"I am not fit to be king."
"C-Chieftain…"
"But I know who should be king."
The one who chose prosperity over glory, the one who wanted to see his children well-fed rather than die an honorable death. Ragnar looked down from the platform, eting Bjorn's gaze. Slowly, he walked down and stood before him.
"…"
"…"
The two n held each other's gaze in silence. Then, Ragnar knelt on one knee before Bjorn, shocking everyone around them.
As the crowd looked on in disbelief, the two warriors spoke to each other naturally.
"Your Majesty, please take care of the North. Watch over all of us, without distinction."
"I swear by our ancestors, I will protect every child of the North as far as my hands can reach."
Bjorn reached down to help Ragnar rise. Even as he stood, Ragnar did not forget to show respect to his new king.
At that mont, everyone understood. Right here, the North's king had been born.
A thunderous cheer erupted, shaking the entire estate.
An unprecedented turn of events—that was the only way to describe it. The nobles, who had expected to pledge loyalty to Ragnar, were completely stunned.
"My word, I never imagined this could happen."
"Who could have guessed the chieftain would relinquish the throne?"
"It still feels like a dream."
It was hard to believe. This was the chieftain who seed willing to do anything for the throne. Although they had heard his reasons, many still doubted there was so hidden motive behind this sudden change of heart.
"Well, whatever the reason, this is good news for us, isn't it?"
"Indeed! And none other than Lord Bjorn is taking the throne!"
"A man of the Empire's nobility, yet grounded in reality."
As the initial shock faded, laughter broke out among the nobles. While they would have supported whoever was elected, they still had personal preferences. And Bjorn was the ideal candidate for the northern nobility.
A noble of imperial origin, he understands internal matters well and is aware of the dynamics among the nobles.
He knows enough about each estate to avoid unreasonable demands or unrealistic plans.
And being a pure Northerner, there's no reason for any talk of foreign influence.
Despite these strengths, they had thought his chances slim against the chieftain. Yet, in the end, a miracle had happened. They felt like celebrating.
"Now, everyone, calm down! We still have much to do!" Viscount Thorbern clapped his hands, bringing the atmosphere back under control. Though the king had been chosen, there was still a mountain of tasks ahead.
"We can celebrate later! At the very least, let's settle the coronation arrangents and date first!" Read exclusive chapters at My Virtual Library Empire
"Haha, yes, you're right about that."
"And there's another matter that needs addressing."
Thorbern's gaze shifted to Marquis Serge, whose face had fallen, resigned to his fate.
It's over, thought Serge.
If the election had remained unresolved, he might have had hope, but now that the king was chosen, his downfall was all but guaranteed. Though he would not face punishnt before the coronation, he was as good as a condemned man.
Thorbern watched him with satisfaction.
It's like a burden of ten years has finally lifted.
Thorbern reflected on the years of conflict, thinking back to Sylas's confident prediction that Bjorn would take the throne.
How could Lord Sylas have known this would happen? It's not as though the chieftain would have confided in him.
Thorbern pondered this briefly, then shook his head. Sylas was a man with hidden depths beyond comprehension. Trying to unravel his mind was as futile as solving an impossible riddle.
Instead, Thorbern decided to enjoy the victory of the mont. Soon, they would be too busy with the coronation preparations to think of much else
While the nobles were busy discussing in the council chambers, Sylas was sharing a mischievous grin with Bjorn, who had co to visit his quarters.
"How does it feel to be king?" Sylas teased.
"I'm not king yet," Bjorn replied calmly.
"You just haven't had the coronation yet."
"Well, a prince isn't an emperor until he's crowned, is he?"
Sylas couldn't help but chuckle. Not long ago, Bjorn had been a rather straightforward person, but he'd changed remarkably over the past few months.
A good change, Sylas thought. Compared to when they first t, when Bjorn was consud by his own ideals, he was now better suited for the role of Northern king.
"Are you sure you don't need to be in those etings? There must be a lot to coordinate."
"There's plenty of ti for that," Bjorn shrugged. "I'm not leaving the North anyti soon."
"True enough."
Reviving the long-vacant kingship would be no small task; there was an overwhelming amount to accomplish, and it couldn't be done in just a few days. They each raised their glasses and drained them.
"What about the situation with the clans?" Sylas asked.
"It's quieter than I expected." Bjorn scratched his cheek, looking almost puzzled. "Honestly, I thought there would be a huge backlash. If Ragnar had been crowned king, the northern nobles would probably have reacted the sa way. But they accepted it surprisingly well."
"Thanks to Ragnar, I'd say," Sylas replied, recalling Ragnar's warriors. Every one of them was deeply devoted to him. Ragnar might have dismissed himself as short-sighted, but he embodied the warrior ideal. For those with a warrior's heart, following him was inevitable.
"From what I understand, the clan society is centered around warriors, and Ragnar holds absolute support among them."
"The clan leaders are mostly warriors themselves," Bjorn nodded. "Many of them would be loyal to a chieftain like Ragnar."
"Exactly. Even if so have misgivings, what can they do when everyone else follows Ragnar? If they resist, they might find themselves ousted by their own warriors."
And that remained true, even now that Ragnar had pledged his loyalty to Bjorn.
"Honestly, the stability with the clans is largely thanks to him. This is the best possible outco."
"I think so too," Bjorn agreed.
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