[Leif's POV – Weeks Later]
The Trivium Core.
The one stone that makes all other mana stones look like shiny pebbles.
Legend says this thing can outlast armies of mages and hold the warmth of the sun, the breath of the wind, and the patience of a saint—all crammed into one jewel. Which is great for us, except… there's a catch.
They're rare. Stupidly rare. Rare enough that the imperial family looked at them and went, "Mine. Ours. Hands off, peasants."
So, of course, they're owned by the Imperial Palace. Locked, sealed, kissed by bureaucracy, guarded like a dragon's hoard. Meaning… we can't touch them without bowing to the Crown Prince.
Baron Sigurd's voice rumbled beside me, calm but grim. "And since they were informed about your greenhouse project… they've come to inspect personally."
"…So that's why, huh?" My lips twisted. "They came this fast? Do they… do they want to claim the rights to my project too?"
