The history of Sweden was essentially one of monarchs, and to date, the country has had sixty-nine kings. The latest addition to that line is Carl XVI Gustaf.
In the capital of Sweden, Stockholm stood a historical building over two centuries old - the Royal Palace of Sweden.
This monarch’s abode is different from the Forbidden City in China. Although it's a royal palace, its size is not as extravagant as one might imagine. It's a three-story structure built along the waterfront, resembling a regular villa at first glance. The only unique feature is that the palace's garden is slightly larger.
This palace serves as the workplace of the King of Sweden. Despite being a royal palace, it's open to tourists in certain areas. The Swedish king does not reside there but has his own private residence. In Sweden, the position of the king is essentially a job.
Currently, King Gustaf of Sweden paced anxiously in his office. The news he received just a day ago was so shocking that he could hardly calm down.
"Has the Prime Minister not arrived yet?"
King Gustaf occasionally asks his assistant.
In a constitutional monarchy like Sweden, King Gustaf, like other kings in similar countries, didn’t possess substantial executive powers. The real exercise of executive power lies with the Prime Minister of Sweden. Faced with this unexpected event, the king himself couldn’t resolve it, so he needed to consult with the Prime Minister.
This is a very serious matter and it could even impact the future of the Swedish monarchy.
He was surprised that the Valkyrie had arrived in Sweden. This was a matter of great concern. If they mishandle this situation, it could lead to dire consequences, after all.
While their current technology might allow them to deal with one Valkyrie, Valhalla housed numerous Valkyries. Provoking them could lead to retribution from multiple Valkyries or even enrage the Aesir, leading to divine wrath. It wa a burden too heavy for a mere king to bear.
As the King of Sweden, he was privy to secret information that only other world leaders know. He was well aware that when the god Odin appeared not long ago, the spear he cast, the Eternity Spear, was capable of tearing planets asunder. Provoking divine beings might not even require the direct intervention of gods; other nations might eliminate Sweden preemptively. No one knew if the gods would direct their wrath at the entire planet, potentially leading to Earth's destruction as well.
"Your Excellency, the Prime Minister has been transported by American fighter jets to Stockholm Arlanda Airport. His motorcade is on its way to pick him up. It shouldn't be much longer before he arrives."
The King's assistant, though appearing calm, was also anxious.
The gravity of the situation lay in the fact that they weren't just facing death but potentially blaspheming against gods, which could result in unimaginable torment for their souls even after death. Even the bravest of warriors might tremble when faced with such consequences.
When death is not the end but the beginning of punishment, no human can predict the consequences. Anything involving gods is the most serious matter in the world, and it demands extreme caution.
The soul was simply too mysterious!
"Father, even if you worry now, it won't help. Please be patient,"
In his office, the king was accompanied by his daughter, Crown Princess Victoria, and his granddaughter, Princess Estelle.
Compared to other constitutional monarchies, Sweden took gender equality very seriously. In this country, the succession to the throne is entirely based on birth order. As a result, the king's firstborn child, who happened to be a princess in this case, held the first position in the line of succession.
"Grandfather, please don't worry. The lady warrior, the Valkyrie, will surely be very kind," says the princess beside the queen.
Next to the crown princess, there's a charming eight or nine-year-old girl who looks like a lovely porcelain doll. She was the crown princess' daughter and the king's granddaughter, Princess Estelle. Her full title was Princess Estelle of Sweden, Duchess of Ostergotland, and she held the second position in Sweden's line of succession.
After hearing the comforting words from his daughter and granddaughter, King Gustaf felt somewhat reassured. He gazed at his granddaughter, who was under ten years old and couldn't help but smile.
His daughter, Victoria, was a Christian who followed the Protestant faith. However, it's quite surprising that Princess Estelle, who is only nine years old, followed the ancient polytheistic faith of the Aesir, part of Norse mythology.
When news of the Valkyrie reached them, the young princess showed immense excitement.
‘Oh gods!’
King Gustaf thought that when Estelle was born, Earth hadn't entered the age of mythology yet. As she grew older and chose to follow the Aesir, part of ancient Norse mythology, it might have seemed unusual. The Swedish royal family, like many others in the modern era, had distanced themselves from endorsing any particular faith. It wasn't the medieval times when Christianity was used to anoint kings and queens, and the royal families no longer had the authority to dictate the faith of the nations.
But who could have anticipated that two years ago, the age of mythology would return, and the ancient Aesir would once again reign over Earth? And in the entire royal family, the only one who followed the Aesir, which seemed quite peculiar in the past, was this young princess. This couldn't be anything but fate!
It was as if the gods were telling him to quickly abdicate and make Princess Estelle the queen!
In the midst of his contemplation, footsteps echoed in the corridor, and Prime Minister Lofven finally arrived.
He entered the King's office hastily, finding not just the King but also the two heirs apparent present. After a courteous nod, he expressed his concerns.
King Gustaf contemplated dismissing his daughter and granddaughter, but then that sense of ‘destiny’ struck him again, prompting him to say, "Let them stay and hear this."
Being a Prime Minister required intelligence, and at this moment, Prime Minister Lofven was also thinking about Princess Estelle's faith. He, like the king, started to believe that it might be a sign from the gods. He nodded in agreement.
"I'm sure you've reviewed the pertinent information during the flight. A message came from a town called Arinad in Uppsala. The message reported that the warrior maiden has descended there. This town is one of the few places that still maintain ancient beliefs. According to the reports of the people in the town, this warrior maiden is a semi-divine figure, known in the myths as Hladgudr!"
King Gustaf spoke.
Prime Minister Lofven also refreshed his knowledge of Norse mythology and had some impression of this warrior maiden.
"So, Your Majesty, where is this warrior maiden now? Is she still in that town?" he asked.
"Oh, Mr. Lofven, I'm just a king. I don't have the authority to demand an audience with a warrior maiden, saying, 'I want to summon you.' In fact, after the people in Arinad informed me, the warrior maiden set off from the town and is on her way to Stockholm. Thankfully, she didn't fly here on a winged horse but rather on foot. However, even on foot, the warrior maiden's speed is remarkable, and she should be arriving in Stockholm soon."
"That's why I wanted to see you faster. We don't have much time to discuss,".
King Gustaf said, spreading his hands
The Prime Minister and the King exchanged a glance, both showing signs of concern. They had welcomed heads of state and leaders from various countries, but they had no experience in meeting with a god!
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