Cosmic Ruler - Chapter 334

Chapter 334: Uprising II
As they rose to prepare, Lirael donned a deep emerald cloak, the fabric adorned with her family’s crest, a symbol of her lineage and her claim. She looked regal, every inch a queen, even though the coronation hadn’t yet happened. Aiden could feel the shift in her; she was no longer just Lirael, the woman he liked—she was Lirael, the future ruler of a new kingdom.

Aiden fastened his own cloak, more practical but no less commanding. His weapon strapped securely to his side, he felt ready, focused. He met her gaze, a silent promise passing between them.

As they descended into the courtyard, they were met by a mix of loyal guards, advisers, and allies who had sworn themselves to their cause. The atmosphere buzzed with anticipation and determination, each face steeling itself for what was to come.

Aiden scanned the faces, noting the range of emotions—hope, fear, and fierce loyalty. Lirael’s leadership had inspired them, but he knew it was also her ability to understand their fears, to give them a purpose greater than themselves, that bound them to her.

Lirael addressed them, her voice strong and clear. “Today, we take back what belongs to us. We bring an end to fear and stagnation, and together, we will build a kingdom where everyone has the chance to flourish. Stand with me, not just as followers, but as equals. Together, we are unstoppable.”

The crowd erupted into cheers, their loyalty and resolve on full display. Aiden watched her with a sense of pride, knowing he’d never seen anyone as fierce and inspiring as her.

The gates opened, and they rode out into the city. As they moved through the streets, more joined their cause, the common people drawn by the hope of change, by the promise of a kingdom that served them.

When they reached the Throne room, the royal guards held their position, blocking their path. Aiden tightened his grip on his weapon, prepared for the fight, but Lirael raised a hand, signaling him to wait. She stepped forward, speaking to the guards with calm authority.

“This kingdom belongs to the people, not to one family alone. Today, I ask you to join us, not out of disloyalty, but out of love for our land and our people. Stand with us, and you’ll be remembered as the ones who paved the way to a brighter future.”

The guards looked at her for a moment, hesitating, but then came a sharp command.

“Don’t falter!”

The First Minister stepped forward, his voice brimming with anger. “This traitor only wants the kingdom for herself! Kill them and let the king remain! Allow him to lead a prosperous rule!”

He was seething with rage, struggling to comprehend how things had spiraled so quickly out of control. When had it all started to fall apart? There had been no sign of an uprising, no warning that this was coming. Yet, in the span of a single day, the entire kingdom—save for the Royal Capital—had already fallen under their control.

****

The First Minister, Lusarus, stormed into the throne room, his face flushed with barely contained rage. He had heard whispers, fragments of unsettling rumors drifting in from the fringes of the kingdom. But he had dismissed them—how could an entire nation crumble underfoot so quickly, so silently, without him catching wind of it?

And yet, here he stood, facing the very reality he had scoffed at. Lirael, the princess he once thought too gentle for power, stood boldly in the center of the room, backed by the unwavering support of the royal guard. The king himself looked diminished, as if the weight of years had finally settled on his shoulders all at once. Lusarus clenched his fists, trying to steady his thoughts as his mind reeled with disbelief.

“When did it all go wrong?” he muttered to himself, barely loud enough for anyone to hear. His eyes flitted over the crowd, noticing how the courtiers, the guards, and even the nobles he once thought loyal, seemed different. There was a new light in their eyes, a quiet defiance.

“Minister Lusarus,” Lirael’s voice cut through the silence. There was an unyielding strength in her tone that Donovan barely recognized. “You stand here as my father’s closest adviser, but today, the kingdom’s loyalty has chosen a different path. It’s time for change.”

“Change?” he sneered, his voice trembling with fury. “What you mean, Princess, is treason. You’ve sold out this kingdom for the sake of your misguided ideals. This bastard standing beside you”—he glared venomously at Aiden—”has poisoned your mind with promises he cannot fulfill.”

Aiden met Lusarus’s gaze, his expression calm, almost mocking. “The only poison here,” Aiden said, “is your lust for power, Lusarus. You’re the one who kept the kingdom stagnant, crushed under archaic laws, while you filled your coffers with wealth from the people’s suffering.”

Lusarus’s eyes narrowed, fury boiling over. “Kill them,” he ordered, voice trembling with the weight of his desperation. “Guards, do your duty and uphold the throne’s legacy! Destroy these traitors and restore order. This kingdom will not fall to the whims of fools and idealists!”

The guards exchanged glances, hesitation flickering across their faces. For the first time, Lusarus felt a pang of doubt. The silence that followed was deafening. He had once commanded absolute respect and authority, but now, even the guards who had served him loyally hesitated.

“Don’t falter!” he shouted, his voice cracking with a desperation he couldn’t contain. “I’ve served this kingdom since before you could even wield a sword,” he spat toward Aiden. “You’re nothing but an outsider, a pest trying to feed off the spoils of a kingdom built by better men!”

But Aiden remained unshaken. “You’re right, Lusarus,” he said with cold precision. “I am an outsider. But what I see, and what you’ve long ignored, is the decay you’ve fostered. You call this treason, yet it’s you who’s betrayed this kingdom by chaining it to your selfish ambitions.”