Free Web NovelChapter 376: The King’s Welcome
[Music recommendation: Lana Del Rey - Taco Truck x VB]
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In an opulent assembly hall, adorned with countless flowers and ribbons, the graduation ceremony proceeded smoothly. Headmaster Charles delivered a heartfelt speech, congratulating every graduate and marking the beginning of a new Chapter for their batch with a proud smile on his face.
He was followed by several professors, including Professor Dante, who could never resist the opportunity to give a speech of his own.
When Professor Dante finally stepped forward, a collective groan mixed with anticipation rippled through the crowd. He clasped his hands behind his back, his crimson eyes scanning the students with his signature megawatt smile as he began.
"Well... you are all still alive. And that... in itself, is rather disappointing."
A few nervous laughs broke out, while the other professors, including Headmaster Charles, shot Dante pointed side glances.
"I truly had higher expectations," he continued, sighing faintly. "I designed assignments, trials, and examinations with great care... each one crafted to test your limits, break your spirits, and, ideally, eliminate at least a handful of you. And yet... here you all are."
"But I suppose," he went on, his tone softening just a fraction, "survival is not such a terrible outcome. You have endured more than any batch before you. You have faced the greatest war, loss, and betrayal... and still, you stand here today. You are no longer the same foolish, overly confident students who first walked through these halls..."
A faint smirk touched his lips, "...though some of you remain impressively foolish."
A chorus of quiet laughter followed.
"But you are stronger," Dante said quietly. "Far stronger than you realise." For a brief moment, his gaze passed on each of them before moving to Eve and Ivan and something unreadable flickering in his eyes. "If the world does not fear you yet... it will."
He exhaled softly, as if dismissing his own sentiment. "Do try not to die too quickly out there. It would reflect poorly on my teaching."
He flashed them his blinding, psychopathic smile and finished, "...and, against my better judgment, I would prefer to see what chaos you all go on to create. Congratulations, graduates. You have survived me."
A roar of applause shook the assembly hall, and remarkably, a few students were actually dabbing at their eyes.
They watched as Dante sauntered over to Professor Seira, who was waiting in the wings. He leaned in and planted a lingering kiss on her cheek as she grinned up at him.
"Not bad, Dante. That was actually a decent speech," she teased.
"Well... my wife helped me edit the draft. Of course it was a masterpiece," Dante flirted back, his voice smooth enough to make the nearby graduates shiver in a mix of trauma and disbelief.
It had been a solid year since Dante and Seira tied the knot, and the student body was still divided into two camps.
One half firmly believed Professor Seira must have several screws loose to voluntarily sign a marriage contract with a man like Dante; the other half considered her a saint, for she was the only person on the planet capable of keeping his madness on a leash.
"Good heavens. Is the apocalypse finally upon us, or did I just see people wiping away tears instead of checking their vitals after a Dante speech?" Damien remarked, his face a picture of amused disbelief as he scanned the sniffling crowd.
"It is not the world ending, Damien... just this little student life bubble we have been living in," Cece replied, a rare touch of sentiment in her voice. She linked her hand with Edward’s, and he smiled down at her with pure adoration before leaning in to press a gentle, grounding kiss to her forehead.
Damien’s eye actually developed a visible twitch as he watched the lovebirds. He rolled his eyes so hard he likely saw his own brain. "Please, can you two spare my retinas? Just one moment without the public display of affection? My soul is withering."
"Why are you taking notes?" Cece replied sweetly, nudging him. "It might help when you finally meet Princess Ruth again."
"I’ll be seeing her tomorrow! And mark my words... I will be taking absolute, calculated revenge for this mushy overdose you’re forcing upon me today," Damien shot back with a wicked grin.
"Tomorrow?" Eve’s voice chimed in, her blue eyes peeking over Ivan’s shoulder as his arms remained firmly wrapped around her. "Are you planning to hijack our wedding, Damien?"
Ivan let out a quiet scoff. "He wishes. No one is hijacking anything. I am quite certain the entire world will be far too occupied looking at my bride."
Eve’s cheeks flushed a brilliant shade of pink, and she instinctively leaned closer to Ivan for what was clearly going to be another kiss. They only stopped when Damien let out a groan of pure, unadulterated agony.
"Alright, fine! I get it! You’re obsessed! For the love of all that is holy, why do I still feel like a lonely, pathetic third wheel when I’m actually a taken man?!"
Another chorus of chuckles filled the pleasant atmosphere, marking the definitive end of their three years of student life.
....
In a kingdom surrounded by snow-capped mountain peaks stood a tall, pristine white castle in all its glory, bathed in bright sunlight.
