Speaker Margarita's personally written letter was evidently a matter of extreme importance, best left until back in her private quarters.

"Wow! It's Count Laine Macado!"

"So handsome! So dashing!"

"Wooo ~ It's the Count! It's the Count!"

"Ah, it's Count Macado, I could die!"

On the third and fourth floors of the Wizard Tower, a bunch of little girls were craning their heads out the window, watching Laine appear alongside Veronica. However, due to Veronica's intimidating presence, the girls did not dare to crowd forward.

After opening the door of the Wizard Tower and ascending the spiral stairs, Veronica finally spoke: "Tell me, dear, how much did you spend ordering this Light Magic Riding from the Empire?"

"Five thousand Gold Crowns."

The Light Magic Riding itself wasn't an exorbitant item; the trouble lay in it being the Empire's absolute strategic reserve resource. If not for Laine's good relationship with Emperor Carl Franz, the Emperor would not have permitted the sale; the Light Magic Riding's immense power and low production meant with each sale, fewer remained.

As the doors to Veronica's private area opened under the Witch's spell, and immediately closed behind them, the room had a red carpet laid across, a domed ceiling symbolizing the stars moving together with the sun. Patterns on the walls and dome seemed to move on their own, making Laine feel as though Veronica was using them to deduce something.

"Five thousand Gold Crowns... Laine, are you truly gifting it to me?" Once in her private quarters, Veronica seemed to relax, exhaling a soft breath, her almond-shaped eyes filled with warmth and gratitude. She wrapped her arms around Laine's neck, stood on tiptoe, and gave him a kiss, then suspiciously asked, "My Great Knight, there's no scheme in this, is there?"

"If you don't like it, you could pay for it yourself." Laine, attempting to tease the Jialan Witch, smiled and said, "I can advance the payment first, and you can pay me back in installments, bit by bit."

Opening the bedroom door, Veronica rolled onto the bed, extending a silken foot toward Laine, indicating for him to help remove her high heels. Smiling, Laine obliged: "What do you think of my proposal?"

"Five thousand Gold Crowns... My Wizard Tower only earns one or two hundred Gold Crowns a month." Veronica complained, "I nearly exhausted my savings when building the Wizard Tower, and your Princess Jialan borrowed three thousand Gold Crowns from me. Now, there are just one or two thousand Gold Crowns left in the treasury—how am I supposed to repay you? Are you planning something nefarious?"

"There're plenty of ways to repay." Laine looked at Veronica with ill intent, and suddenly she thought of something, her face flushed red. The Witch, attempting to retreat, realized her ankle was gripped by Laine: "Damn it, Laine, what are you doing?"

Laine helped Veronica remove her high heels, placing them under the bed. Holding a delicate silk foot with scarlet nail polish, encased in a sheer stocking, he played with it for a while, prompting him to laugh upon hearing Veronica's words: "Alright, I said it's a gift, and it is a gift. Veronica, you know, you were my first woman."

"Hmph ~ That's more like it." Veronica raised her head proudly, gesturing for Laine to join her quickly. 𝒇𝓻𝓮𝓮𝙬𝙚𝒃𝒏𝓸𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝓬𝓸𝒎

The pair snuggled up in the bed, as Laine held Veronica on his lap: "It's not done yet. The Empire's delivery is yet to be finished, Veronica. You still need to assemble it yourself, engrave arrays, inject magic power, and adjust magic and optical instruments. How much has your magic power recovered?"

"Most of it, I think." Veronica leaned back against Laine's chest, holding his hand, soon realizing her skirt had ridden up to her waist, but the blushing Witch did not resist: "The Speaker asked me if extra manpower was required, and inquired about the Light Magic Riding."

"Seems the Jialan Council already knows you're getting a Light Magic Riding. You have to admit, the information network is quick." Laine thought the Jialan Council surely aimed to inquire if through Laine's connections, they could also order one.

"Speaker Margarita didn't dare approach you directly since you're the Divine Chosen Champion of the Lady of the Lake, so she came to me. But what can I do?" Veronica shook her head helplessly, pondering before quietly saying: "By the way, Laine, you gifted me one... What about Trovik? Aren't you afraid she'll make a fuss?"

"You can only buy one. Trovik's severely injured, requiring extended recuperation, and I'm planning to attack Black Stone Stronghold. If I don't equip you now, forming immediate combat power, who knows when we'll get to attack Black Stone Stronghold." Laine felt troubled and decided to seek Veronica's advice: "My Great Witch, what's your opinion on attacking Black Stone Stronghold? Surya takes it seriously, always hoping I could summon the Knight Army now as the Divine Chosen Champion of the Lady, preparing to attack Black Stone Stronghold with Francois... and the Dwarves."

Veronica knew that Laine was there to discuss this matter. He'd consulted everyone in his domain regarding the Black Stone Stronghold attack, but they invariably carried their own perspectives—knights yearned for military achievements, civilians desired promotion, Amelia, Ollica, and Mogiana hoped Laine wouldn't set out to create a stir. Only Veronica was unbiased, or perhaps, only she wholeheartedly cared for Laine: "For me to think clearly, you need to remove your hand from my leg!"