In a meditation room located in the rear courtyard of the ancient temple.
Luo Shu, Lacus and La Folia, all dressed in quasi-funeral attire, sat on moderately firm beige tatami mats.
Between them lay ceramic tea utensils placed on white cloth, with La Folia herself handling the tea preparation rather than Luo Shu.
"I've only studied tea ceremony through videos and hired teachers of Eastern culture before. If I make any mistakes, please don't point them out."
Luo Shu watched as La Folia skillfully prepared green tea with elegant movements that clearly showed her expertise.
Compared to Lacus, who preferred black tea and Luo Shu, who treated tea merely as a daily beverage, La Folia seemed more like someone raised in Eastern culture.
Seeing La Folia's artistic tea ceremony, Lacus chuckled softly:
"You're still as fond of Eastern culture as ever."
La Folia smiled and handed the tea to both of them, saying:
"Because whether it's the immemorial cultural inheritance from China or Japan's unbroken imperial line, they're both things worth learning from, in my view and that of the Aldegia Kingdom."
'So it's not the culture she likes, but a long-lasting rule?' Luo Shu's eyebrows rose slightly at these words, thinking: 'What a fitting statement from a crown princess.'
As Luo Shu pondered this, La Folia said with a joking tone:
"Therefore, if any requests involve Aldegia Kingdom's inheritance, I'm afraid I must decline~"
Hearing this, Luo Shu's expression froze, seemingly surprised by La Folia's sudden ambush, while Lacus, who had dealt with La Folia many times before, remained composed:
"Rather than requests, I'd prefer to describe it as a crisis."
La Folia smiled meaningfully: "Danger and opportunity coexisting?"
She then turned to examine Luo Shu's face before smiling:
"Is it because of Lacus's lover here?"
"I remember you used to have either Kirika or Meer by your side, but this time it's him."
La Folia chuckled and continued:
"Don't tell me this invitation has nothing to do with Luo Shu, or this capricious princess might get angry at any moment."
Luo Shu made no reaction to La Folia mentioning him, choosing instead to observe and let Lacus handle the exchange with La Folia first.
After all, the girl before him wasn't like the petty girls around him who only knew how to sulk, but a princess born into royalty, raised with political education, and skilled in scheming.
Just then, in response to La Folia's playful warning, Lacus lifted her teacup, gently blowing on it before saying:
"Soul Summoning Art."
"We need the Aldegia Kingdom's Soul Summoning Art."
Faced with this direct request that could shake the foundations of the Aldegia Kingdom, La Folia showed little emotional fluctuation, merely brightening her smile slightly:
"Though I suspected this would be the most troublesome matter before being invited, hearing it confirmed makes me realise it's indeed the most difficult issue to handle."
"However, I regret to say that while I personally hold great fondness for you, Lacus, the Soul Summoning Art concerns the very foundation of our Aldegia Royal Family's rule. This matter isn't open for negotiation."
Lacus showed little change in expression at these words, merely offering a calm reminder:
"The Soul Summoning Art is merely the cornerstone of Aldegia's rule, not its entirety. The true foundation lies in the Spirit Medium constitution passed down through generations of Rihavein women."
"That's indeed correct."
"While the Soul Summoning Art forms the basis of various magical techniques in the Aldegia Kingdom, the Spirit Medium constitution of the royal daughters is the true bedrock - the royal family's assurance against being overthrown."
La Folia nodded without denying Lacus's words, then shifted her tone:
"However, there's a difference between the Aldegia ruled by the royal family and the Aldegia I rule."
At this point, La Folia slightly narrowed her eyes, smiling at them both as she said:
"Why do you think the Soul Summoning Art became the royal family's foundation, passed down only through direct royal lineage?"
"Consider that the Aldegia Kingdom's royal family has over ten thousand direct branch members, not to mention those with partial bloodlines."
"One could say that in the Aldegia Kingdom, if you meet a silver-haired commoner, trace back a few generations, and their ancestors were undoubtedly members of the Aldegia Royal Family."
"If the Soul Summoning Art is a special technique that strengthens the royal bloodline, why not disseminate it to amplify the royal family's power?"
"Under these circumstances, why would we royal descendants restrict the Soul Summoning Art?"
Luo Shu and Lacus listened silently to La Folia's questions before finally exchanging glances.
At length, Luo Shu took a deep breath and said:
"Is the Soul Summoning Art a technique that weakens in power the more people use it?"
La Folia looked at Luo Shu with surprise, then turned to Lacus:
"I'm beginning to understand why you chose him, Lacus."
After this cryptic remark, La Folia sighed lightly and explained:
"The so-called Soul Summoning Art is essentially a technique that borrows power from the Spirits transformed from generations of Rihavein ancestors."
"Fundamentally, it's no different from the Eastern Taoist art of deity invocation."
"But unlike Taoism's countless gods, the number of Rihavein ancestors who can reincarnate as Spirits is limited."
"If too many people use these techniques, our ancestors' power would weaken, potentially losing their individuality - thereby undermining the true foundation of Rihavein rule."
"After all, the Soul Summoning Art isn't restricted to those with Rihavein blood."
"Do you understand what I mean?"
Looking at La Folia's smiling yet cold expression, Luo Shu immediately understood this was her way of firmly rejecting the proposal.
This gave him quite a headache:
"So essentially, the Soul Summoning Art is just a technique for borrowing power from ancestors?"
"That's quite a shocking truth."
After saying this, Luo Shu sighed and glanced at Lacus.
That single glance made Lacus, who had been considering further negotiations, abandon the idea. She closed her eyes, silently yielding control of the situation to Luo Shu.
Noticing this, Luo Shu smiled slightly.
He turned back to face La Folia, gazing at the princess's pure white features as he said with a smile:
"What if my bargaining chip for the Soul Summoning Art was granting the Rihavein family heritable Demigod power that could be passed down through generations?"
"Would Your Highness still refuse?"
At these words, La Folia's azure eyes contracted slightly as she stared at Luo Shu in astonishment.