Chapter 327

Chapter 327. Telegraphing the Nation

Sylvia ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍raised her head and looked at the stars filling the sky. Her voice was gentle, yet every word carried weight.

“Those ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍grievances and unwillingness I once clung to have long since been worn away by time. I stand here not to prove anything to you, but because Astrelia needs someone to step forward.”

Astrelia ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍VI stared blankly at this daughter before him, both unfamiliar and familiar.

“At ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍this point, perhaps you are more suited to that chair than any of us.”

The ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍phantom of the sixth king gradually became transparent. He raised his hand, as though he wanted to touch his daughter’s head, but it could only stop in the empty air.

“Go, ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍my child.”

The sixth king’s voice grew softer and softer, until it was as fine as a thread.

“Astrelia is in your hands.”

Sylvia did not avoid that insubstantial hand. She nodded slightly, like a true queen accepting the handover of fate.

“Rest in peace, Father.” She spoke softly, her tone free and certain. “I will personally guard Astrelia’s dawn.”

As the sixth king completely dissipated, the entire sea of stars boiled over at that moment.

Countless stars transformed into a pillar of light so radiant it reached the extreme, carrying the profound foundation of a thousand-year kingdom as it surged thunderously into the depths of Sylvia’s consciousness.

Outside.

Inside the underground nexus of the Golden Rose Palace.

Sylvia, who had been standing before the magitech crystal with her eyes closed, suddenly opened them.

BOOM!

A visible, tangible wave of air exploded outward with her as the center, blowing her silver-white hair into a wild dance.

Within those silver-gray eyes, which had originally been cold and clear, countless stars now seemed to be spinning madly, so deep that no one dared look directly into them.

The Authority of Radiance had already descended upon her.

What kind of feeling was it?

It was as though her soul had been stretched, torn apart, and then reconstructed in an instant.

Her vision was no longer limited to her physical eyes. Instead, it followed the ley lines beneath the Royal Capital, spreading wildly like lightning.

In a single instant, every defensive node on the Royal Capital’s walls, the aether flow of every street, and the energy reserves of every magitech tower all established an absolute connection with her.

The entire Royal Capital transformed into a completely transparent, precise sand table within her perception. Every tiny detail was visible. Nothing could hide.

She “saw” Aureus at the city gates, commanding the Royal Guard as they deployed defenses in the rainy night.

She “saw” Logaris inside Redleaf Manor, speaking heart-to-heart with Dorg.

This feeling was too wonderful.

Controlling everything, overlooking all living beings.

With a single thought, the giant magitech cannons on the city walls would automatically charge.

With a snap of her fingers, the Royal Capital’s array would grind the rebels into minced flesh.

Sylvia took a deep breath and forcefully suppressed the almost devouring sense of swelling power in her heart.

Now, the array’s authority had been fully taken over.

From this night onward, this city, this country—she had the final say.

She completely opened her mind. Her will projected outward like silk threads, accurately locking onto that familiar fluctuation half the Royal Capital away.

There were no unnecessary words.

She softly called in her heart:

“Logaris, come to my side.”

Only a few seconds later.

The air at the center of the great hall rippled with arcane waves like water, and a ghostly blue Spatial Gate silently opened.

Logaris, wearing his black research robe edged with golden thread, carried the faint scent of blood from Redleaf Manor and the slight chill of the night rain as he crossed space and stepped into the great hall.

He stopped, raised his eyes slightly, and his gaze passed accurately across the empty hall, landing on Sylvia before the throne.

As a top-tier Sixth-Tier Mage, Logaris’s perception was extremely keen.

Almost at the instant their eyes met, he sensed the change in her.

At this moment, she had already become the true uncrowned ruler of this thousand-year ancient capital.

A sincere smile, carrying a hint of pride and indulgence, slowly curved across Logaris’s face, which always seemed to carry a trace of careless nonchalance.

“It seems you have succeeded, my queen.”

His voice echoed through the empty great hall.

He ascended the steps along the scarlet carpet and finally stopped beside the throne.

That was the position of a guardian, and also of an absolute companion.

Outside the window, the thunderstorm over the Royal Capital was still washing away the wreckage of the old era, and the transfer of power was proceeding through pools of blood.

Inside the hall, Logaris stood quietly.

He turned his head slightly, looking at the starlight reflected in her silver-gray eyes.

Sylvia also turned her head slightly, and their gazes met.

There was no embrace, no tenderness, but in that silent exchange of looks, there was a romance more heart-stirring than any vow.

...

Morning, the Royal Capital.

The streets washed by rain carried a cold, fresh clarity. The enormous crystal at the top of the Royal Magitech Communication Tower lit up blue once more.

Immediately afterward, tens of thousands of newspapers poured out from the production lines of the major printing factories. With the help of wind-type spells and the legs of newspaper boys, they covered every street corner of the Royal Capital within half an hour.

Three explosive pieces of news directly blasted this newly awakened nation into chaos.

The first: a sudden upheaval in the Western Territory! Thunder Gorge had been completely blown apart!

Violent Aether Turbulence had formed an energy storm wall connecting heaven and earth, completely isolating the Western Territory from the outside world.

It was said that Theodore, the Grand Marshal of the Valeria Empire, was enraged because of this.

The second piece of news: the Redleaf Manor massacre!

Former Prime Minister Moran had launched a terrorist attack out of revenge. The kingdom’s core circle of old nobles, including Duke Grahaed, and dozens of important ministers had been brutally poisoned inside Redleaf Manor, all dying overnight. A massive vacuum had appeared in the Royal Capital’s center of power.

The third piece of news: Princess Sylvia’s thunderous operation!

At the darkest moment of the nation, Princess Sylvia led the Northern Territory elites to take over the city defenses overnight, control all suspects involved in the case, and stabilize the overall situation. At present, the princess had already entered the Golden Rose Palace and was temporarily administering state affairs. She would soon be crowned as the new monarch!

If these three pieces of news were a magnitude-ten earthquake that tore through the Royal Capital, then the other statement published right beside the front page completely crushed all undercurrents that were attempting to seize the opportunity to stir up trouble.

The morning bells of the Holy Cathedral rang out at the same time.

Saintess Aurora issued a statement on behalf of the Holy Church. In an extremely rare, forceful, and clear tone, the Holy Church highly praised Princess Sylvia’s “sacred act” of stepping forward at the darkest moment of the nation.

It also called on all believers to remain restrained and rational, and to fully cooperate with Her Highness the Princess in stabilizing the kingdom’s situation.

No one knew what secret communication had taken place between the Golden Rose Palace and the Holy Church before dawn.

Nor did anyone know what promises of interest the new monarch had made to Aurora and the Holy Church behind her in exchange for this statement.

And immediately after these heavy bombs came the official royal telegraph.

This telegraph, destined to shake both the court and the public, was personally drafted by Logaris.