Chapter 1061: Lonely Sovereign

Viola will become my Empress.

Hearing Lei En's words, Ai Mi Li Si, Fa Lan Jia Si Ka and Po La Rui Si's expressions changed instantly, their faces unable to hide the loss and resentment.

Although they knew they couldn't compete with Viola, they still harbored a sliver of hope.

They didn't expect Lei En to decide so quickly.

Empire Empress!

It is the most prestigious title aside from the Emperor, and far more than just a title—it signifies immense glory, authority, and status!

In many occasions, the Empress represents the Emperor; the couple is one, and she may even exercise the Emperor's power.

Truly beneath one person, above billions!

Ai Mi Li Si is the queen of Kang Jiatelu, ruling a kingdom; she has long tasted the feeling of being above all. Yet Kang Jiatelu is merely a barren peninsula, perpetually cold, with a total population of just over thirty million, divided into seven duchies, the whole kingdom comparable to a prosperous Empire coastal province.

Even ten queens of Kang Jiatelu cannot match a single Empire Empress.

Thus her reaction was the most intense.

"Your Majesty," Ai Mi Li Si instinctively stood, "Such a matter concerns the Empire and the Emperor's face; please, Your Majesty, think it over carefully."

The moment she spoke, the restaurant fell silent as if a needle could be heard.

Lao Ba De couple and Bu Li Sai Te three siblings dared not speak; the guards and palace maids trembled inside, even several children sensed the heavy atmosphere, instantly falling quiet.

Viola, as the focus, offered no rebuttal, her face serene.

Lei En glanced at the Dragonborn Queen, felt no anger; he knew Ai Mi Li Si's thoughts over the years. When he was still the Earl of Glamorgan, she had proactively sought cooperation, offered herself in the midnight, and later bore his first son Lei Kesi.

Although her motives were impure from the start, as the Dragonborn Queen she must consider her family's and kingdom's interests, which is understandable.

Ai Mi Li Si is adept at gauging the times; she has coveted Viola's position for a long while.

However, she knows Viola's status is unshakable.

Thus she has been obedient these years, daring no covert moves, mostly devoting herself in Kang Jiatelu to raising her son Lei Kesi.

But today she could no longer hold back.

The allure of the Empress's crown is too great; not contesting now means never being able to surpass Viola later—nothing compares to the Empire Empress.

Lei En gave a slight smile, calmly saying, "No one is more suitable than Viola to be my Empress; this requires no consideration. If Viola lacks qualification, who then? Ai Mi Li Si, tell me."

Ai Mi Li Si's complexion froze; she opened her mouth but could not speak.

By birth, Viola is the great‑granddaughter of the Duke of Silver Star, nearly as noble as the Dragonborn family; by status, Viola is the Pontiff of the Beauty and Goodness Church, the Divine Chosen of the Longhaired Lady, no less than the queen of Kang Jiatelu; by strength, Viola and she are both Legendary High-rank.

Ai Mi Li Si is confident she meets all these conditions.

She also bore Lei En a first son.

Even in looks and figure, Ai Mi Li Si feels she is not inferior to Viola. She has always believed Viola's prominent place in Lei En's heart is only because she met Lei En first, lending a hand when Lei En was still an ordinary person.

This is fate's injustice!

Had she met Lei En first, she surely would have recognized his extraordinariness, just as when she first arrived at the Earl of Glamorgan, their initial meeting placed a heavy bet on Lei En.

Ai Mi Li Si's heart is full of jealousy toward Viola, because she met Lei En first and stole everything that belonged to me!

But she dares not say it.

"Or do you think you are more suitable than Viola to be Empress?" Lei En asked directly on her behalf.

Ai Mi Li Si's eyelids flickered wildly.

She wanted to answer "Yes," but realized Lei En's mind was already made up; answering that way might anger Lei En, with unpredictable consequences.

"Lei En," Ai Mi Li Si changed her address.

A hint of gloom appeared on her face; she turned to Fa Lan Jia Si Ka and Po La Rui Si, sorrowfully saying, "You cannot be so biased; you should give my sisters and me a fair chance to compete."

Fa Lan Jia Si Ka and Po La Rui Si, knowing the Dragonborn Queen was acting and playing the emotional card, nodded slightly in agreement.

"Enough, wipe your tears away."

Lei En remained unmoved, speaking in a deep voice, "Absolute fairness does not exist in this world; this matter is settled. Sit down and eat."

