Divine Luck: SSS-Rank Battle Maid Harem-Chapter 576: The Emperor

Zach, Oria, Lexi, the Primordian, Yanael, Alzara, Soara, and Mandra soon found themselves in front of the grand Palace gates. Oria gently woke Zach up. When he looked out, he saw the gates and imagined a familiar scenario playing out.

But the guards did not obstruct them. They stepped aside and opened the gates without so much as a word or glance of protest. It was their honor to open the gates for Zach and Oria.

They stepped out of the carriage and were greeted by a warm welcome from Rienne and her retinue. Rienne had complex feelings, which she did her best to suppress, when she looked at Zach.

They got along well that summer. Considering they were both either high nobility or royalty, an engagement wouldn't have been strange. Rienne wouldn't have minded. Zach was handsome, gentlemanly, playful, and kind. He treated her for who she was without caring about the imperial family.

She had a feeling that he wouldn't have been very interested in an engagement. But she would like to think that it was just because he had his sights set somewhere else and that it had nothing to do with her, at least not until she arrested him and locked him up.

That wasn't something a relationship as light as theirs could endure.

This chapt𝒆r is updated by frёewebηovel.cѳm.

Zach nodded in greeting.

Rienne returned the greeting with a curtsy.

Zach gestured for her to lead the way.

As expected. Rienne suppressed a sigh.

"The Emperor, Dowager, several of the princes, the court, and almost everyone from the East are already in a meeting. It's been going on for a couple of days already. I think some of what they've been having trouble sorting out will be dealt with by your arrival, Zacharia," Rienne explained on the way as she led them to a meeting hall.

"What kind of things would that be?" Zach asked with a slight frown. He didn't want to deal with troublesome matters. If it was something that not even the combined heads of the most important people in the Empire could deal with, what made them think they had any right to ask him to do it for them?

Rienne glanced at Zach. She kind of got his expression right.

"They are mostly simple matters. It's just that it's difficult for everyone to agree to one solution or the like. Our people don't want to lose anything, but neither do the Sesha. That kind of deal."

"Ah. Greed," Zach said tiredly.

"Well…kind of? You'll see when you get there."

After a little while, Rienne stopped in front of a large set of closed double doors guarded by a single knight. Lahso.

Zach nodded in greeting. He thought Lahso returned it until he heard faint snores slip out of the helmet. He was sleeping standing up.

"I need to learn that," He commented before taking a deep breath and putting his hands on the doors. Rienne was going to tell him he didn't need to do that and ask one of her servants to open the door and announce his arrival, but Zach had already pushed.

Besides, the ones inside the room already knew he was there. He didn't need anyone to announce his arrival. His presence was enough.

The lively discussion died down as the doors swung open to reveal Zach and his group.

"Look who it is! The man of the hour," A blond man said from the center of the room. He was the only person sitting on a throne instead of a chair. It was the Emperor.

It was Zach's first time seeing the man who represented and carried the weight of the Empire on his shoulders. It was hard to put a finger on it, but he had a special presence that made everyone else in the room appear a little duller, like old clothes with their colors washed out.

He was handsome and seemed to have taken the imperial family's golden hair to the limit. Zach was pretty sure it would glow in the dark.

Zach crossed an arm over his torso and bowed his upper body.

"I greet Your Majesty," He said politely.

Rienne bowed silently. She was a princess. She didn't need to greet her father stiffly every time. Oria went down on a knee as she expressed her greetings. She did not have the self-confidence Zach had to be so relaxed in front of the man who was the sky to several million people.

The Emperor had a light smile as he sized Zach up before lightly waving his hand.

"Be at ease, Zacharia Evandiel and Oria Villesand. You are heroes. If I make you two stand on ceremony after everything you've done and after having you rush over without rest, I wouldn't deserve your loyalty."

Oria rose, and Zach nodded.

"With Zacharia here, we can finally settle this matter properly." The Emperor glanced around the room before his sharp gaze settled firmly on Zach again.

"Zacharia. Following the events leading up to the war and the war itself, the East has, essentially, become ownerless.

"The Evandiel Ducal family committed a sin that, while well-intentioned to a certain degree, can not be pardoned. They will be stripped of any and all titles, land, and wealth. There is also the sudden vacancy of the Sesha steppes following the departure of two of the major tribes.

"It is my understanding that the Sesha are interested in laying a claim to the East given the inhospitable conditions of the Steppes. However, while we are interested in peace, this war and the toll it took was, in part, due to the Sesha's invasion.

"The Empire is most reluctant to part with its land.

"Do you see where we stand, Zacharia?" The emperor asked after explaining the crux of the matter.

"I do?" Neither side wanted to give up the ownerless East. It had been the Empire's territory for almost as long as the Empire had existed. But the Sesha were tired of living a harsh life on the Steppes. They wanted the bountiful land. It wasn't like the Empire owned it in anything but name.

"My suggestion, Zacharia, is to give the East to you."