Ethan stood frozen.
He hadn't seen this coming—not even close.
Kaelira, regal and composed, was offering him Sol'Rakka. Just like that. No conditions. No strings.
"Your Majesty… are you sure?" he asked, voice edged with disbelief. "You're handing over a nation this powerful… just like that?"
Kaelira nodded, her gaze unwavering. "This war taught me a lot. Sol'Rakka needs a true master now—someone strong enough to lead it forward. That person is you."
Ethan's breath caught.
Sure, taking Sol'Rakka had always been part of the plan. But this? This was too clean, too sudden. He hadn't expected Kaelira to surrender her kingdom with such clarity, such finality.
And yet, here he was—standing at the edge of something far bigger than he'd imagined.
After the war, not only had he helped the Emerald Castle forces ascend to a higher Tier, he'd also absorbed both Sol'Rakka and Kormaldor into his fold. That alone gave him the foundation for an empire—one with reach, muscle, and momentum.
