Chương 246: Selene's True Purpose
The festive atmosphere in the Imperial Capital finally began to settle as evening arrived. The sky grew darker, and the city was illuminated by countless bright lights.
After Selene's coronation as Empress, it was only natural for her to move from the Habsburg Duke's mansion to the Imperial Palace. While the palace couldn't compare in comfort to the Schönbrunn Palace Sebas had built for Selene in the northern frontier, the Imperial Palace compensated with its majestic grandeur and vast scale.
Despite the destruction caused by the "Night Raid Rebellion," the overall damage to the palace wasn't as severe as expected. Most of the destruction occurred in the back palace's residential quarters, while the front halls—larger and more lavish—remained almost entirely intact.
The most significant damage came from the clash between Budo and Mine's powerful attacks, but with Selene's dimensional barrier in place, the destruction was kept within acceptable limits. After careful restoration under Selene's orders, the palace showed little sign of the recent turmoil, except for the worst-hit areas near Honest's chambers.
Atop the highest point of the palace's outer hall, constructed entirely with towering columns and adorned with golden material, Selene stood by the half-opened floor-to-ceiling windows, allowing the cold night air to brush against her. Ever since the lengthy coronation ceremony ended, she had quietly stood there, her crimson eyes gazing over the sprawling nightscape of the Imperial Capital.
The banquet had continued without her, but with Selene's reputation, no one dared truly enjoy themselves in her presence. Those officials who had narrowly escaped the great purge were especially anxious, fearing that one wrong move in front of the Empress would result in their swift demise.
After all, not long ago, Honest's allies and relatives had been rounded up and executed by Selene's orders. Their punishment was determined by their proximity to Honest, with methods ranging from dismemberment to beheading. Those who were spared were subjected to impalement, and their heads piled high, forming mountains of corpses.
The blood-soaked image still lingered in their minds, intensifying their fear of Selene.
In such a tense atmosphere, the banquet lost its appeal for Selene. She much preferred a private meal prepared by [Susanoo].
Thus, she left shortly after making an appearance at the banquet's start, much to the relief of the Empire's officials.
Boom! Whoosh! Bang
Suddenly, bright streaks shot into the sky, followed by the crackling of fireworks. Golden, silver, red, green, and blue bursts of light bloomed like stars, casting brilliant colors across the night sky.
The citizens of the capital were celebrating Selene's ascension, cheering for her, and hoping for a brighter future under her reign.
"So beautiful. It reminds me of New Year's fireworks in my memories... What a shame those were banned for environmental protection reasons. It's been so long since I've seen fireworks like these," Selene mused aloud, watching the display. Dressed in her coronation robes, she removed her five-winged gold crown, handing it to Sebas as her white hair flowed freely in the wind.
"Sigh..." Letting out a deep breath, Selene turned to Sebas. "Since I officially moved into the Imperial Palace, I've noticed you constantly going over blueprints and making notes. What's wrong? Not satisfied with the palace? Don't tell me you're planning to start another massive construction project?"
"Well... yes, Your Majesty..." Sebas replied, somewhat embarrassed.
Accustomed to the red, gold, and white color scheme of the Habsburg palaces, Sebas found the jade-green decor of the Imperial Palace uncomfortable—a torment, even.
Accepting the crown from Selene, Sebas carefully held it on his forearm and said, "I simply feel that these 'old' palaces do not match Your Majesty's grandeur. A new dynasty should have a new image, and you deserve a palace that reflects your unparalleled status—one that bears no marks of anyone else's legacy."
While Europe lacked the specific saying, "The Emperor uses the world as his home, and grand structures are needed to display majesty," Sebas's meaning was clear.
"Enough of that for now, Sebas. Your chance to showcase your design talents with grand projects will come soon enough—very soon, in fact. But right now, the unification of the Empire takes precedence," Selene said, turning to step out onto the balcony. She spread her arms as if embracing everything before her. "The Empire's decades of civil war must end with me."
Despite the long-lasting strife within the Empire, Selene had not moved to quell the chaos, choosing instead to bide her time, grow stronger, and prepare. Even though she had gained overwhelming power and influence, she didn't rely on brute force to suppress everything.
Using power alone could make people bow in submission, driving them to fear and obey her—but such obedience would often be superficial.
Whether it was political authority or raw strength, ruling through violent suppression or assassination was a last resort for Selene—a tool to be used sparingly.
For Selene, domination and control could indeed be achieved through these methods, but such control would only breed resentment and rebellion over time. It was a temporary solution at best.
While she could impose her will through violence, such rule would ultimately yield a world filled with hatred and despair. It would create a realm devoid of life, one where the seeds of rebellion would inevitably fester, waiting for their chance to sprout.
"The strong dominating the weak... it's natural," Selene mused. "But to rule with nothing but fear? That's not the path I choose."
She could easily have razed the Empire and conquered it through sheer force when she first descended upon this world, but Selene had opted for a different approach: cultivating her empire.
Her goal was not just domination but to build a lasting legacy—a thriving civilization that could grow and support her ambitions.
A world consumed by hatred, ruled by terror, would only lead to eventual rebellion and destruction. Even if suppressed, hatred would simmer beneath the surface, and one day, it would explode.
Of course, there was another option. She could treat this world the same way she had treated the Expedition world, reducing it to a desolate resource to fuel the Honkai Dimension. But what would be the point of cultivating her empire for ten years if she had planned to annihilate everything from the start?
Even if she unleashed her full power, capable of leveling the Empire and the world itself, the result would be a lifeless, dead world.
Selene feared the path of unrestrained destruction. She feared losing her sense of restraint, allowing her arrogance and power to transform her into a creature of pure devastation—a being of death and despair, reviled by all.
She had seen this fate befall others consumed by their own power, and it never ended well for them.
To avoid such a fate, Selene chose a different course. Though she would continue to grow stronger, she sought to build a civilization that would not only depend on her but also contribute to her power.
A thriving civilization would bring Selene many benefits, far beyond what simple destruction could offer.
Imagine, she thought, returning to the Honkai universe after conquering other worlds. How could her enemies rally against her when she commanded not only Honkai beasts but also armies of human warriors?
Selene smirked at the thought. "I'm not like the other Herrschers. I'm not alone."
And when her critics tried to slander her, her loyal subjects would rise to defend her honor, crushing anyone who dared oppose their Empress.
The Empire and its people were Selene's chosen foundation. They were the key to her plans, and as long as she nurtured them, they would provide her with the strength she needed to conquer other worlds.
However, this plan required careful management, which was why she had focused so intently on building and improving her empire.
As she gazed down at the sprawling capital, Selene couldn't help but ponder her next move.
Just then, her thoughts were interrupted by the arrival of Budo and Gensa, who had entered the domed hall after receiving word from the Imperial Guard.
"Your Majesty, the army is ready."
"Is that so? Then let us go inspect the troops. The unification war will require much of your efforts."
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