The Rise of the Black Plain

While the strongest of the family were in the residence of Minos and their wives, nobles from all over the northern region were in the vicinity of the first level of the imperial palace.

There, the leaders of the assemblies from each of Minos' territories, from Vogel, the Snow area, and Stone Island, were standing around, chatting as they awaited the moment for the wedding to begin.

The brothers of the Stone family were around while Lorelei could not attend this ceremony, as she was leading the empire's efforts for the maritime expansion of the Black Plain.

But former King Stone and his younger brother were around, both at level 68, a level weaker than their sister.

They were in a circle of regional leaders, where Adam Snow and Ambrose Snow, both at level 66, stood next to former King Carline and his two wives, all of them at level 65.

But Raynard, Diana, and the Cromwell area leader were not mixed with these other regional nobles since, after the development of the Black Plains War of Independence, their families had moved far apart from each other.

They even did business with each other but avoided each other for other things!

The members of the Walker family, former sovereign of the Kingdom of Waves, were also around. Still, their members were talking to the distant relatives of the Goddess of Life, with whom they had been interacting a lot in recent months.

In this reunion atmosphere, Rosser, Albano, and Blackrock sovereigns were also around, observing the situation while laughing about the recent past.

Only a few years ago, they were enemies of various people in the surrounding area, patriarchs of families, and sect masters of the Flaming Empire.

But in such a short time, everything had changed, and they were all now partying under the same roof, all on Minos' account.

And seeing the amount of Spiritual Sages in the surrounding area, more than 10, counting the relatives of the Goddess of Life, the members of the Gray Clouds Sect, and the Edwardstone family, some of these leaders were silent, seeing fate.

'It looks like the Black Plain Empire really is the future.' The King of Blackrock, level 79, thought to himself, thinking about the current tense situation in the rest of the continent.

As the leader of a state that bordered the Evergreen Empire, he was one of the most worried in this place about the future, fearful about what could happen if the southern and western regions started a war.

If that happened, his capital city, which was close to the border with the Evergreen Empire, would be in great danger!

Noting how the Black Plain Empire seemed to be the only place on the continent that was currently calm, this leader couldn't help but consider whether this was the future for him and his people.

"We may have to associate with the Black Plain Empire more deeply in the future." He commented to his men as he saw the many cheerful people in the surrounding area eating and drinking.

"Your Majesty, what do you mean?" The man closest to King Blackrock asked, frowning at the possibility behind his sovereign's words.

That man said. "I'm not talking about us becoming part of the empire like the ancient states in the northern region did. But we can become an autonomous kingdom of the Black Plain Empire, less free than we are now, but without as many ties as those northern region territories."

"That..."

Minos' other allied sovereigns also had similar thoughts in mind, not for the same reasons but with the same consequences.

"I didn't imagine that would be so useful..." While holding the medallion that Minos had given her years ago, Iris West commented to Lulu and Joan.

That would entitle her to an application to this empire, so considering that Minos currently had mid-level Spiritual Sages on his side, this woman couldn't help but smile in satisfaction that she had accepted the deal from that time.

"What do you intend to do?" One of her daughters asked.

"I don't think our eastern region will face any major problems because of the situation of the major powers on the continent. But it would help us a lot if we could get a high-level expert from the empire to protect us in case of need..." Queen West said.

Lulu asked. "You want to use this to get one of Minos' Spiritual Sages? I doubt he will leave someone like that with us for long periods."

Iris smiled, shaking her head negatively. "I'm not going to ask for that. I want Albano to become a subordinate kingdom to the Black Plain, which has its independence but will pay taxes in exchange for benefits.

That way, we can get protection and access to some Black Plain resources and markets more easily."

"So that's it..."

...

Meanwhile, Dillian and Eda, one at level 73 and the other at 72 were standing next to Minos, helping him prepare for yet another such occasion.

"Your Majesty, you look very handsome. I'm sure Isabella will be very happy when she sees you later." Eda said as her husband finished helping Minos button his clothes.

Now and then, Dillian still offered his services as a butler to Minos, helping this young man he had practically raised since childhood.

Precisely because he had been with this man since the beginning of everything, this man had an extremely happy look on his face, as if he were his own son who was about to be married once again.

"This time, you will marry a princess, so this will open new doors for the family in the future, Your Majesty." He said as he called attention to this matter.

"Hmm, I don't intend to take over the Flaming Empire, but when I have a son with Isabella, he will naturally have rights to that state." He said, imagining that even if Harold and his future heir still commanded that place in the future, it would be done by observing a possible son of his with Isabella.

But he didn't intend to force anything. As much as he had his expansionist interests, with those already under his influence, Minos did not intend to force them but rather hoped they would ask to join his empire.

...

While he was talking this over with Dillian and Eda, Ruth and Gloria were with Isabella in another part of the palace, finishing helping this new harem sister of theirs.

"Ready?" Ruth asked that level 77 woman.

Isabella was blushing, her eyes watering, but still, she smiled and said. "Yes, more than ever."

"So shall we go then?" Gloria asked, showing one of her hands to help Isabella.

Harold and Isabella's mother was already outside that room waiting for her, so right after getting up, Isabella went towards them to start this unique moment in her life!