The hazy sunlight shone softly on the land of the royal capital through the mountains and forests, spilling under the clear sky.

The world wrapped in silver snow dust gradually took on a golden dress in the light of the early sun, occasionally shimmering with dazzling luster.

When the sun poked its head out, its brilliance climbed the newly dug streets and silver-white wooden roofs of the royal capital.

Although most of the buildings and streets are rudimentary, they are already taking shape.

The newly dug dirt gullies are flanked with snow on both sides, revealing a solid road made of solidified sand.

The road stretched to the gate of the royal capital in the distance.

There, a team of knights and mages was busy transporting building materials and supplies.

The wide carriage writhed as the procession progressed, slowly moving along the dirt streets towards the depths of the royal capital.

Even though the sun is just showing out of the mountains, the industrious residents and craftsmen have already started their busy day.

The sound of planks and rocks pounding, the sound of fires chopping wood echoes in the air, forming a symphony of diligence.

The house that should be built is the house that should be built, and the breakfast that should be prepared for everyone.

In the busyness, even the passing convoy was not idle.

Many knights were constantly dropping down all kinds of living materials and building materials to the inhabitants on both sides.

Residents come and go in a roar of shouting, helping each other build their friends' houses.

If there is not enough planks for any family, as long as you call it lightly, several families will come to send it off.

What if the child needs to be taken care of?

During this critical period, children throughout the city are concentrated in an area that is cared for.

Despite the devastating battles that befell the royal capital, the people did not indulge in despair, but instead marched energetically towards a new beginning.

This collapsed land is full of vitality.

It won't be long before the royal capital will usher in a new change.

At the same time, on another road near the redeveloped area, the sound of wheels and whips of horse-drawn carriages was heard one after another.

A group of ornate horse-drawn carriages sped along the dirt road and headed straight for the central palace.

Soon, these richly decorated carriages stopped one after another in the square in front of the palace.

The doors opened, and many noble ministers stepped out of the carriage one after another.

As soon as the nobles met each other, they greeted each other symbolically and greeted each other.

After the battle in the royal capital, the two veins of the eldest prince and the second prince were disbanded one after another.

And their ministers, who used to despise each other, are no longer as-for-tat as they used to be.

The nobles greeted each other as they looked up at the Imperial Palace, which was intact and radiating a sublime golden light.

Although the light was as bright as the sun, it could not dispel the cold wind that blew in winter.

But he still endured the biting chill, occasionally exhaling a wisp of warm breath.

The ministers kept rubbing their hands together, trying to get some warmth.

On the one hand, he was facing the cold, and he exhaled a warm breath from time to time.

Alas.

Maybe at this moment, these old guys who used to look down on each other also have a common suffering.

I really didn't expect that even the family mansion was bombed clean, and their ministers had to work hard for the government every day in the cold wind.

This aristocrat is really boring.

I can't even sleep well.

However, they all know that the events of the last week are still haunting them.

The entire king was destroyed several times.

The wrath of the rock giants, and the recklessness of the fallen god.

And in the end.....

Thinking of this, all the ministers stopped talking.

Because they all know that some of the actions were forced by Victor to protect the royal capital.

It's just that now, after the king is destroyed, these noble ministers who hold power will have to work hard for a while.

The royal capital was vast, and each minister had his own area and tasks, and he had to report the progress of his work to the emperor every day.

After deliberation and planning, the emperor will continue to arrange the follow-up work and assign tasks to the lower levels.

For them, every day is a lot of work.

Fortunately, the emperor was not stingy with them.

Although the daily life is busy, the pay is more generous than usual.

Otherwise, who wants to work without overtime pay.

At this moment, the flowing golden gloss of the palace gate was slowly pushed open by the two servants.

As soon as the door opened, all the nobles flocked to it, for fear that they would not squeeze in earlier.

What can make the nobles so crazy is that the palace is so warm.

The inside and outside of the temple are two worlds entirely.

The nobles and ministers walked to the warm stoves on both sides, feeling the warmth enveloping their bodies, and the sound of comfort echoed in the palace.

But soon, everyone fell silent.

In this tranquil palace surrounded by the crackling of fire, from the deep passage behind the throne, there was the sound of steady and rhythmic footsteps

At the same time, it is accompanied by a light and gentle step.

All the ministers withdrew their hands from the fire and consciously lined up in two columns.

Watching with bated breath as the figure emerged from the dark passage.

Soon, Emperor Aubery, supported by Princess Aurelian, slowly appeared in front of all the ministers.

The ministers looked at Oberly in front of them, and felt that he seemed to be more old and rickety.

