NOVEL NEXT Chapter 3: A Calm Reunion
To be honest, Isabella had only been to the Pure White Tower once when she was very young, along with Yila. To her, this place was actually quite unfamiliar—whether it was the flowers and plants, or the people talking to each other.
Oh, those sitting around the large round table probably had nothing to do with the Pure White Tower either... As those fifty or so beings from various races were here for the "Council of Kings," the kings from all over the world had arrived.
Before this calamity struck, the number of kings who could arrive through the transmission gates of the Three Towers should have been even greater...
Lost in thought, Isabella casually followed Marilla forward and then, accompanied by Marilla's sudden stop, she bumped into Marilla's back.
"Lord Marilla?"
Isabella was about to voice her confusion when a young female magician standing in front of the assembly hall reminded them, "The 'Council of Kings' is currently in session over there. Are you here to attend the meeting?"
This kind of question didn't need Isabella to respond. She had already seen... standing in the meeting room, or rather this "Conference Square," at the furthest point from the entrance, was someone.
It had been quite a long time, yet Yila hadn't changed at all.
"Yes, we come from the empire, invited by Yila Elkaras."
Marilla said this, though both sides spoke very tactfully... The magician didn't ask, "Who are you? State your name!" and Marilla didn't respond with, "We are from the empire, do you dare to stop us?!"
So, everything seemed very pleasant...
But indeed, some kings from small countries did respond in a similar manner... Of course, the Pure White Tower wouldn't flip out over it; they still gave basic respect and invited them into the hall.
Once inside the hall, they'd probably behave, right?
"Gathering kings to sit together... As far back as I can remember... No, even from my father's time, since the founding of the empire, there hasn't been such a thing."
As they walked with the magician who led Marilla, Isabella looked around and said with some emotion, "It feels a bit different from what I imagined."
Isabella said this, while Marilla, watching Yila talking with an elf, responded to her: "Your Highness, what do you think a gathering of kings should be like?"
*How should I put it... although not sure exactly how it should be, it shouldn't be like this chaotic, bustling market or trade fair, right?*
"Perhaps... it should be more quiet and dignified?"
Isabella thought for a moment and then said, sitting down where the magician indicated. She moved her gaze away from Yila... She wasn't in a hurry. She wasn't in a hurry at all, she'd see Yila coming around soon enough.
The current Council of Kings was definitely handled single-handedly by Lord Yila. He had once talked about the symbol of the "Round Table." Although this was said to be an "equal" round table meeting, the seating order... apart from Yila's empty "head seat."
The rulers of the major kingdoms were scattered evenly by his side—
On the left were the Demon King of the Demon King Territory, the Elf Empress of the Silver Moon Tree Court, the Speaker of the Duchy, the two chieftains of the Beastman Country, and the three deans of the Three Towers; on the right were herself (Isabella), the Pope of the theocratic country, the Emperor of the Dwarf Kingdom, and the King of the Loasa Islands.
Even the smaller countries were arranged by their influence and strength—aside from the division of classes, it also ensured that kings wouldn't be embarrassed by each other.
Kings who had clashed or countries that had gone to war were also basically kept apart.
For example... the Empire and the Duchy, the Empire and the Demon King Territory, the Empire and the Beastman Country, the Empire and the Silver Moon Tree Court.
Isabella thought and once again had the notion of *"As expected of Yila."* She looked at the bustling meeting hall and realized something, softly saying, "But thinking about it, not all kings were trained in etiquette."
Understanding this, Marilla confidently nodded... Yes, they didn't have that kind of leisure; not all kings had the luxury to cultivate personal refinement.
Shake, shake, shake~
"..."
Shake, shake, shake~
Noticing something, Marilla glanced in Isabella's direction and said, "Your Highness, don't be anxious. Yila will come to you... Yila will talk to everyone. You don't need to worry."
"???"
Isabella looked at Marilla in surprise, not responding, but her expression clearly asked, *"Why did you say that?"*
"Your Highness..."
Marilla didn't explain but pointed at Isabella's legs...
...
Shake, shake, shake... Stop.
Watching Isabella cease shaking her leg as if nothing had happened, Marilla shrugged indifferently... As long as Isabella was happy.
"Good day to the three deans. Anyway, thanks for your upbringing... Though I can hardly call myself a mage now, and technically, you didn't teach me any magic; it was all Mentor Qiara's training."
Yila said this to the dean of the Pure White Tower beside Isabella, joking with this "White Robe Gandalf," "When I was flipping through the Forbidden Curse Catalog, you didn't stop me, which was great."
At Yila's words, the dean of the Pure White Tower twitched his mouth... and smiled awkwardly, covering his forehead under the gaze of the other two deans of the Mage Towers.
"Haha, Yila, do you have to say such things at a time like this?"
Because generally, the Forbidden Curse Catalog was not allowed to be randomly accessed by students... But at this point, no one would blame him. Yila said it purely as a joke.
Next, Yila stood beside Isabella. He noticed her leg subtly shaking though she pretended nothing was happening and said, "Long time no see, Isabella and little Marilla. Did the cold disaster affect the empire significantly?"
At this, Isabella thought for a moment and responded to Yila as she would in the past, "The situation is okay. Though the food production is predictably reduced, the population has also sharply declined. Other than a serious reduction in manpower, there won't be any rebellion."
Yes, just as Yila had taught, peasant revolts were serious affairs. Although, in this transcendent world, even if the commoners were incited, they couldn't achieve much. Yet, as a symbol, it would make rebels feel they had an opportunity.
"No need to worry too much. Now that the nobles have been purged, the only value civilians hold is as 'transcendent candidates.'"
Yila said this, turning to look at the obediently seated Marilla, a bit helplessly, "You and little Ulrichla tried to seize the kingdom. Should I praise your courage?"
At Yila's words, Marilla, usually calm and indifferent, always showing a standard governor demeanor, turned her head aside and mumbled something unclear, "This was... Ulrichla's plan... and..."
Completely unintelligible.
"Forget it."
Yila shook his head, patted her shoulder, ruffled Isabella's hair, and said, "The subsequent calamities will be continuous. You may be very tired... The future of the empire depends on you."
With that, Yila walked over to talk with Mille Milyan.
"..."
"Meeting again, Your Highness, how do you feel?"
Marilla asked this.
Isabella hesitated for a moment. She had thought she would break down and cry, but to her surprise, she felt unexpectedly calm. She couldn't help but smile, saying, "It's only been half a year... It feels like nothing has changed."
No barriers, no gaps, everything was just as it had always been...
That was wonderful.