Upon the king's command, a group of servants entered the grand hall.
They were carrying an assortment of delicious dishes, each carefully prepared to tantalize the taste buds of the guests.
These servants, with practiced precision, approached a large table nestled in one of the corners of the room.
Before this, the table had been adorned with appetizers, teasing the palates of those in attendance.
However, with the arrival of these new dishes, the table underwent a transformation, now showcasing a rich variety of culinary delights from various cuisines.
The spread was a feast for the eyes and promised a delightful culinary journey.
The king's enigmatic statement left many of the guests in suspense, causing a collective rumble of curiosity to stir within them.
Murmurs and whispers spread like wildfire throughout the room, as people exchanged speculations and hushed conversations.
Some astute attendees had already begun to piece together the puzzle.
They couldn't help but notice the queen's unmistakable figure, which was now flat instead of her pregnancy bump.
These individuals, well aware of the royal protocol and traditions, harbored their own educated guesses about the impending announcement.
However, in the midst of this mental puzzle-solving, a few individuals appeared oblivious to the unfolding mystery.
These "slow on the uptake" guests, while not immediately grasping the situation, decided to immerse themselves in the banquet's pleasures.
On the central banquet table, the king and his wives indulged in the culinary delights presented before them, partaking in the feast just like their guests.
As servants diligently served them various dishes, the royal family enjoyed the savory offerings.
However, when Seraphina raised the topic of involving their children in the banquet, Arion nodded in agreement.
Erla, too, expressed her interest in understanding his intentions.
"We should introduce the Prince and the Princess to the guests," Arion declared.
Seraphina, though, expressed her frustration by clicking her tongue in annoyance.
She harbored concerns for the safety and well-being of their child, not wanting them to be exposed to any potential risks.
With their table manners on full display, the royal family resumed their meal, all the while maintaining a watchful eye on the gathered guests.
As they finished their courses, the monarchs observed the room, noticing that most of the attendees had concluded their own meals.
The king and his wives then rose from their seats, signaling to the waitstaff to commence with clearing the banquet hall.
After a few minutes, everything was cleaned up, and the guests turned to look at the royal family in anticipation and eagerness.
The depth of their greed for power knew no bounds.
If given the opportunity, everyone was ready to fight to the death for the throne.
Only the absolute rule of Arion, due to his unique and strong power, made it possible for him to hold this position.
"Let me first introduce you to the Prince and Princess of our Solunar Kingdom, maids!"
As the maids entered with the two boys and one girl in their arms, the entire room brimmed with curiosity and anticipation.
The guests, driven by their ambitions and desires for power, cast their eager and greedy gazes upon the children.
King Arion was astute and observed this hunger for authority in their eyes.
Seraphina took her boy from the maid and placed him in her arms. Erla took Keiran in her arms while Luna stayed in the maid's arms.
Keiran's eyes scanned the crowd, his expression devoid of emotion.
He observed the pervasive gloominess emanating from the guests, resembling their mother's demeanor, if not surpassing it.
His dispassionate gaze shifted to his sister, Luna, who was returning his look with her own.
In this sea of ambition and power-hungry individuals, it appeared that the connection between the twins was their only source of genuine connection and understanding.
The twins' identity was revealed to the crowd as Arion addressed them.
" This one here is Keiran, my firstborn, along with his sister Luna. They are twins, but Keiran was the first to be born."
Arion turned his attention to his second son in his wife's arms.
" This little one here is my second son, Aiden."
He paused, allowing the crowd to absorb this information, dropping another news like a bombshell.
"They will not inherit my throne based on their status or backings."
This shattered most of their schemes involving the kids. Looking around with a satisfied glint in his eyes at their disappointed faces, Arion continued.
"The one to succeed my throne will be the one who can win against me in battle."
This information shook the minds of everyone present, including the Queens.
They knew his powers were abnormal; only because of his powers could he establish this Kingdom.
Now he wanted their son to win against him, someone whom no one was able to challenge and survive, except them.
That was only for a short time too; in a long battle, they would lose as well.
The guests thought and nodded in agreement; their way of thinking was simple.
If they didn't have the power to win against the current king, how could they handle the kingdom during internal strife or power imbalances?
"I know you have many questions; I will address them after the announcement finishes."
Nodding their heads at their King's words, they listened attentively as he continued with his announcement on the second topic.
"Now, about the power distribution of the Kingdom, I know you are the people who have been with us since the start of our journey to build the kingdom."
These words seemed to stir the hearts of the people present.
They had a bad premonition related to this announcement.
"But we can't continue with our current power system. We will need to establish a rank for everyone so that we can appreciate their contributions to the kingdom."
These words caused the people who had just been enjoying the favor of the king and the others to despair.
"We will adapt an old ranking system of the European nobles, except for the duke rank. You will be rewarded with points for your previous and future achievements."
Letting the news sink in, the crowd remained silent as the king continued with his decree.
"The ranks will be as follows: the lowest rank will be baron, followed by viscount, earl, marquess, and finally, the highest rank, duke."
The atmosphere was very serious at the moment as everyone was engrossed in the information.
"You will all start with a base baron rank, and your achievements will be counted according to the contributions and help you have provided in building this kingdom."
In that moment, the room was a tapestry of emotions.
Those who had worked tirelessly and made significant contributions to the kingdom's development felt a sense of satisfaction and excitement.
They saw this new ranking system as a way to finally receive recognition for their dedication and efforts.
Different emotions could be seen on the faces of the people present. Some were happy and filled with anticipation of the new ranks.
Some had ugly face thinking of the time they enjoyed the protections of the others as they just filled in the numbers.
They feared that their past contributions might not be enough to secure a higher rank.
The prospect of being relegated to a lower status was daunting.
Then, there were those who remained impassive, their faces revealing an underlying desire for absolute power.
They likely viewed these changes as an avenue to further consolidate their influence and control within the kingdom.
Only with your own power can you truly live through anything. These ranks are nothing but merely empty titles.
" Points for each rank will be as follows:
To become a Baron, you will need 1,000 points.
The Viscount rank requires 10,000 points.
Achieving the Earl rank demands 20,000 points.
Marquess status necessitates a total of 50,000 points."
The room fell silent as attendees absorbed this new system, realizing the magnitude of their future endeavors.
For some, it was a challenge to prove their worth; for others, it was an opportunity to solidify their place in the kingdom's hierarchy.
As King Arion turned to his advisor, Thorne, he ordered, "The list!"
Thorne, a lean man with long brown hair, sharp features, and wise eyes, approached the King and handed him a scroll.
"Now, let me announce the names of the families that will be granted the base Baron rank, which will be further evaluated in the next few days," King Anos declared.
________________
(A/N: Should i add power ranking too?....
like from Rank A to F and only the king as S rank.
or is this noble ranking enough??..)