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“How did you react again? If I wasn’t wrong, you were crying, wiping your tears and snot. Wasn’t that how you reacted the moment you saw me? That’s all proof that I am that damned chick’s favourite person.”

“Stop it. I am already trying my best to forget.”

With a sigh, Ashley glanced at Dane and Hernan before shaking her head.

“Remember this, fellas. She cried after seeing me first. Understand?”

In any case, Fleon spread an arrogant smile to the tips of his lips before twisting his head around.

“… So, why are you so proud of that?”

Ashley could not stop herself from flashing a heartless smile as she spoke.

“It seems like my brother is living as well as ever. Shouldn’t you have softened after dying and coming back to life?”

Dane smiled before adding.

“Huh. What’s this? It sounds as though you’re uncomfortable with the fact that I’m fine? Are you trying to pick a fight with me?”

“That’s exactly what I meant. Do we always have to resort to fights?”

It was clear he knew that those words were going to tick Fleon off.

“Ha. It’s irritating to see that you have yet to bid farewell to your backhanded speech and twisted remarks.”

Grabbing Ashley’s shoulders, Fleon spoke forcefully as though he was threatening her.

“Hey, Ashley, listen up. You like the duke more. Alright?”

Ashley furrowed her brows.

“What on earth are you talking about?”

“Stop yapping. Just listen to me. The duke is at least an ant’s tear’s worth better than that man, Dane.”

This was the same man who once advised her to try to read Dane’s mind. Just as she thought, this brother of hers was too unpredictable.

“Regardless of that…”

Above all, her heart had already been taken by another man.

But Fleon smirked as though he did not find his words ridiculous.

“What? Were you planning on becoming emperor and being satisfied with only one guy? Go on, take in some consorts.”

Ashley looked as though she just heard something she shouldn’t have.

“… You seem to have gotten better at spouting bullshit after coming back to life.”

Upon hearing his suggestion, Fleon noticed false hope igniting in two particular pairs of eyes but he pretended not to see.

“Enough of that, listen. That Ducal Princess of Aventa rejected me again.”

Ashley turned her head around. Behind the curtains that had been set up for Ashley to change her clothes was Rebecca. Sadly, Fleon was unable to see her from where he was standing.

“Stop chasing after her. Rebecca clearly doesn’t like you doing that.”

Ashley said as she averted her gaze slightly .

“Do you think I’m that much of a fool?”

Fleon slammed the desk. If anybody was doubting the fact that the two were not brother and sister, Fleon had struck the same spot Ashley did earlier.

“Did the ducal princess mention that before the coup?”

“What happened before the coup?”

“Huh….? Ha. N-nothing.”

Fleon shook her hair aggressively before striding across the room and sitting down, cross-legged, on her couch.

“Tell me more about what she likes.”

“Ha. You are aware that you’re currently in the emperor’s chambers, right?”

“So?”

Fleon shamelessly retorted as though he did not see the problem.

“… My brother really is an idiot.”

Let alone care about the emperor’s dignity, it was clear from Fleon’s expression that he would not have expected for the emperor’s partner, or in other words, her lady-in-waiting, to be standing right next to him.

“Enough of your yapping. What should I get her? Jewels? No.”

Unable to win the fight he started, Fleon began throwing a tantrum.

“Damn it. There are too many jewels that suit her.”

Seriously, to see a different side to the brother she knew so well was shocking to say the least.

“You really have no sense of things. None at all.”

It was Dane that responded.

“What do you want to give her? Brother?”

“Oi, you’re cursing at me, aren’t you? At times like this, Ray should be taking my side. Where did that guy go?”

“I’m here.”

“Why aren’t you taking my side?”

“Would he ever take your side?”

“Then, duke, take my side!”

In any case, everything ended on a happy note.

Relishing in a sight she had missed and longed for, Ashley finally smiled.

Looking out the window, she realised that spring had come.

With a smile that could not stretch to its fullest and a tinge of emptiness in her heart.

***

The venue of her coronation was set to be upon the blessed place where the [Primo Salvatio] was held, its stage. The march would begin there before continuing to the largest hall in the Imperial Palace.

For only today, the palace gates were swung wide open, welcoming everyone regardless of status.

Envoys from all over the continent came to visit. Among them, there were envoys from the Kingdom of Walter and there was also the delegation of Princess Ahasia, the Princess of Ra Hart, a country of a distant desert.

Just like how it did during the Founding Festival, colourful flower petals fell from the sky. The Templar of Flowers blew petals into the air as the Templars of Wind summoned gusts of wind in the sky.

“The weather is nice today.”

Staring at the stage, Abel commented. He was speaking to the boy beside him.

“Am I wrong, old man?”

Pontus responded.

“It is thanks to the emperor’s blessings.”

As the former 3rd Prince, he was meant to be standing there as well but he declined. Such a position should not be taken by a prince who ran away from his duties so long ago.

“I thought brother would have sat on the throne without budging.”

“Then, there would have been a rebellion.”

Pontus had actually considered something like that happening and had been preparing for it. He tried to help by placing the entire Temple of Snow and the Sea on the line but the issue was resolved without him ever needing to step up. It was all thanks to the star of today’s march, the princess.

“Aren’t you sad?”

A golden palanquin passed them by. The emperor, whose beauty was comparable to that of the gods and goddesses, smiled and waved at the people of the Empire.

