Novel's Extra: I Awakened The Strongest Physique From The Start
Chapter 312 - CHAPTER 312 - Queen Zahara.

The palace courtyard had been transformed overnight.

Red and gold banners rippled from the high stone walls, catching the breeze like tongues of flame.

Petals of roses, marigolds, and lilies drifted down from above, filling the air with color and perfume.

A grand dais stood before the assembled crowd: nobles, soldiers, merchants, and citizens, all gathered to witness history.

The whole clearing in front of the castle was filled with people.

The crowd was dense enough to feel suffocated just by looking at it. But it wasn't surprising.

Today wasn't a day when one would mind the crowd.

Today, Zahara Nemeanor would be crowned Queen of the Simharian Kingdom.

A few weren't happy with it, but most of the crowd was.

After all, the one thing that Zahara didn't lack was the citizens' love.

From her childhood, she had always been the one to hear about the citizens, and although Kael and Bahir never treated them badly, Zahara made them feel like her own people.

That was why, as soon as the nobles agreed, her coronation was being held.

After all, the citizens supported her.

Now, at the center of the dais stood Zahara, as the sun shone on her, while Alex stood tall and relaxed at her side, a faint, proud smile playing on his lips.

Lilia was nearby, staring at the crowd below, looking for something amiss. Her long purple hair shimmered in the light, as her wide, brilliant violet eyes kept glancing at Alex.

'Should I also become a queen?' She wondered as she could tell that Zahara was getting more power.

Before, they were equals—maybe she was a bit higher as the princess of an empire—but now, it was different.

Zahara was becoming a queen, which gave her complete control over a kingdom.

Lilia, however, only had a city under her.

'Hm...' she drawled, 'Must I return to the empire?'

She had run away from the empire, but now, she was contemplating if she should return.

Her father was now Alex's 'friend' anyway.

Mira, on the other hand, stood silently beside Lilia, hands folded neatly in front of her.

Her cream-blonde hair was pinned back with delicate silver clips, and she leaned subtly against Alex's side whenever she thought no one was looking.

Her light blue eyes, usually so quiet, shone softly every time they landed on him.

They were all on the dais, but only Zahara, who was standing at the forefront, could be seen by the crowd.

Behind them, Reganath loomed. For the first time, he could be seen in an attire that suited a king.

He wore a sleeveless robe woven of crimson threads along with a cape draped over it. The corners of the dress were etched with several patterns of gold as a lion-headed brooch held the cape in place.

There was a crown atop his head, but unlike usual, the crown was made of some beast's bones—a display of power and grandeur, nothing else.

Kael stood near Reganath, a sharp contrast. Sleek and composed in a dark blue tunic embroidered with silver, he watched the proceedings with a smirk, casually flipping a coin between his fingers.

The smirk was genuine—he enjoyed seeing history unfold—but his sharp black eyes missed nothing.

He was playing his role as the minister in charge.

And then there was Bahir, standing at attention with the soldiers but close enough to protect the dais if needed.

His golden armor, portraying his position as the only commander of the Simharian forces, gleamed under the sun, his dark skin and stern gaze giving off an aura of unshakable loyalty.

The high priest, an ancient man whose beard reached his waist, stood before Zahara, raising the golden crown above his head.

His voice boomed over the courtyard.

"People of Simharia! Witness the rise of your new sovereign! By the blood of the first flame, by the will of the kingdom, and by the strength of her soul, Zahara Nemeanor is crowned Queen!"

There were no long pledges or anything. The only thing needed was a witness, and with their sacred fire, the high priest, the king, and the crowd, there was no lack of witnesses.

Without a second's delay, the crowd erupted into cheers, the sound washing over the courtyard like a tide.

The high priest lowered the crown, a masterpiece of molten gold and crimson rubies, and placed it gently upon Zahara's head.

For a heartbeat, everything seemed to freeze.

Zahara stood perfectly still, her crimson hair blazing under the sun, her golden-embroidered dress flowing like liquid fire.

