Mummy Evolution
Chapter 142 - 142: Sett’s promotion

In the Past.

"I, Sett Ramses, heir to Neilara the Blind Saint, hereby declare that I shall serve the lands under my command with the grace of a ruler, and the heart of a saint."

Neilara sat on her throne, smiling as she looked at a piece of golden parchment in her hand. "Sett, do you know how much land you are going to rule over?"

Sett remained in a half bowed stand, shouting: "I do not know, Mother Empress!"

Neilara chuckled. "How much land do you think you can handle?"

Sett took a deep breath.

"The entire world, mother empress!"

The surrounding people became boisterous, their wine-raised cheers echoing across the throne room. Neilara raised her hand, silencing the room.

"Then my prince, prove to me that your words are not mere boasts. Go make the East flourish like it has never flourished. I, the Sixth Pharaoh of Ehyut, hereby give you authority to rule over one quarter of the Empire as a coming of age gift."

The crowd immediately went wild.

"What?"

"My Pharaoh, this is not wise!"

"The prince is still too young to rule that much land!"

"Why don't we give him a small territory to build experience?"

Nadia, who was in the midst of the crowd, shook with anger. "Who do you think Sett is? Of course he can handle it! All of us, his wives, were able to make their Territory flourish because of his guidance! Are you blind?"

Zainah stood beside her, calm, just watching everyone.

"Yes, Pharaoh, please reconsider. This is not a small territory like theirs!" A minister shouted. "This is a hundred thousand kilometer territory! Even experienced leaders can barely handle the chaos!"

Neilara just tapped her finger against the handrest.

Silence ensued.

Sett's heartbeat quickened.

Strength. Power. Mother.

He felt his chest tighten with pressure.

He felt his legs weaken.

He was 16 years old today.

Today was his birthday.

Other royalty would be given big territories when they turned 14 or 15, but this was his first time being handed actual land to rule. He had Territory under him, sure, but that was just unusable land turned into Territory to improve his Axiom—not actual land that needed ruling. Even his wives had functioning land of their own, but his mom had never believed he was ready to rule. Yet, after so long—his life as a ruler was truly beginning.

His mother nodded. "Step forward and take the golden banner, Sett Ramses."

I can't. This is too much.

Sett stepped forward without hesitation and held both of his hands forward.

Neilara placed the golden banner of authority on his hand. Her golden eyes opened to stare directly into his soul. Insecurities bubbled up in Sett's heart.

I can't. I will mess up. I am not ready. They are right, I should start small and slowly build up. Mom is too rushe—

"Son, go show them what I raised."

She smiled.

"Go rule."

One. Two. Three. Sett straightened, he looked back at the crowd watching.

"Prince, please make your mother reconsider!"

Sett raised his arms. "In ten months, the East will be a better world. And when that happens, minister Ron, you should betroth your daughter to me. We've been in a secret relationship for too long."

The minister, who was shouting, became silent.

Neilara chuckled, her golden eyes full of smiles.

Meanwhile, Nadia's face changed, while Zainah smirked.

She had won the bet.

Zainah whispered: "Told you that lioness was already in his bed. Minister Ron was going to end up supporting Sett whether he liked it or not. His daughter has long been stolen after all."

"Bastard. Bastard!" Nadia seethed. "How many girls are he going to marry! Look, the others are also back in the capital because of his coming of age."

Zainah chuckled, her green eyes still bright as she looked at the crowd to see some other girls—each with distinctly striking appearance and style.

My bastard husband has some good taste, but I have to tie him down a bit more.

Counting clearly, he already had 5 official wives including Zainah and Nadia.

Not to mention his secret affairs.

That is too much. Zainah complained inwardly. Maybe I should really bite it off next time he puts it in my mouth.

Nadia harrumphed. "Well, at least someone knows how I feel."

And that was how, at 16 years old, Sett came to become one of the 4 Cardinal Lords of Ehyut.

A Tier 4 Axiom Holder.

…

The door to the throne room thudded shut behind him.

For a second, Sett just stood there, his heartbeat loud in his ears. The cold stone corridors stretched out before him — empty, silent — except for a single figure leaning casually against the far wall.

He knew her immediately.

Relief crashed into him so hard he almost stumbled. His steps quickened, then broke into a run. He didn't stop until he collided into her, wrapping his arms around her waist and burying his face in the curve of her neck.

"Grandma," he mumbled, his voice raw. "You show up whenever you want... like it's nothing."

Ismera let out a soft laugh — breathy, almost surprised — and threaded her fingers through his hair.

"Well," she said, voice light but thick underneath, "you know me. I was never good at keeping to anyone's schedule."

Sett clung tighter. He could feel the strong, steady beat of her heart against his chest. It grounded him. It made him ache.

She pulled back slightly, just enough to cup his face in both hands and really see him. Her smile wavered.

"Look at you," she whispered. "Taller. Sharper. Your shoulders are filling out. When did you start looking like this?"

Sett only pressed closer, brushing his lips against the side of her neck in a kiss that lingered longer than it should have.

"Three months," he muttered. "Three months since I saw you in the flesh. Even then, you barely stayed. Of course I changed."

Ismera's hands moved slowly — almost reverently — over his back. "Sorry," she said again, quieter this time. "I missed too much, didn't I?"

Sett didn't answer.

He didn't have to.

Instead, he nudged her backward, one hand slipping around her waist, the other tangling in her hair. When her back hit the wall with a soft thud, she didn't resist.

Their mouths met — tentative at first, then deeper, hungrier. Sett kissed her like he was trying to make up for all the moments lost between them. She yielded under him, her hands sliding up to his shoulders, pulling him closer, anchoring him.

His palm drifted toward the curve of her chest — and just as his fingers grazed the hem of her shirt—