Everyone's Class: One Effort, 10,000x Bonus Reward!

"In addition, I grant you a sacred-class mansion. You may choose any resources you want from the Great Shaw Empire’s treasury. You do not need to kneel before the throne, and you may punish first and report later!"

Eira continued to read out the rewards. Each one was more valuable than the last.

Then the Empress shifted her gaze slightly and looked at the people standing behind Aiden.

"Luke, you showed no fear in the face of danger and helped defend the Sovereign City. I grant you the title of General Who Guards the Empire!"

"James, your battle achievements are great. I grant you the title of General Protector of the Empire!"

"Vespera, you killed the traitor Owen. I grant you the title of General of Peaceful Frontiers!"

The three of them stepped forward together and bowed to accept the orders.

"We thank Your Majesty for your great kindness!"

As the rewards were handed out, the atmosphere in the hall reached its peak.

At that moment, many young officials and noble sons once again turned their eyes toward the beautiful figure standing beside Aiden.

Cheryl.

She stood there quietly. Her tight battle Miko robe perfectly showed off her graceful figure.

Her silver hair fell like a waterfall. Her skin was as fair as snow. Her stunning face showed no warmth at all.

It was a cold beauty beyond the ordinary world, like an ice lotus blooming on the peak of a snowy mountain. Mysterious, noble, and untouchable.

Many young Reclassers looked at Cheryl with burning admiration. Their breathing even became faster.

"So this is the battle Miko who destroyed the fallen Miko? She is truly unmatched..."

A young commander, confident in his own strength, could not help but take a step forward. He wanted to see her beauty up close.

But the moment he stepped within three paces of Cheryl—

Boom!

A terrifying ice Force of Laws suddenly burst out from Cheryl’s body without warning.

Crack! Crack!

A layer of deep blue ice instantly formed over the hard white jade floor.

The young commander did not even have time to scream before his whole body was frozen in place by thick ice. His face turned pale, and his body trembled violently.

"Get lost."

Cheryl did not even look at him. Her red lips parted slightly, and she spoke in an icy voice.

The entire hall fell into dead silence.

She had not even attacked on purpose.

It was only the ice law inside her body reacting on its own when a man got too close!

The power of a battle Miko was truly terrifying!

However, when Cheryl turned to look at Aiden, the ice in her eyes melted in an instant, turning into endless gentleness and deep attachment.

In her eyes, from beginning to end, there was only Aiden.

The sight filled countless young geniuses with both envy and jealousy. But not one of them dared to step forward again.

On the dragon throne, Eira watched it all.

Her fair hand tightened slightly on the armrest.

Her gaze stayed on Aiden the whole time, and her beautiful eyes were filled with complicated emotions.

There was gratitude toward the protector of the Great Shaw Empire.

There was admiration for a once-in-a-generation talent.

But more than that, there was a faint, bitter, and subtle feeling even she herself had not noticed.

This man always seemed to have stunning women by his side...

"Court is dismissed."

Eira withdrew her gaze. In her cold voice, there was a trace of tiredness that was almost impossible to notice.

...

Night fell.

Bright moonlight shone over the grand palace, covering it like a layer of silver silk.

Aiden was sitting in the newly granted Martial Saint Manor with his eyes closed, resting quietly.

Suddenly, the space around him rippled.

A eunuch in palace servant robes appeared silently and knelt with respect.

"Lord Martial Saint, Her Majesty has given an order. She asks you to enter the palace tonight to discuss state affairs."

Aiden opened his eyes, and a hint of surprise flashed in them.

A late-night summons?

"Lead the way."

Aiden stood up and left with a sweep of his sleeve.

A short while later, inside the imperial study of the Great Shaw Empire.

A faint scent of ambergris filled the air, mixed with a light, almost hidden fragrance that belonged to a woman.

Aiden pushed the door open and walked in.

However, the piles of official documents he had expected to see were nowhere to be found.

Inside the imperial study, candlelight flickered, and thin curtains swayed gently.

Behind a screen, a graceful figure could be seen in the dim light.

Without the authority of the Nine-Dragon imperial robe, Eira looked completely different. Tonight, she wore only a simple white dress. Her long black hair fell over her shoulders like a waterfall.

She held a white jade wine cup in her hand and quietly looked at the moon outside the window.

When she heard him enter, she slowly turned her head. In her beautiful eyes, there was a soft and dreamy look that would never appear in public.

"Aiden, you’re here."

At that moment, the Empress’s voice was as gentle as a lover’s whisper.

Behind the screen, the light curtain moved slightly in the night breeze.

Aiden walked in slowly, his steps completely silent.

In the air, the faint scent of ambergris mixed with Eira’s soft natural fragrance, making the room feel slightly intoxicating.

Eira slowly turned around. Her eyes, usually cold and full of authority, now looked like calm autumn water, gentle and moving.

