The Great Wish - Chapter 45: It Will Come To Pass (7)

Several carriages from the Raad Clan’s estate made their way into the imperial palace. Despite the heightened security due to the new emperor’s coronation, the carriages passed through without issue and arrived in front of the Sun Palace.

The newly appointed chamberlain, visibly nervous about his first official duty, led a group of attendants to welcome the guests. He approached the carriages as the doors opened, and four elders of the Raad Clan, accompanied by their attendants, including Walter, the Kali brothers, and Levan, stepped out.

Walter, never having been to the imperial palace, was awestruck and visibly uncomfortable, glancing around like someone who had left the countryside for the first time. The elders, though also visiting for the first time, maintained composed expressions, their eyes only briefly scanning the surroundings out of mild curiosity.

The chamberlain, recognizing the elders as the most senior figures, respectfully bowed and greeted them. “Honored guests, welcome. Please follow me. The emperor awaits your arrival.”

Guided by the chamberlain, the group entered the Solar Palace and was led to the emperor’s private reception room—a highly personal space, rarely used for external guests. It was clear that the guests were of significant importance to the emperor.

Inside, the group was surprised to find that the emperor and empress were already seated, looking down at their newborn daughter, wrapped in blankets. As they noticed their guests, Kuhn raised his head and greeted them.

“Welcome. Please, come in and have a seat.”

The elders hesitated slightly before approaching, while their attendants stayed behind, keeping a respectful distance. The oldest of the group, Boris, with his long beard reaching his chest, stepped forward to speak on behalf of the elders.

“Greetings, Your Majesty, Ku – Blue King,” he said, hastily correcting himself.

Sienna smiled warmly. “Please, feel free to call him whatever you’re comfortable with. Today, we’re here as family. Please, sit.”

The elders exchanged glances, their expressions softening with approval as they took their seats. Although they had attended the wedding, it had been a massive public event, and there had been no opportunity to speak personally with the newlyweds.

For most of the elders, this was their first time sitting so close to Sienna. From a distance at the wedding, they had admired her beauty, but now, seeing her up close, they were even more struck by her grace.

“I should have invited you sooner, but circumstances have made it difficult. If there were any hard feelings, I hope you’ll forgive me,” Sienna began, acknowledging the delay with a polite apology.

Between her childbirth, coronation, the former emperor’s passing, and the miraculous events surrounding the Sacred Tree, Sienna had been overwhelmed. It had taken exactly one month since Isabel’s birth for her to finally have the time to invite the elders.

“No, not at all. We are grateful to be remembered and invited here today,” Boris replied politely, though the elders had indeed felt some resentment. They had originally been skeptical of the marriage and had pinned their hopes on Kuhn’s heir. Hearing that the child was of divine blood and would become the emperor’s heir had deeply disappointed them.

Even on their way to the palace, they had felt somewhat bitter, as if Kuhn had been taken from them. But Sienna’s gentle words quickly soothed their frustrations.

Levan, watching from the back, couldn’t help but be impressed. She really knows how to handle them, he thought. The elders, known for their fiery tempers, were always willing to clash with formidable opponents, but they had no defense against Sienna’s graceful diplomacy.

“You’ve heard the name already, I’m sure. This is Isabel,” Sienna said, passing the baby to a maid, who carefully carried the little princess over to the elders.

The elders, who had been maintaining their dignity, suddenly became wide-eyed with curiosity, their faces lighting up as they gazed at the child. Mason, being the quickest, took Isabel into his arms, while the other elders shot him envious looks.

They gathered closely around him, eagerly looking at the baby. Though she was only a month old, Isabel had already begun making eye contact and expressing her emotions clearly, as divine descendants developed faster than ordinary children.

Isabel gazed back at the unfamiliar faces surrounding her, her golden eyes wide with curiosity. She giggled and waved her tiny hands, causing the elders’ stern expressions to melt into broad, joyful smiles.

“What a beautiful, lovely child!” one of the elders muttered, his voice filled with admiration. Despite their disappointment over the imperial succession, they couldn’t help but be charmed by Isabel’s innocent sweetness.

Kuhn, watching the scene, chuckled quietly and leaned over to whisper to Sienna, “I’ve never seen the elders like this before.”

Sienna smiled as well. “I’m glad. I was worried they’d be upset that she isn’t your heir.”

“They might be, but that doesn’t matter. Anyone who meets Isabel falls for her immediately.”

“Hmm,” Sienna responded, halfheartedly. Kuhn had been incessantly bragging about their daughter to anyone he met lately, including her, Isabel’s own mother.

“I still think we need more maids in Isabel’s room. The security is too lax,” he continued.

“I told you, it’s enough,” she replied, exasperated. This had been an ongoing disagreement between them for days. Sienna lightly smacked his thigh, signaling for him to drop the subject as she addressed the elders again.

“The reason I’ve invited you today isn’t just to introduce Isabel. I have something important to discuss.”

At her signal, the maid handed Isabel back and then left the room with the baby. The elders watched the maid walk away with expressions akin to parents losing their child, visibly disappointed to part with the princess.

Sienna dismissed all the attendants, leaving only herself, Kuhn, and the four elders in the reception room.

