Ch.18Coronation (1)

“Welcome, Your Highness. Congratulations on your victory.”

“…Yes.”

Truly, I just can’t get used to this Leclerc fellow.

I thought he might have some humanity when he showed a slightly surprised face before, but here he is, still bowing with that expressionless face.

“I see Aras, who went ahead due to urgent matters in Bar, is not here. I assume the mercenary recruitment ended quickly.”

“Yes, it seems the war with the Carolingians has become quite well-known. There were even mercenary groups from beyond the Holy Empire.”

I was worried about not finding enough mercenaries despite having the money, but it seems I worried for nothing.

According to Leclerc, mercenaries with an incredible nose for money rushed here as soon as they heard about the war, nearly bursting the seams of Dijon.

As a result, with the oversupply of mercenaries, Leclerc selected only suitable ones while making them compete against each other, driving down the price considerably. Impressive.

……….

“Greetings, Your Grace, Duke of Burgundy. I am Armand, newly dispatched to the Dijon diocese.”

“Pleased to meet you, Armand. Your origin is… Dijon, you say?”

“Yes.”

Though I hadn’t been in Nevers for long, perhaps because I had only recently ascended to the throne, a tremendous amount of work had accumulated during that time.

There was much to handle, but I decided to first meet with the bishop sent by the Holy See—and this bishop was born and raised in Dijon?

The Holy See was notorious for dispatching bishops without regard to nationality, so this is quite fortunate.

After greeting me respectfully, Armand began to relay the Pope’s message.

“His Holiness expresses deep regret that a space meant to honor the dead has instead created new ones.”

“…I understand.”

Should I take those words literally…?

Surely those “new dead” don’t refer to the previous bishop I killed?

Ah, ever since I was adopted into the ducal family, everyone around me speaks in circles. It’s enough to drive one mad. I’ll need to heal with Chloe later.

“Also, His Holiness has sent a donation to help rebuild the church.”

“Please convey my gratitude to His Holiness.”

“Yes.”

…I suppose I can trust this?

Even the clergy value money above all else, and if they’re giving money to rebuild the church, it seems the Pope was genuinely sorry.

Well, with so many deaths due to poor management, how could he not be?

Afterward, I spent time making small talk with Armand, maintaining formalities until the moment seemed right to bring up the main topic.

“And Armand, when might we be able to hold the coronation ceremony?”

The coronation.

It had been postponed due to the bishop’s death, the Carolingian invasion, and my uncles’ rebellion, but in truth, it should have happened immediately upon my becoming Duke of Burgundy.

A ruler without a coronation lacks legitimacy and is constantly exposed to the risk of rebellion.

Above all, though somewhat diminished after the victory against the Carolingians, I am still a bastard. The more legitimacy I can secure, the better.

My two uncles would be furious to learn of my coronation, wouldn’t they?

My elder uncle is already cut off, rampaging in Bar, but I should invite my younger uncle just to spite him.

……….

“Ughh… I’m exhausted…”

“You’ve worked hard, Your Grace.”

Trying to clear all these accumulated documents at once is too much…

While I was away, Leclerc only handled finances, mercenary hiring, military supplies, and counterintelligence, maintaining the status quo for anything requiring political decisions. That means the pile of work I need to handle has grown mountainous.

From scheduling the coronation to meeting with city mayors, church priests, minor nobles, diplomatic affairs with entities like the Duchy of Laurel, trials, and confirming death sentences—the tasks are innumerable.

I’ll likely be swamped all week. If I had gone to Bar with Aras… ugh, the thought alone is dreadful.

So far, Leclerc has only acted on his own once—sending an envoy to the Duke of Laurel. That bastard, he definitely did that deliberately to test my temperament.

Crack—

“Ah… press harder there.”

“Yes!”

Chloe is carefully walking on my back as I lie face down on the bed. Her weight is just right—not painful but wonderfully refreshing.

Other servants might find it inappropriate, but it’s just Chloe and me in this room, so it doesn’t matter.

“Your Grace, please tell me if it hurts.”

“It’s fine, it’s fine. Chloe, you’re light, so it doesn’t hurt.”

“Hehe…”

When I was young, when I lived with mother in the city, Chloe would often walk on my back like this.

At first, she was horrified, saying, “I can’t step on big brother…!” Ah, what memories.

Wait, big brother?

“Chloe, are you still going to call me ‘Your Grace’?”

Right, I’d forgotten about this.

One of the reasons I cling to the ducal position is to ensure Chloe doesn’t have to be mindful of others’ gazes.

Chloe must know this… yet she still doesn’t call me “big brother” like before. It’s a bit sad.

