The Private Armies and those nobles who charged at the palace were now blasted and scattered in horror as something... or someone was blasting among them like a self-destruction.
They had come prepared for battle, shields raised, weapons ready, but it was useless.
There was no kind of magicâjust a figure in battered, glinting armour hurling themself through the chaos.
Aqualina watched the scene unfold with a blank expression. She didnât show much of her emotions; she just stared at them... cold and merciless, as if nothing here could touch her.
"Forgive us, Empress!" one soldier screamed, falling to his knees, arms over his head.
"We didnât mean for this to happen!" another shouted, voice cracking, blood flecking his lips as he crawled backwards, boots slipping in mud and blood.
"We just followed their orders! Pleaseâhave mercy!!"
Aqualina didnât care for the cries of the soldiers who were trembling and breaking apart.
"You have not betrayed the Empress... You betrayed the Empire itself." Her voice was cold, "You think your cowardice spares you now? You made your choice and now... live with that consequence"
Her words were finality, and for a moment, every footstep faltered, every desperate runner turned back with despair in their eyes. It was obvious the Princess was angry, truly angry, and not showing mercy to anyone.
For the nobles, they managed to escape with whatever riches or secrets they could carryâbarely, stumbling into shadows.
Still, they managed to escape... from the disaster... not from the horror, though.
Itâs not that they were the only ones seeing it; the other three empires were witnessing it too.
Watching Aqualinaâs wrath unfold in all its severity
Aqualina and Victorâs actions were beyond question; even the most stubborn doubters fell silent. After all, their saviour, Aether, had protected them from these monsters.
Otherwise, who knows what kind of horror would have happened to them too?
Aether, who was watching this with a painful expression, finally snapped. His voice cracked the tension like a whip. "Enough!" he shouted, furious and desperate.
Victor and Aqualina flinched at the sudden force in his tone. They glanced at him, surprise flickering in their eyes, as he stepped forward.
"Youâre just hurting the innocent now," Aether continued, voice shaking, fists clenched at his sides.
"Theyâre not soldiers anymore, not really. Theyâre nothing but tools caught in this cruel game. Theyâve given up. Look at their faces... they..." his hands clenched seeing those struggling people.
Seeing him, those soldiersâ eyes turned teary and painful.
Aether muttered, "Just... J-Just let them go. Please... donât make this any worse."
He reached for Aqualinaâs hand, fingers tightening around hers. His eyes were wet, pleading.
"Please... do it for me. Iâm begging you, Aqualina. For my sake... let them live."
Aqualina stared at Aether, her eyes unreadable... For a long moment, she didnât move. Then, wordlessly, she raised her fingers.
Suddenly, all the blasts halted. The battlefield turned silent in an instant. Private soldiers gasped and collapsed where they stood, some falling to their knees, some simply sitting down, eyes wide, chests heaving as they tried to catch their breath.
Aqualina turned back to them, "The nobles who tried to usurp the throne shall arrive immediately at the palace. If you fail to obeyâyour nobility will be revoked, and you will all be hanged to death at the gates of the palace."
The nobles who thought they could escape... their faces turned pale.
Meanwhile, Victor stepped forward, sweeping his gaze over the cowering crowd. His lips curled in a thin, cruel smile.
"Thatâs it, my beloved citizens and neighbours. Tuck your little tails between your legs and pretend nothing ever happened. Go back to your old lives, and donât do anything foolish.
Do you understand me?"
Even though he was not Emperor for all, everyone nodded their heads, faces ashen with terror. Cold fear settled deep inside their bodies, making their limbs stiff and their steps slow as they turned to leave.
They would have vanished into the night, butâ
"Wait. There is one more thing," Aqualina said suddenly, her voice cutting through the silence. She stepped forward, let the moment draw out, every eye upon her, before glancing at Aether.
Her lips parted.
"I hereby announce my engagement with Aether, the Archpriest."
Just as her words came out, everyone was shocked... even Aether had a stunned expression, as if he hadnât expected this in the slightest.
"Wait, what do you meanâ" Before he could finish, Aqualina cut him off, "I did what you asked... so for thatâ" Before she could finish, Victor made a sharp motion with his fingers, snapping them together like scissors, and the visuals abruptly cut off, slicing the heady drama in half.
Everyone... literally everyone was left in stunned silence.
Had they just announced the new Emperor in the Naiadae Empire?
For real?
Even more, in the Aurora Empire, people were utterly horrified when they heard, and with the broadcast cut in the middle, panic broke out. The blood drained from their faces, leaving them paler than ghosts as fear swept over the crowd.
One of them whispered, voice trembling,
"I-It shouldnât be possible, right? O-Our Archpriest would never agree to that, would he?" They glanced around desperately, hoping for reassurance.
After all, it was obvious that Aether himself had been shocked when Aqualina made the announcement. Surely this must be some ploy from the Naiadae Empire!
"Theyâre trying to force our Archpriest into this!" another shouted, desperation in their voice.