Ai Mi Li Si stared blankly at Lei En, yet did not sit.

Her expression wavered, still unwilling at heart, she shouted, "Lei En, I refuse!" Her emotions slipped; a faint dragon aura radiated, enveloping the hall, startling the Lao Ba De couple and several children.

"What did you say?"

Lei En stared at Ai Mi Li Si, his gaze sharp, a strand of anger rising from his core, coldly saying, "My decision never requires your approval."

Today we must suppress Ai Mi Li Si's fury, give her no hope, lest there be endless unrest thereafter.

But Ai Mi Li Si's composure has already been drowned by jealousy.

The Dragonborn's greedy nature overrode reason.

Lei En's warning instead sparked greater anger in her, yet she dared not defy Lei En face‑to‑face; after a few seconds of silence, she lifted the nearby Lei Kesi, turned and left, sorrowfully saying, "My son and I will return to Kang Jiatelu now; I never wish to see you again."

"Mother..." Lei Kesi whispered.

Ai Mi Li Si turned a deaf ear, forcibly pulling Lei Kesi toward the exit.

Lei En's voice rang from behind, "If you dare step out of this room today, tomorrow Lei Kesi will be crowned King of Kang Jiatelu."

Ai Mi Li Si's figure froze.

She turned back to Lei En, realizing he truly wasn't trying to frighten her; based on her knowledge of Lei En, he would keep his word.

Three years ago, Kang Jiatelu formally merged into the Empire, becoming a vassal.

With Lei En's current power, replacing the occupant of Kang Jiatelu's throne is a mere utterance, effortless. Even if the successor is not Lei Kesi but someone unrelated to the Dragonborn family, no one in the kingdom would resist.

Ai Mi Li Si felt as if a bucket of ice water was poured over her head, the chill piercing her heart.

Anger turned into fear.

Yet the pride of being the Dragonborn Queen, having just spoken harsh words, she could not bring herself to admit fault to Lei En, for admitting fault would mean abandoning the Empress contest.

"Father Emperor, Mother is momentarily confused; please do not be angry with her," Lei Kesi approached Lei En, pleading.

Seeing his son now a teenage boy, Lei En's sternness eased.

He nodded, "Alright, I'm not angry."

"Thank you, Father Emperor." Lei Kesi hurriedly turned back, pulling Ai Mi Li Si to their seats, but found he couldn't move her and instantly became so anxious he was about to cry.

At that moment Viola stood up and said softly, "Your Majesty the Queen, we are family and should get along amicably. Today is the first royal banquet since Lei En's enthronement, a cause for celebration; do not let empty titles damage harmony and upset Lei En. Any other matters can be discussed later."

Ai Mi Li Si looked at Viola and finally softened.

"Fine, it was my fault; please, Your Majesty, forgive me." She seized the chance and, together with Lei Kesi, sat back in her seat.

The family continued dining.

Lei En's face regained its smile; while eating he teased a few children and still chatted about trivial matters with his parents and siblings.

On the surface it seemed harmonious, but aside from the children, everyone harbored their own thoughts.

Lei En sighed inwardly.

The human heart is the most complex thing in the world; even the closest family changes its attitude toward you once you become emperor. In a past life there was a saying: the imperial family is ruthless; great interests cause every royal member to have their own ideas.

Ai Mi Li Si is simply more straightforward, expressing her own resentment.

Fa Lan Jia Si Ka is the same; she makes more covert moves and is more scheming, and today Ai Mi Li Si's outburst is not unrelated to her instigation.

Po La Rui Si also has depth, but she comes from a common background and lacks the backing of a great clan, so she has little confidence.

She is her own student.

A few years ago in Weizelan, Po La Rui Si seized a private encounter, could not resist tasting her, and after several secret meetings became pregnant, giving birth to Bu Lai En the following year. Bei Ji Xing Nü Shi gave birth out of wedlock, causing a stir in Weizelan and leaving many admirers clutching their chests in heartbreak.

And Viola…

She also has her own calculations; a woman who can securely sit on the papal throne is not simple at all.

Lei En suddenly understood why ancient monarchs of past lives called themselves "the lonely one."

These thoughts flashed through his mind.

Lei En was not affected; his Willpower instead hardened, and regardless of others' ideas, the decision rests on his word alone.

Originally, after announcing Viola's matter, he intended to confer titles on three other women, but now it seems best to pause.

Let's watch their behavior.

