Ch.242-2. Coronation Ceremony (2)

-2. Coronation (2)

It wasn’t the majestic emperor figure from that time that only I knew, but I was satisfied nonetheless.

She wiped away her sweat drops with the handkerchief she had received.

Then she said:

“It’s all thanks to Albert. But… this is more nerve-wracking than I expected.”

“That’s because it’s your first time.”

“I suppose so, right?”

I nodded.

Just as our private conversation was flowing smoothly, an uninvited guest approached us.

This guest had quite abundant reactions, to the point of being excessive…

“Sis! Ah… no, now I should call you Imperial Maj—”

“Just call me ‘sis’ as usual.”

“Yes, sis. You look absolutely beautiful today!!”

Only one more person had joined, yet it became incomparably noisier than before.

“You two talk. I’ll come back later.”

So I stepped outside for a while.

Though it was bustling with many people, since they couldn’t enter this area, it wasn’t too noisy.

I took a walk around the castle after a long time.

I walked slowly, listening to the clear chirping of birds and watching the gradually setting sun. Focusing on my breathing as I walked, time passed rather quickly.

After walking for about 30 minutes like that,

My footsteps stopped in front of a certain grave.

‘Hmm…’

This wasn’t originally here.

As far as I knew, it used to be a bit closer to the mountain, but ironically, it was here now.

Reminiscent of someone’s grave…

I approached the tombstone in front of the grave.

“It would have been better if you were still alive…”

It was all meaningless at this point, but I couldn’t help doing it.

‘If I had realized the meaning of that shadow earlier… could I have saved you?’

That kind of regret.

But such regret quickly disappeared. I asked him, who had somehow found his way here:

“You’re truly remarkable.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“I mean your mental strength is impressive.”

“Suddenly? That’s quite random…”

He stood in front of the tombstone.

That is, beside me.

Then he looked at the grave with eyes that would be a lie to say held no emotion.

However, that emotion was certainly not strong.

“It’s all thanks to you. If it weren’t for you, I would have been stuck there until the end of the war, wouldn’t I?”

“You flatter me.”

“And your mental strength is more impressive than mine.”

I couldn’t agree with those words.

Well…

“For someone with such strength, I was always here like this.”

“Is that related to those words too?”

“Which words do you mean?”

“The words that in a future without me, there would be no Elly either.”

He was confident.

And that confidence was the truth.

“That’s right. I couldn’t overcome it no matter what anyone said.”

“Hearing that… makes me feel a bit sorry.”

“You don’t need to be. It was simply my own inadequacy.”

At some point, he had taken his eyes off the grave and was looking at me.

With an expression that seemed overflowing with questions.

“Did you… come back to the past just for Elly?”

“Well… that’s right.”

“How?”

“That’s a secret.”

In truth, there wasn’t much of a secret since I didn’t know exactly either, so I couldn’t explain it.

‘Come to think of it…’

I think that’s what was written in the message that appeared before me back then.

[Heaven’s Blessing]… something like that.

Of course, I couldn’t see it clearly, so I’m not certain…

“That’s impressive in its own way.”

“It’s all heaven’s will.”

“Such religious words… quite unexpected from you.”

“I don’t believe in God. I believe in my own wishes.”

Those skills probably weren’t given by God either.

Just… one’s wishes manifesting in their own ways.

The world subtly values heart and emotions, after all.

“But don’t you feel regretful?”

“Hm? Are you referring to the emperor’s position? If so, not at all. I’ve done it for quite a while, and now I just want to rest.”

“With the heir now qualified as well…”

“That’s right.”

I understood his feelings.

With both body and mind already wounded and hurt, that much rest wasn’t a choice but a necessity.

Trying to do more would be greedy.

He spoke with a noticeably more relaxed tone:

“Rather, I want to ask you something. Don’t you feel regretful?”

“What do you mean?”

“With your abilities, you could have become emperor yourself.”

“Wouldn’t I need to stage a coup for that…?”

“Isn’t that common? Betraying loved ones after being blinded by power.”

