Abyssal Chronicles

Chapter 353 - 354: The Future of Snow Night Empire[1/2]

I truly appreciate your continues support, with your help we reached a new record of 730 power stones! I’m beyond grateful. And as promised, all the bonuses will be released tomorrow.

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In the southern part of SkyDome City, atop a wall in an almost deserted area, a young golden-haired girl was quietly sitting, pensively gazing at the heart of the empire.

She was the fourth princess of Snow Night Empire, the treasured jewel of the late emperor, and the younger sister of Xue Tianao—Also known as Freya Valentin, often referred to as the [most beautiful flower of the empire]

(Note: As I mentioned before, Fengling has been changed to ==> Freya Valentin)

Being the empire’s flower, Freya naturally possesses unrivaled beauty. Her golden hair, elegant as silk, fluttered in the wind. Her elongated willow eyebrows and azure eyes shone brightly, resembling the stars and the moon. Her high, delicate nose and rosy cheeks were complemented by lips as red as cherries.

A single glance at her could steal countless hearts.

However, at this moment, the beautiful princess is not dressed in her usual luxurious golden attire, but is wearing a simple homespun cloth with a pure white beast skin cloak. Her attire seemed totally mismatched with the term ’princess’.

Moreover, Freya, whose azure eyes used to radiate a vibrant spirit, no longer displayed her noble elegance, understanding nature, or overflowing love. They instead mirrored a face steeped in profound sadness, a sadness deeper than what tears could express.

Apparently, Freya was experiencing a whirlpool of emotions.

"Sigh..."

Looking at SkyDome City below, Freya let out a long sigh again.

She had lost count of the number of times she had sighed.

Now,

The heart of Snow Night Empire, the political and economic center of the empire,

This once prosperous, beautiful, and vast metropolis that the citizens of the empire aspired to, has already lost its past glory.

The invasion of the Abyssal Demons had plunged the middle and northern parts of the city into near-total ruin. No intact buildings remained; all that was left were ruined walls and nauseating pieces of flesh scattered about.

The putrid smell of rotting flesh, mixed with chilling wind, kept wafting toward the south, causing Freya to feel nauseated.

Fortunately, having witnessed similar scenes of carnage in the north, she was able to suppress her urge to vomit.

While the southern part of the city remained untouched by the brutal demons, it had transformed into a zone of deathly silence, enveloped in an eerie calm. Out of fear of another demon onslaught, the southern residents had already embarked on their escape route, moving toward the north in vast numbers.

The entire south now lay abandoned.

A week ago, it would have been unimaginable for anyone to witness the capital of the Snow Night Empire in such a state.

"Sigh..."

Freya sighed again,

As she continued to sigh, a comforting wave of holy power accompanied by a clear, pleasing voice, as soft as a stream, slowly reached her ears, instantly bringing a glint back into her eyes,

"Your Highness, are you alright?"

The voice, soft and filled with concern, brought a sense of warmth to Freya’s desolate heart.

Then,

Freya dispelled the gloom from her face, revealing a friendly smile, and slowly turned her head to look behind her.

At this moment, standing atop the city wall behind Freya was a young lady with silver hair, dressed in a suit of platinum knight’s armor and with her single ponytail hair.

She waved at Freya in a friendly manner. Seeing this familiar figure, a glint of joy instantly appeared in Freya’s eyes.

"Hmm? Mengxi? It’s been a while, hasn’t it?"

"Yes, it has. It’s been about half a year since we bid farewell at the academy, right?"

Think back to these days, Mengxi sighed,

"Time really flies."

"Yes…"

"How have you been?"

Observing that Freya’s face had become noticeably thinner, seemed somewhat lacking energy, and appeared to be cloaked in a veil of sadness, Mengxi couldn’t help but express her worry.

When they were both students at Luminous Academy in the capital of Red Leaf Empire, Freya had been the only one who had treated her with friendliness, eventually becoming close friends. Back then, to hide her true identity, Nick had enrolled her in Luminous Academy under the guise of a commoner girl. Inside the ’Royal Academy’, populated by the offspring of the empire’s nobility and wealthy businessmen, she had inevitably experienced a measure of discrimination.

At the same time,

Simultaneously, influenced by her Holy power, an odd affection for her had slowly bloomed amongst the students. Several boys started coveting her, and many girls grew envious of her beauty. All of which had stirred up a good deal of trouble. However, Freya had been the one person who didn’t care about her commoner status and offered friendship and assistance in handling numerous difficulties.

