CHAPTER 633: BARON ROSALIND’S IMPLORE

"After thinking about it, I’ve come to a decision that..." Aldrian said as he looked at the others.

"I will take the role Your Majesties hope for. If my acceptance of this role can bring stability and peace throughout the land, then I will gladly take it. Well, I don’t like those outsiders trying anything stupid on this continent anyway, so I don’t see any problem with it."

His answer made the others instantly light up with joy, and they let out sighs of relief.

"I’m glad you support our opinion and are willing to take the role. If you had refused to become our leader, we would have had no choice but to use your name if those people tried to pressure us. That could have caused hidden resentment, since they would see us as defying their orders, and they might have done something harmful to us. But it’s still much better than becoming their extended hands," Emperor Durand said.

"Yes, it’s much different if we are directly under young Aldrian’s authority. They would have to think about you and wouldn’t just recklessly act. If they did something to us, it would be the same as challenging your authority here. That alone is enough to justify anything that might happen to them," Emperor Raymond said.

"But then again, I don’t think they’d be crazy enough to try, which means we’ll gain peace through young Aldrian’s deterrent effect," he added.

Aldrian nodded. Although the main point of this plan was to use his position as a deterrent against the outsiders, he did not mind. He would gain something from it as well. If, even after the creation of his nation, those outsiders still acted in ways that conflicted with his interests, then they would have no one to blame but themselves.

He would not allow anyone seeking to disrupt the continent’s stability to do as they pleased.

They then continued to discuss the details of this nation’s creation and its structure. To unite the full strength of the continent, they agreed to form one large container. Since what they needed was a clear hierarchy between ruler and subject, they decided that this container would take the form of an empire.

Aldrian would become its emperor, standing at the peak of the continent’s pyramid.

They continued discussing the matter for the next three hours before deciding it was enough.

"All of you are welcome to stay here for a while. This place is quite good for cultivation, after all," Aldrian said as he noticed the leaders of the major territories standing as if they were preparing to leave.

"Ahaha, maybe next time. There are other matters I need to attend to at the royal palace... Your Majesty," Emperor Durand said with a smile, deliberately emphasizing the title.

"Yes, there are still many things we need to take care of. Besides..." Emperor Raymond said as he glanced at Baron Rosalind with a smile. "Your Majesty still has something to discuss with Baron Rosalind. We won’t take any more of your time. We can make our way out on our own, there’s no need for Your Majesty to escort us. That would be inappropriate."

The others said the same, and Aldrian couldn’t help but inwardly sigh. These guys so eager to make him their leader, even calling him Your Majesty when the empire had not even been created yet.

He could only accept their eagerness and let them do as they pleased until they left the room, leaving him alone with Baron Rosalind and Elena. Once the others were gone, a brief awkward silence settled over the room.

For Baron Rosalind and Elena, who had only intended to come here to discuss a certain matter with Aldrian, they ended up hearing the entire conversation about the creation of a new empire instead. And just like that, once the discussion was over and the others had left, Aldrian had already decided to become the first emperor of that empire.

He felt he wasn’t supposed to be part of such a high-level meeting in the first place, but those leaders had still allowed him and Elena to listen, as if it wasn’t a big deal.

Aldrian decided to break the awkward silence and smiled at them.

"So, what is it, Your Excellency? From what I can tell, your visit must be for something different than those other leaders, right?" he asked.

"Uh... uhm... Your Majesty—"

"No, don’t call me that. Not yet. The empire isn’t even officially established, so how could you call me that? Don’t follow those old folks in their eagerness, Your Excellency," Aldrian cut off Baron Rosalind, causing the baron to fall silent, nod, and sigh.

"All right, young master," he said as he took a deep breath. But then he seemed hesitant to start the discussion, which made Aldrian slightly confused. What could he possibly want to say that made him hesitate this much?

"Uh... young master, to be honest, I feel quite ashamed to bring this up, but..." Baron Rosalind finally spoke, though he still hesitated before letting out a long sigh and gathering his courage.

"I would like to ask your permission for my family to return to our former secret realm, back when we were still one of the four guardian families of the core region of the Everlasting Silent Forest," he said at last, giving a slight bow. Elena followed her father and bowed as well.

Aldrian raised his eyebrows as he finally understood what this was about. Baron Rosalind straightened his posture and continued.

"I know I must sound shameless, perhaps even outrageous but after the war, I came to realize just how much of our family’s potential has been wasted, despite having an inheritance granted by the gods."

"Even though we had a strong background in the past, we were never able to truly unleash its full power because we lacked the proper environment to support it."

"When we compare ourselves to the Xin family, who were also one of the four guardian families, we feel like nothing. The difference between us is so great that I can’t help but feel deeply ashamed... and even envious of them."

"But I believe the Rosalind family holds the same potential as the Xin family. We share the same roots as the true indigenous people of this continent, and we made the same pact with the divine dragon and phoenix." Baron Rosalind said, though his eyes couldn’t meet Aldrian’s. He slightly lowered his gaze.

He truly felt ashamed, and even rude for saying such things, but he had to. It had been weighing on his heart for the past week.

"We lost some of our members in the war, a result of our own weakness. Patriarch Xin visited our family and said that the current state of the Rosalind family is far from the glory we once had when we were still the Ragius family. He recommended that we return to the secret realm where our ancestors once lived," Baron Rosalind said, his fist tightening slightly.

"He said that the only environment on this continent that supports our cultivation is within the secret realm of the forest. He also told me I should speak to you about it first, young master... but I feel truly ashamed. It seems like I only want to enjoy the results of your hard work, after everything you’ve done to protect this continent."

"Even so, The Rosalind family has wasted too much of its potential. I want to raise it to greater heights. Patriarch Xin’s words keep echoing in my mind. We want to return to those glorious days when we were still the Ragius family—standing on equal footing with the Xin family."

"My apologies, young master, for this outrageous request... but would you grant the Rosalind family permission to return to our ancestral secret realm?" Baron Rosalind asked, bowing his head once more, with Elena following his gesture.

"Of course, Your Excellency. You may return with your family to the Ragius family’s old secret realm. That was once your family’s home, after all, and I also want your family to maximize its potential, Your Excellency."

"It’s truly a pity that the Rosalind family couldn’t develop that potential due to the lack of a supportive environment. But I hope that with your return to the secret realm, the Rosalind family can regain its former glory, just as it once had when it was still known as the Ragius family," Aldrian said without hesitation.

Baron Rosalind and Elena were stunned. Just like that?

They sighed inwardly. Aldrian was someone easy to speak to, as long as you had a sincere relationship with him. A matter like this was nothing to him. He simply allowed the Rosalind family to return.

Not everyone was like Aldrian. If he had been the type who always wanted something in return, or worse, some arrogant asshole, he could’ve forced Baron Rosalind into a humiliating request just to be allowed back into the secret realm.

Thankfully, Aldrian wasn’t like that, which made everything much easier.

"Thank you. Truly, thank you, young master," Baron Rosalind said, bowing again.

Aldrian nodded with a smile.

"No problem," he replied, then turned his gaze to Elena.

"I see that you’re getting stronger, Miss Elena. Congratulations on your breakthrough to the Emperor stage."

"Ah, thank you for your congratulatory words, young master," Elena replied, a slight blush on her face.

They continued talking about other matters for another hour before finally wrapping up. Baron Rosalind and Elena then left to begin preparations for their family’s migration.

Later that day, news spread across the continent, causing an uproar among the entire populace.