Chapter 36
Even two against one, Ruth and Kanter were far too gentle to beat Melance.
"Next! Kanter, why are you here?"
"Well... I don't really know the way...."
"If you don't know the way, you should ask a servant to guide you."
Kanter drooped like a rabbit that had lost its food.
He looked so pitiful that Riena couldn't even bring herself to scold him further.
So she turned to Ruth instead.
"Ruth, didn't I tell you not to shout?"
Suddenly?
His startled blue eyes trembled slightly, but he soon lowered his head.
"I'm sorry. It's become a habit...."
His dejected expression had a different charm from Kanter's.
Riena's resolve weakened again, and she lowered the hands she'd planted on her hips.
"J-just be careful from now on!"
Why did every single one of them have to look so pitiful?
This had never been a fight she could win in the first place.
The laughter of the nobles who had already arrived could be heard not only throughout the coronation hall, but almost all the way to the entrance of the Imperial Palace.
A deep blue carpet stretched toward the magnificent throne as though blessing the new Emperor's path.
The throne itself glittered so brilliantly that even Riena found herself staring at it.
"I greet Your Highness the Imperial Princess! Ah, I suppose I should call you Your Highness the Crown Princess now! Hahaha!"
"It would've been nice if you'd held an investiture ceremony too. What a shame."
"What's there to regret? I'm the Empire's only heir anyway. Why go through all that trouble?"
"Such generosity at such a young age...!"
Exclamations erupted from every direction.
Riena gave them her practiced social smile and gracefully took her seat as Crown Princess.
"...? Melance, are you sitting here?"
"Yes."
Riena twitched a brow and gave him a meaningful look.
"Shouldn't you sit beside Grand Duke Jeremier?"
"I'm fine here."
Scrape.
Riena turned at the sound of a chair dragging across the floor.
Kanter was using his short arms and legs to pull a chair over with all his strength.
Two boys fighting over seats on either side of her.
It wasn't even funny.
"Kanter, go sit with Count Heyrun. Right now."
"But...."
Riena bit her lower lip and glared sharply at both boys.
Only then did they finally take the hint and stand.
Watching them, the corner of Ruth's mouth twitched.
It looked suspiciously like a victorious smile.
"The coronation will now begin!"
A great trumpet blast rang out.
The murmuring voices immediately died down.
Every gaze turned toward the wide-open doors.
Confident footsteps crossed the blue carpet and entered the coronation hall.
A pure white Imperial uniform and a deep blue mantle emphasized the majesty of the new ruler.
Countless seals and decorations adorned her shoulders and chest, making her calm smile appear even more dignified.
The attire suited her so naturally that it was almost as though it had finally returned to its rightful owner.
When Chernuier reached the throne, the priests standing nearby lifted the Imperial crown.
Packed densely with countless jewels, it looked heavy enough to crush anyone merely from the sight of it.
Yet when they carefully placed it on Chernuier's head, it suited her better than anyone else.
"Pay your respects to the new Emperor!"
The nobles who had been watching with satisfied smiles rose and bowed deeply.
There was no trace of the Empress left in Chernuier now.
The moment the coronation ended, Chernuier headed straight for the office.
"Your Majesty, you need to go this way, not that way."
"Ah."
Old habits truly were frightening.
She had spent years practically confined to the Empress's Palace, after all.
"What happened to the late Emperor's chief attendant?"
"Well...."
Chernuier stared until the attendant finally answered.
"He took his own life."
"I see."
Despite the sympathetic words, her tone and expression were indifferent, as though she had already expected it.
It would have been difficult for him to avoid responsibility for concealing the late Emperor's critical condition.
"You will serve as the next head maid. I'll feel more at ease that way."
Lariel stopped walking and stared blankly at Chernuier.
"Y-Your Majesty... what do you mean...?"
Lariel had been the first maid Chernuier met after her political marriage.
She was also Chernuier's closest confidante.
Chernuier gently patted her shoulder.
"You've suffered through all those humiliations beside me for years. Do you think I don't know how much you endured?"
With the late Emperor's indifference, Chernuier had been forced to hold onto her position as Empress through ability alone.
Some had clicked their tongues and predicted she wouldn't last more than a few years before divorcing.
But she had endured and proved them wrong.
Still....
You work yourself to the bone, but does Her Majesty the Empress even know how much you're suffering?
You're so frustrating. Her Majesty is certainly admirable, but... isn't that all? If I were you, I'd rather go serve Trinia.
Even after enduring humiliation after humiliation, Lariel's determination had only grown stronger.
