n

n

n

n“I see.”

n“Well, that’s why I’ve come to stay a little longer here. How fortunate I am because I can see your beautiful face!”

nThere was a smile in his transparent light-colored eyes.

nI was puzzled, though. He would stay in the empire a little longer. Of course, his divine power would be helpful to me in many ways as it was not common, but did he have to call me here for that?

n“Your eyes are really beautiful whenever I see them. As your eyes are sparkling as if the sun is shining, I feel like I will lose my eyesight if I keep looking at them.”

n“… Your Eminence.”

n“I knew another person with such sparkling eyes as yours. She had soft magenta hair, unlike yours with its aura of cold moonlight.”

nI was going to retort as I couldn’t stand it, but I hurriedly shut my mouth. Isn’t the person with magenta hair my late mother?

n“Come to think of it, you really look like her. It feels like I’m seeing the marquise right in front of me. Well, she was 18 when I first saw her, so it’s only natural that I recall her when I see you like this.”

n“… ”

n

n

n“At that time, I committed an irreparable sin against your mother. I am very ashamed and sorry when I think about it even now. ”

n“What do you mean…?”

n“… I can’t tell you the details, but because of that, I owe a debt to her that I can never repay all my life.”

nA debt to my mother? What is he talking about? Is he referring to the incident in which my mother was poisoned and almost lost her life?

nWhen I looked puzzled, he said, “So, I am thinking of repaying some of my indebtedness during my stay in the empire. That’s why I wanted to see you today.”

n“Pardon?”

n“Praise the beauty of the Father of Life. Let me convey you the blessings of Vita, our Lord.”

nWhite light touched my head even before I asked him. Everywhere was filled with flower scent, and soon the pink petals began to fall one by one. When I smelled the soft floral scent, a strong feeling of refreshment wrapped my whole body. I felt like my heavy body was getting lighter.

n“I don’t know if I can help you, but during my stay in the Empire, I will periodically give blessings to you. So, even if you are busy, please come to the temple every 15 days.”

n“Every 15 days?”

nMy eyes opened wide. It’s difficult to receive his blessings even a couple of times during one’s lifetime. But he was now promising me to give me a blessing every 15 days!

nLooking at me with his eyes raised a bit, he said in a mysterious voice, “Don’t feel pressured by that. I won’t expect anything in return.”

n“But…”

n“I’m doing this because I would like to pay back my debt to your mother just a little bit, so you can appreciate it.”

n“… Okay. Thank you, Your Eminence.”

n“You’re welcome.”

nAlthough I felt uncomfortable, I nodded at his offer.

nHow much time passed?

nAfter spending a long time with him at the temple, a bit tired of his praise, I left the sanctuary. Even though I gently refused, he took the trouble of escorting me to the entrance and giving me blessings once again. Though I felt a bit strange about his repeated blessings, I headed for home, calming down without asking further.

n“… Ah.”

n“… ”

n“Tia.”

n“… Pardon?”

n“What are you thinking about? The ceremony will begin soon. Stay focused. ”

n“Ah, yes. I’m sorry, Daddy.”

nI glanced toward my father, who looked at me with a puzzled expression, then turned my attention. I thought I forgot where I was for a moment, while I was thinking about my meeting with the High Priest a few days ago.

nWhen I looked around, I saw a chandelier hanging from the high ceiling and lighting the room, the stained glass shining brilliantly, and the head tables and the emperor’s chair installed at the top of six stairs. I also noticed the symbols of Vita carved in detail everywhere.

nWith nobles and foreign delegations keeping silent, I heard the sound of cheering from a distance. The new emperor’s procession seemed to enter sooner or later as the shouts were getting closer.

nHow much time passed?

nThe whispering noise stopped, and the priests holding the symbol of the Lord, the top priests holding a royal scepter and a precious marble, and the high priest holding a crown on a blue cushion came into my view. When they stood in their respective positions, the young man in a formal dress embroidered with gold threads with a blue velvet cloak around it walked in.

nWith majestic music playing, the protocol officers followed the young man slowly entering, holding his cloak. As he stopped under the platform, the high priest, who was standing three steps above him, opened his mouth, opening a roll of paper.

n“Do you, Rublis Kamaludin Shana Castina, the 34th Emperor of the great Castina Empire, swear to rule the empire with law and customs?”

n“I swear.”

n“Do you, Rublis Kamaludin Shana Castina, as the 34th Emperor of the great Castina Empire, vow to exercise the imperial power with law, fairness and mercy?”

n“I swear.”

n“Do you, Rublis Kamaludin Shana Castina, swear to believe in Vita as the 34th Emperor of the great Castina Empire and practice His doctrine?”

n“I swear, as long as the doctrine does not disturb the empire.”

n“Finally, do you swear before Vita to faithfully carry out all your vows?”

n“Yes, I swear.”

nAfter he was done swearing, he received the scroll from the high priest and signed it.

nIt was an expression of his will to keep the pledge at the coronation ceremony.

nWhen he signed and turned it over to the protocol officer, the top priests standing under the platform handed him a royal scepter and a precious marble.

n“May our Lord Vita’s protection be with you, the Sun of the great empire! ”

n“May Vita’s protection be bestowed on the Sun of the glorious empire!”

nAfter he received the royal scepter in one hand and a precious marble in the other, he turned back to the high priest.

nThe high priest slowly reached out and lifted the crown solemnly with both hands.

nWith everyone holding their breath, he placed the brilliant diamond crown on his blue hair.

nWhen he climbed the six steps and sat down on the throne, the high priest went down the platform and bowed deeply toward him.

n“In the name of the Vita, our Lord, I declare that Your Majesty has become the ruler of the glorious Castina Empire. May Vita’s protection be with you!”

n“To the Sun of the great empire, may the blessings of Vita be bestowed on you!”

n“To the Sun of the great empire, may the blessings of Vita be bestowed on you!”

n“To the Sun of the great empire, may the blessings of Vita be bestowed on you!”

nEveryone in the temple bowed and shouted. After they shouted three times, the new emperor spoke to everyone in the hall.

n“I, Rublis Kamaludin Shana Castina, the ruler of the glorious Castina Empire and the parent of the people, that as the 34th Emperor of the great Castina Empire, I will rule the empire by law and custom, exercise the imperial power with fairness and mercy, and take care of the people with love and integrity. Great glory to the great Castina Empire! ”

n“Loyalty to the Lion! We accept the will of the Sun of the great empire!”

nWhen everybody responded to his declaration, the members of the Duke Lars family, the highest rank in protocol, stepped forward on the platform.

n

n

nIt was time for everybody to swear allegiance to the new emperor.

nDuke Lars, knelt and bowed to express obedience, recited an oath of allegiance.

n“Loyalty to the Lion! I would like to devote my heart and life to the new Sun of the empire, so please accept my loyalty.”

n“I accept your loyalty. Glory to the empire! ”

nAfter he bowed out politely, Duke Verita stepped forward and pledged allegiance like he did.

nNow, it was our family’s turn.

nHiding my trembling hands in the hem of the dress, I stepped forward with my father.

nAs I faced him for the first time after he told me he would do as I wished, my heart was throbbing hard every step I moved forward.

n“Loyalty to the Lion. I devote my blood and life to you, the Sun of the great empire. So, please accept my loyalty.”

n“Glory to the empire! I accept the loyalty of the Monique family.”

n