Grand procession

The next few days were hectic, as expected. Despite Freon's urging, Protector Avin never lifted a finger to heal the soldiers and continued to laze around in his own mansion. His attitude was repulsive, but Elizabeth knew it was intentional, to force her into giving him what he wanted. However, she could not. The fact that she had a heaven-defying weapon and teacher… It needed to be kept a secret at all cost. Furthermore, she made an agreement with Rena. It was a bad idea to sour their relationship, especially after everything that happened. That much was certain. As a consequence, Elizabeth had to bear the weight of letting hundreds, if not thousands, of soldiers wither away and perish. It was gut-wrenching, knowing that she could have done something about it. That regret transformed into fury against Protector Avin. She wanted to rip him apart. His actions were beyond disgusting! She had to hold it in though, because he was a Rank 3 King, and Freon's uncle. This made her particularly moody.

Thankfully, Princess Ming and General Petra got over their differences and compromised, because they understood how perilous the situation was. They could not afford to jeopardize everything, not when they were this far. Things moved rapidly. First, the matter with the medicine was settled. Then, it was onto public safety and security. The city had devolved into anarchy, as entire mobs formed to steal, burn, or kill. It was a dangerous time for many people. General Petra worked together with Princess Ming and General Songlin to slowly stabilize the city. The people were obviously furious to see the Alzar Kingdom in the streets. Five hundred years of hostility would do that. Conflict and clashes were unavoidable, causing people to die on both sides. Tensions rose. Unsurprisingly, it was hard to suppress the largest city in the human world, a city that housed millions. General Petra and Songlin could not do it. Like swimming up a raging current, it was not something that pure force could achieve alone. They needed another approach. That was where the Princess Xiuying came in. She spent a long time talking with everyone. Her kind and patient personality won the hearts of many people. Her impact was significant. Under her efforts, alongside Imperian Qiang, Minister Chan, and Princess Ming, they somehow managed. Time passed slowly.

Two months later. It was late May now. Gone was the white and frigid weather, replaced by a green and warm embrace. Flowers and trees began to bloom, transforming the gloomy capital through a myriad of colors. This was the biggest difference between the Xingyuu Empire's capital and the Alzar Kingdom's. The Xingyuu Empire focused more on natural beauty and harmony between the elements. This meant incorporating vegetation and wildlife wherever they could. The result was that Yongtein seemed to come alive in the blooming months. It was not just the plants either, as the general atmosphere in the city improved as well. People left their homes, businesses opened, and the streets filled. It was a stark contrast to the bleak and desolate appearance two months ago. Of course, not everything had returned to normal. The kingdom's occupation made everyone anxious. Wherever their soldiers went, people would go the other way. Although it looked peaceful now, there was no telling what the kingdom might do. It felt like the calm before the storm, and the storm was finally arriving.

Elizabeth, General Petra, the Conquestian, the Imperial Princesses, Imperian Qiang, and all the high-ranking officials were lined up outside the Imperial Court, their backs straight as an arrow and their uniforms immaculate. Benedict, Shirley, and Freon did not participate, since their standing was too low. They had to watch from far away. Bang! Drums rolled, as banners flew. Tens of thousands of soldiers stomped down and stood at attention. A grand welcoming party was presented. Even Elizabeth, who rarely wore her crown, had to wear it now. The guest was that important. And it was trivial to guess who their identity might be. There was only one person in the entire world who deserved this unparalleled honor. Horns sounded as hundreds of carriages flowed into the square. An enormous pressure immediately descended on Elizabeth and the others. It felt stifling. She looked to the culprits: the countless Royal Guards, Grand Knights, and Great Knights arriving. Despite losing so many, they could still find more. The kingdom's foundations went deep.

Sadly, their attempt at intimidation fell flat. Elizabeth and the others had already faced the Featherwind Sect, the Sword King, and now Protector Avin too. Their auras were far above these knights, especially when these knights lacked any Martial Energy. It was like a world of difference. Suffice to say, Elizabeth and the others went relatively unfazed. This surprised Sir Lest Alvinshield, the Royal Guard who led the procession. After all, he was a Perception Realm Master, one of the very few in the world. His might was right underneath the kingdom's three strongest knights, so he knew the impact of his aura. It was not something that anyone could shrug off, and yet… the truth was hard to accept. Were the reports about the Featherwind Sect and the Sword King true? Could they really be that strong? He began to second-guess himself.

The grand procession eventually stopped, bringing an extremely luxurious carriage to the front. Judging by the impressive designs showered in gold, it was fit for royalty. And as one would expect… a woman with silky black hair, a peerless stone cold face, and a curvy well-endowed figure stepped out. The world seemed to freeze. Wearing an exquisite dress that conformed to her body, it gave a stunning glimpse into her curves. Despite that, it was not inappropriate, as it carefully treaded the line between improper and proper. Combined with her icy expression and the golden crown on her head, she made for a timeless work of art. She was simply breathtaking! Everyone was amazed. This was Queen Samanthie Etuvel Reindel, the newly ascended queen of the Alzar Kingdom!

Her eyes drifted to Elizabeth, while the girl stared back. Silence ensued. Originally, they were rivals in the inheritance race, bitterly fighting it out for the chance to win the throne. Elizabeth was King Harth's daughter and the owner of the Holy Reingolian Medallion. By all right, she was supposed to succeed. However, after losing the favor of Queen Bethnal and the Royal Family, the spotlight shifted to Princess Samanthie. No one expected her to lose. Therefore, the current situation was very awkward, to say the least. Everyone held their breath. What would happen next?

Against their expectations though, Elizabeth suddenly smiled and bowed. "Welcome to the Xingyuu Empire, Your Majesty. How was your trip?" she asked.

There was not the slightest bit of hostility in her voice, which surprised a lot of people. Keep in mind, everyone was an expert at reading body language. They could tell when someone was lying or not. Elizabeth should have shown some signs of anger, jealousy, or sadness. She had lost the inheritance race after all. That was her one chance at becoming queen, to stand atop the world, to rule the Alzar Kingdom, and to forge her own legend! Yet, it was robbed from her at the very end. Anyone would feel vexed, especially when the current monarch stood before them. That was human nature. But Elizabeth showed none of that. Her expression, voice, and posture were extremely stable, which reflected in her mental state. This baffled everyone. Even Queen Samanthie seemed to frown. Was Elizabeth that skilled at hiding her emotions?

Only Elizabeth knew it was not a façade. This was her genuine self! Months ago, she might have felt anger, jealously, and sadness. Queen Bethnal, Lord Korogin, the Royal Family, and the Royal Assembly… Everyone had sacrificed so much for her that she felt obligated to return that favor forward. If the world needed her to become queen, then she would. That was what she thought. So, she learned and trained and pushed herself to the absolute breaking point. She did so much that it was hard to describe. From court etiquette to politics, from governance to economics, from science to philosophy… Every day and night were fully dedicated for one singular purpose: to transform her from a weak and feeble girl to a noble and strong queen! However, was that what she wanted? What Elizabeth Silvera truly wanted? The lines blurred, making it hard to know. She could not stop though. That ship had already sailed. She would have to see this to the end, whether she wanted to or not.