Ch.823The Queen of the East

“Haaah….”

I let out a shallow sigh at the dizzying sensation in my head as I placed the report Hush had brought me on the table beside the sofa.

The surveillance had achieved its purpose of catching suspicious movements, but the nature of the suspicion was far, far from what I had expected.

For a moment, I wondered if this half-black, half-demon was playing a prank on me.

The information I wanted was circumstantial evidence that Eleonora and Perneisia were plotting something together, not private affairs I had no desire to know about—like them fondling each other’s schemes.

Hmph. To think Eleonora and Perneisia had that kind of relationship.

I had noticed their similarities—the worldly air they occasionally displayed, their subtly proud personalities, and their habit of hiding their true feelings behind performances…

But still. Beyond mere similarities, to think they were actually rubbing against each other. Put those two in a room together and we wouldn’t need to worry about heating bills this winter.

Well… it was truly a dizzying report, regardless.

“Perhaps I should outlaw homosexuality…”

I was tempted to separate those two with a law against impropriety.

“What? Sister? What are you suddenly talking about…?”

As I clutched my forehead and collapsed against the sofa’s armrest with a sigh, Lena, who had been using my thigh as a pillow, sat up with a start and asked.

“I’m joking. Despite appearances, I’m a saint who’s received the Stigmata of Astraea. I wouldn’t ban people from sticking together if they like each other.”

I gently pressed down on Lena’s forehead to stop her from getting up completely and smiled mischievously.

The talk of outlawing homosexuality was nothing more than a light joke.

The churches in this world respect not only love between opposite sexes but also between the same sex. How could I, standing at their forefront, prohibit love between people of the same gender?

If it had been forbidden from the beginning, I might have used it as leverage against Eleonora and Perneisia, but arbitrarily banning something already permitted would only create backlash.

Therefore, I had no intention of interfering with Eleonora and Perneisia’s fondling or rubbing. As their superior, I should respect such private matters.

According to Hush’s opinion, there was a possibility it was one-sided harassment from Eleonora, so I would need to call Perneisia separately to confirm that part.

“Oh, it was a joke. I thought…”

Lena nodded with a sigh of relief as she saw my mischievous smile looking down at her.

I wasn’t quite sure what she was relieved about.

—-

Thanks to the hard work of Eleonora, Frider, and various administrators who had been cutting away at what might have been their sleep or lifespan, the somewhat chaotic internal affairs of Landenburg quickly stabilized.

Stabilized enough to announce the founding of Hestella, the eastern kingdom blessed by Astraea, and prepare for the coronation ceremony.

Landenburg finally announced the birth of a new kingdom to the world. Like a newborn emerging from its mother’s womb and letting out its first cry.

The declaration of independence, which Eleonora had completed according to my request to keep it as concise as possible, spread throughout the world via messengers.

—-

As of today, Landenburg will declare independence from the Empire and establish a new dynasty.

The Kingdom of Hestella. That shall be the new name of this land. This is separation, not rebellion.

Under the approval of Emperor Leopold and the Imperial Diocese, Hestella has pledged to form an eternal alliance with the Empire of Karl Las.

Though divided into two countries, the Empire and the Kingdom shall maintain firm friendship as companions walking the same path.

The territory of Hestella shall… existing systems shall… prioritizing ability over bloodline… (abridged).

—-

Indeed, it was just like Eleonora. The declaration was brief yet contained all the essential points without omission.

It was perhaps too plain for a declaration of independence, which typically includes all manner of flowery language and praise, but that very plainness clearly demonstrated the direction the country of Hestella would pursue.

A meritocratic bureaucratic state that condemns pretense, vanity, the incompetence of rulers, and injustice.

That was the vision of Hestella I had conceived, and Eleonora, Frider, and other civil officials had worked through the night to create systems and procedures to make this vision a reality.

Not perfect, but certainly deserving to be called the best possible.

And so, a new kingdom was born in the eastern part of the Empire.

– Independence?! A kingdom? What on earth…!

– Your Majesty! Is this declaration true? That you approved Landenburg’s separation and independence…!

I heard that the Empire’s political circles were thrown into chaos upon receiving the news.

Although the matter had been discussed in advance with high-ranking nobles, it was completely new information to the middling nobility. It was understandable that they would be shocked and agitated.

Well, it wasn’t my concern.

Dealing with the nobles’ protests was Leopold and Lord Wien’s responsibility, not mine. Why should I care about it? They could bark all they wanted about not accepting it, but they didn’t even have the guts to confront me.

Besides, protests from such insignificant figures meant nothing.

The founding of Hestella had already been agreed upon not only by Leopold but also by Lord Wien, the leader of the noble faction and Imperial Chancellor, and even Grand Duke Valdemar who controlled the entire north.

