The Rise of the Titan

"What do you want from me?" Remilia, the young queen sitting at the highest position, looked down at the bustling nobles below her with no expression on her face. "Only then will you stop those meaningless probes."

This is the House of Nobles, an important building where the king and the nobles of the Lockman Kingdom discuss various national affairs, at least officially. In reality, it's a place for negotiations and exchanges of interests. When the king appears in this building, it signifies his intention to make some kind of concession or compromise to the nobles, symbolizing the decline of royal authority.

In the early days of Muria's reign, some nobles tried to get him to step into this place, but nothing came of it. When you hold absolute military power, all schemes and conspiracies are mere jokes.

But now, with Remilia, the queen without absolute control over the discourse, facing the continuous, unending noble uprisings, it seems she has decided to compromise. Her attitude is no longer as tough as before. She summoned all nobles with titles above count and reopened the long-sealed House of Nobles.

Even Muria's predecessor, King Belladion, never set foot in this humiliating building.

"Your Majesty, many nobles believe that the new tax law is not suitable for our Lockman Kingdom. The previous tax system should be restored. Additionally, nobles want legislative power over their territories..." Since the queen seemed ready to compromise, the greedy nobles naturally didn't hold back, making all kinds of demands.

"Impossible. I will not repeal any decrees issued by the ruling Archduke." Despite seeming ready to make concessions, Remilia was extremely firm on this point.

Her resolute words left the nobles seated in the tiered seats looking at each other, and then some of them started to laugh triumphantly. They understood the implicit meaning in Remilia's words. The decrees issued by Muria would not be changed, but in other areas, there could be some concessions.

This was exciting. Muria's time in power wasn't very long, and he didn't issue many decrees that severely harmed the interests of the nobles. Legislative power was more about face than actual significance, and the new tax law only troubled nobles who were bad at managing their territories. Those good at it supported the decree, but such nobles were in the minority. Most nobles were good-for-nothings living off their ancestors' achievements.

"Then, Your Majesty, please revoke the 'Ennoblement Decree'!" Finally, a noble voiced their true desire for the queen to repeal the decree after seeing Remilia's firm attitude.

"Isn't this decree good?" Remilia asked, pretending to be puzzled. "It gives your descendants a chance to acquire fiefs and become influential nobles."

"But under this system, even a duke would become a lower-ranked noble within three generations," a noble said sinisterly.

"This is the fate of those who don't strive and only rely on their ancestors' glory. As long as there's a bit of ambition, how would they become lower-ranked nobles?" Remilia said expressionlessly. "It's easy to maintain one's title and fief by earning battle achievements."

"If we have to fight to maintain our titles and fiefs, what was the point of our ancestors' bloody battles?"

"I agree. Our ancestors fought bloodily for these titles and fiefs. Why should we sacrifice to keep them?"

"And now, the Drow Kingdom next to us has been destroyed. The Redwing Duchy and the Sherman Dwarf Kingdom are our allies. We have no reason to go to war with them. Without war, how can we gain battle achievements to upgrade our titles and expand our fiefs?"

"There are many opportunities to gain battle achievements!" Remilia showed a disappointed expression. "The remnants of the Medis Kingdom in the Underdark, the monsters in the wilderness, the dark creatures hiding among humans, and the followers of evil gods..."

"Those aren't enough, and they're hard to find..." The noisy voices rose again, almost all demanding the repeal of the 'Ennoblement Decree.' No one wanted their family to fall apart after a few generations. No one could guarantee that their descendants would be elite in every generation.

"Besides the 'Ennoblement Decree,' is there anything else you want?" Remilia looked down at the nobles with an indifferent face, filled with coldness and a hint of sarcasm on her lips.

A brief silence fell. The nobles looked at each other, seemingly not expecting the queen to be so agreeable after yielding.

"Your Majesty, I heard that the Underdark region, after being eradicated by Archduke Muria and the ancient dragons, is mostly deserted and uninhabited. Its resources are almost untouched."

"That's right. It should belong to everyone, not just you."

"Hah, you dare to covet the Underdark region my brother Muria conquered for me? What does that have to do with you? The entire Underdark region is mine."

"Of course, it is yours, but Your Majesty, you don't seem to be fully exploiting the Underdark. Many resource points are abandoned and unexploited. If you lack manpower, could you consider us?"

These words sparked a chorus of agreement in the House of Nobles. Many nobles coveted the resources of the Underdark.

"Your greedy faces are so ugly they make me nauseous." Remilia looked down and mocked without any scruples.

"Your Majesty, are you insulting us?" The nobles voiced their discontent.

"So what if I am? The dying don't need to care about such things."

"Tyrant! Do you still want to massacre us?"

"Who are you calling a tyrant?" A hand in crimson armor slapped the noble who spoke. Bloody teeth flew out, and the hand then grabbed the noble's hair and smashed his face into the table.

"You're...!" The noble, with half his face embedded in the table and only one eye visible, showed a look of terror upon seeing the red-armored youth. "Red Dragon Auston, didn't you leave with Archduke Muria? Why are you here?"

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