Online Game: I Started with Max Charisma and Caught the Goddess's Eye

Meanwhile, in the royal palace at the heart of Dawn City, the frail and gaunt Alfred sat on the throne, eyes closed as he rested.

The grand hall, glittering with gold and jade, was filled to the brim with people.

Present were the seven dukes, including Evelyn, the crown prince Leonie, the second prince Runne, the third princess Raphael, the sixth princess Fratis, and other royal family members. Along with them were high-ranking nobles, officials, and powerful figures from Dawn City, such as the head of the Magic Association Augustine, the president of Starry Academy Selin, and the empire's war god Winston.

Nearly everyone was present. Even Cassel, the Black Dragon of the All-Beings Empire, Krik, the giant, and people from the Via Empire had arrived.

The scene was so grand that even seasoned nobles, such as Evelyn and the other dukes like Mond Stein, had never witnessed anything quite like it. They all gazed at the king, who now seemed to be in slightly better health, sitting on the throne, and they couldn't help but speculate about the situation.

"Has Luca not arrived yet?" Lucia whispered to Sophia, only to receive a shake of the head in reply.

Lucia sighed, "I see him every day. How is it that he's suddenly gone missing today?"

Evelyn spoke in a low, almost amused tone, "Maybe he's just busy."

After all, she had seen Luca take a team to the Phillips family's island chain. She figured he was likely in the family's treasure vault, counting gold, and had no time to bother with these royal matters.

Meanwhile, Fratis looked at Alfred on the throne with some concern. She turned to Raphael and asked, "Sister, why has Father become like this? His health seems to be deteriorating. Should we call the healers?"

Before, Princess Raphael had briefly explained the situation to Fratis, but due to her memory loss, Fratis had forgotten many things. Her last memory of Alfred was of him in his prime, strong and youthful. Now, seeing him like this, she could only think of him as an older child, unable to understand the full weight of what had happened.

Raphael opened her mouth as if to speak, but nothing came out. She merely sighed and patted Fratis' hand in comfort, her eyes drifting to Alfred as a hint of sorrow appeared. It was clear that their father had finally reached his limit.

Time passed slowly, until the bright sunlight filtered through the windows of the hall, and finally, the silent Alfred slowly opened his eyes.

He smiled, "Everyone's almost here, so let's begin.

"I'm sure you all know why I've called you here today."

At his words, everyone in the room straightened up. Most notably, the two crown princes, Leonie and Runne, tensed up, with Runne appearing excited and eager. On the other hand, Leonie, the first prince, looked somewhat dejected and uneasy.

No matter what the exact cause and process were, the fact remained that Queen Matilda had conspired with the Dawn God Sect to overthrow the empire, leading to the fall of Dawn City. This was now an undeniable truth.

As Matilda's son, Leonie knew he was incredibly fortunate not to have been held accountable. Although his heart burned with resentment, he knew better than to harbor any hopes for the throne now. The idea seemed almost laughable.

On the throne, Alfred didn't pay any attention to how the others were reacting. His time was running out.

"First, let's talk about what happened in Dawn City," he said, his gaze sweeping over the room. He spoke with a heavy tone, "Queen Matilda, together with Saint Joanna, plotted to overthrow the entire empire. If not for Count Luca acting decisively, our empire would have faced catastrophe!

"From the defense of Southwind City against the Demon King, to the critical intervention that saved Dawn City—Count Luca's contributions are unparalleled!

"Thus, today, as the King of the Clinton Empire, I hereby declare him the first-ever recognized Empire Hero in our history!

"As long as the empire exists, his story and his glory will live on, forever etched in the annals of history!"

Alfred's authoritative voice echoed throughout the palace.

At these words, everyone present was momentarily stunned.

Alfred hadn't given Luca any substantial rewards, but the title of "Empire Hero" alone signified the royal family's stance on Luca. It was clear that as long as Luca didn't make any reckless moves or stage a rebellion, the title would offer him untold protection.

Within the borders of the Clinton Empire, no one would dare to harm him again, for doing so would bring upon them the wrath and condemnation of the entire empire.

This was a Get Out of Jail Free card—an invincible shield.

The palace hall buzzed with murmurs, but no one voiced objections. After all, Luca's contributions were evident to everyone present. Anyone who wished to deny his achievements would have to answer to the rest of the nobles first.

Once the noise died down, Alfred spoke again, his tone calm and resolute: "The second matter to discuss today is the issue of the succession to the throne."

Instantly, the entire room fell silent, everyone holding their breath.

All eyes turned toward Alfred at the head of the room. They knew that the most crucial announcement of the meeting was about to be made.

The Second Prince, Runne, was flushed with excitement, his fists clenched tight. Behind him, the noble faction and Grand Duke Mond were also wearing smiles on their faces.

At this moment, the First Prince no longer posed any threat to them. The throne was already Runne's for the taking!

Once Runne ascended to the throne, those nobles who had wisely aligned themselves with him would undoubtedly see their power and influence skyrocket.

