December 31 symbolizes the end of the year.

At this time, the whole empire is lit up and filled with a cheerful atmosphere.

This year, however, as the New Year approaches, the empire looks a little unusual.

In the heart of the royal capital, in a room in the Golden Palace.

The lights shone brightly, and countless servants gathered in a circle, holding beautifully decorated trays in their hands.

Surrounded by the servants was a gorgeously dressed girl with long silver hair.

She was sitting quietly at the dresser, staring at herself in the mirror.

The maids on both sides were busy, constantly taking out all kinds of cosmetics from the tray, carefully creating exquisite makeup for the girl.

"Your Highness, are you still satisfied?"

After some busyness, the servants stood respectfully beside the maiden and asked cautiously.

Their movements are meticulous to the extreme, and the beginning and end of each makeup stroke is rigorous and precise.

Aurelian looked at herself in the mirror and looked at the makeup she had just finished with a blank face.

At this time, her face and facial features appeared incomparably perfect, even if it was a casual blink, they revealed an incomparably moving charm.

That noble temperament is evident in every breath, and the hairpins interspersed with long silver hair seem to add a brilliant brilliance to her perfect face.

But hearing the servants' cautious inquiries, Aurelian only nodded slightly, without words.

But the servants on the side were already relieved, and then bowed respectfully and withdrew, leaving Aurelian to sit alone in front of the mirror.

As the voices of the servants faded away, Aurelian lowered her head and hid her face.

She pressed her hands tightly to her knees, clenched into fists, her nails almost digging into her palms.

The body trembled slightly, as if it was forcibly suppressing some emotion.

There is still no news of the teacher.

Another week has passed, and the attention to Victor's disappearance has not diminished at all.

There are even frequent rumors that Victor has appeared somewhere, trying to lure the Cravina family bounty.

But even if the Cravina family loses Victor, it is still nothing to mess with.

Without exception, those who try to cheat the bounty.

In the end, they all disappeared where they shouldn't have been, just like they thought Victor was.

The entire empire also turned a blind eye to the actions of the Klavenners.

After all, everyone wants to find Victor.

For the upper echelons of the Empire, Victor is now as indispensable in their hearts as the patron saint of the Empire.

The tragic battle in the royal capital made everyone deeply realize the importance of high-level combat power.

Now, with the old Emperor Oberly about to abdicate, the entire empire needs a strong man like Victor to protect it even more urgently.

And for Aurelian, what Victor means......

But her thoughts were suddenly interrupted by a few soft knocks on the door behind her.

"It's time, Your Highness Princess."

Hearing the maid's reminder, Aurelian slowly released her clenched fist and raised her head again.

"It's time for us to go."

……

Aurelian was dressed in a solemn and luxurious silver gown, with sparkling silver slippers on her feet.

She walked gracefully on the red carpet, resting her hands lightly on her lower abdomen with a gentle and indifferent expression on her face.

Guarded by a group of knights and servants around him, he marched dignified to the outside of the palace.

Crisp footsteps echoed through the hallways, and Aurelian finally stepped out of the palace gates.

The moment she walked out of the palace gate, a dazzling light was ushered in front of her.

A sea of colorful light was reflected in her eyes, and the whole king was enveloped in celebratory lights.

Colorful illuminations and decorative lights rise up on the land, covering the earth.

The lights on the streets twinkle in the night, like stars.

Crowds cheer and celebrate in the streets and central plaza to welcome the arrival of the new year.

Their joys rose higher and higher, enveloping the entire royal capital.

The city, which is on the road to rebirth, seems to have completely awakened, full of life and vitality.

Aurelian's silver figure shone in the light, and even the palace gate behind him was illuminated by the golden light.

And she stood still, looking ahead.

Not far from the central square, there are rows of towering steps.

A long red carpet winds down the steps and seems to stretch across the night sky.

Aurelianne looked down the red carpet at the high platform not far away, and there was a trance in front of her.

She could see that at the top of the high platform, an old man was sitting.

Oberly Saul VIII.

It was her biological father.

His body was slightly tired, and he supported his face with one hand, but his eyes still revealed undiminished majesty.

It's like a lion in his twilight years, but still strong.

Almost at the same time, all of Aurelian's retinue knelt down in unison, paying homage to the towering steps.

It was like waiting for Aurelian to step up the towering steps.

So Aurelian took a step and stepped on the first step of the hundred steps.

As soon as her feet touched the steps, she felt a mysterious power surging through her body.

This made her body light and abnormal, as if it was going to lift her whole body slightly.

Feeling the power spread through her limbs, Aurelian continued to walk upward.

