"Is the situation inside the palace still normal?" Gale asked while leaning back in a chair as Historia massaged his shoulders.
"If you already know the answer, is there any need to ask?" Historia smiled after noticing that small lie.
"I just want to hear it from you, is that so bad?" Gale looked at her, waiting for her response.
"Yes, everything is normal, too normal considering that beyond the walls there is a constant danger of war."
"Then we're doing things right." Gale did not want the people fighting day after day for his plans to be affected by the dangers outside.
That meant the soldiers were doing an excellent job.
"I'll finish some documents. If you want to stay with me, just take a seat."
"Alright." Historia moved a stool and quietly sat beside him.
Gale continued reviewing the remaining materials, mainly reports from Armin and Hange, who were the minds carrying out his plans to the letter.
Hange was in charge of the overseas operations, while Armin was with the island exploration team searching for uranium ore.
Hange had not found anything; unable to use the titans outside, her main task was to cooperate with the people of Isfar, traveling between material factories in various countries.
Hange was responsible for acquiring materials and internal combustion engines from external suppliers. Whenever she had free time, she visited mineral markets searching for uranium.
Gale hoped uranium would be found on the island.
If uranium were discovered outside their territory, extraction and transportation would be difficult since it would be on foreign land.
Even disguised, obtaining operational authorization for large-scale mining would be complicated.
Buying it would also be problematic, since Paradis Island's finances were already strained due to the enormous costs of military preparations.
Ideally, the island itself would have uranium mines.
The probability of finding uranium on Paradis Island was quite high, since the terrain was similar to Australia's.
In his previous life, Australia possessed the largest uranium reserves, with numerous open-pit mines.
The geographical location, flora, and fauna of Paradis Island were similar to Australia's.
Discovering uranium here would allow direct extraction by titans, and building power plants and centrifuges beside the mine for nuclear weapon production would be far more convenient and efficient.
Gale was reviewing a report that had been sent to the capital a week ago.
Armin's team seemed to have made a new discovery; the report included several black-and-white photographs along with a written report.
It was still uncertain whether it truly was uranium ore; extraction continued while samples were being compared.
Gale carefully examined the report.
Judging only by the report, the probability of it being uranium ore was quite high.
He wondered if he should personally go there.
The location was near the sea; if he took the train and Ymir carried him afterward, it would probably take two days.
Just as he was thinking this, something touched his mouth.
They were cookies. Historia had opened the metal box she had brought and fed him some handmade berry cookies.
She was very close, almost pressed against Gale.
Gale opened his mouth and accepted the food from her.
Whether intentionally or not, Historia's cold fingers brushed against Gale's lips while she fed him.
She seemed slightly drunk, her cheeks flushed, her body pressing closer and closer, becoming increasingly bold as she covered Gale's thighs with her soft ones.
She gave off a pleasant fragrance, like the sweet scent of golden lilies.
Unable to continue looking at the documents, Historia moved and hugged him, resting her head against his arm while gazing at Gale's face with an irresistible and melancholic expression.
Gale set the documents aside, holding Historia by the waist; she was now sitting on his lap.
"It's been so long since we were together like this," Historia said, her voice tinged with melancholy.
"You're tired," Gale said, brushing Historia's ear with his hand and gently smoothing her messy hair. "Let me take you to bed."
Historia bit his forearm, leaving two rows of teeth marks behind. "Mikasa and Eren are getting married next year. We got engaged a year ago, yet it seems we'll marry much later."
"They deserve it…"
"I know."
"But being someone so important doesn't guarantee you'll live longer than Eren, and that includes me as well, even though I'm the queen."
That was true. Both Gale and Historia could die at any moment from an enemy attack.
Despite all their preparations, nothing guaranteed they were free from danger.
Historia was now fifteen years old, though to Gale she still seemed like a child.
But on Paradis Island, fifteen was considered adulthood.
Experiences make people grow, and Historia's experiences, from childhood to adulthood, had already matured her mind.
She had witnessed the deaths of her mother and acquaintances when she was ten years old, and during the following five years, as queen, she had navigated countless social and public events.
She could no longer be treated like a child; she had grown up.
It was strange seeing her so disobedient.
Before, she almost always obeyed him; she had been a good girl.
But did she truly like being a good girl?
Perhaps she preferred being a bad girl.
Gale stroked Historia's head. The little girl who once needed him to wipe her mouth while eating had become a beautiful young woman.
She was like an angry kitten, baring her teeth in his arms while watching him warily.
Perhaps seeing Mikasa finally fulfill her wishes had made Historia feel depressed.
But Gale had no time for matters of the heart; what mattered was winning the war so he could keep Historia safe.