Chapter 399: A New Sun (1)

The Emperor’s announcement of abdication was reason enough for all high-ranking administrative officials to gather at the Imperial Palace.

After all, the Emperor handing over the throne wasn’t something that could be brushed off with a simple ‘Thank you for your hard work.’ It would be nice if it could be that easy, but that would be the act of a disloyal traitor.

Did I possess someone in a Confucian country?

My mouth tasted bitter even as I hurried along with the principal. This bizarre world was a terrible hybrid of Eastern and Western cultures. It was clearly based on Western culture, but there were frequent moments, like now, when the Confucian influence felt overwhelmingly strong.

It’s driving me crazy. Officials gathering to protest when an Emperor announced his abdication was unmistakably Confucian. Wasn’t this supposed to be the West?

Come to think of it, wasn’t it because of Confucianism that I was struggling as a civil servant? This insane centralized bureaucracy could only be explained by Confucianism—

“Minister of Inspection.”

I turned to see the Invincible Duke approaching at the sudden call. He was almost running.

For a moment, I felt my blood run cold. The Invincible Duke was participating in a gathering of high-ranking administrative officials? However, that wasn’t the issue.

As the Crown Prince’s father-in-law, he should be among the first to cry out in loyalty. If he doesn’t show his face, then he’d be seen as a traitor eagerly awaiting the current Emperor’s disappearance.

The Invincible Duke didn’t know, either?

The real problem was that the Duke seemed to have only heard about this while working and rushed here.

I had suspected as much when the Executive Manager of the Imperial Household Department left typos in the group message, but this abdication announcement must have been the Emperor’s unilateral decision if even the Duke was moving this urgently. If the Duke had received any hint, then he wouldn’t have been later than me, who was outside the capital.

“I greet Your Grace, the Invincible Duke.”

“It’s been a while, Your Grace. Have you been well?”

“Regrettably, I can hardly say so.”

The Duke shook his head slightly at my and the principal’s greetings.

“An empire no longer led by His Majesty… What a bewildering turn of events.”

I nodded unconsciously at those words. Everyone was prepared for the Emperor’s abdication. We speculated it would happen within three years at the latest, perhaps even this year at the earliest.

However, that was just speculation assuming the worst-case scenario; no one really expected it to happen this year.

Over the past year, the Emperor’s authority reached its peak as he conquered the North and was proclaimed Khan. With the birth of a legitimate imperial grandchild, all worries seemed to have vanished. We thought he’d enjoy this joy and glory this year and pass on the throne next year or so, but the Emperor announced his abdication without hesitation.

So he’s not a machine.

It was amazing. The Emperor struggled fiercely for decades to achieve everything. Now, he was giving it all up and stepping down when he could enjoy a comfortable twilight basking in the dignity and rights he’d built. Wasn’t it different from sitting on the throne, even if he would still hold some authority behind the scenes?

Of course, I’m not one to talk, always looking for a chance to resign, but that’s because I have a lot of work and superiors pressuring me. The Emperor, on the other hand, had no superiors and a Crown Prince ready to inherit the burden.

Is he even human?

I felt a sense of awe. A monarch who quickly steps down because there’s no reason for him to remain Emperor, and a monarch who makes decisions not with emotion, but with pure reason. Anyone can see he was born to be Emperor.

“…He didn’t need to abdicate.”

The Invincible Duke muttered quietly, seemingly sharing my feelings. I’ve only been a civil servant for five years, but even I understand how much the Emperor struggled to get here.

Then, how much more must the Invincible Duke feel for having served the Emperor for longer and becoming his in-law? He probably sincerely wanted to stop the Emperor’s abdication.

The problem was that the abdication wasn’t a political show, but the Emperor’s genuine intention.

The main gate of the Imperial Palace was already swarming with officials of Director rank and above. It was natural. Anyone in the capital who’s even slightly late would be suspected of treason.

Anyway, the Invincible Duke headed towards the Executive Manager of the Imperial Household Department to grasp the detailed situation as soon as we arrived at the main gate, while the principal went towards the Ministry of Education, which was his department.

“You made it.”

“Yes, I got here as quickly as I could.”

Naturally, I joined the Ministry of Finance. I was technically the Executive Manager of the Prosecutors’ Office until the Ministry of Inspection was officially established, so I was still under their jurisdiction.

“Um, have you heard anything?”

I asked cautiously after looking around for a moment. From the looks of it, this abdication announcement came out of nowhere. Still, with the Minister of the Imperial Household’s post currently vacant, the Finance Minister was now the de facto head of the administration. If anyone knows something, it’d be him.

“How could I? Even the Executive Manager of the Imperial Household is losing it trying to get a handle on things.”

However, the answer was harsh. So, even the current highest-ranking minister knew nothing.

