Chapter 81: A Reliable Candidate

Chapter 81: A Reliable Candidate

This thought had never crossed Airael’s mind before.

She initially wanted an heir, but now she already had Anna.

Thinking about having a second child, Airael glanced down at her stomach.

Although she conceived Anna just a few months after being with Arthur, would the creation of their second child go just as smoothly?

Pondering this, a self-deprecating smile appeared on Airael’s face.

If it were that smooth, the revival of the Elven Race wouldn’t be something to worry about at all.

The main issue limiting the Elven Race has always been their population.

Although Elves live long lives, their difficulty in conceiving restricts their growth.

It’s manageable in peaceful times when they can develop slowly.

But if war breaks out and they lose a large population in a short time, who knows how long it would take for the Elven Race to recover?

If she could conceive a second child quickly, it would break that notion of difficulty.

One might be a coincidence, but two would indicate a certain inevitability.

Though her two children weren’t pureblood Elves, looking at Anna now, the elven traits were still quite pronounced; she could definitely be considered an Elf.

Plus, historically, even half-elves weren’t easy to conceive.

Airael shook her head to push these thoughts away for the moment.

These notions were merely her personal speculations and whether they held water couldn’t be confirmed by her alone; it would require Arthur to work harder.

After dismissing the thought of having a second child, Airael began considering who could replace her.

This idea sprouted endlessly in her mind.

After centralizing the power of the Elven Race, Airael realized it wasn’t necessarily productive.

Rather than spending her precious time on daily affairs, she’d be better off focusing on things that were truly meaningful.

Having children was just one aspect.

She could explore the mysteries of magic alongside Domiya and the others, pushing magic to new heights.

That would be an incredibly worthwhile endeavor.

Since the population issue of the Elven Race hadn’t been effectively solved, improving their quality was an efficient way to elevate their stature.

Just like in the technological societies of her past life.

Once technology reached a certain level, it could replace humans in certain tasks.

If technology could achieve that, then magical wonders could surely do the same.

Moreover, the Elven Race wasn’t incapable of developing technology either.

Technology and magic are both forms of knowledge.

They aren’t entirely separate; there’s a lot of common ground.

With this thought solidified in her mind, Airael decided to consult someone.

If she just made a decision on her own, it would seem somewhat reckless.

In the Life Temple.

Upon hearing of Airael’s arrival, Linis was a bit surprised.

She hadn’t been involved in state affairs for a while.

Besides, Airael should have been quite busy lately.

“Linis, I came to discuss something with you.”

In the meeting room, Airael sat on the sofa facing Linis.

“Your Majesty, please go ahead.”

Linis understood something in her eyes.

Though she had stepped away from politics, she couldn’t simply send Airael away now that she had come to ask for advice.

“Well, now that I have centralized the power of the Elven Race, I’ve realized I don’t need to handle everything myself. I can find a reliable person to take care of some matters for me. This way, I’ll have more time for other, more meaningful pursuits.”

“Your Majesty, are you planning to delegate power?”

Linis frowned and asked.

“No!”

Airael shook her head.

“The power will still be in my hands. I simply want to create a spokesperson to help manage some daily tasks while I still handle the important matters personally.”

Linis nodded.

Airael’s intent was quite understandable.

“Your Majesty, there’s nothing wrong with this approach, but you must be careful when choosing your spokesperson. If you choose the right person, it’s all good; however, if you pick the wrong one, even for minor tasks, it could lead to a lot of trouble.”

Hearing Linis’s advice, Airael nodded and smiled, “I understand, that’s why I’m here to ask for your opinion on potential candidates. After all, you know the Elven Race better than I do.”

Linis responded thoughtfully.

She didn’t suspect any bad intentions.

Both she and Airael were well aware there were no issues between them in that regard.

After pondering for a moment, Linis said to Airael, “How about Mason?”

“Mason from Menas City?” Airael asked.

“Yep!” Linis nodded. “Mason is a capable individual.”

“Is he reliable though?”

Capability is one thing; reliability is another.

“He’s quite trustworthy when it comes to the affairs of the Elven Race. As for anything else, it depends on whether you can earn his sincere loyalty.”

“I see. Thank you, Linis.”

Airael nodded.

With Linis’s guidance providing a clear direction, Airael found it easier to proceed with her plans.

It was undeniable that Mason was indeed capable.

However, whether Mason was genuinely loyal to her, Airael couldn’t be sure.

Previously, she had acquired the loyalty of the entire Elven Race through sheer force.

But that loyalty had little real significance.

It just meant the Elven Lords couldn’t openly refute her commands or obstruct her policies, but who knew what they might be scheming in the shadows?

Especially someone as cunning as Mason.

So, Airael’s next task was to ascertain whether Mason was indeed reliable.

In her planning, Airael figured the entire situation could be divided into two phases.

The first phase involved collecting information about Mason’s territory to see how well Airael’s policies were implemented there, allowing for an overall evaluation of Mason.

The second phase would involve conversing with Mason to gauge his attitude.

Once back at the Avalon Royal Palace, Airael sent Aurora to handle the first phase.

Temporarily freed from her duties, Airael decided to spend the rest of the day with Anna.

This served not only as playtime with her daughter but also as a chance to relax.

Worrying about state matters every day was exhausting!

When she was with Anna, she didn’t have to think so much.