Chapter 608: Remnants

Pitch-black flames swept across the sky, carving out deep, subtle traces.

Only after every inch had been thoroughly checked and he was sure nothing had been missed did Muen retract the black fire, rubbing his temples with a tired look.

"Finally done checking. If that means there’s no contamination left, then we shouldn’t have to worry. If that one really could leave behind some hidden power so well-concealed that even my black flames couldn’t detect it, then the two of us would’ve been in danger just now. There’s no way it could still be hiding until now."

"Good."

Celicia nodded lightly. When Muen said the words "just now," a faint blush rose on her cheeks, then quickly returned to her usual icy expression.

"I didn’t find anything abnormal on my side either. We shouldn’t need to worry."

Her cool gaze swept around. Celicia flicked her hand, and the dazzling crown rose up as the Emperor’s authority that had descended here was withdrawn with effortless ease.

The black curtain slowly dispersed. The sun, which had been hanging for hours already, finally fell upon Belrand, where the night had been far too long.

Countless people who still felt uneasy lifted their heads, bathing in the belated sunlight with joy.

"That’s insane..."

Even though he already knew what was going on, seeing the crown above Celicia’s head—the symbol of the crowned—still made Muen twitch at the corner of his eye.

He’d fought tooth and nail just to advance to a fourth-tier martial warrior, thinking he was already pretty outstanding.

And then he turned his head...

Celicia had already become a crowned one he could only look up at from afar.

That gap really made you think of that old saying: sometimes the difference between one person and another is even bigger than the difference between a person and a dog.

Of course, the gap didn’t matter. What mattered most was...

Now that Celicia was this fierce, when was a true man like him—upright between heaven and earth—ever going to get his chance to turn the tables?

Was it really only in that tiny moment when she was drunk that he could experience what it felt like to be the one on top?

"You look like you’re thinking something disrespectful."

"No. I was thinking that with Your Majesty being so outstanding and powerful, even if I spent my whole life prostrating myself beneath your pomegranate skirt, I’d still do it willingly."

"Heh."

Celicia narrowed her beautiful eyes and gave a soft snort.

"Let’s hope that’s what you really think."

"Of course. I really—"

"Shut up. I don’t want to hear your nonsense."

"Oh..."

Celicia shot him another cold sidelong glance, then, with a helpless sigh, still didn’t stop Muen from clinging to her. Instead, she suddenly said:

"Hold me tight."

"Huh? Suddenly you’re being that straightforward and bold?"

"We’re about to land. We’re ten thousand meters up. So if you, Lord Muen, who can’t fly, fall to your death from here, that would be perfectly normal, wouldn’t it?"

"I’m very sorry. I was wrong. Please don’t leave me behind."

"Hold on."

"Yes!"

Muen hurriedly wrapped his arms around Celicia’s slender waist.

The sensation was still breathtaking, enough to make him think of the earlier, gorgeous scene, and more importantly...

He didn’t seem to feel that layer of icy chill around her anymore.

Was it because her strength had improved, so Celicia no longer needed to use the power of divine favor, or...

Was it simply like this for him?

Muen’s lips curved into a smile. He felt there was no need to chase that answer, because the aloof girl was right here in his arms, wasn’t she?

...

...

Celicia and Muen landed in front of the imperial palace.

At this time, the attack and defense over the palace between all factions had long since completely stopped.

Even though the forces were a chaotic mix, it was very quiet. Everyone here was waiting for their fate, or...

To welcome the new emperor.

"Your Majesty."

Count Ailer was the first to go down on one knee and lower his head.

With his movement, the many soldiers behind him also knelt like a tide, prostrating themselves.

"Your Majesty."

After that came all the various forces who had come to assist—former royalist factions, powers that had bet on Celicia, and the people she and Muen had pulled to their side earlier—all lowering their heads and loudly celebrating the birth of the empire’s new emperor.

Whether in legality or qualification, the current Celicia could no longer be faulted by anyone.

And lastly...

Those who had once taken orders from the Inner Council, or from the First Prince Albert. These people had already completely lost the will to resist the moment Albert died. Knights under Ailer had disarmed them and surrounded them together, and now their faces were deathly pale.

After several struggles, they too all knelt respectfully.

"Long live Her Majesty the Empress..."

"All of you, stand."

Celicia’s cool gaze swept over them. With a slight nod, she already made people feel an Emperor’s majesty that had begun to carry real weight.

"How are the ministers who were trapped in the palace?"

"People have already been sent to protect them. They should be fine."

"Casualties?"

"Not many. After all, what decided everything tonight... was still you, Your Majesty. It’s just that many great nobles earlier—"

"Those people are no longer nobles. They’re traitors who threatened the empire. If they died, they died. What about civilian losses?"

