December 31st symbolizes the end of every year.
Often at this moment, the entire empire would be decorated with lights and colors, and the atmosphere would be full of joy.
However, this year, as the New Year approaches, the Empire looks a little unusual.
In the center of the royal capital, in a room in the Golden Palace.
The lights were shining brightly, and countless servants were 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 in front of the dressing table, staring at herself in the mirror.
The servants on both sides were busy, taking out various cosmetics from the trays and carefully creating exquisite makeup for the girl.
"Your Highness, are you satisfied?"
After the servants were busy, they stood respectfully beside the girl and asked cautiously.
Their movements are extremely delicate, and the beginning and end of every makeup stroke are rigorous and precise.
Aurelion looked at herself in the mirror, looking at the makeup she had just finished with an expressionless expression.
At this time, her face and facial features looked extremely perfect, and even a casual blink revealed her extremely charming charm.
That noble temperament is evident in every breath, and the hairpins interspersed in her long silver hair seem to add dazzling luster to her perfect face.
But after hearing the servants' careful inquiries, Aurelion just nodded slightly without saying anything.
But the servants on the side had already breathed a sigh of relief, and then bowed respectfully and retired, leaving Aurelion sitting alone in front of the mirror.
When the voices of the surrounding servants gradually faded away, Aurelion lowered her head and hid her face.
She placed her hands tightly on her knees, clenched into fists, and her nails almost dug into her palms.
His body was shaking slightly, as if he was forcibly suppressing some emotion.
There is still no news from the teacher.
Another week has passed, and the attention on Victor's disappearance has not diminished at all.
There are even constant rumors circulating, claiming that there are traces of Victor somewhere, trying to lure the Cravenna family's bounty.
But even if the Cravenna family lost Victor, they were still not someone to be trifled with.
Without exception, those trying to scam the bounty.
In the end, just like Victor they thought, he disappeared in a place where he shouldn't be.
The entire empire also turned a blind eye to the actions of the Cravenas.
After all, everyone wants to find Victor.
For the top leaders of the empire, Victor is now as indispensable as the patron saint of the empire in their hearts.
The tragic battle in the royal capital made everyone deeply realize the importance of high-level combat power.
Now, with the old emperor Oberli about to abdicate, the entire empire is more urgently in need of strong men like Victor to protect it.
And for Aurelion, the meaning of Victor...
But her thoughts were suddenly interrupted by several gentle knocks on the door from behind.
"The time has come, Your Highness Princess."
After hearing the servant's reminder, Aurelion slowly loosened her clenched fists and raised her head again.
"It's time for us to go."
…
Aurelion wore a solemn and luxurious silver dress, with crystal silver glass shoes on her feet.
She walked gracefully on the red carpet, placing her hands lightly on her belly with a gentle and indifferent expression.
Under the protection of a group of knights and servants, he marched dignifiedly outside the palace.
Crisp footsteps echoed in the corridor, and Aurelion finally walked out of the palace gate.
The moment she walked out of the palace gate, she was greeted by a bright and dazzling light.
Her eyes reflected a sea of colorful light, and the entire kingdom was wrapped in festive lights.
Colorful lights and decorative lights rise from the ground, overwhelming the sky.
The lights on the streets twinkled and twinkled in the night, like stars.
Crowds of people cheer and celebrate in the streets and central squares to welcome the new year.
Their joyful voices grew louder and louder, covering the entire royal capital.
This city on the road to rebirth seems to be completely awakened, full of vitality and vitality.
Aurelion's silver figure shone in the light, and even the palace gate behind her was dazzlingly illuminated by the golden light.
And she stood there, looking ahead.
Not far from the central square, there are rows of towering steps.
A long red carpet snakes down the steps and seems to stretch into the night sky.
Aurelion looked along the red carpet to the high platform not far away, and her eyes were in a trance.
She could see an old man sitting on the top of the high platform.
Aubrey Saul VIII.
That's her biological father.
His body looked slightly tired, and he held his face with one hand, but his eyes still showed undiminished majesty.
Like a lion that is fading into old age but still majestic.
Almost at the same time, all the followers behind Aurelion knelt down in unison, paying tribute to the towering steps.
It was as if he was waiting for Aurelion to step onto the towering steps.
So Aurelion took a step forward and stepped on the first step of the hundred steps.
As soon as her feet touched the steps, she felt a mysterious power surge through her body.
This made her figure become unusually light, as if her whole body was being gently lifted.
