Walking out directly below the throne where Rehart was seated, Etienne swallowed nervously amid the flood of gazes directed at her. She wasn’t sure if it was a good idea for her to step forward.

What if she had asked the Empress Mother to sort out this situation from the beginning? Would it have been better to instruct the knights to stop Lena Huangbi and take her away?

‘No.’

That would have tainted Rehart’s legitimacy as the emperor in the eyes of others.

Silencing others and pretending that nothing happened was by no means a solution. Even if faced with the same situation, Etienne would still make the same choice.

Just taking Lena Huangbi away with the Empress Mother would never change the atmosphere here.

“I am Etienne Clare.”

Those looking at her, including Rehart sitting behind her, would surely be curious about her thoughts. Observing the faces of those murmuring as they looked at her, Etienne hardened her expression.

‘I didn’t expect to reveal this here.’

There was no better excuse than this.

Etienne took a slow breath, and in the calmness that enveloped her, she spoke.

“You gain by letting go.”

No one immediately grasped the weight of Etienne’s words. Not even Rehart, seated behind her, showed any reaction. Nevertheless, as if indifferent to that, Etienne continued with her next words.
“If you want to gain the world, you’ll have to let go of me. In that sense, I like my abilities. It’s fantastic that I can awaken the abilities of others, not just mine.”

As Etienne continued speaking, initially Rehart’s expression changed, followed by the nobles, and even the older aristocrats.

“On the condition that my descendants are different from me. I will build the country using the awakened, but I hope my descendants embrace everyone, regardless of such things…”

Later, everyone understood what Etienne was saying. The one who built the country using the awakened was none other than the former emperor, Ganyen.

Etienne paused for a moment, looking around at the people. She then turned her body, making eye contact with Rehart.

She had kept in her heart the scene she had read from the Mitri tree. She wanted to tell Rehart after he became emperor at the right time…

‘Listen carefully.’

Etienne smiled warmly at Rehart and straightened her posture.

“This is a scene I saw in front of the Mitri tree. It’s something Ganyen, the former emperor, said. Feel free to verify its authenticity.”

Anyone who doubted her words could check the records. There were many heroic tales of the former emperor available.
And even if it wasn’t true, it could be thoroughly checked in the library, accessible only to the nobility. So when someone contested the claim, saying it might not necessarily be a scene witnessed in front of the Mitri tree, Etienne responded with a profound smile.

Concerned not to lose composure, given that someone had staked something based on her thoughts, and everything she had said could turn false if she failed here, Etienne continued calmly.

“Well then, how about this?”

Etienne turned to look at the returned Empress. Making eye contact with her, Etienne spoke.

“The one I first awakened was you, Claire. You remember everything and can reveal it all.”

When Etienne echoed what Ganyen, the former emperor, had said, a hint of surprise flashed across the Empress’s face. There were many tales about Ganyen, the former emperor, but not everything about him had been revealed.

Though Claire, a member of the current Etienne’s family, possessed restoration abilities, her direct lineage’s abilities had not been disclosed. Hence, Etienne shared the concealed stories – what Ganyen, the former emperor, had entrusted.

“‘The conversation we had in front of this Mitri tree will be read by your descendants in the future. In that case, they should be able to read my wishes,’ said Ganyen, the former emperor.”

“How…?”
The Empress looked at Etienne with a stern face and then glanced at Lehart.

Since the moment she hesitated, the reactions of the people began to change. They gradually started to believe that Etienne’s words were not fabricated.

‘It doesn’t matter if everyone doesn’t believe.’

There was evidence backing up the fact that it was the truth, and the important thing now was not to convince them all.

“Someday, if my descendants succeed me and lead the kingdom…”

Ganyen, when he first established the kingdom, didn’t know that the small kingdom he created would be turned into an empire by his descendants. Anyway, Etienne delivered the most crucial words in a clear and concise manner.

“The one who puts everything down will gain the most. Just like me.”

Depending on the interpretation, Etienne subtly revealed that all of this was directed towards Lehart.

Having finished speaking, Etienne looked up at Lehart. Lehart, looking at her with eyes full of unspoken words, smiled discreetly.

‘Until we meet again.’

After silently exchanging greetings with their eyes, when Etienne stepped back, everyone focused on Lehart.