The crown caught the light, casting tiny rainbows into the air.

Alex couldn't help but smile wider, pride swelling in his chest.

'Perfect,' he mused.

And then the silence broke.

A deafening roar of approval surged from the people and chants of "Long live Queen Zahara!" echoed from the courtyard walls, the palace balconies, and even the streets beyond.

It showed how many people were there to celebrate the event.

They were all there to see the change.

Zahara turned slowly to face the crowd, stepping forward onto the dais.

Her crimson eyes swept over the sea of faces—not just the nobles, but the soldiers who had bled for the kingdom, the merchants who toiled day and night, and the common folk who lived and died by the strength of their rulers.

They were all hers now.

She had to take care of them and rule over them.

But just then, something clicked in her head.

'Will I have to leave Alex?' Her gaze snapped back at Alex, concern filling her eyes.

If she became the queen, wouldn't she have to stay here and rule the kingdom?

Thinking about it, she hesitated, but before the crowd could notice it, Alex's voice echoed in her head.

'I love you.'

Three words.

Three magical words.

They washed away everything.

Be it her worry, her tension, or her excitement.

Her eyes froze on Alex as she stared into his eyes.

His blue eyes felt like the brightest thing in her world. The sound of the crowd was forgotten as the light in the surroundings dimmed.

'I love you, Hara,' Alex repeated telepathically, 'So, don't worry about anything, and show them what kind of queen my woman is.'

A smile spread across her face unknowingly as she gritted her teeth, trying not to let tears appear in her eyes.

'I love you more, Alex,' she replied, only to see Alex shake his head with a teasing smile.

'Nah, you can't love me more than I do.'

Chuckling inwardly, she turned around, her expression turning serious.

The air around her had now changed.

Now, she had no worries or tensions.

She didn't care if someone in the crowd was aiming for her life because she knew that her man was right beside her.

Zahara believed she had to show how much she trusted him by letting go of all her worries.

So, she raised a hand, silencing the crowd instantly.

Her voice rang out, strong and clear:

"Today, a new flame is kindled in Simharia. Not a flame of conquest. Not a flame of fear. But a flame of hope. It's a fire that will warm the weak, light the way for the lost, and forge a kingdom where every citizen, high or low, has a place."

She paused, letting her words sink in.

"The Simharian Kingdom has known much pride, much strength. But pride without compassion is hollow. Strength without purpose is cruel. Under my reign, we shall be both proud and compassionate. Strong and just."

Her gaze sharpened, her voice like a blade wrapped in velvet.

"To those who threaten this land—from within or without—know this: we shall not cower. We shall not bend. The flames of Simharia will burn brighter than ever, and those flames will consume the enemies of our future."

A thundering cheer exploded from the crowd.

"Together," Zahara said, lifting her hands, "we will forge a kingdom not of fear—but of glory!"

"GLORY!" The crowd roared back.

Lilia clapped, her competitive spirit rekindled.

She didn't hesitate anymore. She had decided. She would become the empress of the demon realm no matter what.

Mira smiled softly, watching Alex more than the crowd, happy because he was proud.

Reganath rumbled a low chuckle, nodding approvingly.

Kael whistled loudly, flipping his coin high into the air in celebration.

Bahir slammed the butt of his spear against the ground in salute, his voice among the loudest in the chants of "Long live the Queen!"

And Alex—he just stood there, watching Zahara with an expression so raw, so fiercely proud, that it stunned even Mira and Lilia.

When Zahara turned, her crimson eyes found his.

She smiled—a smile that needed no words.

Alex smiled back, mouthing two simple words:

"My Queen."

Zahara laughed lightly, the sound carrying even over the din of the crowd.

The coronation was done.

The Queen had risen.

And although shadows stirred in distant corners of the kingdom, and an unknown enemy roamed free, for now—

—For now, the flames of Simharia burned bright and unchallenged.