She would remain beside the Empress until the very end.
"The palace may remain chaotic for a while. Endure it for now. Once things settle down, I'll deal with everything properly."
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
Lariel answered firmly, her eyes filled with determination.
The Emperor's office wasn't particularly different.
It was simply larger and staffed with more attendants.
But the workload had doubled.
Chernuier now had to handle both the Empress's duties and the Emperor's responsibilities.
Knock, knock.
"I greet Your Majesty."
"Sit."
After hurriedly placing the stack of documents she had been holding onto the table, Chernuier approached Margrave Sertua.
As though they had been waiting, warm cups of tea were placed before them one after another.
"Your workload must be difficult."
"Of course it is. I'm doing the work of two people now. More importantly, how is your wife?"
He nodded.
But the concern in his eyes clearly hadn't been there for only a day or two.
"I apologize for worrying you. To be honest, I couldn't even tell Her Highness because I feared she would worry."
"I'll tell her myself soon. The Crown Princess must already have a great deal on her mind...."
Silence passed between them.
"Is there truly no way to cure your wife's illness? It's already been several years."
"They say damage caused by mana isn't something that can be physically healed."
Chernuier released a long, deep breath.
"Your family is a treasure of this Empire. Without your sacrifices, we would have suffered a devastating blow in the last war."
Countess Sertua had been born with extraordinary talent as a mage.
Even after marrying, she had been skilled enough to serve as the first Imperial Palace mage.
But after suffering a fatal injury to her mana while fighting alongside Margrave Sertua on the battlefield, her life had changed completely.
Her body had deteriorated.
She spent most days resting at the estate or quietly remaining beside Riena.
"Your Majesty."
Margrave Sertua's voice fell low and calm.
"Mila has never regretted the choice she made that day. Not even once."
"......"
"She only regrets that she can no longer remain beside Your Majesty as she once did."
"For Mila's sake as well, there will never be another war. Never."
A sharp light appeared in Chernuier's golden eyes as she looked directly at him.
This wasn't empty consolation from an Emperor.
She meant every word.
"No matter what anyone says, I love this Empire. And I will protect those who love it as well."
"Your Majesty... I cannot express how honored I am to serve you...!"
He almost never raised his voice.
But he couldn't help it after hearing the Emperor's sincere declaration.
"And now even your grown son protects our Empire. I can't tell you how reassuring that is."
"...He still has much to learn. But he is never arrogant and approaches everything sincerely."
"His decisiveness is impressive too. He requested a private audience with me yesterday."
Margrave Sertua, who had been bowing his head, immediately raised it.
A private audience?
He didn't dare ask what Ruth could possibly have requested.
He had heard something from Sir Antonio, but at most it should have concerned the position of Crown Princess's swordsmanship instructor.
Surely Ruth wouldn't have requested a private audience for something like that.
"Was it perhaps related to Her Highness the Crown Princess's swordsmanship lessons...?"
"Not entirely unrelated."
Chernuier lifted her teacup with long fingers.
"He said he wanted to become the Crown Princess's personal guard."
"!"
Margrave Sertua's eyes trembled.
His son might have been born with an excellent physique and once-in-a-generation talent with the sword.
But seeking the position of personal guard to the Crown Princess was arrogance.
"I already approved it, so don't reprimand him."
"Approved it? Your Majesty, please reconsider. His current skill is nowhere near sufficient."
"His eyes are alive, despite his age. And he's learned quite a lot by watching Antonio."
"But...!"
"It's fine. The position of Crown Princess's personal guard was vacant anyway, and I have no intention of raising Riena gently."
Raising her gently?
"If she is to become Emperor, she must possess skill beyond that of an ordinary knight. Have him teach her not only swordsmanship, but a variety of martial arts while remaining at her side. So do not doubt either my decision or your son's ability."
Her tone left no room for argument.
Margrave Sertua could only nod.
"Thank you for understanding, Marquis Sertua."
His blue eyes widened.
Slowly, he looked up at the Emperor.
"...Your Majesty, that is far too generous."
"The moment the Imperial crown was placed on my head, this was the first thing I decided to do. It may be late, but accept it now."
Sertua, who stood nearly two meters tall, dropped to one knee and bowed his head.
"I obey Your Majesty's command!"
The moment he finished, Chernuier rose and retrieved a golden scroll from her desk.
"If the Empire had even one more House Sertua, half my work would disappear."
She placed the golden scroll into Marquis Sertua's hands and smiled with rare warmth.
