Old priests and monks in yellow robes sang hymns. The chorus that started from the depths of the abbey filled the front yard in an instant.

In the New Year’s Festival, young peasants sing, but in the Harvest Festival, on the contrary, the older ones sing.

It was a ceremony to give thanks for the fruits of the harvest and to confirm that winter was coming. It is also right for people to express their gratitude to those who have produced fruit.

Hearing the song, the Emperor narrowed his eyes for a moment and looked around the gardens of the great temple.

Wherever their eyes met, nobles knelt and bowed their heads. All of their clothes were splendid, and they were more gorgeous than the waves that reflected the sunlight.

The Emperor breathed out something, not knowing whether it was a laugh or a sigh.

And the bishop, who was at the forefront of the procession, drew a sign on the holy relic that was being held up.

The bishop turned around without a word. He was normally supposed to say a greeting, but it was an exception when he was holding a relic.

This is because at that moment he is not a human priest, but a vessel for the divine. So did the procession and the singing priests behind him.

After welcoming the Emperor, the procession turned around and headed towards the altar. The Emperor walked slowly in the back.

Cedric followed. After Cedric, Chancellor Lin, high-ranking nobles and bureaucrats followed in line.

As the procession drew closer, the ladies around Artizea also knelt down so that their knees touched the ground. The skirt hem spread like a flower bud.

Artizea was unable to kneel, so she tried to stand up after all the relics had passed.

But it was not easy to balance. As she struggled and grabbed the armrests, one of the escort knights hurriedly moved forward, risking being in front of the Emperor.

Before that, Cedric came up first and reached out his hand to grab Artizea.

Artizea leaned on his arm and barely lifted herself up. Perhaps surprised by the chant, the baby moved, unusually from before, in her stomach. She was in a cold sweat.

“Forgive me for not kneeling when the sun of the Empire rises at the highest. Artizea of Evron greets you.”

“Be comfortable. Do you think I will tell a full-term pregnant woman to kneel?”

“I’m grateful for your grace.”

Artizea bowed her head.

“It’s been a long time. I’ve heard of the news so far, but I’m relieved to see you well.”

The Emperor glanced at her once and smiled.

He appreciated Artizea, she was bright in politics and that combined with her prudence and determination.

However, the impression of her young age did not disappear easily.

The Emperor remembered that Artizea, when she was five or six years old, crumpled up the hem of her soiled skirt and followed Lawrence.

Now, Artizea was already the Marquis of Rosan, and she also held the place of Grand Duchess Evron, and next year she will turn twenty.

The Emperor heard reports that the fillings of warehouses for recirculation in the western region were proceeding smoothly, each taking three different routes.

Undercover investigators reported that Marquis of Rosan’s estate was not declining. Even though she was spending a fair amount of money.

The ladies-in-waiting, brought from Grand Duchy Evron, one was bright and the other was good, and despite their low statuses, they had a good reputation.

At first, there were many who laughed at them for coming from the provincial aristocracy, especially from the northern corners, but now there are many more who want to associate with them.

And now she has an heir. As long as the child to be born is healthy, it is the successor.

The chant of blessing the fruit filled the large abbey and overflowed, filling even the heart of the Emperor. But, on the contrary, his inside felt nauseous as if it was empty.

So he listened to Artizea’s brief reply.

“It is all thanks to Your Majesty’s grace.”

“Standing on the altar to bless the fruitage, the baby will be blessed as well.”

“I’m grateful for your grace.”

The Emperor gave words of blessing and turned around. It’s harvest day. There was nothing wrong with saying good things to a pregnant woman on the day of the ceremony.

The Archbishop, standing in front of the altar, greeted the Emperor.

Cedric held Artizea’s arms and climbed onto the podium. Only then did he see the things that were placed on the altar.

Agricultural products sent from each region were laid out little by little. Knowing that Cedric’s gaze was placed over the sacrifice, Artizea gently pulled his arm.

‘Ah.’

Cedric struggled to remove an intention from his gaze.

“Lysia sent me a letter, saying that a new crop called Melbon has been selected as a sacrifice for this year’s harvest festival.”

It was two weeks ago that Artizea had told the story.

“Melbon?”

“It is said that the western agricultural officer discovered a crop that could be harvested in the midwinter and gave it that name.”

Just hearing the word midwinter, Cedric knew immediately what it was.

But before he could speak his words of emotion, Artizea put her index finger to his lips, preventing him from speaking.

This was an excuse to be attacked unilaterally if discovered, and could endanger the entire northern region. It had to be dealt with more carefully than any other political issue.

There was no need to discuss or do anything more than this.

Cedric understood that too. And he turned the topic to a story that even a person who had no knowledge of the circumstances could follow.

“However, it must not be an easy task for a new crop to appear on the altar.”

“They said the Western Grain Association used a lot of bribes. Wheat is a staple crop in the West that is the basis for transactions beyond currency. If farmers can sell the wheat instead of consuming it, the grain dealer can make a huge profit.”