Even Aurelian, who was holding the emperor, had a low and lost expression on her face.

They all knew that the princess's current state was related to the 'disappearance' of her teacher, Count Victor.

Victor's sister, Leah Craviner, released the news of Victor's disappearance shortly after returning to Breston.

She offered a large bounty, promising a huge reward for anyone who could find Victor Kravenna.

When they heard the news, many people present couldn't help but sigh in their hearts.

They also lamented Victor's disappearance.

After all, how much Victor gave for the country, it is clear to all.

Fight against calamity, fight against the gods.

If Victor hadn't been there, the country would have been completely dependent on Emperor Oberly.

Many of the nobles couldn't stop thinking about the old Victor.

They used to look at Victor unpleasantly, and felt that Victor was cold and arrogant.

I can't even wait to pick on Victor from all sides.

This made the already disreputable mage's reputation even worse.

But in the end, no one could have imagined that Victor was the hero who saved the entire empire.

But at this point, no matter how much they regretted it, they couldn't stop Victor from disappearing.

A week has passed, and Victor's fate remains a mystery.

The ministers stood in silence on either side of the palace as they watched the emperor sit on the throne.

Oberly coughed lightly, and the nobles in the field immediately straightened their postures.

Aurelian also stood silently beside the throne, her hands folded in front of her abdomen.

Everything was ready, and the ministers were ready to start reporting to the emperor.

But Oberly raised his hand a little unusually today, pressed it down, and signaled the ministers to remain silent for the time being.

The ministers who had been preparing to report returned to their respective positions, and the palace fell silent again.

Oberly spoke slowly:

"It won't be long before it's a new year."

When the nobles heard this, they all looked at each other.

Indeed, it will not be long before the New Year of the Empire.

But now, the king has been destroyed like this, and naturally it can't be held as grandly as before.

In previous years, New Year's preparations needed to start half a month in advance.

And with the participation of the mages, it can greatly improve the efficiency.

However, this year the mages are busy helping residents rebuild their homes.

Even so, the mages weren't enough, and even the academy's magic apprentices had to go up and move bricks.

For the first time, the young mages of the noble families experienced what it means to work in the most honorable way.

At the current rate, it would be good for the entire king to be able to repair 50% of the time during the Chinese New Year.

But the ministers did not interrupt Oberly.

Immediately afterwards, Oberly's words made everyone present stunned.

"I intend to pass the throne to Aurelian on New Year's Day."

This sound, like a cold wind blowing from the north, froze everyone in place.

There were even ministers who dropped their notebooks and forgot to pick them up again after being shocked.

A new emperor succeeds to the throne?

This, too, was too sudden.

Although they had known that it was a foregone conclusion that Aurelian would inherit the empire in the future, they did not expect this day to come so quickly.

It stands to reason that there are only two possibilities for the new emperor to succeed to the throne.

The previous emperor died.

Or the previous emperor was too old to continue to lead the empire.

No matter what point it is, it is inseparable from the physical strength of the previous emperor.

And now, Oberly has not passed away, but he is going to abdicate voluntarily.

That's pretty much the way it goes......

All the nobles' eyes were focused on the emperor, who looked unusually old and haggard.

The emperor who was not afraid of the gods and still showed his invincible posture.

But...... In just seven days, Oberly's aging rate is simply too fast.

The wrinkles on his face and the heaviness of each breath showed his exhaustion.

First the disappearance of Victor, and now the abdication of their great emperor.

The empire, directly lost two pillars.

"Nothing to be sad about."

Suddenly, the palace heard the vicissitudes of Oberly's voice.

They couldn't help but look up at Oberly in unison.

I saw Oberly turn his head sideways and look at Aurelian, who lowered his head and fell into grief.

The ministers followed Oberly's gaze as well.

Aurelian, who was standing on the side, had a low face, making it impossible to see the expression.

It's just that the hands that are stacked on top of each other are clenched very tightly with each other.

Immediately afterward, Opoli's old voice continued to sound in a deep voice:

"It's like you believe your teacher will come back."

"I believe in you as always."

Aureli's warm gaze was like the warm sun of spring, slowly shining on Aurelian.

In a trance, Oberly seemed to see what Aurelian would look like when she grew up.

Dressed in royal robes, he wears a crown on his head and holds a scepter that radiates golden light.

Aurelian is no longer the weak little girl she used to be.

She stood at the top of the Empire, her face cold and unforgiving, looking down on all the inhabitants of the Empire.

Oberly looked at the future in a trance, and his gaze softened a little again.

He squinted his eyes slightly, the corners of his mouth slightly raised.

So, even without us.

"You will definitely be the bright star that always shines on people."