With each step forward, she felt a stronger power.

At the same time, it is also accompanied by the father emperor at the top, who is old again and again.

The sideburns on his back have become paler, and his skin has become more wrinkled.

Even the figure sitting in the seat is more rickety.

Finally, Aurelian gradually stepped on the thirty-third step.

In an instant, the dress she was wearing representing the status of a princess gradually transformed into a golden imperial robe.

The robe covered with mysterious patterns dragged a long tail on the red carpet, and a flowing golden yellow appeared on the crimson.

Aurelian continued to move forward, the look in her eyes growing more determined.

As she stepped up the sixty-sixth step, a scepter glowing with golden light appeared in midair.

It is topped with a ruby that shines especially at night and in the moonlight.

Aurelian gripped the scepter with ease, but didn't feel any weight from the scepter.

Everything seemed to be going according to Aurelian's expectations.

Eventually, she made it to the ninety-ninth step.

Only one step away from her father.

Aurelian, however, stopped.

Stood there quietly, staring at the back of his father.

On the high platform, there was only the lonely Oberly.

Feeling the arrival of his daughter behind him, Oberly slowly turned around.

What catches Aurelian's vision is an emperor who has been eroded to the extreme by time.

His skin was already loose and weak, and his limbs were slender and thin.

He seemed to have lost his former invincible posture, but there was still a faint gentleness in his cloudy and even somewhat unfocused eyes.

"Kid."

"We've finally waited for that day to come."

The words reached Aurelian's ears, but the gentle voice became extremely heavy in her heart.

Aurelian was about to speak, but a strong choking choked her throat.

It was as if a stone was stuck there, and she couldn't make a sound.

She knew very well that once she had crossed this last step.

The person she is closest to in the world may have to say goodbye to her.

However, she had no choice, she had to take this step.

As his father said, only she is qualified to inherit the throne.

And, it has to be her, too.

But at this moment, Aurelian's steps were as heavy as lead, and even lifting her steps felt like a thousand pounds, making it difficult for her to take the last step.

At this moment, Oberly's voice sounded again with that gentle gaze:

"Don't move yet."

Aurelian snapped to a halt in her step.

At the same time, the cheers and celebrations of the surrounding people seemed to gradually quiet down.

Oberly stretched out trembling hands from the table next to his seat and picked up the delicate crown that was placed on the red carpet.

This is a crown made exclusively for Aurelian.

The golden crown of the Empress shines brightly in the light of the stars.

It is inlaid with several colorful gemstones, beautiful and majestic.

Aurelian seemed to understand her father's intentions, and slowly bent down and lowered her head.

She closed her eyes, feeling the heavy crown that was securely placed above her head.

Just as Aurelian was about to stand up straight, Aurelian's heavy, old voice slowly sounded:

"Remember, you can only bow your head when you wear the crown."

"Because you're the Emperor."

Aurelian remembered the heaviness of the crown.

Her heart was as heavy as a crown.

She finally looked up again.

Looking at Oberly on the other side, he was also smiling and looking up at her.

"Kid."

"You've grown up."

As soon as she finished speaking, Aurelian stepped on the final step.

Standing on a high platform, her vision is vast, and she can look around every corner of the empire.

From the unfinished buildings of the royal capital to the faces of its inhabitants, to the shattered earth showing signs of rebirth.

And the eyes of the inhabitants were full of anticipation for the future and admiration for the new emperor.

In the audience, countless ministers applauded and saluted, and some of them even secretly wiped tears in the corner.

Aurelian saw it all.

At this moment, she seemed to understand the true meaning of being an emperor.

And as she stood on the high platform, staring at the inhabitants below.

Suddenly, there was a slight stabbing sound in my ears.

It was as if the current was cut off, and the whole time came to a slight standstill at that moment.

At this point, the whole world fell silent.

'Is there a bug in the timeline this timeline?' ’

'It's time to check [the vulnerability]. ’

Soon, as the two voices passed, time flowed around them again.

But just now, Aurelian was keenly aware of the voice just now.

She frowned in thought, her mind full of doubts.

But when she turned her head to re-examine Oberly beside her, she noticed that he didn't react in any way.

He was even nodding his head in satisfaction with her.

Aurelian shook her head and decided not to dwell on it anymore.

She stood firm again, staring at the quiet and dense crowd beneath the high platform.

The breeze blows, and the lights sway, as if the stars in the distance are calling.

The clock ticked.

The new emperor of the empire, Aurelian Saul IX, was proclaimed on the throne.

Along with the New Year's bells, the empress's first proclamation was also sounded:

"That's it."

"Happy New Year."