They had gone through all sorts of hardships, supporting the Second Prince, and it was all for this moment.

Alfred's gaze swept across the hall, and when it landed on Fratis, his eyes softened slightly.

He smiled, "Fratis, come here."

At his words, everyone in the room looked on in confusion.

They didn't understand why, at such a critical moment, the king would call for the princess to come forward.

"Yes, Father," Fratis replied obediently, trotting over to the throne. She bowed respectfully and then raised her small face, her eyes filled with concern. "Father, are you feeling alright…?"

Looking into those clear, bright eyes, Alfred suddenly felt a pang of dizziness.

He thought back to when Fratis had been born, no bigger than the palm of his hand. He remembered using Transcendent magic to strengthen her body, and how she had grown, day by day, into the woman she was now. He hadn't expected that so many years would pass so quickly—how that little girl had grown into an adult and yet, in this moment, seemed to have returned to her younger self. And he…

"I'm fine, it's just that Father is getting old," Alfred said, shaking his head. He extended his thin, withered hand to gently pat her hair, smiling softly. "If I'm not mistaken, today should be your birthday. What gift would you like, my dear?"

The people in the hall watched this tender moment, but they were all left puzzled.

Wasn't the king about to announce the heir to the throne? Why had he suddenly started asking about the princess's birthday?

At this moment, the Second Prince was nearly bursting with impatience. He was on the verge of stepping forward and making the announcement himself.

Only Evelyn and Augustine, among the crowd, had begun to guess what was going on. They exchanged a glance and could see the shock in each other's eyes.

"Does the king intend to…?" asked Selin, the academy dean, her expression very complex. She was most aware of the events that had transpired over the years. At first, she thought that Augustine, after everything that had happened, would choose to give up on this path. But now, she realized he had ultimately decided to go down this road.

"I really don't know whether this is a blessing or a curse," Augustine sighed, shaking his head slightly.

Meanwhile, Evelyn fell into deep thought. She was considering whether she should try to gain Luca's favor—after all, it seemed that the Sixth Princess had quite the fondness for him…

"Thank you, Father!" Fratis's face lit up with a joyful smile upon hearing her father's words.

It was as pure as the warmth of spring sunlight, like a freshly bloomed daisy.

She thought seriously for a moment, then shook her head again and said, "I don't seem to want anything... Can I just wish for Father's health to improve?"

"Hahaha!" Alfred suddenly let out a hearty laugh, looking pleased. He rose from his throne and said, "It's fine if you don't want anything. I've prepared a gift for you, and you can decide whether you like it or not."

With that, he extended his hand and slowly removed the exquisite, gem-studded crown from his head.

Then, to everyone's astonishment, he placed the crown onto Fratis's head with both hands!

"This is the gift I'm giving you," Alfred said, gazing at Fratis with a smile. "From today onward, you will no longer be a princess."

"Instead, you will be the Queen of Clinton!" .net

Fratis stood frozen in place.

Boom! The entire hall erupted in chaos!

"Fratis ascends to the throne?!" Raphael gasped, covering her red lips. The First Prince suddenly raised his head, while the Second Prince's expression completely froze, his eyes filled with disbelief! The others were equally stunned, their eyes wide open in shock and confusion.

Before this moment, no one had even considered that Alfred would pass the throne to the Sixth Princess, Fratis!

"This King of Clinton really knows how to stir things up!" Cassel exclaimed in astonishment, amazed by the passing of the throne to a female emperor. This was huge news! When he returned, he'd definitely have to tell all his friends about this!

The others from the All-Beings Empire also felt a mix of emotions, some pitying the Second Prince, Runne, who was now completely disoriented.

They couldn't imagine how he would handle such a blow. To have the throne passed to the princess instead of him... it was unimaginable.

"The King… he can't do this!" Grand Duke Mond was the first to rush forward, falling to his knees. He pleaded desperately, "Princess Fratis has never undergone any royal education, how can she bear such a heavy responsibility?!"

Other nobles quickly followed suit, all kneeling on the ground, urging against the decision.

"Indeed, Your Majesty! She is a princess, a woman—how could she carry the weight of the empire's future? Please, think this over carefully!"

"The throne concerns the fate of countless citizens! It must not be treated lightly! We beg you, Your Majesty, please reconsider!"

"Please, Your Majesty, reconsider!"

...

In the hall, regardless of their faction, the nobles began to speak up in protest.

The opposition came crashing in like waves.

But Alfred remained unfazed, his expression as calm as ever.

"Father, I… I…" Fratis, on the other hand, seemed startled. She instinctively reached up to remove the crown, realizing that it had great significance even if she didn't fully understand its weight.

But her actions were stopped by Alfred.

His voice was hoarse as he spoke, "Fratis, remember my words…"

"You are the god of Clinton, and gods never have to listen to the opinions of mortals!"

Dark, crimson blood dripped from the corner of his mouth, yet Alfred smiled.

He pointed at the nobles in the hall, and with a hearty laugh, he declared, "Anyone who disagrees, just kill them!"