episode_0236

Episode 236 Inauguration Ceremony (2)

I want to be an emperor even for just one day. If you live on the continent, you’ll have such fantasies at least once.

The emperor is one of the leaders of two great powers. The power emanating from that position is so immense that ordinary people cannot even imagine it.

So, people think that if they become emperor, they can enjoy anything. They believe anyone will follow their orders, they can eat whatever they want, and they can possess whatever they desire.

However, the reality is different. While most of the things mentioned earlier do come true, they are accompanied by immense responsibility. In other words, contrary to appearances, the emperor’s position is not all that comfortable.

Thanks to that, Ariel spent busy days. She received the necessary teachings as an emperor every single day.

She had a little leeway when dealing with Rayan’s rebellion. But after the cleanup, she had no free time at all except for sleep and meals.

Today, the day before the inauguration ceremony, was no different. The Imperial Palace was busy with the event scheduled for tomorrow. Servants and maids scurried around without even time to eat, and Imperial Knights and mages directly involved in the inauguration ceremony were even busier preparing.

A significant event for the empire that occurs only once every few decades. Everything had to be thorough. Not even a single mistake was allowed.

Of course, Ariel wasn’t resting either. As leaders from various countries gathered, she also had to show the perfect image of an emperor. She, too, had no time to rest like everyone else.

“Hoo…”

Ariel sighed and slumped into a chair. The final attire for tomorrow had just been decided.

She had suffered so much because of this. Starting a month ago, she repeated putting on and taking off hundreds of outfits. But it didn’t end there; she meticulously adjusted the size of the clothes and added or removed each decoration. The final decision being made today, the day before, was for that reason.

“Too, excessive…”

It was too excessive, to the point of being exhausting. Of course, it was natural to prepare thoroughly for the reasons mentioned earlier. Besides, this will be over after tomorrow. She knew well from watching her father.

With that little bit of rest time, Ariel sat still and rested. Understanding Ariel’s situation, the maids and servants left the room. Thanks to them, Ariel could relax and rest comfortably alone.

“Tired…”

Honestly, Ariel was currently very exhausted. She traveled around the empire to punish rebels and then came back to prepare for the inauguration ceremony, so it would be strange if she weren’t exhausted.

Of course, her body was fine. The days spent at the Tianis Academy had greatly enhanced Ariel’s level. Her physical fatigue was completely recovered when she woke up.

But her mind wasn’t. Her over-depleted mental strength was not easily recovering. It was no wonder, as she had spent the last three months under various pressures.

If there was a way to relieve this at once, it would be meeting people. Seeing her connections whom she had spent over two and a half years with would refresh her mind.

Especially, if she met him….

Ariel shook her head. If she met him now, her heart would break with guilt. It was better not to meet him, as she had been doing.

Of course, she would meet him tomorrow, but it was better not to see him now.

“Huh?”

At that moment, a mana reaction penetrated her senses. Mana was moving right next to Ariel.

What is it? Currently, the Imperial Palace should be thoroughly preventing external intrusion. Ariel took a defensive stance and examined the reaction. Soon, a passage made of blue mana opened. It was a portal. And an familiar person appeared from beyond.

“Lana?”

“Ariel!”

Ariel wore a bewildered expression at her appearance. Ariel didn’t come to her senses until Lana hugged her with a delighted face.

“W, what brings you here…?”

“I came because I wanted to see Ariel!”

“Thank you…”

She was sincere. As she said earlier, Ariel missed meeting them so much. Especially in the past month, she had been living only in the Imperial Palace, with almost no contact with the outside world, so she felt that way even more.

“Haa, Lana…”

“Yes, Ariel.”

Ariel hugged Lana back. Her bright voice and unique scent, as always, cleared her mind. Moreover, the scent of a man was noticeable in it. This familiar scent must be his. He must have been by her side until just now.

Only after her heart calmed down did Ariel ask Lana.

“How did you get here?”

“Kyle sent me!”

“Ah…”

Certainly, if it were him, he could easily send someone. According to the ancestor, his magical level in his memories was 10th circle. Although it is not now, it would be easier than anything to avoid the eyes of the Imperial Knights and mages.

“Let’s sit down and talk. And thank you. For coming to see me.”

“No. I wanted to see Ariel too. I pestered Kyle.”

The two sat facing each other and began to talk. There was so much to talk about since it had been a long time since they had met, and the next schedule was far away, so there was plenty of time.

“Ariel, your face looks so bad. Was it hard?”

“A little. But seeing Lana like this makes me feel better.”