This is driving me crazy.

I couldn’t help but sigh. An abdication crisis was a big event that happened only a few times in imperial history. And now, I get to witness it firsthand. Unfortunately, there was no playbook for this.

I’d heard that one of the previous Emperors dragged out his abdication for a week and shut down the whole government.

Surely that’s not happening again… right?

“How long do you think it will take?”

“At most, a day. Since he’s sincerely announcing his abdication, there’s no reason to drag it out. It might even be over within an hour.”

I sighed again, but for a different reason this time. I’d be able to endure if it was only a day at most.

Actually, even a day was problematic. Today wasn’t a holiday, and when club time came, the members would gather. Who knows what chaos they’d cause while I was away?

Please, please let it end within an hour.

— The officials have passed through the main gate. All high-ranking officials of department head level and above have gathered, and the Invincible Duke has joined them.

“There’s no one else to enter, so close the gate and tighten security.”

— Yes, Your Majesty.

I set down the communication crystal after hearing the report from the captain of the Imperial Knights.

I feel uneasy about gathering busy officials like this, but it’s a tradition across nations and eras for subjects to try to dissuade a monarch who intends to abdicate. I’m not special enough to break that pattern.

So, the only consideration I could give them is to finish the abdication as quickly as possible. A couple of hours should be enough.

…It should be enough.

Among all the emperors in the history of the Kefellofen Empire, none had abdicated. There had been abdication announcements, but they were only political moves to strengthen their positions, not sincere intentions to abdicate like mine.

That’s why I’m unsure if this two-hour estimate is appropriate, but what can I do? At this moment, I’m not following precedent but setting it.

I’m taking all the firsts, it seems.

That thought suddenly struck me. The first emperor from a collateral branch, and the first to abdicate like this. It looks like I’ll be taking all the names that will go down in history.

But I feel no shame. Though the beginning was humble and the path I walked was stained with blood, the end will be achieved in glory. History may call my actions bloody and ugly, but it cannot deny the results.

Yes, it will certainly be so.

“Your Majesty.”

As I closed my eyes for a moment to gather my thoughts, the Crown Prince spoke.

I turned my gaze to find him prostrated on the floor, head bowed.

“Please reconsider your decision. The empire is not yet ready to leave Your Majesty’s embrace.”

As if plucked from a scene in a history book, the Crown Prince pleaded for me to take back my words. He came running the moment my abdication was declared.

This, too, was part of the tradition. The abdication had been decided long ago, and the Crown Prince had already been gradually taking over my duties and titles. But still, he had to beg. History demanded it. A tedious formality, if ever there was one.

But why? Something about the way he bowed felt different. It was less like ritual and more like sincerity.

Not ready, he says.

I turned his words over in my mind. Maybe he truly meant them.

I’d felt the same once. When I ascended the throne as a mere count with hardly a drop of imperial blood in my veins—the devastation and embarrassment I felt then were indescribable.

Is the current Crown Prince feeling the same? Does he want to delay the inevitable fate, just as I did back then?

“Crown Prince.”

Of course, I have no intention of reconsidering at this point. The destiny of being emperor is not something you can have just because you want it, nor can you avoid it just because you wish to. Trying to delay it would only make things harder for both of us.

And right now, with the Empire at its peak—strong, unified, and stable—this is the best possible time. For a living Emperor to hand over not just the title but also the full weight of authority… that is the only true kindness one can offer a successor.

“The empire no longer needs this old man.”

I stepped towards the Crown Prince and placed my hand on his shoulder.

“Nothing in this world is eternal. Even brilliant empires eventually fall, so how could mere humans be eternal?”

“Y-Your Majesty!”

The Crown Prince hastily raised his head. Depending on how you hear it, I’d just said that the Kefellofen Empire, like all empires before it, will eventually crumble and that the great and mighty Emperor is no more than a mortal man. These were words that should never come from an emperor’s mouth.

But I had to. The Crown Prince must never be seduced by the illusion of eternity. This Empire is not eternal, and we must not forget that it was on the brink of ruin just a few decades ago.

The mighty Muno Empire, the wise Trika Empire, the wealthy Apels Empire—they all fell. This empire will be the same. Someday, it will lose the Mandate of Heaven and crumble. And to delay that day for as long as possible, the Imperial Family must always move forward.

Whether it was Muno, who founded the first empire as an orphaned mercenary; the saint, who led the Dawn Sect to victory, or the great Emperor Amanca, who established the empire—all heroes have gone to Enen’s side, and so will I.

I have fulfilled my duty. As a mere mortal, it is time for me to step aside.

“So take up my will, Crown Prince. Carry it forward. Become the master of a new age, and lead this Empire into what comes next.”

That is the duty of the one who must move forward.