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

Eira looked at the tea swaying in her cup. Her gaze suddenly became deep and dark, as if mountains of corpses and seas of blood were rising and sinking within it.

"Do you know how much blood it took for me to secure the land of the Great Shaw Empire?"

She gave a self-mocking smile. Her voice was as cold as a blade, filled with a killing intent that could make one’s heart tremble.

"When I was fifteen, the rebels forced their way into the palace. Three of my royal uncles led one hundred thousand elite soldiers and blocked the entrance to the Golden Throne Hall."

Aiden did not speak. He only looked at her quietly. At that moment, the Law of Slaughter inside him seemed to faintly resonate with her.

"They forced me to step down. They forced me to write an edict giving up the throne."

"Everyone told me to compromise. Even the tutor I trusted most knelt on the ground and begged me to accept my fate. He told me to be an obedient puppet."

Eira took a deep breath. Moonlight fell on her beautiful side profile, reflecting a cold and terrifying light.

"But I refused."

"That night, in this very hall, I drew the Emperor’s Sword with my own hands and cut off my eldest uncle’s head!"

"Blood splashed across the entire dragon throne. It splashed all over my face. It even flowed down the nine hundred steps in front of the Golden Throne Hall."

"Then came my second uncle... and my third uncle..."

"That night, I stepped over the bones of my own family before I truly secured this throne."

She slowly closed her eyes. Her long lashes cast a shadow beneath them, hiding the deepest exhaustion in her gaze.

"From that day on, everyone in the world said I was ruthless and without mercy. No one ever dared to mention the word ’weak’ in front of me again."

"Because the price of weakness is death. It would mean the eternal ruin of the Great Shaw Empire."

She had grown used to hiding herself behind a cold mask. She had grown used to carrying this vast empire alone.

Until Aiden appeared.

This man had risen all the way from The White City. He had slain Demons, driven back the insect tide, and killed traitors.

He held unmatched power, yet he never asked her for anything in return. He simply stood in silence and blocked every storm that came for the Great Shaw Empire with his broad shoulders.

Aiden sat across from her. Around him, shadows and the Law of Slaughter faintly wove together, but he kept them perfectly under control, not letting even the slightest trace harm her.

He was like a towering divine mountain that no one could cross, bringing this exhausted Empress a peace she had never felt before.

"Aiden, I’m really tired..."

Eira’s voice suddenly dropped, carrying a faint tremble that almost sounded like a plea.

A clear tear slid silently down her flawless cheek.

She did not even realize she was crying.

All the pain, pressure, and grievance she had carried for more than ten years, even decades, finally broke free at this moment.

This iron-blooded Empress, who was usually so proud and powerful, who could control the Golden Dragon of National Destiny, now looked as fragile as a fallen leaf shaking in a storm.

Aiden looked at the woman before him. Something seemed to gently touch the softest part of his heart.

He did not hesitate. He slowly stood up and stepped forward.

The next moment, he stretched out his strong arms and pulled Eira’s slightly cold, delicate body tightly into his embrace.

Eira’s body stiffened at once.

But only for a moment.

Then she completely let go of all her defenses and leaned softly against Aiden’s broad chest.

"Awoo—"

Deep within the imperial palace, the Golden Dragon of National Destiny, which had been restless because of the Empress’s emotions, seemed to sense something at this moment. It let out a gentle low cry, then slowly disappeared.

The strong, masculine aura that belonged only to a true powerhouse fully wrapped around her, giving her a deep sense of safety that made her want to sink into it.

"Cry if you need to."

Aiden’s voice sounded beside her ear. It was low and gentle, yet carried a firmness that allowed no refusal.

"Here, you don’t have to be the Empress. You only have to be yourself."

That one sentence became the last straw that broke the wall in Eira’s heart.

"Mm..."

At last, she could no longer hold it in. She gripped Aiden’s clothes tightly with both hands, buried her face in his chest, and cried out loud.

Her tears quickly soaked through Aiden’s shirt.

She shook all over as she cried, looking nothing like a ruler, like a little girl who had suffered too much and finally found someone she could lean on, like a father or an older brother.

All her schemes, all her defenses, all her cold masks shattered in Aiden’s arms.

Aiden only held her quietly. His large hand gently patted her back as he let her release all the pressure inside her.

The night wind blew through the imperial study. The candlelight swayed, and their shadows blended together tightly, as if they would never be separated again.

After a long while, her crying slowly stopped.

Eira reluctantly lifted her head from Aiden’s arms. Her cheeks were still wet with tears, and her eyes were red, but that only made her look even more beautiful in a heartbreaking way.

She raised a slender hand and softly wiped away the tears at the corners of her eyes.

