Count Stafford's kneeling not only startled Charlotte, but also caused the knight standing guard and the serving maids in the reception hall to freeze in unison, their gazes converging upon the scene.

Charlotte had to stand up and, with a gentle cough, said,

"Count Stafford, you jest. I am an Earl of Castel, a vassal to the New Moon Kingdom, not the Queen of the Falling Star Kingdom. Please, rise..."

After speaking, she signaled to the Personal Guard Knights to help Count Stafford to his feet.

Upon receiving the gesture, the knight hurried forward to try to lift Count Stafford, but no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't budge him an inch.

The power disparity was just too great.

When a Blazing Sun decides to be shameless, no other Transcendent can make him rise.

The face of the Personal Guard Knight turned almost red with effort, but Count Stafford remained motionless. Left with no choice, the knight could only look toward Charlotte with a plea for help.

Seeing this, Charlotte sighed helplessly and waved at Count Stafford,

"Lord Count, please, stand up."

Count Stafford still showed no intention of moving.

But as soon as Charlotte had finished speaking, he felt a gentle force acting upon him, forcibly "lifting" him to his feet.

The force was not oppressive; it even had a subtly enriching quality.

Yet Count Stafford was shocked to discover that he could not resist it.

Under this soft power, he stood almost involuntarily and seemed unable to kneel again.

"You may all leave now."

Charlotte ordered the surrounding knights and maids.

The knights and maids bowed to Charlotte before swiftly departing.

When only Charlotte and Count Stafford were left, Charlotte resumed her seat and spoke,

"Count Stafford, I believe I already know the purpose of your visit. Now... we can have a proper discussion."

Count Stafford finally regained his composure from the incredible power he had just experienced.

He looked at the young girl sitting in the Lord's seat, his eyes filled with astonishment and curiosity, but above all, admiration:

"Rumors say that, though young, the Lord of Castel is an exceptional Lord, bestowed with the Divine Lord's Blessing and possessing a genius-like supernatural ability..."

"I always thought these rumors were exaggerated, but now I see they are not exaggeration at all—your power is more extraordinary than people realize..."

"Your Majesty, just now... was that the power of Divine Arts?"

Charlotte did not deny it.

Pretending to be a pig to eat a tiger was all well and good, but sometimes it was necessary to show one's strength, especially in this otherworldly realm where Transcendents and Bloodlines are revered.

Charlotte smiled and said,

"Now that you've experienced my power, you should understand that someone like me would not wish to become a puppet of any force."

Saying this, her smile faded, and she implied meaningfully,

"I have not yet spoken of accepting the throne, nor have I been crowned in Falling Star. To call me 'Your Majesty' now doesn't seem to me to be a sign of sincere support."

"Count, I... do not much like being tested."

Upon hearing Charlotte's words, Count Stafford apologized with a bow,

"My apologies, Lord Charlotte, I was rash."

"Although your name has become renowned across Star Moon in the past two years, there is still far too little information about you within Falling Star. The Kingdom Council has decided that it is imperative to invite you to accept the throne, which is why... I acted in such a manner."

"Oh? Imperative? Count, do you understand what it means to use that word in negotiations?"

Charlotte asked, surprised.

Count Stafford nodded,

"Of course, using 'imperative' in negotiations only puts one at a greater disadvantage. However, to me, it also represents a gesture of sincerity."

"Firstly, I must admit that many nobles in the Kingdom Council indeed wish to support a King with little foundation in Falling Star."

"But ... this does not include me, nor does it include the cabinet of Falling Star Kingdom."

"Contrary to the rumors from the outside world, what we wish to establish is not a puppet, but rather... we hope to establish a sovereign with enough boldness and wisdom."

"I think you must understand that the current situation of Falling Star is not good, and a puppet monarch is incapable of leading Falling Star against the insidious Bloodlines or the covetous New Moon Kingdom."

Upon hearing Count Stafford's words, Charlotte was genuinely surprised.

