This Lich Requests More Remuneration
Chapter 684 - 594: Laine Formally Abolishes the Imperial System

Chapter 684: Chapter 594: Laine Formally Abolishes the Imperial System

Solemn hymns began to resound, and the once desolate Laine Imperial Palace was thronged with people today. Despite the crowd, the atmosphere was far from enthusiastic.

The nuns singing the hymns bore faces of sorrow, for what they praised today was not the great Lord of the Dawn, but the Dynasty soon to depart.

Withered Rose stepped forward amidst the solemn hymns, draped in a gown shimmering like starlight, striding toward the elevated throne.

The ceremony, though seemingly simple, had been rehearsed dozens of times, and it took Withered Rose seven to eight hours just to don her outfit.

Each accessory embodied a piece of Laine’s history, every pattern on the dress held a unique significance. As Hake Stone had said earlier, from the lining to the long skirt, from the belt to the headpiece, each part required assistance from corresponding noblewomen.

Then there were the makeup, the scene decorations, the positioning of the participants, and more.

Every element of the ceremony demanded solemnity, every step meticulously recorded in the annals of history.

The complexity of the ceremony was such that even a second’s deviation from the music required resulted in hours of fierce scolding by the Dwarf Vampire.

Despite any discontent, the Laine People had no choice but to comply.

Through repeated rehearsals, the Laine People also felt the enormity of their history.

Every stringent requirement from Hake Stone was designed strictly in accordance with Laine traditions, every gesture and expression traced back to historical documents, his reasons thoroughly convincing.

Even the venerable elders of Laine had to admit that Hake Stone was indeed the true keeper of Laine orthodoxy, understanding Laine history better than they did.

Eventually, the Laine People came to recognize the ceremony’s significance.

The Laine Empire, inherited through over seventeen hundred years, warranted such intricacies.

Because today was the coronation of the Empire’s last queen, and also the day she would fully relinquish her royal status.

Laine had finally decided to abandon the dynasty that had lasted over seventeen hundred years; from today, Laine would no longer be an imperial nation.

Withered Rose returned to Laine for the first time as an Undead.

She walked calmly to the throne, majestically taking her seat in the coveted position.

As she looked down upon her kneeling subjects, Withered Rose’s vision began to blur, those sealed memories flooding her mind.

As a little girl, she had watched her father discuss state affairs from this very throne with Laine’s ministers, innocently standing by, watching him with eyes full of admiration.

Everyone said Her Royal Highness the Princess would be a competent Empress, would lead Laine toward a more glorious future, would brighten the Holy Light even further.

Back then, Withered Rose believed it too, setting such standards for herself, striving to outdo past monarchs and make Laine truly the Divine Realm on earth of the Lord of the Dawn.

"At what point did I become utterly disillusioned with my parents and this country?"

Withered Rose murmured in a voice only she could hear.

It probably began after the bloodline test when she was twelve. After each test, her parents’ expressions grew uglier, from being a cherished princess, they looked at her with disdain and disgust.

No matter how outstanding Withered Rose was in her divine arts talent and governance, it could never compare to the value of that bloodline.

She could have been the youngest legendary Empress, yet instead of receiving guidance from great teachers, she was subjected to endless arranged dates even before she came of age.

From young men of imperial branches to middle-aged men, to disgustingly inbred deformities... as long as these people had acceptable bloodline test results, they were meant for Withered Rose to "accept."

No longer were her ears filled with praise and encouragement, but rather harsh reminders that on the day she became Queen of Laine, it would also be her wedding day, and her groom would be one of these repulsive freaks.

So this was what the descendants of the Holy King were like, the Empire was so contemptible.

And today was the day she became Queen of Laine.

Withered Rose’s eyes reddened as if tears might spill, but in the end, there was only a blood-red sheen. As a Lich, she had no tears, just tainted ichor mixed with mercury.

She suddenly felt an urge to massacre.

With her power, a single gaze could turn the majority of the Laine People in front of her into zombies. Given a bit more time, no one could escape her Gaze of Death, and they wouldn’t even realize they were dead.

Just as she was about to transform all these Laine People, radiating Holy Light, into undead, a hand clad in heavy armor reached out and grasped her clenched fist.

Withered Rose turned her head and saw a silver-white helmet.

But she knew who was inside that armor, her knight from the dreams she had hardly dared to hope for.

Amberser had embedded a Magic Mirror inside the armor, appearing like a Magipuppet Automaton, standing beside Withered Rose.

Today was Withered Rose’s big day; he couldn’t be absent, nor could he just appear in a mirror.

So he specially crafted this suit of armor, a bit cumbersome to power with magic, but at least he could stand by her side.