Unlike the last time Eve had left this place, her return was marked by a grand procession through the wide streets of Caelum, the capital city of Luminear. Countless royal guards and knights, clad in blue and white armour, lined the path as they escorted an ornate carriage bearing the royal insignia, announcing to all that Lumen royalty was passing through, leaving the people in awe and delight.
The city itself was decorated with flowers and ribbons at every turn. It was the celebration of the century, honoring the divine Crown Princess finally returning to her kingdom. ƒreewebηoveℓ.com
Furthermore, the people rejoiced at the news of her impending marriage to the most desirable prince in history, the strongest man alive. This union promised a future of peace and prosperity, a reign that every soul in the kingdom knew no one would be able to disrupt under the rule of their powerful Princess and her soon-to-be husband.
Cheers and cries of congratulations and welcome filled the air as Eve’s carriage passed through the city, making its way towards the Palace of Light.
Eve’s blue eyes softened, filled with emotion as she witnessed the outpouring of love she was receiving wholeheartedly for the first time in her life.
Cece, sitting across from her, also looked on with a softened gaze.
"They seem incredibly enthusiastic to have their princess back... even if it is only for a day," Cece remarked.
Eve’s gaze moved from the window back to her best friend, and she offered a small, bittersweet smile. "It was not always like this. I was just a weak and powerless princess back then, remember? Not many people approved of me..."
Cece smiled back, her voice ringing with confidence. "And how wrong they were. What they believed was never the truth. If anything, I suspect many of them held back out of fear of that vile woman sitting beside the king on the throne. Now, they are simply relieved. Relieved to know they will be ruled not only by a kind and wise queen, but also by the most powerful Lumen in history. So take it all in, Eve."
Eve’s smile brightened at her friend’s words. Swallowing the lump rising in her throat, she gave a small nod before turning her attention back to her people.
Once they reached the Palace of Light, Septimus stepped down from his carriage behind Eve’s, followed by Edward.
They made their way to Eve’s carriage, where Septimus opened the door and extended his hand towards her with a warm smile. Eve placed her hand in his before stepping down gracefully, followed by Cece, who was assisted by Edward.
The moment Eve’s eyes lifted to the palace entrance, her breath hitched.
Solan stood there, a gentle smile resting on his lips, with Roan and Gideon positioned just behind him, both wearing the same welcoming expression.
"Welcome home, Princess Evelyn," Solan’s deep voice resonated through the air.
In the very next moment, the entire royal staff lined up along both sides of the entrance and bowed in unison.
The knights stepped forward into position, unsheathing their swords and raising them in perfect synchronisation, the tips meeting those of the knights opposite them, forming a ceremonial arch of steel, a path of honour to welcome their princess home.
Eve felt her heart tremble at the grandeur of the welcome, because this was the kind of honour reserved only for a king returning victorious from war.
Her stunned gaze shifted to Solan, silently questioning him.
"You are to be the queen of this kingdom, and did you not win a war, saving this entire world? This is merely the honour that was due to you three years ago," Solan explained calmly before adding, "Come, you must be tired."
Eve glanced at Septimus, who offered her an encouraging nod, a gentle smile resting on his face. When her eyes shifted again, she found Cece and Edward smiling at her, subtly gesturing for her to go ahead.
A tightness formed in her throat, but she did not let it show.
Drawing in a deep breath, she lifted her chin and began to walk forward with quiet grace, her head held high beneath the arch of gleaming blades that caught the afternoon sunlight as she entered the palace.
This place had once witnessed so much of her suffering... so much pain.
She had not a single good memory to recount within these walls, apart from her meeting Ivan when they were kids and one place that had always offered her peace.
The only place that had ever brought her peace.
The Temple of the Goddess of Light.
And now she understood why. frёeωebɳovel.com
It was because her mother, Goddess Theia, had always given her a sense of comfort and belonging there, a quiet sanctuary she had found under Septimus’s care.
As soon as she crossed the threshold and reached where Solan stood waiting, Eve said nothing. Instead, she took a moment to take in the palace that had once felt so cold and lonely, now transformed into something truly enchanting.
White roses and orchids adorned the space, their petals catching the sunlight, while crystal chandeliers cast a soft, radiant glow across the hallway.
As she absorbed the transformation, her gaze moved slowly across the grand hall... before coming to rest on two figures she would have preferred not to see.
Queen Elara.
And Prince Ryan, her half-brother.
Both stood with barely concealed hostility, their expressions twisted with bitterness they could not quite hide.
’Good,’ Eve thought, her eyes hardening as she looked at them. ’I can finally deal with them and put an end to this.’
