Ancestral Lineage

Chapter 176 A Tyrant King?

"Ethan..." Carmen whispered, her expression filled with relief and warmth.

"Haha... hahahahaha! Now that is my son! My baby boy! Hahahaha!" Madeleine suddenly burst into laughter, clutching her stomach, causing a noticeable vein to bulge on Ethan's forehead.

'This crazy old woman...' he muttered internally, his annoyance evident.

"Who are you calling old, you spoiled brat!" Madeleine snapped, her grin turning downright feral.

"Calm down, Mom. Big bro is just joking as usual." Trevor quickly stepped in, trying to diffuse the situation before things escalated.

"Fine, but you owe me a duel." Madeleine grinned, her sharp gaze locking onto Ethan, who felt a shiver crawl down his spine.

'Wha... sigh! Fine.'

"Can you release them now? Some are barely clinging to life," Trevor asked, glancing at the people still struggling under Ethan's suffocating aura.

'Oh, right.' Ethan replied nonchalantly, retracting his presence. Instantly, the overwhelming pressure disappeared, allowing those affected to finally breathe. Many gasped for air, their faces drained of all color. It was almost difficult to tell the difference between vampires and humans now.

Ignoring their reactions, Ethan snapped his fingers, and multiple chairs materialized in the hall. Without hesitation, his team moved behind him, settling into their seats. His own chair stood apart—a throne-like structure crafted from black obsidian, adorned with intricate dark gold designs and pulsating blue runes. Clara and Harley sat to his right, while Andriel took the seat to his left, leaving one vacant beside him.

'Carmen. Take your seat here, beside me.' Ethan's voice carried a quiet authority, making Carmen momentarily widen her eyes in surprise.

"But..." Carmen hesitated, glancing uncertainly at her father.

"Go on, dear. It is both your right and duty to sit beside the king as his wife," Lord Steil spoke calmly, his expression composed yet firm.

"Uhm." Carmen nodded, and in the blink of an eye, she vanished from her spot, reappearing beside Ethan.

The reaction was immediate. A wave of shock rippled through the hall, expressions shifting from disbelief to outright confusion. Those who had been unaware of their relationship struggled to process what they had just witnessed.

"Wife?"

"Since when?"

Some exchanged wary glances, while others barely concealed their surprise—or frustration. Those who had once entertained ambitions regarding Carmen now found their schemes utterly shattered.

Even some members of Ethan's own forces showed mild surprise, though none dared to openly question him. The ones most shocked were the authority figures seated around the hall, especially those who had considered Carmen an unattached force.

Meanwhile, Ethan remained completely indifferent to their reactions. His golden eyes swept over them, daring anyone to speak out. No one did. Even those who had gathered their wits enough to look defiant quickly averted their gazes under his cold scrutiny.

Carmen, for her part, fidgeted slightly under the attention but quickly straightened her posture. Her expression became regal, as though she had always belonged by his side. She wasn't just Ethan's lover—she was a Queen now, and she would act like one.

Madeleine, meanwhile, smirked in satisfaction, her sharp gaze flicking over the room. "Well, that should put some of you in your place," she muttered just loud enough for the nearest guests to hear.

Trevor leaned back in his chair, arms crossed behind his head, watching with a lazy smile. "Oh, this is gonna be fun."

Ethan ignored all the side chatter and rested his chin on his fist. 'Now, let's get to business.' His tone was calm but carried an unshakable authority. 'We didn't come here to waste time on theatrics.'

The mood immediately shifted. Even those who had been confused or curious a moment ago stiffened, their focus snapping back to reality.@@@@

King Vlad, who had finally regained some of his composure, coughed lightly and straightened his posture. Though he had been forced to kneel earlier, he was still a powerful figure and would not show weakness now. He met Ethan's gaze and spoke in a controlled, respectful tone.

'Indeed. The matters at hand are too important for distractions.'

Ethan smirked slightly. Look at him trying to act composed after what just happened.

"Ethan..." A voice suddenly cut through the tension.

Ethan turned his gaze toward the speaker. 'Father-in-law?' he asked in mild confusion.

Lord Steil exhaled, shaking his head. "Let's keep things formal, shall we?"

Ethan smirked. 'Got you, old man.'

"That's not—ugh, fine," Lord Steil sighed before regaining his composure. "I have only one question. I will give you my answer afterward."

Ethan leaned back slightly. 'Please, go ahead.'

"What exactly do you hope to achieve? Do you plan to rule as a tyrant king?"

Ethan chuckled. 'That was more than one question, but I'll answer them.'

His golden eyes glowed slightly as he spoke.

"For the first part, I want to make Anbord a better place than what Vlad left behind. We all see the discrimination and corruption happening, yet we still call Anbord a 'free continent.' I have experienced that injustice firsthand. I can't erase it entirely, but I can build a system where fairness and justice prevail—where nobles don't dictate every aspect of a commoner's life. That is why I seek to make Anbord a kingdom rather than a fragmented continent."

His gaze hardened.

'As for whether I will rule as a tyrant? The answer is both yes and no. No, because I refuse to follow in my grandfather's footsteps. His arrogance, pride, and tyranny caused countless tragedies—including my own suffering. I will not become a ruler like him.

But yes, because if the people refuse to accept me as their king, I will resort to force. And before anyone thinks to challenge me—let me remind you. The only individuals who could truly threaten me are my mother and Vlad. My mother will always stand by my side. And Vlad?' A cold smirk played on Ethan's lips. 'He knows better than to defy someone of higher standing than himself. The rest of you... are simply too weak to oppose me. What I mean is, I would rather be a tyrant to make Anbord better than sit down and watch it burn dust, which it already is.'

Lord Steil nodded slowly. "Mm. That is... understandable."

Ethan tilted his head. 'So, have you made your decision?'

"You already know my answer."

Ethan's smirk softened into a nod of respect. 'Thank you, Lord Steil.'

Before the conversation could continue, a loud voice boomed from the back of the hall.

"Ethan, here!"

All eyes turned to a dark-skinned man with thick, bushy hair, his features resembling Lisa's.

Ethan grinned. 'Yo, old man!'

"I'm not that old! Haha! Anyway, you mentioned eight great families instead of four. Who are they?"

'Good question, man!' Ethan replied. Then, his expression darkened slightly as he scanned the room. 'Before I answer that... has everyone here made their decision, or will I need to use force?'

A murmur spread through the hall, but no one dared to object. Their silence was answer enough.

'Good,' Ethan said, satisfied. 'The original four great families will remain in power, but each will now have a subordinate family beneath them. As we all know, the Steils don't have a subordinate family. Because of that, the Tennysons will now join the ranks of the eight great families.'

Murmurs spread again, but no one openly objected.

'The second change concerns the Richards family. From this day forward, the Richards clan will only be led by women.'

"You ca—" A voice started to protest, but Ethan raised a hand, cutting them off.

'If I were to reveal what truly happens within the Richards family, most of you would storm their estate and purge them yourselves.' His tone was colder than ice. 'But I am not purging them. Instead, I am elevating them. From now on, women will lead the Richards family. Any questions?'