"That... is still being tallied."

"Pull in the city defense troops and go into the city to calm things down. Quickly."

"Yes!"

Without indulging in the Emperor’s authority and might for even a moment, Celicia had already begun to ask about the situation in an orderly way, giving out commands one by one.

Very quickly, hearts that had still been wavering began to settle under Celicia’s calm handling.

"Then... Your Majesty."

Count Ailer glanced at the terrified rebels not far away and asked, "How should we deal with those people? We’re short on manpower. It seems we can’t spare anyone to guard them."

"What’s your suggestion, Count?"

"My suggestion is..."

Ailer raised ◈ Nоvеlіgһт ◈ (Continue reading) a hand and drew it across his own throat.

"Deal with them right now."

"That would save time and effort."

Celicia turned to look at Muen.

"What do you think?"

"Me? Strictly speaking, I’m just an ordinary commoner. Isn’t it strange for Your Majesty to ask me?"

Muen smiled.

"Handle it according to your own thoughts. I’ll always stand on your side."

"Tch. You’re nothing but a slick-talker. In that case, then..."

Celicia thought for a moment, then gave the order:

"Pardon them."

"This... can’t be. If they take the chance to cause trouble—"

"These people were originally just ordinary soldiers and civilians who were following orders. They might not even know what they truly did tonight. Even if they do know, they were certainly deceived to some extent. They were doing it to survive. And you think they’d still dare to cause trouble?"

"..."

Ailer couldn’t refute it.

Because once Albert started showing that crazed look, their resistance clearly weakened, which showed that before then they hadn’t known what kind of terrifying thing they were doing.

"Since that’s the case, there’s no need to add more chaos and sacrifice. Register them, then assign them uniformly to the cleanup work. If we’re short on manpower, let them help too—let them redeem themselves through merit!"

"Yes!"

Without realizing it, Ailer—this border count seasoned in battle—became even more deferential in front of Celicia.

"Right."

Celicia suddenly added:

"About those nobles who were swallowed by the evil tree... get their list compiled as soon as possible too."

"Understood!"

...

...

"That’s not like you."

"What?"

"A moment ago you said those nobles could die and die, and then right after you told them to compile their list as soon as possible."

Imperial Palace, the temporary affairs office Celicia had set up. With no one else around for the moment, Muen leaned in beside Celicia as she handled paperwork, asking curiously:

"You don’t seem like the kind of person who contradicts yourself."

"It’s nothing. I just suddenly remembered something."

"What?"

"The Inner Council."

"The Inner Council?"

Muen raised an eyebrow.

"The nobles with the Blood of Glory all got eaten by the evil tree. The Inner Council should be gone too, right?"

"Not necessarily."

Celicia said, "From the intelligence we’ve gotten, Albert... the Council Speaker, used the Blood of Glory as an umbilical cord to connect an entire noble faction. But think carefully—since the First King, it’s been a thousand years. Aside from the great nobles who still inherited those surnames, who can swear with their hand on their heart that they truly have the Blood of Glory in them?

No. Even those great nobles who inherited the surnames might not have it. A thousand years passing means too many uncertainties."

"So you mean..."

"There are survivors. Within the Inner Council, there were nobles who didn’t have the Blood of Glory, or people who thought they had it, but in reality their bloodline had thinned to the point that even the evil tree couldn’t be bothered to take a bite."

Celicia handed two documents to Muen.

"Look. This is the range of nobles I investigated and marked out before this incident. And this... is the Inner Council nobles who are already dead. Match them one by one, and you’ll find..."

"Some of them don’t match up." Muen’s expression turned serious too.

"Right. They don’t match up. Like this one..."

Celicia’s slender finger tapped lightly.

"The Inner Council’s mouthpiece—the famous second-in-command beneath the Speaker... the Robin. His true identity is still a mystery."

"So..."

Muen glanced at the mountain of paperwork stacked to the side.

"Even though the ministers have been rescued, you haven’t used them yet for now. You suspect the Robin is among them?"

"I’m just worried they’re old and got frightened. I’m letting them rest for the moment."

Celicia’s face was expressionless.

"Before I uproot the Inner Council completely, after all, even if I show mercy to some people, there are certain beasts—if I let them go just like that, then I’m not worthy to be the Emperor of the empire."

"I see..."

Muen rubbed his chin, seeming to remember something, then suddenly smiled.

"But I think it’ll be clear soon."

"Oh? Why?"

"Because if we go by the timing, with that guy’s ability, he should’ve already followed the vine and dug deep, right?"

In Muen’s mind appeared the figure of a flat-chested main character who had been offline for a long time.