by one of the men who investigated her origins. We can discuss this matter in our lodgings, my king."

"Alright. I am also a bit tired, might as well have to hit the sack soon."

"Acknowledged. Men, quickly contact our contacts regarding the place we will be staying while we are staying here in this kingdom."

The men made a salute before they left in a hurry.

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A few minutes after those men left, a carriage arrived and fetched the king and his secretary to his temporary residence. It might not be the same as the castle’s comfort, but it is much better compared to the commoners, and that is all that matters for the king.

While they are on the carriage, the secretary began his review of the information that was gathered regarding Elaina’s origin and her importance. At first, the secretary was fine, but a few seconds after reading through the paper, his eyes went wide and his eyebrows furrowed.

"Ho, that’s a rare expression, James. Did you read something interesting?" the king has gotten curious.

"I was reading the report, and it seems that the farmer we thought to be a commoner wasn’t actually one in the first place."

"A noble then?"

"Beyond the noble, my king. She was the former Empress of Luminiera Kingdom, the one they call the Businesswoman Empress, and the one who managed the Luminiera Kingdom before she disappeared.

"The former? Did she get punished and become a commoner so she to start running a farm?"

"No, my king. It seems that she left on her own accord and settled in Darcero Kingdom, abandoning the title of empress and changing her name and affiliation during the beginning. Of course, a few years have passed, and it seems she has returned to using her real name."

The king chuckled. "No wonder she does not care about the money we are offering, she doesn’t care about it in the first place, as she has already experienced the life of someone who holds the top of the hierarchy and only below the Emperor."

"Will you change the way you will approach, my king?"

The young king smiled. "Although that was indeed a surprise, it wasn’t enough for me to back off easily and change my way of approaching her. It’s been years since she stepped down as the Empress. She may have more power against me if she still retained her title as the Empress, but that doesn’t apply to her now. Right now? She is just a regular farmer, nothing more, nothing less."

The Young king opens his palm, and a surge of dark power flows from it. That alone is enough for the secretary to understand what the young king is planning. No wonder he is so confident. He will resort to that after all...

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Julia is currently performing a spell of barrier strengthening at the farm. Beside him is the Grand Sage, who is teaching his disciple on improving the gaps of the farm’s barrier and adding some features that Julia has not done before. Yona is also observing the situation and eagerly listens to the knowledge of the Grand Sage. After all, it’s pretty rare to receive some nice pointers from someone known to be a pillar of magic in the past few years. Adelaide is also silently listening to the discussions of the Grand Sage. She might not be focusing too much on magic spells, but that doesn’t mean she didn’t need to learn about them.

Elaina is currently resting on the bench and is watching everything unfold. Even with her ears listening, just by trying to understand the mage jargon the Grand Sage is saying is enough to confuse her little brain. Such is the life of someone who can’t use magic or even utilize mana.

"It seems you can barely understand what the Grand Sage is saying, Miss Elaina. You seemed to be in a trance, only for you to break from it," Princess Margaux, who was currently beside Elaina and was also listening and observing the magic discussion.

"Ha, can’t really do much about it. Since I was born with an ineptitude for magic, anything that relates to magic would just cause me to suddenly go dumb. Can’t utilize my business skills or my strategy skills in magic. You can say that things that are related to magic just bounce off me. It is only a miracle that I can still use magic tools, considering they already have mana stored in them; otherwise, I might just be too useless in this magic-driven world," Elaina sighed.

"But still, Miss Elaina, even without magic, you thrived, and you even rose to become an empress back then without utilizing magic. That alone is enough to give you credit where it’s due. Don’t sell yourself short, Miss Elaina!"

Elaina smiled. Perhaps it’s somewhat fortunate that Elaina is blessed with a great physical body and extensive prowess when it comes to physical abilities. And thanks to her ineptitude for magic, she can easily shrug off anything mind control magic or even brainwashing magic quite a lot. Even a demi-god who had failed to ascend tried to cast it on her, and yet she remained unharmed and uncontrolled. What would have happened if she were gifted in magic? Perhaps this is not what the life she will be living in the first place.

Just as she thought that day would be a bit peaceful, Elaina’s peace is easily disturbed when someone arrives at the front of the gate carrying several soldiers behind him. It kind of reminded Elaina of back when she was still a new farmer and had just started cultivating the land.

Seeing this, Elaina asked everyone who was busy to leave for a bit so that they won’t be caught up in case a conflict suddenly happens. Gripping her sword tightly, she opens the gate of her farm, and a teenage boy enters the farm without even her permission. Thankfully, Elaina has moved the garden guardians a bit farther from the gate; otherwise, this boy wouldn’t be seeing the light of day as a result of his brazen entry.

"Oho, no wonder the soldiers praised the farm as something of a marvel to see. This place is indeed refreshing to the eyes and has a calm atmosphere. I very much like this place."

The way he was talking, Elaina had a hunch about what he was talking about, but she didn’t say anything related to that. Instead, she decided to start questioning him.

"Who are you, and why are there soldiers here that seem to belong to another kingdom? I never heard of someone who hails from another kingdom having the right to barge into other people’s property without the permission of the owner."

Hearing this, the young man clapped his hands. "Oh, sorry for the sudden intrusion. I must say that this place is a marvel to see. The green crops and the trees of this farm are quite a sight to see. Although the place is simple, I can see many ways to improve this, and that with just a few touches here and there."

Elaina frowned at this, and despite the young man not even saying it directly, she could already tell what he was here for. Although his words seem to be giving advice, it only works if her farm is an ordinary farm and not magical enough. Despite the obvious things he meant, Elaina decided to keep asking and feign dumbness about it.

"So what is your point? That I am disregarding the true value of this farm is that it?"

The young man grinned. "Correct. A farm can only thrive if the one running it knows what he or she is doing. Which is why I have a proposal to buy this land from you and hand it over to someone who knows how to make the farm work wonders. And I already know your answer, woman. However, I won’t accept a no for an answer."

As he said those words, the soldiers assembled behind him and soon began to create an intimidation tactic against Elaina so that she would cower. But Elaina is not someone who gets easily intimidated, as she has faced much more intimidating threats before.

Elaina grinned and answered the young man. "If you don’t accept a no, then I will just decline your offer, young man.

The young man didn’t get shocked about Elaina’s words, and it seems that he anticipated that answer from her. Instead of speaking, he held out his hand and suddenly grabbed Elaina by the head. Before Elaina can say anything, he pours magic power into her that was so dark anyone could tell it was a magic that was meant to control people and change their will.

"Perhaps, right now, you will change your mind?"

However, contrary to the expectation of the young man, Elaina didn’t go into a trance like he thought she would after being exposed to his magic. Instead of going blank, Elaina swiftly grabbed the hands of the young man that is still holding her forehead and tightly squeezed them.

"Is it really that hard for everyone to understand what I said? I already said this farm is not for sale. Now unhand me before I snap your arm off."