Chapter 78 – The Unshakable Throne
The world had changed.
Not in small whispers or subtle shifts.
No—it had shattered.
The empire, the great unshakable force that had ruled for centuries, now found itself standing at the edge of uncertainty.
The name Leonhardt Valerian Everhart—once spoken with admiration and respect—was now spoken with either hatred or fear.
The name Aetheria Nyx Lunaris Solis—once an unknown presence—was now a force that had shaken the heavens themselves.
But the question remained…
What would the empire do now?
Inside the Imperial Palace – A Court in Turmoil
The nobles had gathered.
A sea of rich silks and polished armor, their expressions ranging from rage to unease.
The emperor sat on his throne, his golden eyes sweeping over the assembly.
The atmosphere was tense, thick with unspoken fury and fear.
Finally, the silence was broken.
"Your Majesty, we cannot ignore this insult."
Duke Helbrecht, one of the most powerful nobles in the empire, stepped forward. His voice was sharp with anger.
"Leonhardt Everhart has not only betrayed us but—"
"He no longer exists."
The emperor's words were calm, but final.
A shiver ran through the court.
No longer exists.
The meaning was clear—Leonhardt was no longer their concern.
But Helbrecht was not finished.
"Then what of the Night's Queen?" He spat the words as if they were poison. "She humiliated the empire. She forced every noble, every king, every warrior to kneel. Are we to do nothing?"
Murmurs of agreement rippled through the court.
The emperor's gaze hardened.
"And what do you propose?"
Helbrecht hesitated.
He had no answer.
Because no matter how much they despised the Night's Queen…
No one could stop her.
No army.
No weapon.
No magic.
She was untouchable.
The emperor let the silence drag, letting the weight of reality sink into their bones.
Finally, he spoke.
"…We will not act in haste."
The nobles stiffened.
Not act?
After everything that had happened?
But the emperor only continued.
"For now, we watch." His voice was measured, but it held a warning. "We learn. And when the time is right, we will act."
The court remained uneasy.
But no one dared to argue.
For they had all witnessed the truth.
And that truth was terrifying.
The Crown Prince's Fury
Deep inside the imperial palace, a vase shattered against the wall.
The Crown Prince stood, his face twisted in fury, his chest rising and falling with heavy breaths.
"Leonhardt." His voice was a growl, dripping with rage.
His brother.
His rival.
His greatest threat.
And now?
A traitor.
A man who had abandoned everything for a woman.
And not just any woman—Aetheria Nyx Lunaris Solis.
The name burned in his mind.
She had humiliated them.
She had stolen Leonhardt.
And now, she had made herself a ruler above kings.
"I will not let this stand." His voice was barely above a whisper, but it was filled with venomous resolve.
Leonhardt had always been the empire's greatest warrior.
Now, he would be its greatest enemy.
And the Crown Prince?
He would be the one to bring him down.
A Week Later – Rumors and Chaos
The rumors spread like wildfire.
Some whispered that Leonhardt had transcended human limits.
Some claimed that he was no longer human at all.
And then came the most shocking rumor of all—
He had reached the 9th class of magic.
He was stronger than the Grand Duke.
He was on the verge of becoming a Grand Swordmaster—the first in human history.
The world reeled.
Impossible.
It was impossible.
But the more they denied it, the more the rumors spread.
And with every whisper, the fear grew.
Because if it was true…
Then the empire had made a terrible mistake.
They had cast aside the strongest being to ever walk their lands.
And now, he was no longer theirs.
He belonged to her.
The Night's Queen.
The ruler of a kingdom that was no longer just a kingdom—but a legend.
The World Watches
Kings sat upon their thrones, staring at maps that no longer made sense.
Nobles drank expensive wine with shaking hands.
Warriors who had once dreamed of challenging the empire now reconsidered their ambitions.
Because something had changed.
A new power had risen.
And it did not belong to any nation or king.
It belonged to two people alone.
The Night's Queen.
The Betrayer.
Two figures who had become larger than life.
And as the world held its breath, there was only one question left—
What would they do next?