Kuhn then unfurled a large map on the table, covering most of its surface. The map didn’t depict the entire empire but rather the border regions near the desert, with certain areas marked in red.

“This is the area known as the ‘End of the Earth.’ I’m sure you’re familiar with it,” Sienna said.

The elders looked down at the map, silently observing the areas she had marked.

“It’s part of the empire, but in truth, it’s not under any real control. No citizens live there, and no lords govern it. Its proximity to the desert makes it barren and difficult to settle.”

Sienna scanned the elders’ faces before continuing. “The land isn’t fertile, and the location is far from ideal, but… would you consider this as a place for the Rad Clan to start anew?”

The elders remained silent, their faces unreadable. Their years of experience showed, as they gave no indication of their thoughts or feelings.

“You’ve likely heard the rumors that the Rad Clan’s origins may not be unrelated to the empire,” Sienna added, noting the subtle shift in the elders’ expressions. It was no secret—word had spread throughout the capital.

Over the past month, the city had been abuzz with celebration. With the new emperor’s ascension and the miracles of the Sacred Tree, people were convinced that the empire was blessed by the gods. Even crime had decreased, and public behavior had improved.

However, scholars had focused on a different aspect—the return of the divine language. The rediscovered ancient letters matched perfectly with the seven that Kuhn had revealed, and now scholars were eager to delve deeper into the research.

Though the capital was alive with excitement, the Rad Clan had remained largely silent. The elders were not entirely pleased with the idea of simply assimilating into the empire. They had not wandered for generations, searching for their land, only to submit to imperial authority. The past was the past, and the present was the present.

“Are you offering us a fief?” Boris asked cautiously.

“No,” Sienna replied.

She understood the elders’ wariness. The Raad Clan had spent centuries wandering in search of a place to call home, constantly fending off external forces that sought to exploit them.

“I plan to officially declare that the Raad Clan, being not outsiders but of imperial origin, will be tasked with cultivating the abandoned land. It may take years, possibly much longer, but I promise you this: as long as I rule the empire, that land will be excluded from imperial territory.”

The elders exchanged glances, their expressions showing signs of understanding.

Mason, the most experienced of the group, asked, “Are you saying you will grant us land?”

“Yes,” Sienna confirmed.

“And you’re promising that once the land is developed, it will be recognized as independent territory, free from the empire’s control?” Mason pressed.

“Though it won’t happen immediately, yes, that’s correct,” Sienna replied.

“And what are the conditions?” Mason asked, his voice tinged with suspicion.

“There are no conditions,” she answered.

The elders looked baffled. “I don’t understand,” Mason said.

“As I said, the land is part of the empire in name only, but the empire holds no real control over it,” Sienna explained.

“Even so, it’s still imperial territory,” Boris insisted, clearly confused by the emperor’s lack of territorial ambition.

No ruler they had ever known had willingly relinquished land. While the empire wasn’t known for aggressive expansion due to the Sacred Tree, giving up any part of its territory was another matter entirely.

At that moment, Kuhn interjected, “I vouch for this. Trust me and begin the move.”

“But Kuhn…” one of the elders began to protest.

Sienna spoke again, “I’m not asking for an immediate decision. Take all the time you need. Regardless of how long it takes, my offer will stand. When you feel confident in the decision, you can begin the process.”

The elders’ cautious expressions softened. Sienna’s offer was more appealing because it wasn’t rushed. Her patience and the fact that the land was in a remote, challenging region made it seem genuine. If the offer had been for fertile, prime land, they would have rejected it outright, knowing there would be strings attached.

Just then, one of the elders, an old man with a pointed chin named Staff, spoke up abruptly. “Land is one thing, but what about Kuhn’s heir? What do you plan to do about that?”

The elder next to him nudged him sharply with his elbow, trying to hush him, but Staff continued indignantly, “What? Did I say something wrong? If you took Kuhn from us, shouldn’t we get Kuhn’s heir in return? It’s not about land! We need Kuhn!”

Kuhn sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. He had been worried about this exact outburst when inviting Staff. When the elder lost his temper, no one could rein him in.

To Kuhn’s surprise, Sienna laughed softly. She often felt a sense of debt toward the Raad Clan. Kuhn had been willing to abandon them to marry her, and in a way, she had indeed taken him from them.

She smiled at Kuhn before turning back to the elders. “My son with Kuhn will be the first king of the nation that the Raad Clan establishes.”

The room fell silent. The elders’ eyes widened in shock, and even Kuhn turned to her, his expression one of astonishment. While the two of them had discussed the land for a long time, this was the first time she had ever mentioned a future son.

“Of course, this is something for the distant future,” Sienna added.

The elders seemed to relax, nodding in understanding. Her comment had caught them off guard, but they interpreted it as a sign that the imperial couple intended to have more children, which eased their concerns.

The elders’ satisfaction grew even more when Sienna continued, “And if you ever wish to see Isabel, you are welcome at the palace anytime. The doors will always be open to you.”

This offer left the elders visibly pleased, their expressions betraying how touched they were by her words. For people who had lived most of their lives feeling like outsiders, being granted such open access to the imperial family—especially to see the beloved Isabel—was an unexpected kindness.