“You, too?”

Artizea laughed. The now-grown Western Grain Association did not act according to her will.

However, seven of the grain merchants affiliated with it belonged to Artizea.

Even considering the money spent as bribes, if she could profit from both wheat price and trading volume for two or three years, she could see that she would make a good profit.

“It is said that the officer who named the crops is very old and sincere. He had no authority, but he knew quite a few people here and there. There are many people who completely trust him.”

Artizea only knew Forb as a candidate.

In the past, after Lawrence ascended to the throne, Artizea searched and found several capable men to rebuild the West. At that time, Forb was also on her list.

She didn’t actually use it. Because Lawrence was more focused on crushing the warlords than rebuilding the western industry.

It may have been a harsher affair because it was the place Lysia had an affection with.

Forb, completely distraught, did not come out no matter how many times he was called.

She later learned that he had fallen ill and died of poverty. The person who delivered the news also brought a will.

Since the Emperor is the sky, there was a written mourning within the will about what would change under the sky if the Emperor’s heart did not change.

Artizea burned the will by hand. Forb’s family probably handed over the note to the messenger, hoping that it would be found out. However, all family and relatives could be annihilated for slander.

She thought he was someone that Lysia could put to good use. And she was glad that she was not wrong.

“It is said that there are quite a few provincial officials who put a request in the temple separately because of the sincerity of the officer.”

“What is the name of the officer?”

“The name is Forb. You won’t have to remember it now.”

Now.

Cedric nodded his head at that.

“Well, you’ll remember anyway, so if I’m curious, I can ask you.”

“Lord Cedric.”

“Even if I forgot to ask, you will tell me.”

Artizea sighed and shook her head lightly.

Cedric knew that it was Artizea’s own light response.

It was a story he had heard in advance, but when he saw it lying on the altar, he couldn’t stop his heart from pounding.

Melbon was thicker and thinner than when it was raised in the North. But Cedric could recognize that it was the same crop.

Artizea pulled his arm back a little.

Cedric erased his expression and gently stroked the back of Artizea’s hand to signify that he understood.

However, the new pulling this time did not mean that Cedric should take care of his facial expressions.

Artizea’s breathing was disturbed.

Cedric glanced sideways at her. Artizea bowed her head slightly. She was holding her belly with her right hand, not her left hand, which was holding Cedric’s arm, giving it strength.

“Are you hurting?”

There was only the Emperor and the two of them on the altar. Cedric couldn’t help but ask, even though he knew people’s eyes were on him.

Artizea said in a low voice, while sweating in a cold sweat.

“It’s okay. It’s the pain, it could be, it’s time.”

“Tia.”

“Even if it’s real labor, it will be like this for a few hours anyway.”

Artizea took a deep breath.

Cedric almost screamed, but before that, Artizea pulled his arm again. This time his complexion had returned a bit.

“It will be over soon. It’s bearable.”

“Tia…….”

“Shh.”

It wouldn’t be nice to see them chattering during the ceremony. Artizea grabbed Cedric’s arm again.

In the meantime, the Archbishop continued the ceremony by reciting a blessing. Long prayers blended softly like a song into the melody of the hymn.

Cedric was nervous. It was not easy for him to not show it on his face.

“Your Majesty, the wine.”

said the Archbishop, stepping away a little in front of the altar.

Cedric bit his molars. In any case, the ceremony had to be held, and in this place he was responsible for assisting the Emperor.

Artizea let go of his arm.

Cedric walked over to the Emperor. The Emperor knelt before the altar on one knee, so he knelt down on both knees and poured the wine from the bottle, handed over by the Archbishop, into the wooden goblet the Emperor was holding.

The Emperor sprinkled the wine from the cup evenly over the offerings. And lit the fire.

The offerings were on fire. Cedric held his breath and looked at the fire.

No one paid attention to the crops they had seen for the first time.

In the first place, no one watching the altar was aware that such a crop had never existed before.

Perhaps, only the priest who prepared the sacrifice and those who received the bribe would know.

The Emperor finally lit a long candle with the flames. The Archbishop took the candle and placed it in a lantern made of gold and glass.

This fire would not be extinguished until the next New Year’s Festival.

The bishop, who had taken the candle from the Archbishop, this time stood at the front of the procession. He was followed by the bishops carrying the relics used in the ritual.

The Emperor looked at the procession. All of his roles in the ceremony were over.

The Archbishop bowed his head to the Emperor and expressed his gratitude.

“Not a single mistake was made this year.”

“Should I even make a mistake in this matter? It’s only my first year.”

The only thing that bothered Cedric was that he did what Lawrence did last year.

Now, it was time for the celebration.

That was then.

“Oh, oohh!”

The Archbishop cast his gaze over the Emperor’s shoulder, opened his mouth and shook his body.

The Emperor was surprised and looked behind him. Cedric shouted while hugging the collapsed Artizea.

“Doctor! Midwife!”

A green light flashed around Artizea’s body.