episode_0022

After a long time, my family gathered in one place.

“Devian… you’re finally getting married.”

The long-haired beauty with tears in her eyes, my older sister Octavia Ryan, spoke.

She had taken care of me since I was young.

She is now the queen of the Northern Kingdom.

“Who would’ve thought that my brother would marry Princess Theodora, known as the most beautiful in the empire.”

Next to Octavia was my younger sister, Mary, with short red hair and a petite stature, the Duchess of Francesca.

Both of them are family members I trust enough to entrust my life to.

“Haha, sister, how have you been?”

Octavia nodded at my words.

“I’m always the same, thanks to my husband.”

Octavia and her husband were famous for their lovey-dovey relationship.

In the original work, I remember that their family and children were probably executed due to Balor’s conspiracy.

Maybe… it won’t happen this time.

“But… how is Princess Theodora feeling?”

I sighed at Octavia’s question.

“She’s just… okay.”

Although we are soon to be married, our relationship is more like enemies.

She resents and hates me for killing her father… but for now…

I plan to keep her close until the wedding is over.

“Still… it might be difficult for them to get along, but wouldn’t it help if Devian approached her first?”

Oh… that’s unlikely…

Octavia, my sister, doesn’t know what I did to Theodora…

“Huh…? Is that even possible?”

Mary, as if she already knew everything, shook her head.

“Why? Since Princess Theodora has some affection for you, she agreed to the marriage, right?”

It’s hard to tell my pure sister what I did, so I change the subject.

“Oh, Mary, by the way, you should get engaged now.”

Mary blushed a little at my words and twisted her curly hair with her fingers.

“Uh…, after the wedding, I’m going to Francesca with Agrippa.”

That wild Mary blushing… I feel like I’ve seen something I shouldn’t have.

“Oh my! Really? Are you really getting married? Both of you?”

Octavia, who knows Agrippa, whom I spent all day with before getting married, supports their relationship.

“But why didn’t you invite Agrippa?”

Looking at Mary, who seems slightly upset that her future husband wasn’t invited here, I think.

Maybe… Agrippa is…

He’s probably still struggling with paperwork today.

“But Devian, you don’t look well. Are you okay?”

Octavia looks at me with a worried face.

“Haha… just worked overnight, that’s all.”

Lately, there’s been a crazy amount of work.

Preparing for the wedding, raising funds, and dealing with Epirus and the nobles who are trying to break away from direct control have made me busier and more tired.

Although for now, I’m using the funds in the Grand Duchy to cover the national deficit…

The taxes have decreased compared to the time of the Emperor.

Now that I think about it… it’s a bit painful not having Epirus here.

“But still, what’s wrong with the groom’s face…”

“Yeah, yeah! Even Agrippa’s face was half gone. Aren’t you spoiling him too much, brother?”

-Snicker.

Is it because I haven’t seen my family in a long time?

It was hard to have a comfortable conversation here without Agrippa… but I feel a little more at ease now.

It feels like a healing moment.

Dealing with paperwork every day, negotiating with Alexander, and dealing with various issues while facing the nobles of the empire had exhausted me mentally.

-Knock!

At the sound of someone knocking on the reception room door, I respond.

“What’s the matter?”

-Your Grace, Lord Alexander has come to visit.

With a puzzled look, I tell Octavia and Mary, “I’ll go see him first.”

Mary stands up from her seat and says to me.

“Oppa, but where is Agrifa?”

“Huh? Probably in the main study. Are you coming too?”

Mary, who brightens her eyes at my words, shakes her head vigorously.

“Yeah. I’ll go! See you later.”

“Cook… Cook, okay, see you later.”

Leaving behind the smiling older sister, I walk with Mary.

“Mary, thanks for lending the maids.”

Mary grimaces at my words.

“Well, if you’re thankful, stop giving work to Agrifa. She’s always complaining about dying.”

-Sigh

“Then will you be in Roman?”

Mary nods thoughtfully at my words.

“No! Oppa and Agrifa work all night together, right? I can’t do that.”

I smile at her words.

“But, are things serious enough to need my maids… Is Her Highness the Princess Consort concerned?”

I speak to Mary with a slightly stern face.

“Don’t even mention it, this is a secret… Last week, she tried to escape and got caught, didn’t she?”

Boldly buying maids and servants secretly, planning to escape from the palace with the Empress and Princess Joy… Thanks to Mary’s maids, we were able to thwart it safely.

“Oh… Her Highness the Princess Consort… Poor thing… If she doesn’t want to marry you that badly, just let her go…”

I say to Mary with a sympathetic expression.

“If I could have let her go, I would have…”

It’s already too late to let her go now.

“Sigh… Well, maybe things will change a bit after you get married and treat her well?”

-Sigh.

“It would be fortunate if I don’t get poisoned after having a child.”

Mary looks at me in that moment.

“Surely you don’t think Her Highness the Princess Consort will assassinate you?”

I say with an uncertain voice.

“The possibility is high. From the perspective of Theodora, who doesn’t know about our secret pact, she might think the child will become the next Emperor.”

“Hmm… It does seem risky.”

“So, let’s borrow each other for a year or so. Okay?”

“Hmm… I’ll lend you the maids for 1-2 years, and Agrifa Oppa will only lend them for two months?”

I cough awkwardly as I have nothing to say in response.

Ahem… But without Agrippa… the empire won’t function.

In reality, I am somehow managing the empire by switching bodies with Agrippa.

Once the marriage and appointment of high officials are over, I think I can take a breather.

Well… Can I survive until then?

Mary cautiously opens her mouth in response to my words.

“Um… Oppa, um… Do you really have to make my son your successor?”

At her words, I nod my head.

“Yeah, I’ll pass on such a heavy burden.”