Her phoenix-like eyes slowly came back into focus. But this time, there was no cold emperor’s pride in them. In its place was a strength and fire she had never shown before.

She looked straight into Aiden’s eyes, her breathing a little quick.

She was about to say the words she had kept in her heart for so long, the words she had never dared to say.

Inside the imperial study, the candle flames flickered.

The air carried a faint scent of dragon incense, mixed with the lingering traces of tears, giving the room a quiet sense of intimacy.

Eira stared at Aiden. Her eyes, which usually ruled over all things with cold power, now burned with a fire hot enough to melt ice that had lasted for ten thousand years.

"Aiden."

She parted her red lips slightly. Her voice was no longer that of a high and mighty ruler, but of a woman who had shed all her armor.

"I don’t want to be alone anymore."

"I want to be your woman."

No testing, no weighing the risks, and none of the usual twists of a ruler’s mind.

This confession was direct and fiery, with a kind of finality that left no room to back away, as if she had used up all the courage of her whole life up to this point.

Aiden looked at the beautiful woman before him.

She was the Empress of the Great Shaw Empire, standing above all others, able to decide the life and death of millions with a single word.

But in this moment, she was only a woman who had put down all her defenses and longed to be held in his arms.

A faint smile rose at the corner of Aiden’s lips, and in his eyes, cold force and gentle warmth mixed together.

"As you wish."

Aiden did not say anything more. With his right hand, he pulled her slim waist into his arms.

A strong, heated masculine presence instantly surrounded Eira completely.

Before Eira could even react, Aiden lowered his head and kissed her.

"Mm..."

Eira’s mind went blank at once. All reason and restraint shattered in that instant.

Instinctively, she wrapped her arms tightly around Aiden’s neck and kissed him back with near wild intensity.

The pressure, loneliness, and longing she had carried for more than ten years all burst out in that one kiss.

Inside the imperial study, the temperature rose quickly.

Deep in the palace, the Golden Dragon of National Destiny of the Great Shaw Empire seemed to sense something. It gave a low hum and wisely cut off all awareness from the formation.

The bright yellow dragon robe and the mage’s robe slipped down together, falling onto the cold stone floor, yet bringing with them the hottest of flames.

The curtains hung low.

The night went on.

...

The red candles burned out, and the night grew deeper.

After their night together, only the soft sound of their breathing remained in the imperial study.

Eira lay gently against Aiden’s chest, her long black hair spread out around her. A faint blush still colored her fair skin.

At this moment, she no longer looked like the proud Empress at all. She was as gentle as a cat that had finally found a safe place to rest.

"Aiden, from now on, I am no longer alone."

Her slender fingers drew small circles on Aiden’s chest. Her voice was soft, but it carried a firm resolve.

"As long as you are here, the Great Shaw Empire will be your strongest support."

"This is not a political alliance. This is a promise from me, Eira, to you alone."

Aiden stroked her smooth long hair and smiled slightly. Even the 10,000x Critical Hit System inside him seemed to stir because of his mood.

"Don’t worry. As long as I’m here, the sky will not fall."

The next morning, sunlight shone into the imperial study.

Eira had already put on her dragon robe again. However, there was now a new charm in her eyes and expression, a soft beauty that made even the female officials serving nearby stare in surprise.

Just then, the tightly shut doors of the imperial study were suddenly pushed open.

"bro! bro! Kelsey is here to see you!"

A small and lively figure rushed in, hopping like a deer in the forest.

It was Kelsey, the princess of the Great Shaw Empire.

Her big eyes moved back and forth between Aiden and Eira. Her face was full of gossip and excitement.

Eira’s cheeks turned slightly red. She glared at her younger sister in embarrassment.

"Kelsey, where are your manners?"

"Hehe, Sister is blushing! Looks like bro worked very hard last night!"

Kelsey stuck out her tongue and laughed, then quickly hid behind Aiden.

Not far outside the imperial study, in the corridor, Cheryl stood with her arms crossed.

She was dressed in her battle Miko outfit, puffing her cheeks in anger as she watched the scene.

Her delicate lips pouted high, and she let out a sour little hum.

"Hmph. Aiden got lucky. And now my sister’s rival has one more person too..."

...

"Bro! From now on, you are my real brother-in-law!"

Kelsey’s big eyes curved into little crescents as she smiled. She rushed straight at Aiden and clung tightly to his arm, refusing to let go.

Her pretty little face was full of excitement. She even looked toward her sister with a teasing,provocative smile.

In this girl’s heart, her sister had carried the Great Shaw Empire for far too long. She was too tired.

And Aiden in front of her was the only one who could shield her sister from the storm, and even someone who could smash a hole straight through the sky.

Eira helplessly rubbed her forehead. The blush on her fair face had not yet faded, making her look even more charming and alluring.