Starting from Ainz Ooal Gown, simultaneously traveling through time

Chapter 135 The King Wanted to Abdicate, But His Abdication Was in Vain

Royal Palace, Parliament Hall.

As soon as Leylin stepped into the palace, he saw a familiar figure standing there.

Anne.

His queen.

When Anne saw him, her eyes reddened slightly. She quickly walked over and hugged Leylin before he could even speak.

The hug was tight, carrying the longing and worry that had accumulated over the days.

Leylin could feel her body trembling slightly, a reaction to the release of emotions that had been suppressed for too long.

These past few days, she had been waiting for news, worrying, and praying every day. Now that he was finally back, standing perfectly intact in front of her, she could no longer hold back her emotions.

He paused for a moment, then reached out and pulled her into his arms.

The two of them just hugged each other without saying a word.

The ministers nearby tactfully shifted their gaze, pretending to study the decorations in the hall. Wow, the pattern on that pillar is really beautiful, and the color of that floor tile is just right.

Duke Caius's eyes welled up with tears as he watched his daughter and son-in-law embrace, and he quietly wiped them away with his sleeve.

After a long while, the two finally separated.

Annie looked up at him, her eyes smiling but also glistening with tears: "You've lost weight."

Lei Lin laughed: "Me, lose weight? You must have bad eyesight. But you—"

He looked her up and down, and said seriously, "You seem to have gained a little weight?"

Annie gently punched him, a smile on her face, but the tears in her eyes shone even brighter.

The two smiled at each other, and the warmth of their long-awaited reunion softened the entire hall.

The king stood before his throne, watching this scene, and couldn't help but smile.

But he still coughed lightly, breaking the warm atmosphere.

"Alright, alright, we can hug when we get home. Let's talk business first."

He walked to the throne, turned around, faced the courtiers and Leylin, and said something that caught Leylin completely off guard: "I have decided to abdicate."

Lei Lin was taken aback.

"From now on, you will sit on this throne."

Leilin: "...

He looked at the king, then at the assembled courtiers.

The ministers all kept their eyes down, their faces clearly showing an "we already knew" attitude; obviously, they had already discussed this matter beforehand.

"Father," Leylin began, "you're in excellent health now, you could easily work for decades more, why are you in such a hurry to retire?"

The king shook his head.

He walked up to Leylin and patted him on the shoulder.

"I could have served for a few more years," he said with a touch of emotion. "I didn't originally plan to retire so early. After all, I'm getting old and don't have many years left to live. I'll serve for as many years as I can, and hand over the throne to you when you're more mature."

He paused, then gave a wry smile.

"But your vial of medicine was another blessing, which turned me from an old man into a strong man. With my current physique, I can work for another thirty years without any problem."

"But—" he looked at Leylin, his eyes filled with complex emotions, "Do you think I can hold this position for another thirty years?"

Leylin didn't say anything.

The king continued, his voice lowering, "I held the throne before because I died, and it was only right that it be given to you. But what about now?"

He pointed to Leylin, then to the window. That direction led to the square, the place where the Seven-Colored Dragon King resided.

"What is your strength now? You can flatten a mountain with a single finger, destroy five countries in a single day, subdue the legendary Dragon King, and transform the entire population of a city. You are so strong that you can disregard any law or rule."

"Do you think it's appropriate for me to continue clinging to the throne?"

Leylin opened his mouth, as if to say something.

"Don't speak yet," the king waved his hand. "It's not just me who thinks this way; they all think this way too."

He glanced at the assembled officials.

The ministers all nodded in agreement.

Duke Caios stepped forward and bowed: "Your Highness, we all believe that your ascension to the throne is the will of the people."

The other ministers echoed this sentiment.

"Your Majesty is right, you are the most suitable heir to the throne!"

"Your Highness's achievements are unparalleled, and your strength is extraordinary; you are rightfully entitled to ascend the throne!"

"We, your humble servants, are willing to support Your Highness as King!"

Leylin looked at the group of impassioned ministers and felt a bit of a headache.

He looked at Anne.

Anne simply looked at him tenderly without saying a word. But her eyes clearly said: Whatever decision you make, I will support you.

Leylin was silent for a moment, then said, "I will not sit on this throne."

The hall fell silent for a moment.

The ministers looked at each other, unsure of what to say.

Duke Chaos tentatively began, "Your Highness, you—"

"I won't sit," Leylin interrupted him, his tone calm but firm. "I won't sit no matter what."

He looked at the king and said, "Father, don't be in such a hurry to retire. You are in very good health now and can easily work for several more decades."

The king frowned: "But—"

"There are no 'buts'," Leylin said. "I'm used to being free and don't like being bound. The throne may look glamorous, but it's actually a shackle. I don't want it."

The ministers looked at each other in bewilderment.

If someone else had said that, they would have been furious. The throne is a shackle? Do you know how many people dream of sitting on it? Do you know how many people have fought tooth and nail for that position?

But it was Leylin who said those words.

That's what the guy who could flatten a mountain with a single finger said.

That's what the person who came back riding the Seven-Colored Dragon King said.

No one dared to refute it.

Duke Caios looked at his daughter and gestured for her to say a few words of advice.

Anne saw it, but simply shook her head slightly.

She understands Raylin.

She knew he was telling the truth.

From childhood, he was not the kind of person who liked to be restrained. When he was studying politics in the palace, he was always absent-minded and preferred to study magic. Later, he was exiled to the frontier, where he lived a more carefree life.

She wouldn't interfere with his decision because of her own selfish motives.

The atmosphere became somewhat tense for a moment.

The king sighed and tried to persuade him from a different angle: "I will die one day. When that time comes, you can't just not accept it, can you?"

"Since I'll have to take these calls sooner or later, I might as well do it sooner rather than later. The sooner I take them, the sooner I can retire and rest."

Leylin looked at him, then suddenly thought of something.

He turned to look at Anne.

Annie was taken aback by his gaze.

"How about this?" Leylin said.

He paused, seemingly organizing his thoughts.

"Let's have a child."

Anne's face flushed red.

The blush spread from her cheeks to her ears, and even her neck was tinged with a light pink. She lowered her head, her eyelashes trembling slightly, not daring to look into Lei Lin's eyes.

Leylin continued, his tone as serious as if he were discussing state affairs: "The child born will be the direct heir to the throne, bypassing me, and our child will be king."

The main hall was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

The king was stunned.

Duke Caios was stunned.

All the ministers were stunned.

They looked at Leylin with question marks on their faces.

What... what kind of operation is this?

Skip over yourself and let the child take over directly?

Duke Caius opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but not knowing what to say. He looked at Leylin, then at his daughter whose face was already flushed, and finally turned his gaze to the King.

The king was also in a daze.

He had been king for so many years, handled countless political affairs, and seen countless situations, but he had never encountered a situation where his son was unwilling to inherit the throne and proposed to have a grandson to succeed him directly.

Should we approve it or not?

Annie blushed, lowered her head, and whispered something.

Leylin didn't hear him clearly, so he leaned closer and asked, "What did you say?"

Annie looked up at him. The blush on her face hadn't faded, and her eyes were filled with shyness, but also with a smile.

"I agree," she said.

The sound wasn't loud, but it was very clear.

The main hall fell silent once more.

The ministers looked at each other, then turned to the king.

The king remained silent for a long while, then suddenly smiled.

That smile carried a mix of helplessness, relief, and a sense of resignation, a feeling of "I accept it."

"Okay," he said. "Let's do it that way then."

He looked at Lei Lin, his tone slightly teasing: "But you'd better hurry, I'm waiting to hold my grandson."