Chapter 400: A New Sun (2)

Deep within the Imperial Palace was a building called the Solar Palace. As the Emperor’s living quarters, it was considered the most sacred place in the empire and never opened to the public even during the New Year’s Ball due to its symbolism.

Normally, only a select few summoned by the Emperor were ever allowed to set foot near it. But today, almost a hundred high-ranking officials were gathered outside the Solar Palace and were kneeling in rows.

“Your Majesty! This empire cannot move forward without your wise rule! Please reconsider your decision!”

““Please reconsider!””

As the Invincible Duke cried out from the front, high-ranking officials with titles like the Minister and Executive Manager simultaneously knocked their foreheads on the ground and echoed his plea.

Of course, this was mostly for show. Among the director-level officials, there were quite a few elderly gentlemen. Someone might end up being carried out if they really banged their heads. Besides, shedding blood in front of the Emperor was unthinkable.

“Your Majesty! Your subjects still need you! Please withdraw your intention to abdicate!”

““Please withdraw it!””

Following the Invincible Duke, the highest-ranking administrative official, the Minister of Finance, cried out. This should have been originally the role of the Minister of the Imperial Household. But unlike someone else, he was suffering for not being able to resign.

Their throats must be getting sore.

Unfortunately, I was suffering just as much. It had been just over an hour since we prostrated ourselves before the Solar Palace, and I’d already lost count of how many times we’d cried out our pleas. Even the Invincible Duke and the Minister had run out of things to say and were recycling the same sentences.

But it couldn’t be helped. While it was an open secret that the abdication announcement was sincere, we must sincerely beg the Emperor to reconsider precisely because he was serious. Wouldn’t it be bitter if the Emperor’s final moment after decades of desperate struggle for the empire was met with indifference?

Yes, this was the civil servants’ final act of consideration and respect for the aging Emperor. Let’s endure with that thought.

…Still, I wish it would end quickly.

I felt like sighing. Not only did I need to get back before club time started, but the back of my head was starting to sting. I could feel the stares boring into me. Of course, I was kneeling right behind the Invincible Duke with the other ministers. Everyone’s eyes were on us.

Damn it, I didn’t want to be in the front row like this. I was just trying to blend in with the other Managers.

“You’re a minister-designate, aren’t you? In a way, you’re like the last minister appointed by His Majesty, so you should be with the other ministers.”

But the Minister’s strangely persuasive words dragged me to the front row, to a position where I’d be immediately visible when the Emperor emerged from the Solar Palace.

And because I was young and in such a visible spot, I’d been bowing deeper than the older officials beside me. Not only was my throat getting sore, but my head might crack, too.

It’s truly a pitiful situation.

As our teary-eyed ritual of protest entered its second hour, the Emperor and Crown Prince finally emerged from the Solar Palace.

“How can you neglect your duties and harm yourselves like this?”

At the Emperor’s feigned scolding, the Invincible Duke at the front bowed his head and spoke.

“There is no duty more important for a subject than serving Your Majesty. Yet Your Majesty, whom we should serve for life, has announced your intention to abdicate. We humble servants can only beg you to reconsider.”

“I understand your loyalty, but my decision is firm. Now, raise your heads.”

“How can those too unworthy to continue serving Your Majesty dare to lift their heads in your presence?”

The ceremonial back-and-forth continued. As all the officials bowed their heads once more, the Emperor let out a long, heavy sigh. But despite this, those gathered showed no reaction.

Under normal circumstances, an Emperor would never express such emotion in front of his subjects. This, too, was part of the performance.

“You serve not the man, Corvus, but Emperor Amanca XVI, who upholds the will of the Great Emperor. Now, the Crown Prince will inherit that will.”

This was the cue that the performance was nearing its end. Slowly, the officials raised their heads one by one. To continue protesting now would only be seen as disloyalty.

Scanning the rows of bowed officials, the Emperor silently turned to the Crown Prince and placed the imperial crown he was wearing upon his head.

Insane.

It was a bit shocking. Even with the abdication declared, the Crown Prince hadn’t officially ascended the throne yet. Placing the crown on him now was almost unprecedented.

The Crown Prince seemed to share this thought as he froze in place without even thinking of removing the crown. For the first time, I actually felt bad for him.

“The noble will of the Great Emperor has reached me through my fourteen predecessors. Now, the Crown Prince, as Amanca XVII, will uphold the Great Emperor’s will, and you shall loyally serve the Crown Prince as the rightful successor.”

However, the Emperor declared once again before the frozen Crown Prince and the shaken officials that the rightful Emperor to uphold the Great Emperor’s will was no longer himself, but the Crown Prince.

“Now, return to where you should be. When we gather again, you shall worship a new sun.”

““We shall obey Your Majesty’s will!””

And thus, the abdication was complete.

It’s heavy. The crown resting on my head feels unbearably heavy.