Feeling the power spreading through her limbs, Aurelion continued walking upward.
With every step she took, she felt stronger power.
At the same time, it was accompanied by the father at the top who grew old again and again.
The temples on his back became paler and the skin became more wrinkled.
Even the figure sitting on the seat is more rickety.
Finally, Aurelion gradually stepped on the thirty-third step.
In an instant, the dress that represented her status as a princess gradually transformed into a golden royal robe.
The robe covered with mysterious patterns stretched out a long tail on the red carpet, and a touch of flowing golden appeared on the red carpet.
Aurelion still moved forward, the look in her eyes becoming more determined.
When she stepped onto the sixty-sixth floor, a shining golden scepter appeared in the air.
The top is inlaid with a red ruby, which is particularly dazzling at night and in the moonlight.
Aurelion held the scepter easily, but did not feel any heaviness brought by the scepter.
Everything seemed to be going according to Aurelion's expectations.
Finally, she reached the ninety-ninth step.
She is only one step away from her father.
However, Aurelion stopped.
He stood there quietly, staring at his father's back.
On the high platform, there was only the lonely Oberly.
Feeling the arrival of her daughter behind her, Aubrey slowly turned around.
What caught Aurelion's sight was an emperor who had been extremely eroded by time.
His skin was loose and weak, and his limbs were slender and thin.
He seemed to have lost his former invincibility, but there was still a touch of gentleness in his cloudy and even somewhat unfocused eyes.
"child."
"We have finally waited for this day to arrive."
This sentence reached Aurelion's ears, but this gentle voice became extremely heavy in her heart.
Aurelion was about to speak, but a strong sob blocked her throat.
It was as if a stone was stuck there, preventing her from making a sound.
She knew clearly that once she got past this last step.
The people closest to her in this world may have to say goodbye to her.
But she had no choice, she had to take this step.
Just as the father said, only she is qualified to inherit the throne.
And, it had to be her.
But at this moment, Aurelion'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 look in his eyes:
"Don't move yet."
Aurelion suddenly stopped rising.
At the same time, the cheers and celebrations from the surrounding people seemed to gradually quiet down.
Aubrey stretched out his trembling hands from the table next to his seat and picked up the exquisite crown cushioned on the red soft carpet.
This is a crown made especially for Aurelion.
The golden female crown is extremely dazzling under the stars.
It is inlaid with several colorful gems, beautiful and solemn.
Aurelion seemed to understand her father's intention, and slowly bent down and lowered her head.
She closed her eyes and felt the heavy crown being firmly placed on her head.
Just when Aurelion was about to stand up straight, Oberly's heavy, old voice slowly sounded:
"Remember, you can only bow your head when you are wearing the crown."
"Because you are the emperor."
Aurelion remembered the weight of the crown.
Her heart was as heavy as a crown.
She finally looked up again.
Looking across, Aubrey looked up at her with a smile.
"child."
"You've grown up."
As soon as she finished speaking, Aurelion stepped onto the last step.
Standing on the high platform, she has a broad field of vision and can look around every corner of the empire.
From the unfinished buildings of the royal capital to the faces of the residents, to the broken earth showing signs of rebirth.
And the eyes of the residents were full of expectations for the future and admiration for the new emperor.
In the audience, countless ministers applauded and paid tribute, and some of them even secretly wiped away tears in the corner.
Aurelion saw it all.
At this moment, she seemed to realize the true meaning of being an emperor.
And just as she was standing on the high platform, staring at the residents below.
Suddenly there was a slight tingling sound in my ears.
It was as if the current was cut off, causing the entire time to stand still for a moment.
At this point, the whole world fell into silence.
'The timeline has changed this time. Is there a program error? '
'It's time to check for [vulnerabilities]. '
Soon, when these two sounds passed, the surrounding time began to flow again.
But just now, Aureliano keenly captured the sound just now.
She frowned in thought, filled with doubts.
But when she turned her head to re-examine Aubrey beside her, she found that he had no abnormal reaction.
He even nodded with satisfaction to her.
So Aurelion shook her head and decided not to worry about it anymore.
She stood firm again and stared at the quiet and dense crowd of people under the high platform.
The light breeze blows, and the lights sway, as if the stars in the distance are calling.
Time has come to zero.
The new emperor of the empire, Aurelion Thrall IX, was announced to the throne.
Along with the New Year's bell, the Queen's first announcement also sounded:
"That's it."
"Happy New Year."