Looking through human history, it’s surprisingly common.

It happened several times in the Kainis Empire too… But I thought perhaps that’s something one could only do if they didn’t truly love.

How could someone do such a thing if they truly loved?

“I don’t need that at all. And if I were that kind of person, I wouldn’t be here in the first place.”

It was nonsensical from the beginning.

And it seemed like he knew that when he brought it up. Almost like a joke…

It was unexpected.

“Besides, I’m not cut out to be a leader. I’m just a mere swordsman.”

And I’m satisfied with that.

No matter what anyone says, I’m more suited to be a soldier protecting leaders than a leader myself.

My life has proven that.

“I should head back now.”

The sun was gradually setting.

I hadn’t planned to spend this much time, but it ended up this way. I needed to return quickly as our appointment time was approaching.

I headed back with him to what must now be a busy place preparing for the party.

***

The party held at the castle after the coronation was a celebration for the birth of the new emperor.

Many royals and nobles participated in the party, and naturally, the protagonist was she who had finally become the new emperor today.

However, her expression wasn’t particularly bright.

The first to speak was a noble from the Orion Kingdom.

“Your Majesty Elizabeth, congratulations. The dress suits you wonderfully. It’s like a painting!”

“Ah, yes… thank you.”

Following that noble, the next to speak was her former classmate from the academy.

Even back then, they had tried to become close, but it hadn’t worked out well.

“You seem to have become even more beautiful than when I saw you at the academy.”

“You also seem to have become much more handsome than back then, haha…”

Her expression, while smiling as she continued conversations to please the nobles from various countries, wasn’t bright at all.

She wanted to stop right away but didn’t out of consideration for the other party.

“It must be difficult right after the war. Are you alright? The accumulated fatigue must be considerable…”

“I’m fine. There’s someone who takes care of that for me.”

“Someone who takes care…?”

One person came to mind for those nobles.

As he approached in his neat formal attire, those who had been constantly by her side quickly departed as if they had never been there.

He looked at those nobles and asked her:

“Why are they like that? Running away like that…”

“They have their reasons.”

As soon as Albert appeared at the banquet, her expression regained its vitality.

With a bright smile unlike before, she gently took his hand.

“Stay like this with me until the party ends.”

“Yes, Your Majesty. I shall obey your command.”

“Could you… not do that?”

“Understood.”

“The formal speech too.”

She tried her best not to be separated from him during the party.

And for good reason…

“Are they not approaching because of me?”

After she started walking around with him, no one except those who were quite close approached to speak.

Some people even deliberately avoided them.

“Why?”

“Because they’re afraid they might die if they make a mistake.”

“You’re joking, right?”

“I’m serious.”

Albert wore an incredulous expression.

As if saying, ‘I haven’t done anything.’ Seeing his expression, she burst into laughter.

Then he asked:

“Did you spread rumors or something?”

“I wouldn’t go that far.”

“But you did something similar?”

“If constantly sticking together counts as something similar, then yes, I’m doing it. And it’s very effective.”

So the two stayed together until the end of the party.

They spent time together, talking with close acquaintances, eating the prepared food, and dancing when music played.

Reinhardt maintained some distance from them and just watched from afar.

And he realized something:

“So she could smile like that…”

As she grew older, she had almost lost her smile.

When she started smiling brightly again, that was when news of him first reached Reinhardt’s ears.

“It seems it’s time to let her go.”

Whenever the empress mentioned marriage or engagement, he pretended not to hear, but now it truly seemed like that time had come.

The thought truly tore at his heart, but it was inevitable.

It was something that had to be done, and if so, better sooner than later.

Those words that seemed like they would never come from his mouth finally did:

“When would be a good date for the ceremony?”

“Oh my! That should be our question! When would be convenient for you?”

The two parents, having finished preparing to let go of their children, were finally discussing the wedding.

He showed an unexpectedly proactive attitude.

The two children, watching from a distance, tilted their heads in confusion.

“What are they discussing so intently?”

“I wonder… they seem to be talking a lot.”