“You loved Auresia.”

Pontus did not answer. Soon after, Abel turned his head away, beating himself up a little for bringing up something he thought was meaningless.

The march began in the centre of the capital, the land upon which the First Emperor had first set foot on a long time ago, and would end in the First Emperor’s memorial hall in the Imperial Palace.

“Long live the Emperor!”

“Hooray!”

Joy and glee, rejoice and happiness were captured in the sounds of their cheers. The capital, which had been enraptured in the heat of all the festivities, was filled with people.

Those who had already finished all the necessary preparations were waiting for the emperor in the Imperial Palace.

With the help of the Templars of Vulcanus, the finished hall had no doors. A large gap separating each pillar surrounding the hall with the emperor’s throne situated slightly deeper within.

The eight chairs that could be seen during the previous emperor’s reign had long disappeared. The lone throne symbolised the fact that there was only one emperor in the Imperial Family. Perhaps, if she were to have children, chairs would start being built one by one.

As she stepped off the palanquin, the group of people standing right in front of the emperor lowered themselves.

“We greet the great root of the Empire.”

The one leading the group was Granius, who had been in charge of escorting the emperor and managing the general procession of the coronation.

“A miracle has descended upon this Empire and everyone is singing you praises. And this is all thanks to you, Your Majesty.”

Upon hearing his blessing, Ashley responded in kind.

“Granius, you were the one who saw something in me.”

Granius shook his head. Kind lines folded around his eyes.

“This had not been my choice. Your Majesty, you had forced me to choose.”

As he spoke, he led Ashley forward.

The hall was already filled with people. Both templars and non-templars, aristocrats and commoners. Although they were people of different statuses, everyone came just to watch the enthronement of the new emperor.

The Templars of Music sang a magnificent melody as their song was accompanied by the Templars of Musical Instruments.

“You may walk this way.”

Along the red cloth, laurel leaves–leaves that symbolised victory and the emperor–fell. Ashley stepped onto the cloth and walked along it slowly before stopping in the middle.

As she looked back, she noticed the countless faces staring at her from below.

Those whom she protected. Those whom she resurrected. In this very moment, the people united by their joy were chanting only one name.

“Long live the noble emperor!”

“Long live the Empire!”

“Eternity in the name of the Lord of the Gods!”

When she heard the praises for god, Ashley’s first thought was to laugh. But the smile disappeared faster than it came.

The people who lined her sides were either distinguished guests or ministers of high positions from various countries.

Ashley scanned their faces elegantly before finally reaching the top of the steps.

“This humble servant of the God of Wisdom greets the noblest of roots.”

Standing a step ahead of her was Dike, the Head Templar of Wisdom.

“I greet the noblest root. And would like to quickly congratulate you.”

And next to him stood the former 2nd Prince, Julian. Being the Guardian of Wisdom, Dike held out a golden staff for her to hold. As the ring, the symbol of the emperor, was already in the hands of Ashley, they were using this staff as a substitute.

The one designated to hand over the crown during the coronation ceremony could either be an adult Imperial member or a head templar. Julian, who had been willing, was the one to place the crown on Ashley’s head.

After doing so, he lowered his back politely.

“Please take good care of this Empire.”

His eyes were too bright for a man who once struggled for the throne. Ashley stared at him before whispering into his ear for a moment. Very softly, so that only Julian could hear her.

“Soon, divinity in the Empire will gradually disappear.”

Lifting her head, Ashley gave a slight smile.

Staring back at Julian’s expression of surprise, Ashley thought his reaction to be humorous before soon turning her head. The one she now faced was the serious Dike.

“As the representative of the God of Wisdom, the guardian of the code of law, I would like to ask. What Empire would you like to make?”

Originally, during the coronation of the next emperor, according to long-standing tradition, the emperor was asked three questions.

What did the Empire mean to you?

What did you think of the emperor?

And what Empire would you like to make?

Ashley had gotten rid of the questions to leave only one.

Since she had already answered the first two a long time ago.

***

“What Empire would you like to make, Your Majesty?”

I stared back at the serious Dike. If he was asking to share my thoughts, to be honest, I wasn’t thinking of much.

After going through such life-changing events, everything else felt so insignificant. So many people were already feeling comfortable in this peace.

And nobody was chasing after me anymore. That was why even in this space filled with commotion, I felt calm.

“I want.”

I parted my lips.

“The Age of Man.”

I thought about what Empire I wanted to create. I was not as strong as Castor nor was I as skilled as Julian.

But there was something only I could do.

“I will not turn a blind eye to the unfortunate.”

I spoke to those who were watching me intently.

“I want to create a future where no one will be deprived to live their life through unlawful force.”

No one would go through the pain Amor and Hernan went through.

No one would be discriminated against like how Dane and Fleon were.

So that monsters like me, Castor and Rusbella, could ultimately end up swept away by the insurmountable currents of the river to despair and to anguish.

‘May the gods vanish from these lands.’

Shaking my head, I discovered exactly what I wanted to say.

“I will create an era where there will be many happier people.”

Loud cheers erupted at the end of my speech.

Those who understood the meaning behind my words and those who were displeased by my intent would only be buried in the roars. Julian, who must have also noticed my intentions, looked back at me in astonishment. Before flashing a bright smile.

“You’re amazing.”

He might have also imagined an Empire he would have liked to build as well.