There used to be a saying on Earth.

He who wants to wear the crown, bear its weight…

As the saying goes, strength comes with its own responsibilities and consequences.

That’s why, once all this is over, I plan to hand over all authority to Mary and travel.

“But still… Won’t you feel sorry for your child later, Oppa?”

“No, being a part of the imperial family shouldn’t be bad, right?”

Of course, that statement is a lie.

“If you put it that way, there’s no choice… Oh, right. Oppa!”

Mary speaks as if she has had a thought.

“I’m going to participate in the tournament this time.”

At her words, I respond with a blank expression…

“Huh…?”

But she says with an excited face at my reaction.

“Lately, I haven’t been fighting much, so my body feels sluggish. So, I thought I’d exercise a bit, plus I was so disappointed when the war with the Emperor faction fell through.”

“No… but…”

“No!, How dangerous is the Imperial Tournament?”

The empire has a unique tradition.

During memorable or joyous occasions.

The imperial family holds a tournament to bring joy to the people of the empire.

Group combat, swordsmanship, spear, archery, magic.

Select champions from five different fields.

And… naturally

Theo’s coronation and wedding ceremony marked a momentous occasion, as a tournament was held in celebration.

“Hehe, Oppa, do you think I’ll lose?” Mary smiles as if in a good mood.

“But still, you can’t!” I say, and Mary looks at me intently.

“Really? Not at all?”

“Yes, really not at all,” Mary pouts at my words, clearly annoyed.

“Why not! I was looking forward to fighting with the imperial faction, and you’re ruining it like this!”

But some things just can’t be done.

“This is an order as the head of the family, absolutely! Absolutely not!”

I know Mary is strong, but the Empire’s tournament gathers the strongest competitors from the continent.

So… knowing that Mary could get seriously injured or even killed, I firmly say, “If you try to participate secretly, I’ll tear up your pedigree.”

“Ugh…”

***

The grand Alhyun Hall.

Hundreds of people are gathered here right now.

Fortunately, it’s large and spacious enough for people to have plenty of space…

The ceremony begins.

-Boom!

With a loud noise, the doors of the Alhyun Hall open.

-♪~ ♬

Accompanied by grand singing.

A woman enters.

A woman walking gracefully on a bright red carpet as the huge doors open.

Draped in a crimson mink cloak.

Wearing a white dress, she enters.

The Empire’s Crown Princess, no, from today, the Emperor of the Empire, Theo.

Her appearance now…

She was always beautiful, but what about now?

She exudes an aura of nobility that is hard for people to approach.

A noble-looking face.

A cold-looking gaze and expression.

As she reaches the throne, a man in a five-layered robe speaks.

“Theo Augusta, Crown Princess, kneel before the throne.”

Following the high priest’s majestic voice, she kneels on the golden cushion in front of the throne, hands clasped humbly.

Seeing her like this, the high priest raises his hand above her head and begins to pray.

“Almighty El, here stands the Crown Princess you have appointed. Bless her, guide her on the right path. Do not let her fall into temptation, save her from evil, and grant her the desires she wishes to fulfill…”

And so… a prayer that seems like it will never end begins.

I don’t know how long it’s been.

If I had known… should I have brought some documents?

I feel like my work will pile up, and my body will ache when I return.

“We pray earnestly.”

Finally, the prayer ends…

-♬~ ♪

The grand music plays again.

And soon, Theo sits on the throne.

“Theo Augusta, Crown Princess, do you pledge to keep this continent of Muya peaceful as permitted by the gods, respect the laws of the Empire, and care for the nobles and citizens with love?”

In response to his words, Theo answers, “I pledge.”

Upon hearing her words, the high priest’s attendant lifts a golden scepter from a tray and places it in Theo’s right hand.

“Theo Augusta, Crown Princess, do you pledge to abhor the wicked and strive to eradicate those who torment humans and all races in order to establish justice in this land?”

The high priest’s words, once again, echo beautifully throughout the Alhyun Hall.

“I pledge.”

At her words, the attendant on the right lifts a sword from a tray and places it in her left hand.

It looks heavier than I thought… but it should be fine, right?

It’ll probably be fine… it’s ceremonial… even though it’s pure gold… it’s still ceremonial…

I was worried that she, a woman, might find it heavy, but she seemed to handle it well.

As she places the sword in her left hand on her knee, the high priest speaks.

“Princess Theodora Augusta, do you pledge to lead the lost and the needy, to rule the world justly and fairly, guiding those who wander astray, and to govern the five races equally with the authority granted by God, the Imperial Council, and the great Gold Dragon Rike El Sadat?”

“I pledge.”

Upon hearing her response, the Pope from the left side of the altar hands Theodora the scepter with her left hand.

And… standing behind the throne, he speaks.

“Princess Theodora Augusta, will you faithfully uphold the pledge you just made?”

“I will uphold it.”

“Lastly, swear what you wish to do after becoming Empress.”

“I, Theodora Augusta, will uphold the sacred mission and duty passed down through generations to protect this country, defeat our enemies, and stand against those who seek to plunder this empire, ensuring peace and prosperity in the continent of Muya for eternity.”

Her own declaration of intent.

Upon hearing her words, the Pope places the imperial crown symbolizing the emperor on her head and proclaims.

“From this moment on, Theodora Augusta is declared the new Empress of this empire!”

In response, Theodora kneels and offers a scepter to the Pope, who kneels and kisses her hand.

“May the Emperor and the Empire be at peace!”

As the Pope shouts, everyone follows suit.

– May the Emperor and the Empire be at peace!

And thus, she ascended to the throne as Empress.

The people of the empire, the nobles, and the priests all congratulate her.

And… soon, our wedding ceremony will begin.