Chapter 345 - Chapter 345: Chapter 326: The Birth of a New King (1/2)
Chapter 345: Chapter 326: The Birth of a New King
“Choose the new king.”
In the profound corridors of the palace, numerous Cyart nobles stood solemnly, their silhouettes casting long shadows beneath the resplendent murals and intricate chandeliers.
The air was tinged with a faint scent of sandalwood, accompanied by the deep, solemn tones of an organ from the distant music pond, creating an atmosphere of solemnity and authority.
Some Cyart nobles wore gem-encrusted magnificent armor with swords at their waists symbolizing their family’s honor, while others donned elaborate formal attire, exuding both elegance and a hint of unapproachable pride.
They could hear the footsteps of court attendants treading lightly in the distance, and the occasional faint clink of metal, which sounded especially clear in the echoed chambers of the palace.
The venerable Silver Hermit looked upon the many nobles from the great families and nodded calmly.
“The second Cyart ruler of the Adley Royal Family will be chosen between two people.”
“And as a Cardinal of the Salvation Church, I will bear witness to this kingship election.”
“Prince Baine Adley, Prince Noah Adley—I presume everyone has an impression of these two. You may now express your opinions, and after everyone has shared their thoughts, we shall begin the vote.”
The Silver Hermit paused briefly before continuing, “The voting will be anonymous, so rest assured, no one will know which way you’ve chosen, and you won’t offend anyone, regardless of your choice.”
“The Salvation Church has two votes, the Adley Royal Family has three, and the remaining seven great families each have one vote to cast.”
“If the result is a tie, then only the votes of the Church and the Adley Royal Family will be counted, and a recalculation will occur.”
She concluded, “I swear to the great Lord of Salvation that the method of election I’ve just described follows the will of the former Cyart King; I will witness the entire process to ensure impartiality!”
Byrne pondered for a moment. In other words, there were a total of twelve votes, with a possibility of a tie, but if a tie did occur, the new king’s birth would be entirely in the hands of the Salvation Church and the Adley Royal Family.
He remained silent for a while, having already calculated the likely distribution of votes in his mind.
In fact, in the past few days, Aldrich, the “Dragon Taming Lord,” had completely persuaded both the Frosac and the Jones families, asking that all four families support Prince Baine!
“Support Prince Baine, as it is more advantageous for our faction. Prince Baine is a traditionalist; he will likely continue most of the policies set by the former Cyart King.”
“Choosing that ambitious Prince Noah, who is set on strengthening himself, could lead to him neglecting the nation. In that case, Marquis Vlad, that opportunist, will certainly seek more power. Internal conflicts may even intensify in the short term, which would be bad for us.”
Aldrich analytically considered the potential outcomes.
“Since we have Byrne’s strength, the longer we can delay, the more formidable individuals our families will have, which gives us an increasingly favorable situation.”
“Vote for Prince Baine.”
The lighting in the palace, filtered through the stained glass windows, cast the nobles’ faces in shadow and light.
They conversed in hushed tones, stood silent, and in the exchange of glances, stories and secrets seemed to pass surreptitiously between them, creating a mysterious ambiance throughout the palace.
Byrne, Chris, and Darren also approached Aldrich and “Blazing Fire” Amos.
He observed the conversing nobles and shook his head slowly.
“Is there still a need for discussion? Haven’t everyone already decided on their choice in the past few days, or even before arriving?”
Aldrich slowly shook his head, “Not necessarily, some may still be undecided, and they could be swayed.”
“Remember what I said, we shall cast our vote for that person when the time comes.”
Byrne nodded slightly, yet Aldrich shook his head again, “Unfortunately, from what I’ve gathered in the past few days, things may not go as smoothly as we hope.”
He paused, then added, “However, the death of the former Cyart King is indeed a fact, something I was overly cautious about…”
“Hmm.”
Byrne nodded again, “This country’s legends really have been taken away by the Grim Reaper.”
Aldrich’s expression also turned contemplative.
Soon they entered a grand hall in the palace, where a majestic throne stood silently in the center, adorned with exquisite silks from distant lands, embroidered with the Holy Grail, a symbol of the gift to the Royal Family.
In front of the throne was a large wooden table, upon which a glittering golden voting box lay, silently awaiting the nobles’ final decisions.
The nobles entered the hall, their steps firm and forceful, each gaze filled with anticipation for the future.
The assertive Marquis Vlad was the first to step forward and cast his vote.
“A new era, perhaps?”
In the hands of the nobles were two alchemically created golden spheres, representing two entirely different choices, known only to the holder which name was enclosed within.
They then gathered around the table and in turn approached, each casting their golden voting sphere into the box; each sphere represented their chosen allegiance.
The crisp sound of metal spheres hitting the sides of the box echoed through the hall, intensifying the atmosphere with each vote, as the nobles held their breath in anticipation of the final revelation.
Ultimately, when the last noble had placed the golden sphere into the box, the old Silver Hermit slowly stepped forward and opened the golden voting box with tranquility.