NOVEL NEXT Chapter 359 The two of us—together—we'll rule as one
This kingdom was built upon Michael's blood and sweat.
Dominic quietly lifted his head and looked out over the land—no, not just his estate anymore, but his kingdom.
He remembered the day Charles V ordered him to relinquish his lands. The bitterness and rage had been overwhelming. The thought of giving up everything he had built seemed unbearable.
Yet Michael and their loyal retainers had stood by him. Together, they took on a barren and harsh territory—one with nothing to offer. But Dominic cultivated that land, gathered people, and rebuilt from scratch.
That desolate estate had grown, and in time, it had flourished.
Now, no one could look down on it. It had become a powerful and prosperous kingdom.
Moreover, Michael had claimed the Argo Mountains and secured the vast plains of Elonia. Even the ancestral lands that stretched into Pamir—lands once lost—had been reclaimed.
That land, once just a memory of former glory, had returned to the heart of the kingdom.
Everything had led to this moment.
Dominic looked at the crown again and made a solemn vow: he would entrust the kingdom to Michael.
And as king and father, he would remain by his side to watch over him—to guide him, so his son would walk the right path.
Now I could die without regret. Ancestors of Xerc, watch over us.
The priest holding the crown, Edward, stepped forward. Once a bishop of the Radiant Sun Church, he was now the high priest of the newly founded Church of the Sun.
He spoke solemnly.
"Dominic von Krasus, rightful heir of the Kingdom of Xerc—do you swear to protect this kingdom and lead its people with wisdom and strength?"
Dominic inhaled deeply and replied with unwavering conviction.
"I swear it."
At that moment, the crown slowly descended onto his head.
As the cold metal touched his brow, a wave of energy coursed through his body.
At last, the Kingdom of Xerc—and the House of Krasus—had risen with pride once again.
Elizabeth, dressed immaculately, stood beside Michael with their younger sisters. Her gaze swept across the plaza, full of satisfaction as she observed the coronation she had helped orchestrate.
Phoebe and Kate exchanged glances—this was the first time they had ever assisted with such a grand event.
Now that it had become common knowledge that both Emperor Oswald and Emperor Siegmund were vying for Elizabeth's hand, attention was beginning to shift toward Phoebe and Kate as well.
Though they were still young for marriage, engagements were another matter entirely. Behind the scenes, King Henry III and Queen Dowager Guinevere, both with eligible sons of the right age, were already engaged in a quiet but fierce rivalry.
As the coronation continued, Michael stood beside Princess Astrid, holding her hand as they exchanged a warm look.
"Our coronation," Astrid whispered, "will be for the empire, won't it?"
Michael looked at her with gentle affection.
"Yes. The two of us—together—we'll rule as one."
Astrid's cheeks flushed. An empire. Even the thought of it made her heart race.
Michael turned his eyes to his father, now crowned and standing tall amidst thunderous applause.
The coronation was only the beginning. Soon, it would be time to march.
As Dominic's declaration concluded, the flag of the Kingdom of Xerx began to wave proudly atop the castle walls. A nation that had disappeared into the shadows of history centuries ago had now returned to life upon this land.
The flag, soaring high against the sky, bore a deep blue background emblazoned with the emblems of a dragon and a sphinx. Its bold flutter in the wind proclaimed to all that the rightful sovereign of Xerx had returned—and that a once-forgotten kingdom had reappeared upon the grand stage of the continent.
The crowd gathered below the platform stood in silent awe.
Overwhelmed by emotion, reverence, and disbelief, they could do nothing but gaze at the banner with tearful eyes. The soldiers guarding the castle walls all dropped to one knee, paying homage to the rebirth of their kingdom.
Among them were the descendants of ancient heroes—people Michael had gathered from across the continent. These were the heirs of fallen legacies, those who carried deep scars and forgotten griefs. Now, they shared in Xerx's sorrow and stood with unwavering loyalty beside Dominic and Michael.
Clad in golden armor, the royal guards simultaneously drew their swords and raised them toward the heavens. At the front stood Ronald, the captain, his expression radiant with pride.
The sunlight gleamed along the blades, as if heralding a new future for the kingdom.
"Long live the Kingdom of Xerx!"
"Glory to our sovereign, His Majesty Dominic!"
The people and the longstanding retainers of House Crassus erupted into joyful cheers. The roar swelled until it filled the entire plaza.
Meanwhile, the foreign kings and envoys listened to the thunderous acclamations with grim expressions.
The support of the people is overwhelming…
Dominic gazed out over the jubilant masses, striving—just as he had discussed with Michael—to maintain a commanding and regal bearing. Drawing in a deep breath, he unsheathed a sword and raised it high into the sky.
The sacred sword, temporarily entrusted to him by Michael, began to shine with radiant light.
"Remember this day!" Dominic's voice thundered across the plaza.
"Today, the Kingdom of Xerx is reborn!"
The crowd's response was deafening. From the vast plaza, atop the city walls, and even down the alleyways of the distant city, the cry echoed.
Among those who felt the deepest joy was the Sergei family, former serfs of the Kingdom of Pasha who had relocated here.
Sergei clutched the hands of his wife and children, tears streaming down his weathered cheeks as he looked up at the flag of Xerx fluttering overhead.
He wiped at his face with his rough hands, but the tears, born of overwhelming joy and relief, refused to stop.
He was witnessing something he never could have imagined only a few years ago.
Back in Pasha, as a serf, he had not even been treated as human. His life had been at the mercy of the nobles, and his days had been filled with hunger and cold, barely endured with his family.