Novel Full Chapter 346:Do You Want The Crown?
Chapter 346:Do You Want The Crown?
A deep silence lingered in the room.
Two people sat facing each other, their gazes locked as they carefully studied one another’s expressions and intentions. Neither spoke at first. The air felt heavy, filled with unspoken thoughts.
Albert looked at Ethan and slowly fell into deep thought.
Ethan Blank.
Not long ago, he had been nothing more than a small name, someone Albert barely paid attention to. At most, he was a troublesome baron who appeared here and there. Yet now, that same man had grown into something terrifying, a force that could shake the entire kingdom.
And the very person he hated.He wanted to punish him and tear his skin apart for provoking him and trampling his authority however…
It was a thing of the past.
Albert let out a quiet breath before speaking.
“First of all, I thank you,” he said seriously. “On behalf of all the people.”
Ethan was clearly taken aback by the respectful tone. He blinked once, then frowned slightly.
He still remembered this same man shouting at him at the top of his lungs during the court session. He remembered the cold hostility and arrogance. Yet now, Albert sat before him with a straight back and lowered pride.
Times had changed. So had the situation.
“It’s okay,” Ethan replied after a brief pause. “I just did my job and—”
He stopped himself mid-sentence.
He was about to say that even if he had not intervened, Albert would likely still be alive. But when he remembered how the king had stood still while the Second Prince was killed, Ethan chose to remain silent.
Albert shook his head.
“Still, you saved many lives,” he said earnestly. “You had the chance to run away, but you didn’t.”
“You stepped into the storm and put your life at risk. You were unconscious for so many days. That alone shows how serious your injuries were.”
Ethan rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly.
“Ah… what can I say,” he replied with a faint smile. “I guess it was luck. And the Goddess of Light’s power came in handy.”
Albert looked at him carefully.
“I didn’t know you were blessed,” he said.
“So did I,” Ethan replied honestly.
A brief silence followed.
The room fell quiet again, broken only by the faint sound of wind outside. After a moment, Albert spoke once more.
“What are your next plans?”
“Next plans?” Ethan repeated, frowning.
Albert hesitated for a second, then asked directly.
“I mean… Do you want to be king?”
Ethan felt a strange sense of déjà vu. For a fleeting moment, an image flashed in his mind.
A throne and crown.
People kneeling on orders being given.
It was surely tempting but it also brought all kinds of troubles.
Then the image shattered.
He had already thought about this many times. After weighing every advantage and disadvantage, he had reached a clear decision long ago.
He did not want the royal path.
Rather than ruling others, he wanted to build a strong family, one that could endure any storm and any danger.
“No,” Ethan said calmly. “I don’t want to step into that muddy water. Being a king is too much of a hassle and a headache.”
Albert’s eyes widened in shock.
“What…?” he muttered.
His lips parted, but no words came out at first. He stared at Ethan as if trying to confirm whether he had heard correctly.
“Are you sure about this?” Albert asked slowly.
“You really don’t want to become the King of Ruthiana?”
“No,” Ethan replied again, firm and clear.
Albert leaned back slightly and took a deep breath.
“Wow,” he said, almost laughing in disbelief. “Now that is something interesting.”
“I honestly thought you would take the throne. It would have saved us a lot of trouble.”
Ethan’s expression sharpened.
“What do you mean by that?” he asked.
Albert’s lips curved into a bitter smile.
“We don’t have the power to maintain royal authority anymore,” he said quietly. “So we thought of handing it over to you.”
“But since you’re refusing… it seems the reign of Ruthiana will end in a few days.”
“WHAAAATTTT!”
Ethan’s shocked shout echoed through the room.
Albert raised a hand slightly, signaling him to calm down.
“The previous battle completely trampled royal authority,” Albert continued. “All high-ranking Star Knights are dead.”
“Duke Monopolis is dead. The King’s personal knights are dead. Most Master-rank powerhouses are gone.”
“So now, aside from a few dukes, the royal family has no one left to rely on. And even the nobles don’t trust us anymore.”
Albert lowered his gaze.
“It’s a dead end. If we try to rule by force, it will only lead to more bloodshed and chaos.”
“That’s why the best option was to place the crown in your hands,” he explained. “You are an Emperor Knight. You have Rathlos by your side, several Master-rank allies, and the trust of the people.”
“You could rule firmly.”
Ethan shook his head slowly.
“But you refused,” Albert said softly.
“And honestly, we expected this.”
Ethan looked at him in surprise.
“Before you woke up, we already spoke with your son Ray and the others,” Albert explained. “Every one of them said the same thing.”
“Lord Ethan has no interest in ruling.”
“As for how we knew… we have seen it long ago. Plans for rebellion had been discussed many times, but you always refused.”
“So we were left with only two choices,” Albert said. “Forcefully reclaim the throne and plunge the kingdom into chaos… or give it up.”
Albert looked up.
“And that’s when a message arrived.”
“A message from the Arcadia Emperor.”
Ethan’s eyes narrowed.
“The message stated that Arcadia is willing to accept the sovereignty of Ruthiana,” Albert continued. “They swore to protect our land, respect our freedoms, and treat our people as their own citizens.”
Ethan slowly leaned back, processing the words.
“So,” Albert concluded, “the Fourth Princess has already led a delegation to Arcadia for formal negotiations.”
The room fell silent once again.
This time, the silence carried the weight of an ending… and the beginning of something entirely new.