The attitude of the Falling Star Kingdom Council... was really different from what she had imagined!

"Count, may I hear the reason? It sounds... as though you and the Falling Star cabinet strongly believe, and have long since concluded, that supporting me as the Falling Star Queen is the correct choice?"

She asked with some curiosity.

Charlotte was truly curious.

Although she was endowed with the identity of the Church Saintess, although she had defeated the allied forces of two duchies, although she had the "official" bloodline validation of the Roman Sword...

But if it was just because of these that they considered her to be a qualified monarch that would satisfy the Falling Star Kingdom Council, it seemed too premature.

Count Stafford nodded:

"Of course, to express my sincerity, I will answer any questions you might have."

"Firstly, the Kingdom Council's decision to support you as the Falling Star Queen was indeed in accordance with the last will of King Edward."

"Your bloodline is noble, and even the Roman Sword has submitted to you; legally speaking, you are without a doubt the true heir of Falling Star."

"You are the Saintess certified by the Holy Royal Court. Supporting you as monarch would undoubtedly earn the Church's support, enabling us to better combat the Bloodline."

"However, the real reason why we decided to bring you back to Falling Star at all costs is not these, but a prophecy from many years ago..."

"A prophecy?"

Charlotte raised an eyebrow.

"Yes, a prophecy."

Count Stafford nodded and continued:

"Many years ago, when King Edward still reigned, he sought out a mysterious Divination Master for an Observation concerning the heir of Falling Star, as you know... King Edward had few offspring, and the matter of a successor to the throne has always been a big issue."

"After the Observation, that Divination Master told King Edward that the next heir of Falling Star would be personally chosen by the Roman family's ancestral Divine Sword."

"And the new King would lead Falling Star out of the crisis of civil war, out of enduring hardship, and help the Falling Star become a haven in the coming turbulent times..."

"Originally, King Edward was skeptical about the prophecy, but... the fortune-teller's abilities were indeed profound, several of her predictions later all came true."

"Not only that, but the fortune-teller, due to her extremely accurate Observations, angered the Nais Bloodline, who excelled in fortune-telling, and was ultimately killed by the Nais Bloodline..."

Charlotte's heart stirred and said:

"So... is that why King Edward had sent Prince Henry to the Romany Duchy to participate in the ancestor recognition ceremony?"

Count Stafford nodded:

"Yes. However, Prince obviously was not the inheritor from the prophecy, let alone being 'chosen' by the Roman Sword, he did not even receive the 'acknowledgment' of the Divine Sword."

"That is why, when we learned that the missing Roman Sword had appeared in the Castel Domain and had acknowledged you as its master, we finally realized... You are the successor mentioned in the prophecy!"

After hearing Count Stafford's words, Charlotte nodded slightly.

She had not expected that the reason the Falling Star Kingdom Council so resolutely supported her was because of a prophecy.

The Falling Star Kingdom truly was the main stronghold of the Nais Clan.

Not to mention the fortune-telling Nais Bloodline, even the humans from that place truly believed in prophecies!

"Lord Charlotte, the Kingdom Council has reached a unanimous decision with the Roman Royal Family to support you as the Falling Star Queen. You will have all the powers of the King of Falling Star, you do not need to make any concessions to the Council, nor do you need to change your name, you can still use the surname of Castel."

"Of course, it is unrealistic to say that there are no conditions at all, the Council only requires that after you abdicate the throne, we revert to the ancient elective succession system of Falling Star Kingdom. After you, the throne will no longer be hereditary, but elected by the Kingdom Council from among the Kingdom's landed Nobles."

"Furthermore, after your abdication, the Roman Sword will also be officially recognized as the Sword of Royal Authority of the Falling Star Kingdom, and will be kept in the custody of the Roman Royal Family..."

Count Stafford said.

Having finished, he looked at Charlotte with sincerity, and earnestly asked:

"Lord Charlotte, are you... willing to accept our support and become the new Falling Star Queen?"