NOVEL NEXT Ch30: The Meeting P2
Chapter 30: The Meeting P2
~30.2~
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“Your Majesty, may I?” Adaal asked.
Kye sighed. “Very well. Speak.”
“Why is this woman claiming the surname of Atlantis? I understand there is a mortal empire under the moniker of Atlantis withing the Ten Realms, but would she not be an Athas?”
“Valid point,” Kye said. “As you well know, I was interrupted before I could finish creating the sixth satellite civilization. Thus, the Ten Realms were left atop the world pillars. Atlantis was to be the name of the sixth. I instructed the system to pass that name to a suitable home within the Ten Realms once they developed enough. You may think of the Ten Realms as the Atlantis Civilization.” Kye stood up and looked at Atalante. “And that means that I intend for you to govern all ten eventually, Empress Atalante.”
“As you wish, Your Majesty.”
Kye smiled and returned to her seat. “Continue.”
“Astarte Atlantis the Fifty-Fifth of Athas.” “Astraia Atlantis the Fifty-Sixth of Athas.” “Layla Athas the Fifty-Third.” “James Athas the Fifty-Fourth.” “Edward Barrett of Atlantis.” “Draelana Maya of Atlantis.” “Zen Akari I of Atlantis.” “Apollyon Voulzograd of Atlantis.”
Kaylie stood up and curtsied, then smirked. “Princess Kyra Athas.”
Laila stood up next and also smirked. “Princess Liya Athas.”
Rei stood next to her sisters and curtsied. “Princess Rei Akari.”
“Princess?” Nephele asked, looking at Rei. “You are claiming the title of Princess, but not the name of Athas?”
“Yes, ma’am. I am-”
“Rei, stop,” Kye said. “You are Elysium royalty. Your rank is higher than the governors. You need not respond that way to them.”
“My King, I request an explanation,” Nephele said.
Rei nodded and stepped toward the table. “I was a mortal born to mother in two mortal lives. I have been blessed and am now immortal. My mortal identity is Rei Akari. I have not yet chosen a soul name, but I am a daughter of King Elysia.”
“I see. Thank you for the explanation, Princess Rei,” Nephele replied with a smile. “I pray you find a name you like.”
“Thank you, Lady Nephele.” Rei smiled, curtsied, and returned to her seat.
“Now everyone knows each other’s names,” Kye said. She leaned to the side again.
“Your majesty,” said Iris with a hand raised.
“Yes, Iris?”
“The woman standing behind Princess Azalea has not given an introduction.”
“Hmm.” Kye eyed Sanae. “Do you want to? You and I are the only ones who aren’t obligated.”
“I don’t mind if they want one from me.”
“She is not obligated?” Adaal said. “But that right belongs only to the King. Not even a queen,” he looked at Alethea, “is exempt.”
Sanae, with the same voice as Kye, replied to him, “That is precisely why I am not obligated.”
“And now you speak with the voice of King Elysia?” said Orion, standing up so suddenly that his chair was knocked over backwards.
Sanae chuckled. “You are as blind as ever. I see Iris and Nephele are not questioning it. Even Noah has withheld himself. Adaal, Orion, open your eyes. For ones as loyal as you once were, you should know at least my pseudo identity.” She snapped her finger and her appearance changed to match her appearance as Alfia.
“Lady Alfia?” Adaal’s jaw dropped.
Nephele added, “Alfia Athas and Elysia Athas, collectively known as Elysia Alexandria, King of the World. One soul forced to extreme measures to split herself into two to safely ward off an unjust coup d’état invasion from her subjects of Olympus, Oceanus, and Orthrys.”
“That any of you did not immediately understand who she is...” Iris added. “You deserve no place in this room.”
Kye cleared her throat. “Yes, well. We’ll get to the details soon enough. Let’s begin. First, the invasion, both past and present.” She spoke coldly, sending chills down everyone’s spines. “Five trillion years ago, Olympus, Orthrys, and Oceanus invaded Elysium. I know what you coveted then. The core of the nexus cannot be managed by any other than Eve or myself. Give up on that senseless goal.”
“Senseless? I-”
“-will be silent, Orion.” Kye cut him off again. “During my time transmigrating, there have been repeated covert entries into Elysium, despite me making it abundantly clear that entry is forbidden. As a result, Maya and I both lost our mortal lives recently. I returned to my body, but Maya had no body to return to. As such, Eve restored her body for her in advance under the condition that the lot of you agree to it.” She gave them an intense glare. “I suggest you agree to it. Cast your vote now.”
“I agree,” Nephele said with no hesitation.
“I agree,” Iris echoed.
“... I agree,” said Noah. Adaal and Orion also reluctantly agreed.
“Good. The issue of the invasions and covert entries... my solution is to remove the possibility of such. Olympus, Orthrys, Oceanus, Atlas, and Erytheia shall return to Elysium. I am hereby reversing my decision to allow satellite civilizations. All will once again be under Elysium. This is my decree as King of the World.”
“Absolutely not!” Orion bellowed.
“I will not stand for this!” Noah roared.
“This is too much,” Adaal added, without raising his voice.
“I’m... shocked,” Iris muttered, her eyes widened.
“If that is your will,” Nephele said quietly. “But...”
Kye smirked as they began arguing amongst themselves. Three were against Kye’s demand. Two were not against, but that didn’t mean they were for it. After a few minutes, she clapped her hands loudly. “I will not leave this open for debate. I am... angry.” She glanced between Adaal, Orion, and Noah. “Your little invasion cost quite a bit. It’s over. You’ll return to Elysium and the five satellite civilizations will be dismantled. All inhabitants will be brought here. Elysium has ample space to house all.”
“I will not agree to this,” Noah shouted. “You are demanding too much!”
“Is it not my right as a royal to demand whatever I wish of the nobility under me?”
“You are hardly a royal to us. You have been inactive for too long.”
“And whose fault is that?”
“Your own! You made the choice to-”
“-save every single soul. What did you do?”
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Revision: 2024-9-17