Black stones, they looked akin to coal. It was very disheartening. That was until Harry grabbed a stone from the box. A fire sparked in his eyes.

"Where did you get this?" he asked almost hungrily.

"We mine it" Denise said with a smile, she had to take credit for having the Viler name. She was Lady Viler and Harry was the only one who knew what exactly the rock was. Moreover, this was such a lucrative opportunity to keep their oath in place.

"Do you know what it is Sir?" Stuart asked.

"Yes. It's a specific type of ore this one."

"It's an ore?" Commander Zilla pressed forward.

"Yes, it can be smelted or refined to give a very specific metal, sometimes in large quantities it could be a power source."

"A power source?" the general was engaged.

"Yes, but it requires time, machinery, refinery..."

"What type of machinery?" Rowan asked

"What type of power?" Commander Zilla asked simultaneously.

Harry looked at Denise, awaiting permission. She smiled.

"It can make whatever it is you want."

Silence. That was a broad enough explanation.

"But what exactly can we make?"Stuart said with a surprising excitement.

"We need to solve a problem. " Denise interjected. "In order to fully understand what it does and how it can work to out advantage."

"A problem?" The general was staring at her, his eyes were incredibly beautiful. A dark and gleaming color. She mentally slapped herself.

"During my time at my family home, I listed a few things that I considered problems in our country at the moment." she paused "I believe the first one and most important, would be infrastructure."

"Infrastructure?" Commander Zilla scoffed, "We can fly, my lady."

"Only you, Commander Zilla and Mages can fly. "

"I can fly" the general added.

"The general can fly as well." she forced a smile. It was like a mind game, being around the man.

"But the commoners can't fly, merchants can't fly and hiring magical carriages is very expensive. So how do goods get moved across the country?"

Silence.

"The roads haven't changed for 1000 years, improving the roads would ensure that goods reach faster and markets are well supplied, to meet the current demand."

"That's a problem for the country, not what we're setting out to do, my lady" Commander Zilla interjected.

"That is true, but it will be your problem in the future. Involving the imperial house is not the main reason I'm stating this. We have to start the reforms here. "

"Here?" Rowan asked

"Yes, the Northern Gates have to be the pioneer of the country. Better roads and better services provided by the duchy will motivate people to move into the duchy. A profitable mine is the first step to being a lucrative duchy."

"Lord Goodwin" She looked at Stuart "How much of this has been mined?"

"Very little, my lady."

"How many miners have you employed?"

"A little under 100"

"I'd advice you to increase the number. "

"To what?"

"For now... 1000"

Rowan gasped.

"Can the mine handle that?" she asked.

Stuart was stuttering "Of course, but we can't house them all and feed them."

"When looking for these workers, separate those that can build. Craftsmen. I hear that there is little demand for craftsmen since the Gallagher Industries introduced machines?" Denise sipped her tea.

"That's true."

"Then hire the workers. They will build the Mining village and slowly it will become a town when people start to notice the effects of the mine."

"But who will we sell the ores to? Money is required, to do the large scale project you intend to subject to the duchy my lady." Commander Zilla was focused on her.

"We will be partnering with the most interesting of people."

"Who?"

"The Merchant Guild."

****************************************

Dinner with the general was a chore for Denise because at that very moment, the man was watching her eat. It was enough to make anyone choke. She was managing it very well.

"Today was good." he finally spoke.

"I'm glad I could be of service" she smiled after a hard swallow of the duck.

"However, kindly remember you have a duty as my wife."

"Pardon"

"Parties, balls and ensuring that your husband is satisfied when he comes back home" he smiled.

"Ah yes, my duty. I will not neglect it." she had no choice in the matter.

"Tell me wife" he stood up and approached her. She tightened the grip on her fork. He sat on the edge of the table, a smile on his beautiful face.

"What do you enjoy?"

What?

"Pardon me, my lord"

"We are married, it is inevitable that we know the bare minimum of each other."

He had a point. Now what would Colette like? But he wasn't talking to Colette. He was talking to her, Denise. She was having a hard time, mentally accepting her current circumstance. She would only use it when it suited her but she would deter from it when it collided with her morals.

Acceptance was hard but necessary.

"I like numbers, the intricacies of it all. I also love to be creative and draw from time to time. Although, it's a hobby."

"Dislikes?" he was very close.

"Tomatoes. I dislike tomatoes."

The general burst into laughter and she watched him, mesmerized. It was the first honest expression he had made and it astounded her that the man, had an innocence too him.

"And you my lord? Your likes and dislikes?"

It was fair.

"I like beautiful things, so I tend to collect them. Thus the reason for all my beast collectibles in my war room and other prized collectibles in the treasury." he raised her from her seat.

Those were beautiful prized collectibles? It was difficult to understand his tastes, she thought.

He led her to the windows and opened them. The cold autumn breeze signifying winter made her shiver. He pulled her closer to him and tilted her chin up to face him.

"I dislike anyone else touching my property."

His face was so close, she could fell his breath on her cheek.

"Anything else can be killed." he added.