After a little over an hour, the family banquet ended amid merriment.

"I have other matters to attend to," Lei En rose and said, "Viola, arrange for the family to go out this evening and look after everyone for me."

"Very well," Viola replied softly.

Everyone rose, watching Lei En open a portal; just before stepping through, he turned back, "Lei Kesi, come with me."

Everyone's expression shifted slightly.

Surprise flashed in Ai Mi Li Si's eyes; she quickly patted her still‑dazed son, "Go quickly."

Lei Kesi rushed through the portal, and the scene changed; he found himself in a spacious room, with the famous Lotus Lake of He Palace visible through the window, instantly realizing this was the top floor of the ruling hall, his father's office where he had worked for ten years.

He saw Lei En seated behind the desk, and approached cautiously to greet him.

"Father Emperor."

"Hmm," Lei En looked up at his son, smiled, and said, "No need to be so formal. I'll handle a few matters first; find a place to sit, or wander downstairs."

Lei Kesi replied gladly, "Very well."

He sat on a sofa at the side of the office; soon, He Palace officials hurried in, along with cabinet ministers seeking audience, reporting to the emperor.

The ministers and officials, seeing Lei Kesi sitting nearby, showed curiosity in their eyes, but quickly restrained themselves.

Lei Kesi listened patiently.

At thirteen, under his mother's guidance, he had already been exposed to the affairs of Kang Jia Te Luo, far smarter than peers, with broad insight, yet after listening to Lei En's discussion with officials, most of it left him confused and only half‑understood.

Not until late night did Lei En finish his work.

"Let's go."

Lei En approached; Lei Kesi had grown to be as tall as his shoulder, and his cleverness and the eye of the soul saw his heart was pure, unlike his mother Ai Mi Li Si who harbored many thoughts, which gave Lei En some comfort.

He grasped Lei Kesi's shoulder.

The two traversed the void, the world flashing by at high speed before Lei Kesi's eyes, warping into streams of light; in an instant they leapt dozens of miles.

"Where is this?"

Lei Kesi looked around and found himself amid the ruins of a city.

The scarred city looked as if bombarded by countless spells; all structures were destroyed, though traces of its former glory remained.

His gaze passed the ruins toward distant, endless mountain ranges.

"ParrasFloatingCity!"

Lei Kesi shouted in surprise, instantly recognizing the place: the ParrasFloatingCity built by Duke Hong Shi Kai Er Si Tong, which three days earlier was struck down by his father's Star Destroyer, and after its reserve energy depleted, it crash‑landed among the mountains of Wei Si Te.

After Kai Er Si Tong's death, the floating city became Lei En's spoils.

Lei Kesi looked around, yet saw no trace of a person inside the floating city.

"All surviving residents have been sent back to the northern grasslands," Lei En read his son's puzzlement and explained, "ParrasFloatingCity's surface city was destroyed, but part of the internal rune array was damaged; once repaired, it can ascend again."

ParrasFloatingCity is the largest and most magnificent floating city in history, and of course cannot simply be dismantled.

Even if not as powerful as a Star Destroyer, it still holds great strategic value!

As he spoke, Lei En opened a portal.

The two entered, arriving at the floating city's core control chamber, where Lei Kesi saw many transcendent beings clad in golden armor repairing the rune array.

"Thundercast Celestial Soldier!"

Lei Kesi marveled; today the Empire knows that his father's forces include a mysterious "Thundercast Legion," numbering at least forty thousand, all composed of Thundercast Celestial Soldiers, each whose power approaches legend, with combat capability surpassing legends!

He had encountered some Thundercast Celestial Soldiers during his time in Kang Jia Te Luo and knew a squad of them secretly guarded him.

Yet he did not expect there to be tens of thousands of Thundercast Celestial Soldiers!

Soon, Lei Kesi's attention shifted to the center of the chamber, where a two‑meter‑diameter crystal sphere hovered, constantly radiating dazzling magical light like a miniature sun.

Iola Core!

Fu Kong Cheng and the Star Destroyer's most important core.

Lei En stood before the Iola Core, carefully observing it. It was originally bound to Kaersitung's soul, but now it is ownerless, indicating that Kaersitung's soul has dissipated.

However, a hint of gloom flashed in his eyes.

When Kaersitung left Palas for Fu Bei Deng Square, Reslin sneaked into the control room and discovered that the Iola Core's soul binding had been undone.

At that time, I had not yet killed Kaersitung!

(End of chapter)