Due to her strength and mental power, Freya wasn’t much affected by the ’Holy power’ exuded by Mengxi.

Therefore, Freya was one of Mengxi’s few friends.

Mengxi was quite concerned about her friends.

So,

After learning of Freya’s location, Mengxi took advantage of the time when the church’s main force was packing up and came to the south of SkyeDome.

"I heard that you were imprisoned in the palace by Xue Tianao... That... bast..., he didn’t do anything to you, did he?"

She wanted to say ’Bastard’,

But considering the blood relationship between Xue Tianao and Freya, Mengxi chose to suppress her disgust temporarily.

Hearing the name ’Xue Tianao’, Freya paused slightly, her expression turning complex. She gazed thoughtfully at the distant palace, now in ruins.

"Well, not exactly. While my brother did want to make me his empress, he eventually chose to respect my intentions and gave me time to think... At least, during my time in the palace, he did not lay a hand on me... hmm, though, it could also be because you came to the imperial city. After being drawn to you, he probably didn’t care about me anymore."

Freya chuckled lightly, yet her laughter held an indescribable bitterness.

Mengxi, always perceptive to others’ feelings, quickly noticed the melancholy hidden in Freya’s smile.

"Is it because of Xue Tianao?" she asked.

"Sigh, I suppose so..."

Facing her friend, Freya chose not to hide her feelings and gave a slight nod.

"Xue Tianao... Although he’s been very crazy and greedy lately, he’s still my brother, the one who’s cared for me since we were young. Without him, I might have died in the palace intrigues long ago. Moreover, after the death of the emperor, my father, and my siblings, he was the only family left... When such a close relative dies in such an unclear way, there is... I can’t help but feel a little sorrow..."

Freya shook her head, with a self-mocking smile on her face

Witnessing this, Mengxi held back from saying anything more. She understood that for Freya, Xue Tianao was a figure she hated yet heavily relied upon. Consequently, Mengxi was unsure of how to console her friend.

However, she couldn’t help but sigh inwardly.

So, Xue Tianao really is dead...

She didn’t know who had rescued Xue Tianao previously, but it seemed they hadn’t spared the Son of Destiny.

At first, because she hadn’t been able to kill Xue Tianao with her own hands, Mengxi felt some regret. Now, she felt relieved.

After all, if she had truly killed Xue Tianao, if she had killed Freya’s brother, she might have felt truly guilty when facing her friend.

"By the way, Freya," Mengxi said, attempting to divert the conversation, "I’ve heard that now, with Xue Tianao’s death, the empire’s priests are planning to nominate you as the new empress."

The silver-haired young lady attempted to change the subject,

"Hmm?"

Upon hearing this, Freya nodded noncommittally:

"Yes, after all, Xue Tianao killed all my brothers and sisters... I’m the only one left with a pure royal bloodline to become the new empress."

Although she was poised to become the new ruler of the empire, Freya’s face bore no joy, only boundless sorrow. After all, Xue Tianao had left her with a gigantic mess to clean up...

"The other royal relatives probably aren’t thrilled about this, are they?"

Mengxi asked in a worried tone. She was all too aware of Freya’s standing in Snow Night Empire. Since Freya had always been under Xue Tianao’s protection, without him, the Empire’s Fourth Princess was akin to a powerless mascot. Now, with her possibly becoming the empress, the nobles of the empire, eastern or western regions probably wouldn’t easily accept her...

And even if they did, Freya might just end up as a puppet empress.

Upon hearing Mengxi’s words, Freya smiled faintly:

"Yes, those guys, they even had a fight with the High Priest over it yesterday..."

"They are indeed troublesome. But don’t worry Freya, I can lend a hand. When it comes to Asumos Church, all I need to do is have a little chat with Archbishop Nick..."

However, before Mengxi could finish her offer, Freya shook her head,

"Thank you for your kindness, my dear friend. But... the problem has been... essentially solved."

"Solved?"

Mengxi furrowed her brow, confusion filling her lavender eyes,

"What...what do you mean?"

"Ah, well, I am just as confused as you are. Anyway, this morning, the Black Rose Duke suddenly came to me. He said that their Black Rose family was willing to support me to become the new empress and would speak on my behalf with those in opposition. Then, at the meeting just now, the three nobles who had previously objected, inexplicably agreed... and then, my resolution to become the empress was passed."

As she recounted the events, even Freya felt as if she was in a dream.

Mengxi, on the other hand, looked even more puzzled,

"The Black Rose?"

’Them again?’