Therefore, I focused solely on Hestella’s affairs, paying no attention to whatever commotion the provincial nobles were causing.

For example—

“So what? Now we’re supposed to serve that red saint as our ruler instead of His Imperial Majesty?”

“That’s right. You are now citizens of the Kingdom of Hestella, not the Empire. However, I’d advise against using the term ‘red saint’—the paladins might find it offensive.”

“No longer Imperial citizens…? Then what happens to my pension?”

“…I’ll report to the higher-ups. Please understand it may take some time before we get an answer.”

Dispatching administrators, soldiers, and priests throughout the territory to govern the common people whose nationality had suddenly changed from Imperial citizens to Kingdom subjects.

“Knights of Landenburg! All in assault formation! Show the might of the Eastern Knights!”

“Knights of the Scale! Lady Astraea is watching! If you show a shameful display, you’ll be sentenced to three days of fasting prayer!”

“…Sister, there are only forty of us. Why are we doing this?”

“How should I know? But Lady Leonore said it would be a good experience, so we should at least try fighting once.”

Observing joint training between the existing Landenburg Knights, Astraea’s Paladins, and the Rose Cross Knights who had arrived in the east.

– The Kingdom wants YOU!

– Fight alongside Astica, Saint of Order, and carve your name into a historic crusade!

– Glory and honor that only the Kingdom’s army can enjoy awaits you!

Holding large-scale recruitment events to reorganize the Landenburg Defense Force into the Hestella Royal Army.

[With the art of fire at your disposal, basic techniques like Web Blade or Falling Flower Spear are now meaningless. If you have strength to waste on such techniques, it would be more powerful to combine the Sovereign’s Step with Thorn Shadow.]

‘So you mean to overwhelm with killing intent while simultaneously piercing with the thorns of murder karma… That would certainly be powerful.’

Reorganizing the techniques I had learned and realized over time with Aishan-Gioro Hersella.

“It’s been years since I reached master level, yet why am I still unable to break through the wall… I feel pathetic about myself.”

“…If the Ghost Sword in the netherworld heard that, his eyes would roll back and he’d burst out of his grave.”

Expanding the knights, exterminating monsters, and even providing mental counseling to subordinates who had yet to break through their limits.

With the construction of the grand cathedral and preparations for the coronation ceremony to be held there on top of everything else, time flew by so quickly that I had no chance to worry about the nobles’ protests.

And then.

“I declare as the Saint of the Goddess Astraea, descendant of Rotholandus of the Great’s Twelve Knights, of Ka’har royal blood, and guardian of Landenburg and Wall of Berengaria.”

Finally, the coronation ceremony was held.

In Astraea’s grand cathedral, where sunlight split through the windows sparkled brilliantly.

Wearing a saint’s ceremonial robe prepared for this day with a fur mantle draped over it, receiving the gazes of countless people, I walked down the red-carpeted aisle and finally reached the statue of the Goddess Astraea.

“In the name of Astraea, Goddess of Order and Justice, I swear upon Durandal, the sword that will not break even in the midst of any calamity.”

I knelt on one knee, bowed my head, and spoke the carefully prepared words of oath.

“As the Saint of the Goddess and Queen of Hestella, I vow to destroy all evil that threatens peace and safety, and thereby protect all those in this land until my last breath.”

A wave of golden holy light spread brilliantly in response to my oath.

The priests and people watching praised the name of the Goddess with impressed faces. And also the name of the Queen who received the Goddess’s blessing and favor.

‘At this rate, there’s no turning back now.’

Seeing how much attention they were paying me, it was uncomfortably clear that I would have to live as both saint and queen from now on.

[If you cannot avoid it, why not enjoy it?]

‘Easy for you to say. It’s not your problem.’

Not wrong, but not pleasant to hear either.

…Anyway, I had to do what needed to be done.

Looking down once more at the stigmata—the cause of all this—which was beginning to manifest its presence again, I carefully lifted the queen’s crown placed before the feet of the goddess statue.

A crown that seemed to combine royal decoration with saintly ornamentation—a pointed golden tiara with a snow-white veil adorned with golden tassels. This was the crown of Hestella.

Traditionally, coronation ceremonies involve the highest church official or the previous monarch personally placing the crown on the new ruler’s head, but my coronation was an exception.

Since I was the first to ascend to the throne of Hestella, there was no previous monarch, and as for entrusting the role to the highest church officials…

To be frank, none of the priests here possessed the qualifications to crown me.

And asking Lacy would mean having the Saint of the Church of Elpinel perform the coronation, which would imply an imperial coronation ceremony, and…

Since we were both saints, it might inadvertently acknowledge that Elpinel was superior to Astraea.

Therefore, I personally lifted the crown placed before the goddess statue and placed it on my loosened hair.

It was the moment the Queen of the East was born.