NOVEL NEXT Chapter 348 A man driven by conviction, guided by divine purpose, is a force to be reckoned with.
Everyone nodded solemnly.No ruler could take comfort in the idea of a subject rising to crown themselves, for it challenged the very order of their world.
"That's why it's crucial to raise your children well. One misstep, and everything unravels," one of the kings muttered, his gaze distant.
King Edmund swirled his wineglass and chimed in.
"Well… who could've predicted what would happen with Pasha's former king? He tried so hard to have a child…"
"He should have just chosen a worthy successor from within his own house," another replied. "Still, I can't blame him. The desire to see one's own legacy endure is only human."
The kings drank with conflicted expressions.If securing a lasting legacy were so simple, none of them would be losing sleep over it.After all, their thrones were not theirs alone but a sacred trust, a responsibility bestowed upon them by the Almighty.
"These days, I envy Lania the most," someone muttered. "They have a promising heir and even found a blessed sign in the process…"
A brief silence followed before Leopold voiced a concern.
"Hmm… I do wonder. Will Lania eventually be absorbed into Xerxes?"
The window rattled as a gust of wind passed, and the candlelight flickered, casting long shadows across the room.No one dared offer a definitive answer.
"Perhaps," another ventured. "But in the end, the one who inherits everything will be the child born between them. When that time comes, what will it matter what the kingdom is called?"
A new era would solidify the moment a new successor was born, as the Almighty's will would guide the course of nations.
"True enough… Haah. I still don't know how to raise my own child properly," one of the older kings sighed, his voice tinged with regret.
Laughter broke the tension.Even kings, it seemed, were plagued by the same worries as any other parent—anxieties over their children's futures, their legacies, and their ability to uphold justice.
"I'm no better," another added with a chuckle. "Anyway… what gift should we bring to Xerxes' coronation ceremony?"
The conversation returned to practical matters.
A coronation wasn't just a celebration—it was a profound moment of divine affirmation, a time to acknowledge that all authority comes from the Creator, and that each ruler is merely a steward of His will.
"Ah, I hadn't even thought of that yet. To think I'd live to see a fallen dynasty rise again…"
They clinked their glasses, exchanging wistful smiles.
Who would've imagined that a once-forgotten name would shine again?
"Well, it has been a few thousand years, after all," one mused, his eyes reflecting the flicker of the candlelight.
It was, undeniably, a historic moment—a testament to the rise and fall of empires and the ever-turning wheel of fate.
"…They'll declare an empire, won't they?" someone whispered, almost reverently.
Silence settled over the group once again.Romano II took a sip of wine before replying in a calm voice.
"Of course. To live in the same era as such a remarkable figure—that alone is an honor."
The kings raised their glasses once more, each picturing Michael's face.
For all their doubts and fears, they knew one thing for certain—
A man driven by conviction, guided by divine purpose, is a force to be reckoned with.
The Continental Council had come to an end.
After a day of rest in their own quarters, the assembled monarchs and envoys gathered with reluctant expressions in the grand plaza before the palace.
It was time to depart for the newly revived capital of the Kingdom of Xerxes, formerly known as the Crassus territory.
The path ahead led to a momentous event—the coronation ceremony that would mark the official rebirth of the Kingdom of Xerxes.
It was a historic occasion, one that would reshape the very order of the continent.
And yet, few among those present welcomed it with open arms.
It was clear to all: the union of Lania and the Kingdom of Xerxes would inevitably shift the continental balance of power.
And should they ascend to imperial status… the thought alone was enough to give some of the kings a headache.
Still, attendance at the coronation was mandatory.
A promise was a promise.
With Elonia and the Pamir Empire—the ones who had endorsed Xerxes's revival and ceded territory—remaining silent, there was no justifiable reason for dissent.
And Lania had no reason to oppose Crassus's independence—especially not now that Michael was set to become Prince Consort to Princess Astrid.
Even Emperor Sigmund of Serest, who had been expected to resist the most, had grown close to Michael.
The courtyard buzzed with activity.
Yet despite the lively atmosphere, the expressions of the monarchs and high-ranking envoys were anything but cheerful.
They had prepared lavish gifts and dressed in resplendent ceremonial attire, but none of them were thrilled about this journey.
Pushed into attending the coronation, they wore their reluctance openly.
Many of them gathered in small clusters, voicing their unease.
The longer they lingered, the greater their apprehension grew.
Romano II stroked his beard, a frown etched across his face.
"Hah… who would've thought I'd live to see a day like this? Sure, Lord Michael has the strength and charisma of a hero—I can accept that. But his father? What's his claim to anything?"
Standing nearby, King Edmund spoke in a quiet, cautionary tone.
"Shh. Let it go. What's done is done—we have no choice but to accept it. Still… his father really hit the jackpot, didn't he? A son like Michael, ascending to a throne. He may be descended from Xerxes, but the man never once stood out on his own."
Even Edmund couldn't completely hide his envy.
Queen Dowager Guinevere stood off to the side with her brother, Chancellor Guinness, both muttering criticisms of Michael and the Kingdom of Xerxes.
Her powdered face was full of anger and jealousy.
With her fan raised to obscure her mouth, she whispered spitefully,
"Hmph, and now a country bumpkin from the outskirts of Lania dares to call himself king? Preposterous."
It was a comment that conveniently ignored her own meteoric rise to queenship, made possible only by catching the eye of the previous king.