Champion Of Lust: Gods Conquer's Harem Paradise!

Chapter 282 Fall From Grace

If one stood in the skies of the Dragon Empire, the splendor would captivate even the most jaded traveler. The capital stretched beneath the clouds in a perfect fusion of advanced technology and mystical fantasy, a living testament to the vision of the royal family. Above, the skies teemed with life: miniature airships buzzed like metallic dragonflies, modern marvels for those unable to fly by themselves.

Interwoven with these machines were beasts of myth, dragons of dazzling scales gliding majestically through the air, accompanied by mages cloaked in shimmering robes, their magic propelling them as if the skies belonged to them.

The contrast was stunning, the technological and the arcane coexisting seamlessly. Modern skyscrapers loomed into the heavens, crafted from reflective glass and metals that captured the sunlight, while ancient, rune-carved spires hinted at the Empire's storied past.

But even amidst this grandeur, the crown jewel remained impossible to ignore: the Imperial Palace.

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The Imperial Palace

The palace defied expectation, an ethereal structure of beauty and strength. From above, it resembled a relic of an ancient era kissed by modernity—golden rooftops adorned with carvings of dragons, intricate bridges connecting sky towers, and shimmering waterfalls cascading from its heights into glowing pools.

It almost outshone even the monumental Obsidian Tech Tower, the pride of House Obsidian, a marvel of the modern age.

Yet, stepping inside the palace brought a sharp contrast. Gone was the warmth and inviting elegance seen from the outside.

Inside, a gloomy, oppressive aura weighed on every living soul. Servants moved quietly, their eyes averted, their faces pale with anxiety. Even the highest-ranking officials of the Dragon Empire, gathered in the palace halls, seemed cowed.

Their usual arrogance was replaced by tense silence and darting glances.

The source of this dread was unmistakable—the unstable leakage of immense power that seemed to thrum through the palace walls. It was the Dragon Emperor's rage, tangible and terrifying.

The Dragon Emperor had been absent from the palace for days, adding to the years he had not been so in and out the palace delegating many of his duties to his Empress, Astrid.

Rumors abounded: some whispered that he had taken another concubine, his fifth, who had ensnared him far from the imperial capital.

Others speculated that he had simply grown indifferent, disillusioned by the growing dominance of House Obsidian.

The court had even debated the House's meteoric rise to power without his presence.

But when he returned a few days ago, his fury shattered any pretense of indifference. The palace was steeped in gloom, and the source of his ire was as clear as it was personal: Seraphina, his youngest daughter, the jewel of his lineage.

Seraphina had always been special. Among the Emperor's children, she was the most beloved, his pride and joy.

Her beauty was unparalleled, a blend of her mother Astrid's breathtaking elegance and the Emperor's regal poise. With long starling hair like moonlight and eyes that glowed faintly with draconic power, Seraphina was on of the Empire's heartthrobs, inspiring sleepless nights for young nobles who dreamed of her favor.

But Seraphina was more than just a beauty; she was the Emperor's most loyal daughter, his confidant in matters of both politics and ambition.

When the Emperor saw the growing power of Pyris Obsidian, the youngest CEO of Obsidian Tech, he devised a plan that only Seraphina could execute. Pyris, with his brilliance and influence, represented both an opportunity and a threat.

Bringing him into the Imperial family through marriage would secure their position for generations.

When the Emperor whispered his plan to Seraphina, she didn't hesitate. She was her father's daughter, after all, willing to do whatever was necessary for the Empire's glory.

But it wasn't duty alone that motivated her—she found herself drawn to Pyris, fascinated by his brilliance, his aura of power. He wasn't like other nobles that always chased her.

Yet the Emperor's carefully laid plan unraveled in the most humiliating way. The whispers had spread quickly: Pyris Obsidian had utterly rejected Seraphina, turning her infatuation into a symbol of the Empire's fall from grace.

Worse still, Seraphina had fallen for him completely, her once-proud demeanor now replaced by heartbreak and longing.

The scandal had reached the highest echelons of the Dragon Empire. Nobles whispered in hushed tones, speculating about the Emperor's waning influence. Pyris Obsidian had not only spurned the Emperor's offer but had also solidified his independence, proving that he could not be manipulated, even by the mighty Dragon Empire.

It was this humiliation, this open defiance—at least to Drakos—that now fueled the Emperor's wrath. Seraphina's "disgrace" was more than a personal insult—it was a blow to the Empire's prestige, a sign that their dominance was no longer absolute.

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Within the palace, the tension was unbearable. The Emperor's power, usually contained with precision, now seeped into the very air, crackling with barely restrained fury. The walls seemed to vibrate with his draconic energy, a suffocating presence that made even the most seasoned warriors uneasy.

Only a select few, those closest to the Emperor, could endure it. But even they dared not approach him unbidden.

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Astrid, the Empress, moved through the halls with her usual grace, but her face was pale, her expression tight with worry. She had always been the Emperor's equal in strength and will, but even she knew that confronting him in this state would be unwise.

In the heart of the palace, in the grand throne room, the Emperor sat, his massive frame cloaked in shadows, his eyes glowing with an unnatural light. The silence was broken only by the steady drip of molten gold from his clenched fists, the heat of his anger melting the precious metal of his armrests.

The Dragon Empire was at a crossroads. The Emperor's fury, the scandal of Seraphina, and the rising power of Obsidian Tech all pointed to a storm on the horizon. As the nobles whispered and the servants scurried, one thing was clear: the Emperor would not let this "insult" go unanswered.

The Empire would rise again, and the Emperor would ensure that the name Obsidian was etched into history—not as a symbol of defiance, but as a reminder of what happens to those who challenge the Dragon Empire.

He didn't know; The fall from grace was only the beginning of the bigger scheme that involved even gods.

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