Receiving a neighboring country’s emperor was an extremely troublesome matter.

Even though this wizard emperor didn’t care about ceremonial formalities, some procedural matters had to be observed.

Sander also rarely put on the full imperial regalia of Evernight Empire, adorning himself with various jewels. Most importantly, he wore a golden crown encrusted with rubies and held a golden scepter topped with a fist-sized ruby of the same color.

Gold represented the majesty of Evernight’s royal family, while rubies represented Red Sea Trees.

They were Evernight’s responsibility and also Evernight’s pride.

Sander looked at himself in the mirror. Even though he clearly knew he was just a temporary puppet, at this moment he couldn’t help but feel a surge of intense pride.

“Someday, I too will imbue this scepter with real power!”

Thinking about it now, although Saul’s plan was extremely risky, it was truly the method that could resolve his awkward situation.

Otherwise, even if he regained power through an heir, he would essentially still just be a mobile blood bank. Evernight and the Tribunal wouldn’t truly take him seriously.

“Your Majesty, His Majesty the Black Flame Emperor has already headed to Evernight Star Palace,” the tall and mighty guard bowed respectfully nearby.

Having been emperor for several years, Sander naturally understood what the guard meant.

“Let’s go.”

Sander took one last look in the mirror, then holding his scepter, walked out of the rest room with his head held high.

Passing through a long corridor, Sander arrived at the reception hall where he would meet the Black Flame Emperor.

The entire hall was resplendent with gold and jade, luxurious from ceiling to carpet.

But Sander knew that once the Black Flame Empire’s emperor left, this place would return to its original spacious but empty state.

As soon as Sander sat on the central throne following the attendant’s instructions, he saw the double doors on the side being pushed open.

However, contrary to Sander’s expectations, the person pushing the door was actually the Black Flame Emperor himself—Wizard Elo!

Unlike Sander’s luxurious attire, Emperor Elo across from him wore only a simple black formal outfit with subtle patterns.

Even the crown he wore was strange, like a wreath made of thorns.

Only this wreath was much more ferocious than one made of fresh flowers.

It looked like it completely disregarded comfort. If an ordinary person wore it, the thorn spikes on the crown would probably pierce into their flesh!

However, compared to the Black Flame Emperor’s simple attire, his demeanor carried an inherent sense of condescending scrutiny.

He looked up at Sander with emotionless eyes, yet his gaze was like sharp arrows that made Sander’s skin ache.

Though Sander was clearly sitting on the elevated throne, he felt as if he was being looked down upon by the other party.

The Black Flame Emperor was followed by only one attendant.

The attendant was also dressed entirely in black, without any ornaments, appearing thin and small—not even as tall as Sander. He kept his head lowered and was very inconspicuous.

But Sander had already been specifically warned.

This inconspicuous attendant with little presence was actually also a third-rank wizard.

Seeing the Black Flame Emperor approaching, Sander stood up from his seat.

With the attendants’ prompting, the two emperors greeted each other. Attendants from both sides also bowed to the other’s emperor.

The third-rank “attendant” brought by the Black Flame Emperor bowed to Sander without any attitude.

This made Sander feel somewhat satisfied.

But before the balloon of pride in his heart could take flight, it was popped by the Black Flame Emperor’s next words.

“Alright, now that I’ve seen your emperor too, take me to see Frim. Don’t tell me he doesn’t have time now. I’ll go find him in the Maze Corridor myself!”

The attendant behind Sander immediately smiled in response. “Chief Frim is also waiting for you. We’ve prepared a passage for you.”

The Black Flame Emperor nodded slightly, looking back at the attendant behind him. “Let’s go.”

After the simplest meeting ceremony, Sander was completely ignored!

“Please wait!” Sander suddenly said loudly.

After the balloon of pride in his heart was popped, it fell down and became fragments that stuck in his throat, making even breathing difficult.

Before the Black Flame Emperor left, Sander finally managed to call out.

Black Flame Emperor Elo finally gave Sander a second glance. “Is there something?”

Facing a fourth-rank wizard, Sander mustered his courage. “The two countries haven’t exchanged meeting gifts yet.”

Elo waved his hand dismissively. “No need for such trouble. The thought is what counts.”

But what thoughts do you have?

Sander suppressed the urge to complain and continued speaking quickly, “I demand an exchange of meeting gifts, and please ask the Black Flame Emperor to honor the agreement between our two countries, especially the agreement with Evernight III!”

Elo didn’t want to deal with Sander at all, but upon hearing him mention Evernight III, he finally remembered he had a promise.

“Fine. Since you want it so much…” Elo raised his hand and broke off a golden spike from his thorn crown—about as long as a pinky finger, looking like it could be exchanged for some money.

He casually threw the golden spike, and it landed precisely in Sander’s palm.

“Alright, just put your gift on my airship. I’ll take it when I leave.” After speaking, the Black Flame Emperor left Evernight Palace without looking back.

With the Black Flame Emperor’s departure, other people in Evernight Palace gradually followed and left, or went to handle other matters.

In the end, only Sander remained, sitting alone on the high throne.

He looked at the empty palace before him, tightly gripping the golden spike in his hand until his palm was pierced and bleeding.

After a moment, he walked alone back to that small living room in the corner of the palace.

Taking off his luxurious decorations, wiping the lead powder from his face, discarding the crown and scepter, he only kept the golden spike the Black Flame Emperor had thrown to him as a gift.

When his anger had calmed slightly, Sander shook the golden bell beside his bed.

After a moment, an attendant knocked on the door outside.

“Your Majesty, what are your orders?”

“Invite Wizard Saul here!”

“…Your Majesty, Wizard Saul is probably with Wizard Alfonso welcoming the Black Flame Emperor right now. He probably doesn’t have time to come over.”

“Crash!” Inside the room, Sander swept all the ornaments on the table to the floor.

But contrary to this crude action, his expression was unusually calm.

No one spoke outside the door.

After another moment, Sander said, “Then wait until Wizard Saul is not busy, then invite him over.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“You may withdraw.” Sander said weakly.

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

The footsteps gradually faded away.

Sander sat on his soft large bed, imitating Saul by playing with the golden spike the Black Flame Emperor had given him between his fingertips.

Although his earlier anger had more or less been partly an act, when he saw everyone leave, leaving him only an empty palace, even though he was mentally prepared, Sander still felt uncontrollable anger and an extreme desire for power and authority!

While Sander was alone tasting humiliation, Saul was somewhat reluctantly brought by Alfonso to meet the Black Flame Emperor.

“What do you want me to do?” Saul asked Alfonso in a low voice. “My experiment has reached a critical moment.”

(End of Chapter)

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