985 Chapter 947

The throne room is on the second floor of the newly established palace. The throne hall measures 30 square meters and has been covered with reinforced concrete. An octagon is raised in the center of the flat ceiling to allow clerestory lighting through twenty-four stained glass windows. The ceiling is finished with carved and painted woodwork and plaster.

Following that battle that happened a few weeks ago, the almost destroyed palace embarked on a large-scale reconstruction program. The result was a big change.

Humble braziers hanging from one side of each of the ten obsidian columns light up the lower levels of the throne hall and paint the hall a range of yellows and oranges. The relatively simple stonework on the terraced ceiling dance in the flickering light while statuettes and carved images look down upon the stone floor of this august hall.

A saffron rug runs from the throne to the doors and is matched by smaller ones on either side of the hall while ribbon banners with emblazoned ridges hang from the walls. Between each banner stands a tall candle, all but a few have been lit and in turn illuminate the depictions of late royal family members below them.

Immense, tinted glass windows were hidden by drapes colored the same saffron as the banners. The curtains have been adorned with burnished corners and fine patterns.

A grandiose throne of gold sits atop an elevated platform and is adjoined by four similar, but less ornate seats for visiting royalty of other nations.

The throne is covered in hundreds of elaborate carvings and fixed on each of the ornate legs is a jade flower. The thick pillows are dark saffron and these too have been adorned with gilded tracery.

Currently, around a round table sat twelve people, eight dukes, and two new head Elders. Lastly, there was the newly crowned empress Lilith and the head of the Shadowless Assassin's squad, the first princess Althea.

''Let's begin the meeting.'' Lilith declared after taking a seat.

The eight dukes and the two heads elders nodded and took out each a document.

''I believe we should start by revitalizing the guilds to bring more money. As you know your majesty, because of the previous ruler politic it was hard for foreign adventurers to come to our empires and even explore our dungeons. This must change.'' One of the head elders explained while presenting a document attesting what he was talking about.

Lilith took the said document and perused through the content before deciding.

''It is a good suggestion. I will let the 3rd Duke decide what to do. You should consult him after this meeting.'' The empress declared.

''Thank you Oh wise empress. Hail to -"

''Please stop with the bootlicking.'' Lilith stopped the old man from continuing as she felt nauseous at those compliments.

''Next.'' She said and another one stepped forward with a proposal.

The meeting continued for minutes before ending. The dukes and the two elders left leaving only Lilith and Althea behind.

''Sorry, little sister I'm too useless. I couldn't provide any assistance during the meeting.''

Immediately after everyone left except for the sisters, Althea apologized but Lilith glared at her.

''I hate this side of you.'' Lilith declared after leaving her throne. She continued while heading toward one of glass windows.

''You know everyone has a role. I've already given you what you are good at doing. While it is natural for a Big sister to look after their little sister likewise it's natural for a little sister to look after their Big sister. So, be confident and walk head straight.''

''I understand little sister. Thank you. You're such a blessing I'm glad to have you. I'm truly blessed.'' Althea hugged her little sister as she said those words. After hearing her sister's words she felt enlightened.

After what happened when they were little, she felt responsible, she was truly happy when Lilith finally accepted her but somewhere deep she was anxious, feeling as if she was not really at her place this resulted in her lacking in confidence and exaggerating for the little thing. To be more accurate she felt like she must do more to be respectable, to be worthy of the title of Big sister, even when it means she must sacrifice herself and this mentality is something Lilith disliked the most. She did not need a sister with a martyr complex, what she needs was someone to lean on as she could also let this person borrow her shoulders in her time of need.

Her big sister was still far from this but slowly Lilith believed that she could turn her sister into someone like that.

''It's good that you understand. You should call that girl, I believe her name is Sera. Alex's subordinate and asked how things are going on her side. She should have accomplished her mission by now. Whether she is still needed here or she should be sent back is up to you.'' Lilith declared before separating from Althea which hadn't been enough but she understood her sister better, she better not push her luck too far or else they will be no hug for a week as a punishment. It had already happened once so it could happen again, naturally, Althea didn't wish for this to happen again, so she nodded and disappeared.

Once alone Lilith sighed before teleporting back to her room. For an empress, her bedroom was humble as it could be.

She sat around a table and took out a communication stone, she was about to contact Alex whose voice she had missed so much but suddenly, there was another communication stone that rang out continually so she didn't have another choice but to take the call.

''What is little Tiffy?"

Lilith said with a smile. Little Tiffy was the nickname she gave to her long-time friend Typhania, Artemia got Arte's nickname.

''Wow! My little empress has become a little bold since our last communication. Do you want to get beaten like in the past?" Typhania using her Elseria pseudonym on the other end of the line said, a little amused.

???????

Meanwhile in another location.

'I want to see him.'

Assassin's Queen Zero, real name Sera Olivia Wexon.

She was doing her duties as temporarily ruler of Brunei, a small demon's city. When developing this, she regularly raided the Dark of the Forest and distributed the resources generated from the raid. It wasn't an exaggeration to say that Brunei was able to hold on thanks to her efforts.

However, Sera felt irritated. She hadn't met Alex, her man once since their meeting, some may complain saying it had only been a couple of days but for a woman in love Sera didn't care. She was dying to see Alex. She was irritated not being able to see the man she loved, to be inside his arms, to see his smile whenever she wanted, to be connected to him.

"Hah."

She sighed and wanted to drop everything so that she could go to Alex's side.

At that moment she received a call and without checking who it was she mistakenly thought it was Alex and this made her overjoyed.

'Do you know that I want to see you right now?'

It must be telepathy. Sera felt like this was fated, and her heart started thumping. Her delusions unfolded due to her lack of dating experience. Alex was her first boyfriend and man. Before him, she was solely focused on her training and nothing else.

'What did he want to tell me?' She wondered and became further lost in her delusion.

Did he prepare a surprise event?

"Olivia, I wanted to see you too. I imagined your beautiful appearance every night and struggled."

She imagined Alex talking like this with a sexy appearance. She smiled widely. Sera's blinded eyes looked down at her body. She was shy. This was the first time she had liked someone since she was born. And she had even tasted the forbidden fruit and became addicted to this, so her longing shot through the roof, to the extent that her external cold shell started breaking.

This doesn't mean that she became less effective as an assassin on the contrary she became even more excellent. An assassin with no emotions is scary and excellent but an assassin with her emotions under control could be scarier.

When she was sent here to eliminate the previous Lord to take over his place, they had been two Saint under the man but she was still able to complete the mission in one night, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that she had become more efficient since she acknowledged her feelings and started a relationship with Alex. Maybe this efficiency stemmed from her desire to stay forever with him.

Nonetheless, she had become more proficient with her emotions.

Calming down, Sera heaved a sigh before taking the incoming call.

''Zero, you should come back there will be someone else to take your place. Come see me before you will go join him.''

''I understood,'' Sera responded barely able to conceal her joy, soon she would be able to satiate this longing she had.