In the imperial palace of Dry City...
Many nobles of the empire could be seen in the corridors of the first level of the local government headquarters, from those directly subordinate to Minos to those more distant.
Lee and Alison were there with their family, as well as Peter and Mia, many of them taking the opportunity to see again people they hadn't seen in years.
With the development of the Black Plain, some of Minos' most trusted people had spread throughout the empire to take care of state affairs.
Because of this, some of them had not seen each other for years, and on this occasion, they couldn't help but greet their old friends and companions who had walked the journey here with them in the most difficult times.
Old Joey saw Peter, Barbara, Milton, and Robin again, the people he had met during the time of slavery they had spent together.
Old Joey was currently at level 65, while Milton, who had come to the Black Plain only later, was at level 67. As for Robin, Peter, and Barbara, these three were younger and had been at Minos' side longer, so they were all already Spiritual Saints.
Barbara was at level 74, and Robin was at level 72. As for Peter, he had recently advanced to level 74.
While these old acquaintances were encountering, some were beside their spouses, some alone, but many groups were meetings like this in other corners of the imperial palace.
Elen, Elena, and Eduard, those natives of the Stone Island who had been at Minos' side the longest and had more recently been living apart, met again in one of the palace's courtyards, smiling as they saw each other again.
Elena was one level below these other two, while Elen and Eduard were at level 73.
"Eduard, I heard that you got married. Is that true?" Elena looked at Elen's former bodyguard, interested in this rumor she had recently heard.
That member of the Imperial Guard, a force separate from the army and whose sole purpose was to protect the imperial family, smiled and said. "It's true. I had the grace to meet my wife in Albano..."
They continued to chat, while in another part of the imperial palace, Abby's parents played Kendrick while she finished preparing for the wedding of Minos and Isabella.
"Your family is getting bigger once again, hein..." Mona, currently at level 70, said, joking with her friend as she helped her get ready.
Abby, still at level 75, smiled as she saw the meaning in Mona's eyes, who was telling her that she didn't expect to see this family increasing in this way.
Given Minos' luck in making children, she and others close to the Stuart family were already hoping that another baby would come into the world to increase the size of this imperial household.
To Minos' wives, they were not so lucky. But from other people's point of view, the emperor already having two children under the age of 50 was an impressive achievement!
She then said. "The chances of the family getting bigger will increase exponentially now..."
Abby's father, Eliot, level 73, didn't like hearing these details and made an ugly expression, imagining that his daughter was saying she and Minos were trying much.
But Nicole, level 72, understood that differently and said. "Haha, with Isabella coming and the peace ahead of us, I'm sure more babies will be crawling around this palace soon."
She looked at Kendrick and said. "What do you think of that, little Ken? Do you want to have more siblings?"
"Uh? Will my father make more children?" He asked, still not knowing where babies came from and why his parents needed to make more. "But doesn't he already have the big sister and me?"
"To strengthen the family, little one," Eliot said, teaching his grandson the importance of family. "A family can only be truly powerful if its most important members carry the same lineage.
Otherwise, any mishap can destabilize an ill-founded home.
So it is your parents' duty to have as many children as possible so that you can maintain the family's power in the future."
"So the big sister and I will also have to procreate?" He asked, still curious about how to do that.
"Right, when you find people you love, you will help your family by making children, and one day they will do the same." Eliot ran one of his hands over his grandson's head. "But you don't have to worry about that for now, haha."
...
While Kendrick was learning the importance of a big family and having more siblings, Sarah entered the imperial palace as everyone greeted her.
"Your Highness, you look more beautiful than ever..."
A few nobles of similar age to Sarah tried to approach her, but she quickly ignored them, going to where her grandfathers and aunts were.
Given how large the Black Plain Empire had become and those involved in today's ceremony, even Gloria's parents had left the Temple of Payton to come to this wedding.
So, soon after arriving at her family's residence, Sarah saw both sides of her family interacting in a large living room.
Her great-grandparents, Oswald and Patience, were in that place, both still at levels 80 and 79. At the same time, Maisie and Angelica were next to them, one at level 79 and the other at level 76.
They were talking to Margot and Joseph, Gloria's mother at level 78 and her father at 79.
Next to them, Emperor Edwardstone and his two wives were there too, looking forward to Isabella's wedding.
With the Spiritual Sage of the Gray Clouds Sect taking care of the Flaming Empire, Harold had made time to come to this momentous occasion in Dry City.
His wives wouldn't miss Isabella's wedding either, so they were by his side, smiling and looking more beautiful than ever in their best dresses.
"Haha, Oswald, you look much better with that new look." Emperor Edwardstone said to this former vassal, seeing him for the first time since the advancement of Minos' grandfather to the 9th stage.
"That's nothing! I'm just getting started, my friend." Oswald said, smiling in satisfaction at his current position. "But you should see the others from the Gray Clouds Sect. Two more of us have advanced to the 9th stage and experienced even better improvements than mine..."
While they were talking, Sarah walked into that place and went over to her family members to hug them after being away for so long.
"Grandparents!"