However,
Sera stood before the teleportation station, her back to the anxious crowd. She muttered, voice hollow and cutting,
"Our Archpriest?"
The words sent a chill through everyone nearby.
She raised her head, "You should be grateful if he even wants to accept that title now!" she spat as she turned and strode away.
"Archpriestess! Please, forgive us!!" someone called after her, their voice breaking.
"Please bring back our Archpriest!!"
"Oh Lord... forgive this sinner... please...!"
"ARCHPRIESTESS!!"
She didnât even glance back at their desperate faces. Their pleas fell on deaf ears as she marched away, her expression furious, refusing to show even a flicker of sympathy.
Meanwhile, in the Void Empire, Mary watched the crystalâs recording of the events from the other empires. The flickering image reflected in her eyes as she took in every detail, every gesture and word.
Morgana stood beside her, silent for a moment, her gaze fixed on the vision of Victor and Aether and their impossible performance, trying to decipher what forces were truly at play behind the chaos.
"He... really is good at acting, isnât he?" Mary finally muttered, an amused glint in her eye. Watching Aether and Victorâs performance, she couldnât help but feel a twisted admiration.
"I almost believe it myself."
Morgana nodded, folding her arms with a slow smile. "Now thatâs what I call acting." She gave a small, deliberate clap and added, "Looks like heâs managed to solve their internal problem... for now at least."
Mary narrowed her eyes, watching the last moments on the crystal. She muttered, "But thatâs only for now, isnât it?"
Morganaâs expression darkened as she nodded. "The real trouble hasnât even started yet. Once it does... I canât wait to see how he handles whatâs coming." She chuckled.
"MOM!!" Lia burst into the room wearing a set of fluffy pink clothes, her hair bouncing as she skipped toward her motherâs desk. Mary immediately hid the glowing orb behind her back, but her daughter paused, frowning as a mischievous smile curved on her lips.
"What are you hiding, Mommy?"
Mary swallowed, forcing a tight smile. "Nothing, dear... just some political things, you know."
Lia narrowed her eyes, pouting, "Hmph, so my own mother doesnât even trust me to handle political stuff?" Her face turned sour, a touch of mock hurt in her voice.
Maryâs eyes shimmered, threatening tears. "Of course, I believe in you, sweetheart. Youâre my pride..."
"But youâre still hiding things from me!" Liaâs pout deepened, her eyes shining with stubbornness, until finallyâ
"Anything for you, dear~!" Mary exclaimed, unable to resist. She jumped up and hugged Lia tightly, nearly smothering her, before pressing the orb into her daughterâs hands.
Morgana groaned and slapped her own forehead. âThis woman is impossible,â she thought with exasperation as Lia peered curiously into the orb. Morgana leaned closer, lowering her voice to a sharp whisper in Maryâs ear,
"What in the world are you doing? If she sees him, are you ready for her to melt again?"
Maryâs eyes widened in sudden horror. She hadnât considered that.
Morganaâs lips twitched, frustration visible. âThis useless idiot,â she thought, barely restraining herself from smacking Mary upside the head.
As the orb shimmered to life and showed Aetherâs back, Morgana quickly tried to intervene, "Lia, why donât you play with your aunt for a while first?"
But Lia only smiled, determined. "First Motherâs problems, then playing!"
Maryâs heart melted at that. "Oh~ such a sweet darling~! You love your mommy that much?" She squeezed Lia and kissed her cheeks, leaving a visible mark.
Morganaâs expression grew more strained.
Liaâs eyes widened as she took in the scene of Aether, her gaze turning soft. "That must really hurt..." she whispered with sympathy colouring.
Morganaâs jaw tightened, a hint of irritation showing, but then Liaâs face changed as memories flashedâhow Aether had once stolen a kiss from her.
Suddenly, her sympathy vanished, replaced by a fiery scowl.
"Guess he deserved that!" she snapped, crossing her arms with a huff, but she didnât look away from the orb.
Morgana arched an eyebrow at the sudden shift, while Maryâs eyes gleamed with secret satisfaction.
"This is my daughter~!" Mary declared, her voice brimming with pride and delight.
"Mom?" Lia called softly, eyes still fixed on the orb.
"Yes, darling..." Mary leaned in, her smile gentle as she brushed Liaâs hair back.
Lia gazed at the orb, her expression softening. "Cool."
"Huh?"
"He looks so cool, Mom," Lia breathed, wonder in her tone.
Mary and Morgana both froze, faces draining of colour. Mary quickly stammered, "B-But that man stole your first kiss... You really think he looks cool?"
Lia blinked, then wrinkled her nose. "No, not that ugly asshole. I mean... him." She pointed at a white-haired figure on the screen, his fingers combing through his hair as he smirked in pure amusement.
"...Victor, right? Iâve never seen him before..." Lia murmured, awe and fascination in her voice as she watched.
Mary and Morgana stared at her, mouths hanging open, struck speechless by her unexpected turn!!
âTHE FUCK!!!â