So, Ariel exchanged words with Lana. Even if it was a conversation on a light topic, she couldn’t be happier. Then, Lana remembered something she had forgotten and conveyed it to Ariel.

“Oh, right, Kyle told me to say hello.”

“Kyle, you say…?”

“Yeah!”

At Lana’s affirmation, her mind becomes complicated for a moment. Ariel thought she didn’t deserve to hear such words. That was why she hadn’t gone to see Kyle all this time.

But upon hearing those words, her heart, which she had barely been holding back, wavered. Water droplets formed in Ariel’s eyes, and they trickled down her cheeks.

“Ah, Ariel?!”

Lana was startled and approached her side. Ariel grabbed Lana’s clothes and confessed her sin.

“Lana… I, I did something terribly wrong to him… I, I almost killed him… But I didn’t even know it…”

Lana felt sorry for her as she sobbed in her arms. She hugged Ariel tightly and asked.

“What happened?”

“That’s…”

Ariel carefully told her about what had happened a few months ago. Lana listened to Kyle’s unfortunate and sad past and nodded.

Certainly, with such a thing, it was enough for Ariel to feel guilty. Not only did she drive Kyle to his death, but it was as if she had continued to torment him.

But Lana had this thought.

“But the truth is, Kyle was a bad kid back then.”

That was an undeniable fact. He was clearly a villain who tormented others. Kyle was her lover, but she had no intention of denying that.

“And will Kyle really hate Ariel?”

“Lana doesn’t know… He still hates me…”

Ariel denied Lana’s words. She knew well what kind of feelings Kyle had when dealing with her.

At those words, Lana held Ariel’s hand tightly and said.

“No. Kyle definitely likes Ariel.”

His actions so far prove that fact. There is no one who would sacrifice themselves so much and even give up their life for someone they don’t like.

Of course, the hatred will still be there. No matter what kind of life he led in the middle, it was not an emotion that could be easily forgotten.

In other words, an object of love and hate. Ariel is such an existence to Kyle. Lana held her hand even tighter and conveyed her thoughts.

“So, don’t avoid it and approach him with sincerity. Kyle will definitely understand.”

That’s because Kyle is a good person. If Ariel approaches him with sincerity, Kyle will also accept her with sincerity.

She can guess what kind of result will come in that process. But Lana couldn’t leave a woman in love alone. Ariel was a member of the Imperial Family, but before that, she was a same-aged friend whom she loved.

“Thank you, Lana…”

“No, Ariel.”

Lana hugged Ariel tightly once again.

***

Bang─!!

More than a dozen fireworks explode. The colorful fireworks adorn the sky. The sight came into view above the open Imperial Palace.

Currently, the Imperial Palace is in a transformed state to match the inauguration ceremony. The walls and ceiling were completely demolished with magic. Thanks to that, the situation outside the Imperial Palace was clearly visible. This was to show the inauguration ceremony to the capital as well.

In between, all the attendees of the inauguration ceremony can be seen. To the right of the throne where Ariel’s father, the current emperor, was sitting, were the leaders of other countries, and to the left were the nobles of the empire.

Among the imperial attendees, several familiar faces were visible. The first one visible was Lana and her family. The current head of the Heytald family and the former head, Latral. Lana is the future head, so she is with them.

Of course, Arden also came. Arden could not be missing from the inauguration ceremony, even if it was any other event. When I turned my head slightly, I saw Veil, and Arden’s current head… my father was also visible. I tried hard to turn my head away from my father.

In addition to that, there were also people who were invited separately to the left. For example, Evan. It would have been absurd for the main character to be missing from this place.

Then, where am I standing? Naturally, it’s on the right. Currently, I am here not as a person of Arden, but as a saint of the Ustia Holy Kingdom. Estella is also with me next to me.

Bbampbbam~!!

Subsequently, the military band began playing their instruments. At the same time, the Imperial Knights lined up in a row on the path leading to the throne drew their swords with precision and raised them high into the sky.

Soon, the main character of today’s event appeared. Ariel Tianis. She was about to become the emperor.

And I, who saw Ariel after several months.

‘She’s pretty…’

I couldn’t take my eyes off her. Because she was so beautiful.

“Ah…”

Suddenly, my heart started to ache.

At that moment, someone tapped me and whispered. It was the Saintess Estella.

“Saint, focus. What kind of expression are you making in front of people? And isn’t it enough with me and Lana?”

“…Shut up.”

I ignored Estella’s words and turned my head.

With a stride full of precision, dignity, and majesty, she stood in front of the current emperor. Ariel, who was about to become the emperor, already seemed like an emperor to me.