Chapter 50: The Proclamation and the Crowds

Evelyn turned her back on Ren and Elysia, the hem of her royal garments sweeping smoothly across the stone path. "Follow me to the palace. I will announce the establishment of this new domain and finalize its official recognition."

Ren offered a silent nod.

The last traces of daylight bled from the horizon, giving way to a deep twilight as stars began to pinprick the darkening sky above the Starlight Kingdom.

Before them, the central palace complex stood in towering grandeur. Pristine white marble arcades curved around open courtyards, illuminated by glowing crystalline lanterns. At the heart of the main square, an immaculate sculpture of the legendary hero, Merlin Grace, carved from flawless marble, towered over a massive, cascading fountain where clear water splashed into a wide stone basin. Lush, vibrant blue flora lined the manicured garden beds around the perimeter.

A broad, elevated wooden platform had been erected near the central fountain. Sylvara took her place near the back of the stage, her posture perfectly erect. Flanking the rear perimeter of the platform stood several prominent royal officials clad in heavy, embroidered velvet cloaks, alongside rows of fully armored palace guards holding longspears. Their polished steel breastplates bore the emblem of the Starlight crest, keeping silent vigil over the surrounding perimeter.

Below the stage, a massive crowd filled the royal avenue. Thousands of citizens had gathered, stretching from the edge of the fountain clear down the main thoroughfares of the capital. Wealthy merchants, high-ranking nobles, common laborers, and off-duty mercenaries stood shoulder to shoulder, all eyes fixed upward as Princess Evelyn stepped to the front of the stage.

Evelyn projected her voice across the silent square.

"In the name of the King, the Crown, and the entire Starlight Kingdom, hear this decree."

Her clear tone carried effortlessly over the broad avenue.

"To all citizens of the Starlight Kingdom, both within the capital and across our outlying territories. I, Evelyn Grace, successor to the throne and leader of the Starlight Kingdom, hereby deliver an official update regarding the land situated beyond our rear gate."

She paused briefly, her cold gaze sweeping over the sea of faces below.

"As of tonight, that territory is officially recognized by the crown as a sovereign domain under the name of Lumiria. Lumiria shall exist as a unified administrative region alongside the Starlight Kingdom. Because this territory has just been formally established, I am offering an opportunity to anyone who wishes to build a new life within its borders."

She raised her hand slightly, gesturing toward the western horizon.

"As of tonight, Lumiria is open for settlement. Proper housing has been prepared for those who choose to be part of its founding population. For the time being, the number of available homes remains limited, as Lumiria is a newly built district. However, for those willing to become its pioneer citizens, these residences are offered entirely free of charge."

She paused, letting her words settle before continuing.

"Lumiria is enclosed by a massive defense barrier. The outer wall stands fourteen meters high, surrounding a territorial expanse measuring fifty kilometers by fifty kilometers. I am aware that many of you may ask why we are opening this territory so abruptly. The answer is simple."

She stepped closer to the edge of the platform.

"I do not intend for Lumiria to exist merely as a fresh line on our maps. I want Lumiria to serve as a refuge for those looking to begin anew. A place where families can establish their own lives, where individuals can pursue new opportunities, and perhaps, one day, a domain we can all take pride in. But a territory is not a home simply because stone walls and roofs stand upon the soil. A territory becomes a home because of the people who dwell within it."

She surveyed the silent crowd once more.

"Therefore, starting tonight, anyone interested may submit their names to register as the founding citizens of Lumiria. And naturally, Lumiria will not stand without a leader. I would like to introduce the individual chosen to govern this territory—someone who was instrumental in its creation from the very beginning, and who possesses the capability to guide this new domain into the future. His name is Ren Celestial."

Evelyn turned slightly, gesturing toward Ren.

"As of tonight, Ren Celestial will govern Lumiria as its designated leader, under the sovereign protection of the Starlight Kingdom. Ren, I expect you to safeguard Lumiria and the people who choose to call it home. And to the people of the Starlight Kingdom... Lumiria is a new beginning. If you wish to be part of that beginning, its gates are open to you. That is all. Thank you for your attention."

The moment she finished, a resounding wave of applause erupted from the crowd. Hands clapped, and excited chatter rippled through the populace.

"Hold on!"

A sharp, authoritative voice cut through the applause. A man dressed in a fine blue royal mantle embroidered with gold star patterns stepped onto the side of the platform. His shoulder-length blonde hair caught the lantern light as he raised his hand, halting the crowd’s reaction.

The applause instantly died down. The onlookers grew hushed, watching as the man strode directly toward the royal party.

Evelyn and Elysia both cast cold glances at the intruder.

The blonde nobleman gave a brief, stiff bow to Evelyn before straightening up, his eyes locking onto Ren with unconcealed disdain. He raised an index finger, pointing directly at Ren’s face.

