Chapter 233
Chapter 233. Reform
When William returned to the banquet hall, Mary was surrounded by several ladies in conversation. The moment she saw him approach, warmth immediately rippled through her eyes.
The two smiled at each other and, by tacit understanding, did not mention what had happened in the rear hall. They simply followed the rhythm of the music and slowly turned together in the dance floor.
The candlelight swayed, casting their shadows upon the polished floor tiles, where they intertwined into a gentle halo of light.
As the night deepened, the guests gradually took their leave, and the once-noisy banquet hall finally fell silent.
William held Mary’s hand and passed through the quiet corridor, arriving at a palace that was rarely used on ordinary days. Night Pearls were embedded in its dome, making it look as though it were forever adorned with stars.
The moment he pushed open the doors, William saw the three people waiting inside the hall.
Kroll II stood before the window, his back carrying a hint of loneliness. Vivian quickly came forward and pulled William into an embrace, her eyes faintly red.
“My William is now a true king.”
She released him, then her gaze fell upon Mary. Looking at the silver-white ceremonial dress that symbolized the Queen, she smiled and nodded.
“Good child. From now on, the burden of this kingdom will be something the two of you carry together.”
Mary bent her knees slightly in a curtsy and was just about to speak when Vivian took her hand.
“There is no need for so much courtesy. From now on, we are family.”
Old Ancestor Fenlilan sat upright in the main seat. His silver-threaded long hair fell over his shoulders, and his eyes were as calm as a deep pool.
He looked at William, his voice carrying the weight of accumulated years.
“William, from tonight onward, you are Kroll III.”
“This crown is not only glory, but also a shackle. What you must protect are millions of subjects and a foundation built over a hundred years.”
William nodded.
“Your grandson understands.”
“Tonight, I will take your parents to the Royal Family Secret Realm.”
Fenlilan rose to his feet, and a faint halo of Dou Qi lingered around him.
“The flow of time in the Secret Realm is different. It will be perfect for letting them devote themselves to cultivation, and it will also keep your father from always being unable to resist interfering in your decisions.”
William looked at Kroll II. Sure enough, his father’s expression was terribly dark, his lips pressed tightly together. Clearly, he was still unwilling.
Fenlilan waved his hand, his tone carrying unquestionable authority.
“There is no need to dwell on it. He simply cannot adjust for the moment. The years in the Secret Realm will smooth these things away. When you meet again, he will naturally understand your difficulties.”
Before his words faded, the Dou Qi around Fenlilan surged. It formed two gentle bands of light that softly wrapped around Kroll II and Vivian.
Vivian waved to William and Mary, her eyes filled with reluctance. Kroll II finally looked at William once. That gaze was complicated and difficult to read. There was expectation, unwillingness, and in the end, it became a sigh so faint it was almost inaudible.
“We are leaving,” Fenlilan said calmly.
The bands of light suddenly tightened, and the three figures turned into a streak of flowing radiance. They shot through the dome of Starfall Palace and vanished into the dark-blue night sky.
The light of the Night Pearls fell quietly. Only William and Mary remained in the hall.
William walked to the window and looked into the depths of the starry sky. There was no trace of them left.
Mary came to his side and gently held his hand.
“Do not worry. They will be fine.”
William turned to look at her. The gloom in his eyes gradually faded, replaced by firmness.
“Yes.”
He tightened his hold on Mary’s hand.
“From tonight onward, we face everything together.”
The Night Pearls in the dome shimmered like countless eyes watching over them.
At this moment, the era that belonged to Kroll III officially began.
Over the next few days, the air in the Royal Capital seemed filled with a new atmosphere.
William sat upon the throne. Before him, an unfurled parchment was densely covered with adjustment plans for the legions and government affairs.
“Pass down my order.”
His voice was steady, spreading through the entire council hall through the Magical Amplification Array.
“Beginning this month, every city, village, and town must submit a monthly list of talented youths between the ages of fifteen and twenty within its jurisdiction. No child of the common people is to be omitted.”
The ministers below began to murmur softly, yet no one dared question him. The resolve in the new king’s eyes carried more weight than any display of authority.
“Your Majesty,” the Minister of Military Affairs stepped forward and asked, “who would be most suitable to oversee the gathering of talent?”
William raised his eyes.
“It will be led by the Legendary Dragon Knights. They will take teams to every region. Their authority is enough to deter petty schemers, and they can also ensure that children with true aptitude are not hidden or oppressed by local powers.”
The moment the Legendary Dragon Knights were mentioned, the hall fell silent.
That elite force riding giant dragons was the kingdom’s sharpest sword. Because of the Dragon Mother and His Majesty, Dragon Island had sent a batch of giant dragons, allowing members of the Royal Family to form contracts with them and become Dragon Knights.
With them taking action, even the most stubborn local nobles would not dare act recklessly.
“As for the nobles.”
William changed the direction of the discussion, his gaze sweeping over the noble representatives in attendance.
“You will need to sign a new pact with the Royal Family. I will personally help you select those in your families with aptitude. The condition is that the selected members must serve the Royal Family for ten years.”
“During those ten years, they must go to war with the army and guard the borders. This will make up for the resource gap caused by nurturing talented commoners.”
One Count could not help speaking.
“Your Majesty, the children of my clan have trained in martial arts since childhood, so their aptitude naturally goes without saying. It is just that this ten-year term...”
“After ten years,” William interrupted him, his tone calm yet allowing no objection, “they may leave on their own, or they may remain in the legions.”
“Noble families have deep foundations and produce talents in every generation. This is beyond doubt. But can you truly select every family member with aptitude?”
“It is only ten years. Those who survive will certainly become Legendary, and even advancing to the Domain is not impossible. What do you think?”
He paused, then looked at the assembled crowd.
“What the children of commoners lack is opportunity. What noble children possess in abundance is resources.”
“Ten years of service will not only make the nobles shoulder their responsibilities, but also allow both sides to temper each other within the legions.”
“When the children of commoners grow up, and the experience of the nobles combines with the drive of the commoners, only then will the legions become truly powerful.”
“Think about the sight of your children becoming accomplished. The nobles will receive preferential treatment. Whether your families can continue to flourish will depend on you.”
His words struck the ground with weight, leaving even the most stubborn nobles unable to respond.
They understood that the new king’s policy seemed to weaken noble privilege, but in truth, it was injecting new blood into the kingdom’s foundation while also building a stronger base for noble families.
After all, no one could deny that the noble children who survived the battlefield would surely become useful talents.
Several days later, the first group of Legendary Dragon Knights rode their giant dragons into the sky. Dragon scales of many colors flashed coldly beneath the sunlight as they flew toward every corner of the kingdom.
At the same time, the nobles’ signing ceremony was held inside the royal palace. When the wax seals were stamped onto the parchment contracts, they released a faint, crisp sound, as though announcing the end of an old era and the beginning of a new one.
William stood on the palace terrace, gazing in the direction where the distant dragons had vanished. Mary walked to his side and handed him a cup of hot tea.
“With this, in less than ten years, the legions will look completely different.”
William accepted the teacup, warmth spreading through his fingertips.
“If ten years are not enough, then we will use twenty. I want every talented person on this land to know that their fate does not end with the circumstances of their birth.”
The wind swept across the terrace, stirring his cloak. It also stirred the hope in the eyes of the commoner youths on the distant training field, who had just put on military uniforms for the first time.