Alex was adamant about not getting a Queen, even if he had the responsibility to produce an heir that would rule the continent once he was gone.
There were reasons he didn't want a queen, one of which he told the elders very clearly. It was because he would never leave his family behind even if he got an heir.
There were also other reasons that they weren't aware of, but they were very aware that they absolutely could not bring up the topic without him getting angry for some reason.
So, when he said that he just hadn't found a good enough woman to become the Queen, they were immediately confused and somewhat angry even.
How could he find a good enough woman when he didn't even bother to search for one? Still, the two elders kept their composure and watched out things would turn out. After all, they knew Alex wouldn't lie in such a situation for no reason.
"My criteria, huh? I actually haven't made a proper list, but let's see…" Alex gave it a thought.
"First of all, I care very much for the looks, so they have to be pretty. Not very pretty, but enough to make heads turn," Alex said.
The Crown Prince nodded with understanding. "A Queen needs to be able to make heads turn. That's expected," he said.
"Yes, and she needs to have a good personality too, but I can let it aside if it's just good enough and the other criteria are matched," he said.
The Crown Prince nodded again. "True, true. While personality is important, a person can always change. You can teach the Queen to change her behavior if it's problematic," he said.
"Right?" Alex asked. "Your Highness does get me."
The Crown Prince smiled. "What more, Your Majesty? Surely those two aren't the only Criteria," he said.
"Of course not," Alex said. "They also have to be a very strong cultivator. I'm speaking at least the Saint Core realm, if not the Saint Soul realm."
"That high?" the Crown Prince was surprised. "That will drop the number of possible choices to a fraction of the original. I doubt there are many that fit your choices in the Southern Continent, your majesty. Even amongst the group you've brought, I can only see a single one that fits the criteria."
Alex nodded. "Yes, but I don't have to just choose my Queen from just the Southern Continent, do I?" he asked.
"True," the Crown Prince said. "The Eastern Continent certainly has a large number of female cultivators that fit your criteria. If your Majesty likes, I can even introduce a few to you. There are Imperial Princesses that fall under your criteria very well."
"Oh, but I'm not done," Alex said, cutting off the Crown Prince. "She also has to be well educated, needs to know a lot of things, needs to be proficient in taking care of oneself and others in case required."
The Crown Prince was taken aback, but he let Alex ramble.
"And finally, and most importantly," Alex said. "She has to be young."
"Of-of course, that's a given," the Crown Prince quickly said. "We have young ladies that fit your description quite well."
Alex's eyes narrowed. "They have to be very young," he said.
The Crown Prince's face went blank as he looked around for a moment before asking, "Do… do you mean they have to be…" he whispered, "a child?"
Alex made an annoyed face. "Of course not. What are you saying, your Highness," he said. "I just meant young in age, like me."
"Oh, right right right," the Crown Prince gave a quick nod as if asking for forgiveness. "Yes, you need a young queen, just like… you."
As the meanings of the words were finally understood by the Crown Prince, his eyes widened in shock.
"Your Majesty," he said. "I… I don't think there are many that can fall into your criteria."
"Yeah, that's the problem, isn't it?" Alex said with a sigh. "You can see why I don't have a Queen."
"Yes," the Crown Prince said. "You are truly stringent with the criteria for who you accept as your Queen. With such restrictions, the only ones who can even have a chance to become your Queen are… the female Players."
As the Crown Prince spoke those words, his eyes narrowed slightly. Was that it? Was that what this young King was trying to ask for without asking for it directly?
Did he want to marry a Player from the Eastern Continent? Was that what this whole talk was about?
"Were there no ladies that fell into this category in the Southern Continent?" the Crown Prince asked.
"There were a few, but I didn't like them enough to make them my Queen," Alex said. "I'm hoping I have a better chance here in the Eastern Continent."
"You might," the Crown Prince said. "If you truly are serious about it all, I can help you find some ladies that fit your criteria. It will take some time, but I should be able to do it."
Alex's smile went wide. "Great! I might finally get a Queen then," he said. "I will look forward to it."
The Crown Prince spoke a little and went back to talking about regular questions about Alex. Seeing an opportunity, elder Liang quickly spoke to him with her spiritual sense.
"What's going on, Your Majesty? Why are you asking for a Queen?" she asked. "Are you really looking for one? It will be better to get find one in the Southern Continent if you really are."
"Of course, I'm not," Alex answered back. "Why would I be looking for a wife when I have so many things to deal with right now."
"That's what I thought," the elder said. "But then why did you say all that?"
"Why else?" Alex asked. "I'm obviously trying to find my cousin."
"Ah!" the elder finally realized. "Right, I forgot that was one of the things we were supposed to do. My apologies."
The elder remained silent and Alex made small talk with the Crown Prince the rest of the way through.
A few minutes later, Alex saw a large wall covering a massive building in the distance, on the gate of which he could read the words 'The Royal School of Alchemy'.
They had arrived at the place where many citizens were standing on either side of the gate, making a long pathway for them to walk through. They were all there to see Alex and the rest.
The gates of the school opened and the carriage slowly went through amidst cheers of welcome. The Crown Prince smiled at everyone and waved at them as they were driven into the giant compound of the Royal School.
The road lead straight to the massive building in the distance with pagoda-like features, painted in red and gold, and roofs that curved toward the sky.
On either side of the road were gardens that even without being knowledgeable could tell that it was an important location of the school
Alex saw the many flowers and plants growing in the garden and was immediately aware of the fact that it was an Alchemy garden.
It probably wasn't one of the more important ones as it was kept in the front, but it was still an Alchemy garden nonetheless and was in a way an identity of the school itself.
Past the garden, down the road, the carriage finally stopped outside of the building.
"Let us get off, your Majesty," the Crown Prince said and was the first to get off.
Alex nodded and walked after the Crown Prince, stepping onto the clean red carpet that was laid there for them.
After Alex and the elders got off, the others also got off one by one, standing in a group behind Alex.
The small group of people that were waiting for them walked up to them and bowed. "Welcome to the Royal School of Alchemy, your Majesty King Alex," the woman at the front spoke up. "We would like to thank you for coming all this way to allow us and our disciples to share knowledge and learn from each other."
The woman that spoke was an old woman with fluffy white hair on her head in a bun. She had little to no wrinkles despite her age and wore exquisite red robes with some, black, and gold in them.
She wore 3 golden necklaces as well as a single golden ornament on her forehead.
"Let me introduce her to you, Your Majesty," the Crown Prince said. "This is Elder Hu Manyin, the headmaster of this Royal School."
"Greetings, Elder Hu. Thank you for having us here," Alex said to the older woman. "I hope my alchemists won't trouble you much."
"No, no, your Majesty," the woman quickly spoke. "It is no trouble at all. In fact, it is a pleasure to have you all here. I can guarantee that I speak for everyone else when I say I look forward to the next 2 decades."
Alex smiled.
"Let me introduce you to the rest here," the Crown Prince said and started introducing the rest of the important people.
There weren't many that Alex had to remember aside from the headmaster herself, and maybe the vice headmaster who was a thin, old man with long white hair.
"Please come with us, your Majesty," the old woman said. "Let us show you the various facilities that we have in this school. I promise you that you will not be disappointed."
Alex smiled and spoke. "I look forward to seeing everything."
