Mummy Evolution-Chapter 34: Zainah’s Ceremony (2/3)

Sett’s eyes soon magnetted back on Zainah.

Though she was the undeniable focus of attention, she seemed entirely unbothered, holding her pose with a soft smile.

Zainah, at that moment, looked like a young hero who was about to carve her name into history.

Sett desired to stand beside her today, but he didn’t.

Today was her spotlight, he didn’t want to steal it away from her. Though she wasn’t particularly fond of spotlights, he liked seeing her shine.

Sett looked towards his mother.

Please don’t make it hard on her, he thought.

Neilara tilted her elegant head slightly, as if listening to an unseen whisper from Sett, then raised a hand to silence the room.

It fell silent immediately.

She looked at Zainah.

"Zainah Ramses, wife to Sett Ramses, greets the Pharaoh." Zainah said with practiced grace. "Ankh, wedja, seneb, nswt-bity. Life, prosperity, and health be to you, Lady of the Lands!"

The Pharaoh remained silent.

She didn’t tell Zainah to rise, she didn’t tell her to speak.

She just remained silent.

Uh, oh.

After marrying Sett officially, Zainah had adopted his surname as her own, too. Thus, she didn’t have to be too reverential in front of the Pharaoh.

In fact, often at night, their mother joined them in simple conversations and dinner.

They were not that distant a family.

In fact, Neilara had even shown Zainah how to play music.

Why was she making it difficult for the girl now?

A drop of sweat trickled down Zainah’s side profile.

She also remained silent, she had to be respectful.

Not respectful, as in from a daughter-in-law to her mother-in-law, but respectful as in from a subject to their empress. No matter what their relationship was, this was the heart of politics.

Sett’s expression became consternated.

"You may rise," Neilara said.

Sett heaved an inward sigh of relief.

"Zainah Ramses, daughter by bond, you have crossed the threshold of youth and stand now as a royal ready to rule."

Zainah rose, still not meeting the empress’ eyes.

"As a reward to your coming off age, I, the 6th Pharaoh of the empire, reward you with land that you can call your own. Tell me, Zainah, Sett’s spouse, are you willing to bear the responsibility of a city?"

"This subordinate is willing," Zainah said with a deep breath.

When royalty or those with Axioms became 15 years old, they would be rewarded with territory. Not just some bits of land, but enough land to elevate their Tier 1 Axioms to Tier 2!

Once they refined that land using their Axiom’s aura, they will become Tier 2.

Of course, not all people with Axioms have this privilege but Zainah was not just anybody. She was the future Pharaoh’s beloved woman.

She was worthy of a true Refinement Ceremony, just as any royalty was.

With a graceful wave of Neilara’s hand, a vivid, three-dimensional projection materialized in the royal court. It was a detailed map of Ehyut, the prosperous continent, showcasing its vast and diverse landscapes.

Sett gazed at the map with keen interest, taking in the intricate details.

Ehyut, a land of prosperity, was entirely encircled by a vast, endless sea.

The continent itself was divided into five distinct regions, each aligned with a cardinal direction: the Western Deserts, the Eastern Deserts, the Southern Rainforests, the Northern Swamps, and the Central Continent.

These regions were all clearly depicted in Neilara’s projected map.

Anyone who had already refined a piece of land as their own territory using their Axiom’s aura could project the refined land’s map like Neilara just did.

People with less territory than 10 kilometers, Minor Nobles, could show that much territory in their map projection.

High Nobles—people who were city lords—with more than 10 kilometers of territory, could show their entire city and a bit more in their projected map.

And Great Nobles, who were rulers of multiple cities, could show all of the cities and the land in between their cities in their projected map.

Then, beyond even Great Nobles were Cardinal Lords.

North, West, South, and East cardinal directions each had a Cardinal Lord working under his mother. Tier 4 Axiom Holders.

Shephe Ramses, the Shadow Lady, was one of them.

Sett looked at the Cardinal Lord seats in the room and found them empty. They were people with too high a status. Of course they wouldn’t come for Zainah.

Unless it was important enough, they could even ignore Sett and his orders.

Sett’s gaze then flicked back to the map that his mother had brought out.

He couldn’t help but feel prideful.

It was the map of the entire continent.

The entirety of Ehyut and all its directions. Even all the cities and rivers were hers.

His mother’s.

Minor Nobles, High Nobles, Great Nobles, the Cardinal Lords. They each had a bit of territory, sure, but even that territory could be taken away from them by his mother with just a thought.

After all, it was the Pharaoh’s land first and foremost and even after the others refined it, that fact never changed.

Neilara had refined it first, then handed it over to them to refine as their own. Not completely, but just enough to make the land provide them with energy to develop their Axioms.

They were not the owners of their land, but caretakers of her land.

She alone ruled the continent in its entirety.

Every Noble, High Noble, and Grand Noble in the hall gulped at the sight of the map. They felt awe overwhelm them as Neilara’s aura spread throughout the hall.

Some might feel greed towards the power, but that was alright. They would try to get promotions with all their heart if they felt greedy for power. Only idiots or those truly ambitious and fearless will try to overthrow the throne.

And finding such bad seeds was Sett’s responsibility.

But that was rare.

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The fear of the Pharaoh’s power keeps them at bay.

As the nobles settled into a calm, Neilara stared at Zainah.

"From all of these lands, which city do you need?" she asked.

Sett almost cringed physically. After all, Zainah didn’t know which city was owned by other nobles. If she chose one of the cities that were owned by a Great Noble, she would make enemies in the court for no reason.

What was his mother thinking?