The Castein duchy was not just a piece of land; it was a strategic asset. As Aria sat in her study, she visualized the map of the human empire. The Aldran Kingdom was one of four major powers that made up a loose, often bickering coalition.
Castein sat on the northeastern edge, tucked away from the immediate violence of the borders.
Three full kingdoms stood between her and the demon territories. This distance was her greatest weapon. While the border lords were busy bleeding their treasuries dry on fortifications and standing armies, Aria was consolidating wealth.
Eleanor had been smart enough to secure a monopoly on the largest private grain supply in the kingdom.
In a world where magic existed, people often forgot that soldiers still needed to eat. In a war economy, grain was more valuable than gold. By controlling the food, she controlled the pace of the kingdom's heartbeat.
She had spent the last several months using Eleanor's position with surgical precision.