"My apologies, Princess Evelyn, but I must formally voice my objection to this decision," the man declared smoothly, his tone laced with malice.

The crowd below immediately began to murmur, the quiet rising like the rustle of dry leaves.

"What’s going on up there?" someone whispered near the front.

The nobleman sneered, looking down his nose at Ren. "I am utterly baffled, Princess Evelyn. Why would you hand control of an entire sovereign district to a common porter? Have you truly thought this through?"

Ren stood motionless, his expression blank as he measured the man from head to toe.

’Who is this guy?’ Ren thought, his jaw tightening slightly. ’Judging by those robes, he’s some high-ranking official. But pointing fingers like that in front of a massive public gathering is out of line.’

Evelyn’s voice dropped an octave, radiating pure frost. "Verion. What is the meaning of this? Are you openly questioning my authority?"

Elysia stepped forward, her hand resting near her waist. "Verion, watch your tongue. Are you trying to challenge a direct royal decree?"

The quiet murmurs below quickly escalated into an uncomfortable buzz. Whispers spread like wildfire through the crowd.

"Wait, did he say a porter?"

"Is that true? Why would Princess Evelyn put a baggage handler in charge of a whole district?"

"What a joke. Has the royal house completely lost its mind?"

"A common porter running a territory? That’s ridiculous! He probably tricked the princess somehow."

"He doesn’t even look like a noble. Look at those plain clothes!"

"Disgusting. There are dozens of decorated military officers in the capital, and she gives the land to a nobody?"

Ren’s eyes narrowed into sharp slits as the toxic insults washed over the stage. He slowly clenched his right fist, feeling a spike of hot anger flare in his chest.

’You think I give a damn about any of you?’ Ren thought, suppressing the urge to sneer back at the crowd. ’I didn’t ask for a single one of you to move to my land. I built those walls so I could have my own base without answering to anyone. If none of you show up, it doesn’t change a single thing for me.’

Verion turned around to face the thousands of citizens packed into the square, raising his arms to stir the audience. "Everyone! Do you honestly agree with Princess Evelyn’s choice?!"

"No!" a chorus of harsh, chaotic shouts roared back from the crowd, crashing against the stage like a wave.

Verion whirled back around, pointing aggressively at Ren once more. "He is nothing more than garbage! A low-life porter whose only job in the guilds was hauling heavy crates and carrying gear for actual heroes!"

"He’s right!" a voice shouted from the designated seating area reserved for royal adventurers beside the stage.

Several armored heroes stood up, sneering openly. "Isn’t that the guy we used to hire for budget supply runs?!"

"Wait, isn’t he the lone survivor from that doomed expedition?" another adventurer called out, folding his arms with a mocking grin. "The one where the entire combat unit got wiped out by Aberrants, and he was the only one who crawled back alive?!"

"That’s him!" a mercenary sneered, spitting onto the stone floor. "While real warriors were bleeding out, fighting for their lives against monsters, this coward probably hid under a pile of corpses to save his own skin! Absolutely repulsive!"

The mockery exploded across the square, evolving into a unified chant of anger and ridicule aimed directly at the stage.

Ren’s chest heaved slightly as his knuckles turned white. ’So what if this body used to belong to a porter? You think that gives you the right to bark like rabid dogs?’

"Shut your mouths!" Ren roared, stepping past Evelyn to the edge of the platform. His voice thundered across the open square, catching the entire crowd off guard. "I don’t give a damn about any of your pathetic opinions! If you don’t want to live in Lumiria, then stay out! I built that land for people who actually need a fresh start—people who have nowhere else to go! I don’t need a single one of you arrogant, self-righteous bastards!"

He glared down at the stunned audience, his tone sharp enough to cut glass. "Look at yourselves! You’re nothing but a mob of shallow, ignorant fools who measure a person’s worth strictly by their social title!"

Silence fell over the square for a fraction of a second, the crowd stunned by the sheer nerve of a former porter yelling back at thousands of citizens.

Verion’s lips curled into a victorious, sinister grin. He turned to the crowd, spreading his hands wide. "Listen to him! Is this how a leader speaks?! Is this arrogant child fit to govern anything?!"

The crowd erupted once more, their shouts of outrage reaching a deafening pitch as insults hurled toward the stage.

Evelyn watched the chaos unfold, her cold eyes fixing on Verion. A look of deep, unmistakable disgust flickered across her face—not at Ren, but at the politician standing before her.

She took a single, deliberate step forward.

"Silence!" Evelyn commanded, her voice ringing out like a crack of thunder.

The absolute authority in her tone slammed over the venue, cutting off the shouting matches instantly. The square fell dead silent.

"Allow me to explain to all of you," Evelyn said, her eyes sweeping over the quiet crowd without a trace of hesitation or fear. "Exactly why I chose Ren Celestial to lead Lumiria."