Although it’s not the formal crown used in the coronation ceremony but the informal laurel wreath used daily, the crushing weight of it bears down on me like stone.

Is this the weight I’ll have to carry from now on?

I almost raised my hand to remove it. Almost. But now that the abdication is official, and with my father and all of the officials watching, I can’t take it off. I must not show any sign of being daunted or tempted to retreat from the weight of the crown.

As the Emperor said, I must now carry on the will of the Great Emperor. I must become the rightful master of this empire.

I must endure this weight and move forward for the sake of the imperial family and the empire. For the sake of the imperial grandchild who will succeed me, I must.

“Crown Prince.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

As the officials slowly began to withdraw, the Emperor spoke in a low voice.

“How is it?”

On the surface, it sounded like a vague, even awkward question. Was it even a question at all?

But strangely, I could understand the Emperor’s intent from those brief words. It was really odd.

“It’s heavy and frightening… but I won’t run from it.”

The Emperor showed no reaction to my answer. He didn’t express displeasure at my weak words about it being heavy and frightening, nor did he nod at my declaration not to run away. He just silently watched the officials withdraw.

“That is enough.”

After a long pause, he gave his answer and turned back toward the Solar Palace.

It was confusing. What did he mean by ‘That’s enough’? Was it to warn me about the weight of the crown? Or to tell me not to run away despite it? Perhaps it was both.

I guess that’s enough.

Yes, that should be enough. It was enough to be someone who was wary of the crown’s weight but vowed not to run away, to be who I was right now.

As the Emperor said, I am now the one who will lead the Empire. It’s time to stop looking at his intentions and start listening to my own.

With that resolution, I started walking towards the Crown Prince’s Palace. The Ministry of the Imperial Household would soon begin preparations for the abdication, and I would be busy with preparations.

…It wasn’t until some time later that I realized I should head back to the Solar Palace to return the crown to the Emperor.

I had a brief meeting with the Principal after returning to the Academy.

“We’ll have another temporary school closure soon, I suppose.”

“This year seems to be full of joyous events.”

I responded appropriately to the principal’s comment.

While the abdication of an Emperor was a solemn affair, the accession of a new one was undeniably cause for celebration. And if that meant the Imperial Academy would have to give students a day off in observance, well—it was to be expected.

“You’re right, Minister. This is truly a joyous year.”

The principal smiled slightly at my response.

Though I wasn’t sure whether that smile reflected genuine happiness or resignation at the endless chaos, it was likely the latter.

“To see a new sun rise again in my lifetime… I must have lived quite long indeed.”

The principal’s laughing words suddenly reminded me of Beatrix, but I quickly pushed the thought away.

Beatrix is a half-elf, so it’s only right to count only about 20% of her age as valid. That’s fair enough.

“It means you’ve dedicated yourself to the imperial family and the empire. It’s something to be proud of.”

With those words of praise disguised as a compliment to the Principal, I used the moment to reset my thoughts. Beatrix was a beautiful lady in her (human age) 20s who had dedicated herself to the imperial family and empire.

That’s what I decided to think, anyway.

The change of Emperors wasn’t just a domestic affair—it was a continent-wide event.

“His Holiness the Pope will personally bestow his blessings upon the new Emperor. Considering the centuries-old bond between the Church and the Empire, it’s hardly surprising.”

“…I see.”

As such, news of the confirmed abdication quickly spread across the continent through the empire’s diplomatic channels, and even Tannian, a key figure in the Holy Kingdom, learned of it.

What was more surprising was that the Pope himself would participate and give his blessing. As Tannian said, it was natural considering the friendly relations between the empire and the sect, but the abdication announcement was made today. They received the news on the same day and decided on the Pope’s foreign visit on the same day?

Isn’t that… a little fast?

That was an absurdly fast response. At first, I thought Tannian was being so calm because he meant a cardinal would attend and not the Pope himself.

“When the new Emperor ascends, does that mean Ainter becomes the Emperor’s brother instead of a prince? That’s amazing!”

“I guess we can’t speak to him casually anymore.”

Meanwhile, I saw Rutis patting Ainter’s back and chuckling while Lather subtly made jokes.

I had forgotten for a moment that Ainter becomes the Emperor’s brother and not the Emperor’s son when the Crown Prince ascends.

A prince and the Emperor’s brother, huh.

There was definitely a difference in impression. Something about being the Emperor’s brother just sounded more authoritative.

“It’s alright. His Highness the Crown Prince is becoming more noble, but I’m still the same as ever.”

Ainter shook his head with a gentle smile towards the two princes.

I doubt it.

I quietly turned my gaze away, barely resisting the urge to speak.

Like it or not, being the Emperor’s brother comes with a title and territory. He wouldn’t be ‘just the same.’ He might even become the Emperor’s right-hand man.

Still, I suppose it’d be a better future than facing the risk of purge under his brother’s suspicion.