Tonight, she was not wearing the Nine-Dragon imperial robe that represented supreme imperial power. She wore only a plain white dress.

Without her golden crown, her long black hair fell freely over her smooth shoulders. She looked less sharp and commanding, and more gentle and graceful.

Aiden looked at her quietly, his expression calm. But inside his body, the Force of Laws was faintly resonating with the Golden Dragon of National Destiny deep within the palace.

"Aiden, you’re here."

Eira’s red lips parted slightly. Her voice was soft, like willow branches brushing past in the night wind.

She did not refer to herself as "We," the royal title of an emperor.

Aiden gave a slight nod as a form of greeting.

"Your Majesty, may I ask why you summoned me so late at night?"

Eira did not answer right away. She only looked at Aiden in silence.

Inside the imperial study, the candlelight flickered softly, stretching their shadows long across the wall.

After a long while, she let out a quiet sigh.

"You are always like this. You take all the most dangerous things onto yourself."

There was a hint of sadness and concern in her voice, one she had not even noticed herself.

From his rise in The White City, to becoming the top scorer in the College Testing, and now to entering the demon lair alone to kill the rebels, this man always seemed to be walking on the edge of life and death.

Aiden gave a self-mocking smile. He clasped his hands behind his back, and his robe moved slightly even though there was no wind.

"That was my choice."

"The Great Shaw Empire needed someone to step forward. And I just happened to have the strength to do it."

His voice was not loud, but it carried unmatched confidence and power.

It was the pride of a strong man. It was also the confidence given to him by the 10,000x critical hit system.

Eira looked at his calm and relaxed expression. Her fair hand, hidden inside her sleeve, tightened slightly.

She slowly stepped forward and walked out from behind the screen.

Her delicate feet stepped on the soft carpet without making a sound.

Step by step, she came to stand in front of Aiden.

The distance between them was now only a few inches.

Aiden could even clearly smell the refreshing, gentle fragrance on her body.

This time, she was not standing high above him on the dragon throne, looking down at him.

Instead, she stood before him as an equal, slightly looking up at the man who was more than half a head taller than her.

"Have you ever thought..."

Eira’s voice was very soft, but every word felt heavy, striking hard against Aiden’s heart.

"If you died, have you ever thought how many people would be heartbroken?"

She raised her head. In her beautiful eyes was the reflection of Aiden’s young but determined face. Her gaze trembled, filled with the most honest and burning emotion.

At this moment, she was no longer the Empress of the Great Shaw Empire.

She was only an ordinary woman, worried about the man she cared for, afraid of losing him.

For a moment, the air seemed to freeze.

Aiden looked at the breathtaking face so close to him and felt the emotion in her eyes. For a while, he did not know how to answer.

Eira gave a self-mocking smile. The emotion in her eyes slowly faded, turning into a faint loneliness.

"Sit."

She turned and walked to the tea table. With her fair hand, she picked up the teapot and poured Aiden a cup of clear tea.

The fragrance of tea rose gently, forming a light mist between them.

Aiden sat down as she asked. He picked up the white jade teacup and took a small sip.

The tea was bitter at first, then sweet, leaving a long aftertaste.

"Good tea," Aiden said.

Eira looked at the tea leaves floating in her cup. For once, she seemed to relax. She leaned back in her chair.

"Everyone in this world envies me. They think I stand above all others and rule over the vast lands of the Great Shaw Empire."

"But who knows how cold this dragon throne is? Who knows how heavy this crown feels?"

She took a sip of tea and looked as if she were remembering the past.

"When I was eight, my father suddenly passed away, and I was pushed onto this throne."

"At that time, my mother’s family interfered in politics, and powerful ministers watched me from every side. Every night when I slept, I kept a dagger hidden under my pillow."

"To survive, and to take back the power that belonged to the Xu family, I had no choice but to become cold-blooded. I had no choice but to fight alone, to scheme, and to struggle for my life."

"I could not cry. I could not laugh. I could not show even the smallest bit of weakness in front of anyone."

She gave a bitter smile and looked at the cold, bright moon outside the window.

"Because I knew that if I showed even one flaw, those wolves and tigers would tear me apart."

Tonight, she finally took off all her masks. She showed Aiden her weakest and truest side without holding anything back.

Aiden listened quietly and did not interrupt her.

He could feel how much pain and loneliness this beautiful and powerful Empress had endured over the years—pain that ordinary people could hardly imagine.

"The life of a ruler with no one to rely on... is truly cold."

Eira’s voice trembled slightly. At that moment, her eyes even turned a little red.

Moonlight fell on her somewhat pale face, making her look heartbreakingly beautiful.

She had kept these words hidden in her heart for far too long.

So long that she had almost believed she had turned into a stone statue with no feelings at all.

But only in front of Aiden did her heart, frozen for so many years, begin to melt on its own.

She needed to say the words she had buried for so long.