With each step she took, she could feel an even stronger power.
At the same time, there was also the aging of the emperor at the very top.
His temples looked even paler and his skin even more wrinkled as he walked away.
Even when sitting in his seat, his posture became more hunched.
Finally, Aurelion stepped onto the thirty-third step.
In an instant, the dress she wore, representing her status as a princess, gradually transformed into a golden royal robe.
The long robe covered with mysterious patterns trailed a long tail on the red carpet, with a flowing golden hue appearing on the crimson background.
Aurelion continued forward, her eyes growing ever more resolute.
As she stepped onto the sixty-sixth step, a golden scepter appeared in mid-air, shining brightly.
Its top is set with a crimson gemstone, which shines brightly under the night sky and moonlight.
Aurelion gripped the scepter easily, yet felt no weight from it.
Everything seemed to be going according to Aurelion's plan.
Finally, she stepped onto the ninety-ninth step.
She was only one step away from her father, the emperor.
However, Aurelion stopped in her tracks.
She stood there quietly, gazing at her father's back.
On the high platform, only the lonely Aubrey remained.
Sensing her daughter's arrival behind her, Aubrey slowly turned around.
What came into Aurelion's view was an emperor whose body had been ravaged by time.
His skin was loose and weak, and his limbs were thin and frail.
He seemed to have lost his former invincible demeanor, but his cloudy, even somewhat unfocused eyes still carried a faint gentleness.
"child."
"We have finally waited for this day to come."
These words reached Aurelion's ears, but the gentle voice felt incredibly heavy in her heart.
Aurelion was about to speak when a strong sob choked her up.
It was as if a stone was stuck there, preventing her from making a sound.
She knew perfectly well that once she crossed that last step...
The person closest to her in this world may soon be saying goodbye.
However, she had no choice; she had to take this step.
Just as her father said, only she is qualified to inherit the throne.
And it has to be her.
But at this moment, Aurelion's steps were as heavy as lead, and even lifting her feet felt like taking a thousand pounds, making it difficult for her to take the last step.
Just then, Aubrey, with that gentle gaze, spoke again:
"Don't move yet."
Aurelion abruptly stopped in her tracks.
Meanwhile, the cheers and celebrations from the surrounding crowd seemed to gradually quiet down.
Aubrey reached out with trembling hands from the table beside her seat and picked up the exquisite crown that was placed on the red carpet.
This crown was made specifically for Aurelion.
The golden crown of the female crown was dazzling under the starlight.
It is inlaid with several colorful gemstones, making it beautiful and solemn.
Aurelion seemed to understand her father's intention, and slowly bent down, lowering her head.
She closed her eyes, feeling the heavy crown being firmly placed on her head.
Just as Aurelion was about to stand up straight, Auberly's heavy, aged voice slowly rang out:
"Remember, you may only bow your head when you wear the crown."
"Because you are the emperor."
Aurelion remembered the weight of the crown.
Her heart was as heavy as a crown.
She finally raised her head again.
Looking across at Aubrey, she saw him smiling and looking up at her.
"child."
"You've grown up."
As soon as she finished speaking, Aurelion stepped onto the last step.
Standing atop the high platform, she had a broad view, able to survey every corner of the empire.
From the unfinished buildings in the capital to the faces of the residents, to the signs of rebirth appearing on the shattered land.
The residents' eyes were filled with anticipation for the future and reverence for the new emperor.
Below the stage, countless ministers applauded in respect, some even secretly wiping away tears in a corner.
Aurelion knew all of this.
At that moment, she seemed to have grasped the true meaning of being an emperor.
And just as she stood on the high platform, gazing down at the residents below.
Suddenly, a slight sizzling sound came from beside my ear.
It was as if an electric current had been cut off, causing time to pause slightly at that moment.
At this point, the whole world fell silent.
'The timeline has changed this time; is there a program error?'
It's time to check for vulnerabilities.
Soon, as the two voices faded away, time began to flow again.
But just now, Aurelion had keenly caught the sound from before.
She frowned in thought, her mind filled with doubt.
But when she turned to look at Aubrey next to her again, she found that he did not react abnormally.
He even nodded in satisfaction at her.
Aurelion shook her head and decided to stop worrying about it.
She steadied herself again, gazing at the quiet, densely packed crowd below the platform.
A gentle breeze stirs, causing the lights to sway, as if beckoning from distant stars.
The time has come to midnight.
The new emperor of the empire, Aurelion Sol IX, has been declared emperor.
As the New Year's bells rang, so too did the Queen's first proclamation:
"At this point."
"Happy New Year."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