…I hope no one is bullying her?

“Pardon?”

“You don’t need to be so cautious anymore. As you said back then, I’m now the highest-ranking person here. Is someone bothering you?”

“That’s not it…”

If she’s not being bullied, then… what should I do?

Chloe must still think of me as her brother.

Though she calls me “Young Master” or “Your Grace,” she has never distanced herself from me in speech or action otherwise, always treating me like family.

Chloe is the only person in this castle I can open my heart to, and surely she feels the same about me.

…I don’t know what happened to Chloe when she was young to make her so stubborn about this, but it’s time to end it.

“Chloe, don’t call me ‘Your Grace.'”

“Then… Young Master?”

“No, not Young Master either. You’re my little sister, aren’t you? You know what to call me.”

“…”

Chloe’s movements on my back stopped.

“If not Young Master or Your Grace, then.”

“Yes, big bro—”

“Yes, Master.”

“…?”

“Should I call you Master?”

This isn’t right.

Chloe calls me “Master” as if it’s the most natural thing, and with such cheerfulness.

“Chloe, stop joking—”

“Master.”

“…”

Chloe’s tone, which was cheerful just a moment ago, suddenly becomes resolute. Her weight is light and her voice delicate, but the gravity I feel from behind is no joke.

It’s as if she’s warning me that something terrible will happen if I say anything more.

…How troublesome.

……….

“Master, I’ve brought you something to drink.”

“…?”

Yes, I understand your confusion too.

I never thought “eyes widening in surprise” would be more than just a figure of speech.

“Your Highness, a reply has arrived from the Duchy of Laurel.”

Among the servants confused by Chloe’s change in address from “Your Grace” to “Master,” only Leclerc continues his work unfazed. As expected of a professional.

“Master, here you are.”

“Mmm… thanks.”

Chloe approaches Leclerc on my behalf, takes the letter he offers, and brings it to me as I sit in my chair.

…I’ve grown quite accustomed to having others act as my hands and feet. I was naturally waiting for Chloe to bring it to me.

“Let’s see…”

[We have decided to send Ines, a member of our Laurel family and your fiancée, as the congratulatory envoy to your coronation. Additionally, as Ines will soon come of age, we intend for her to remain in Dijon after attending the coronation rather than returning to Laurel.]

So that’s their move.

Eighteen-year-old Ines will soon turn nineteen, the age considered adulthood in this world. With my memories from my previous life, she seems too young, which makes me hesitant, but in this world—with its strong medieval character—nobles and indeed everyone considers nineteen to be a perfect age for marriage.

In other words, the Duke of Laurel wants to marry Ines and me as soon as possible to eliminate any potential variables. Variables like… me finding a better bride, for instance.

Well, I can understand why he’d think that. The engagement was arranged when I was just an adopted bastard with no position, and now I’m the Duke of Burgundy.

Moreover, because I conquered Bar, the Duchy of Laurel is now surrounded by our Duchy of Burgundy to the south, west, and north. Naturally, they’d be desperate.

“—Please give your reply to the delegation, it says.”

It means there’s someone in the delegation who can exercise Laurel’s diplomatic authority, so I should discuss it with that person.

“Hmmmm…”

A wedding… a wedding, huh.

I never married in my previous life, and now I’m getting married so quickly here. Hah…

It’s a shame the other party is so young, but the marital alliance with Laurel is absolutely necessary. It’s the only way to respond to a potential invasion from the Holy Empire.

‘Still, she’s too young. What’s nineteen anyway?’

Even after marriage, I should refrain from touching Ines until she’s at least twenty.

As for what Ines might think… sigh, I’ll just have to persuade her to understand. I hope she won’t be too upset.

“Count Leclerc, I’d like to ask you to prepare for the wedding following the coronation, if that’s acceptable?”

“I will gladly fulfill my duty.”

…He still makes me uncomfortable.

How can he say such things with such sincerity… ugh…

“Ah, also have a dress made for Chloe to wear at the coronation and wedding.”

“…Your Highness.”

“I’ll elevate Chloe’s position from servant to lady-in-waiting and grant her an appropriate title. That will make her status suitable.”

“…Yes, I will do so.”

Leclerc questioned me with a serious expression when I mentioned bringing Chloe, officially a commoner and unrelated to me, to the wedding, but he understood and withdrew after my explanation.

It’s a wedding—shouldn’t I invite all the family I can?

“Chloe, if you don’t like the dress, don’t hesitate to ask for a prettier one. Understood?”

“…Yes.”

Chloe nodded slowly, her face showing determination.

It seems she’s finally let go of her hesitation. As her big brother, I’m truly moved.