EURL CH 11

Chapter 11

“M-My lady…”

Lady Sallenne, having realized that she had offended the Duchess of Wildenbiston far more than she intended, hurriedly opened her mouth to say something—

At that exact moment, the military band waiting at the front of the banquet hall raised their trumpets in unison.

Dozens of trumpets sounded a single, resounding fanfare.

As soon as the music ended, a neatly groomed attendant stepped forward and shouted loudly:

“His Majesty the Emperor approaches! All present, observe proper decorum!”

Every noble in the hall stood at once.

I discreetly slipped my hand into the hidden pocket sewn into my skirt and pulled out my small pendant watch.

It was exactly one o’clock.

If the current emperor had appeared on schedule, that meant Rubellus—whom I had just met in the Great Imperial Forest—had safely returned in time.

Thank goodness.

I let out a quiet sigh of relief.

Then, following the others who were bowing and kneeling, I lowered myself to my knees.

The vast banquet hall fell silent as if drenched in cold water.

Not a single person dared breathe loudly.

The emperor walked slowly into the grand hall alone.

Even though thick carpets covered the floor, his footsteps seemed to echo throughout the chamber.

“Rise.”

His powerful voice rang clearly through the hall.

Emperor Johann Zahard—the ruler who led the Zahard Empire into its golden age.

Now well past sixty, he had married late and had Rubellus even later.

Though his hair was completely white, his stride remained wide and strong.

His warm, reddish-brown eyes surveyed the room before he spoke again.

“I welcome all of you gathered here today.”

He opened his arms as he spoke, his voice resonant and commanding.

“You who stand here today will be the first to witness the new Emperor. You are the most important witnesses of this Imperial House.”

I recalled the order of a coronation ceremony.

It began here, in a banquet hall filled only with major nobles.

Rubellus would swear his oath to the nation and its people.

Then he would ride in the Imperial golden carriage and parade through the capital.

After that, he would proceed to the most sacred sanctuary, don ceremonial robes, take the scepter, and place the crown upon his head.

Following that, a week of official holidays would begin.

After observing the nobles for a moment, Johann Zahard smiled faintly and nodded.

“Then let us begin.”

At his words, the band lifted their trumpets again and played a new fanfare.

The grand doors of the hall opened once more.

Everyone knew who would enter next.

Rubellus A. de Zahard.

Without realizing it, I clasped my hands together.

I could already picture him.

Golden hair shining, impossibly handsome, walking forward with steady confidence.

He would stand above us all.

And when that moment came, I felt I could truly pledge my loyalty to him with all my heart.

At first, even coming here had felt unbearable.

But Father was right.

Before I was a woman, I was his subject.

And he had more than enough qualities to be a respected emperor.

I pressed my lips together and made a firm decision.

For this moment, I would put aside all emotions and sincerely bless him.

No matter how others saw me.

Even if someone like Lady Sallenne mocked me to my face.

I would clap louder than anyone.

Just as I nodded to myself—

Rubellus walked in alone.

His brilliant golden hair was neatly styled and fixed back with pomade.

A dazzling sash of gold and red crossed his white ceremonial uniform.

At his collar hung the highest insignia of authority.

Red epaulettes and decorations adorned his shoulders and sleeves.

Three gold-braided cords draped from his right shoulder across his chest.

He walked forward with steady steps, gaze fixed straight ahead, as if he saw nothing else.

There wasn’t even a hint of nervousness.

Wait.

Earlier in the forest, he had been wearing a white ceremonial coat and frock coat.

But this uniform was different.

The collar had changed.

At first glance it looked similar, but upon closer inspection, it was clearly not the same.

He must have changed clothes.

Did something happen?

Everything had seemed perfectly fine earlier.

“Hm.”

I narrowed one eye slightly.

Wasn’t the outfit from earlier meant for the coronation?

“Am I remembering wrong?”

I didn’t think so.

Just then—

“Elphine—oh my, what’s wrong with his eyes?”

Bianca whispered urgently beside me.

I turned.

Elphine had approached us without me noticing.

Following Bianca’s gaze, I looked at his eyes and gasped.

“Oh—you’re right. What happened?”

The whites of Elphine’s eyes were bloodshot red.

“I remembered something sad and cried.”

He answered calmly.

Bianca frowned.

“What? No, crying wouldn’t make them look like that—”

“Wait.”

Elphine cut her off sharply and scanned the hall with a sharp gaze, signaling subtly here and there.

Was he controlling the entire security flow of the banquet hall?

He looked extremely busy.

Mother and Bianca missed their chance to question him further.

“Mother, Sister, Aira—I must return to my duties.”

He bowed quickly and left.

The three of us exchanged confused looks.

Meanwhile, Rubellus reached the center of the hall and slowly surveyed the room.

Flower girls in beautiful dresses entered from another doorway, scattering petals.

A young page carrying the declaration approached him.

Rubellus smiled gently at the children, then accepted the declaration from Emperor Johann Zahard and bent one knee.

The abdication had been entirely Johann’s decision.

After all, because of his half-brother, Tail Zahard.

Johann had killed his other siblings to ascend the throne but spared his youngest brother, Tail, who had been too young to speak at the time.

He cherished him deeply.

But after Tail—now Duke Quilton—grew ambitious beyond his place, the Emperor felt guilty toward Rubellus.

Because a matter he should have resolved in his own generation had nearly endangered his son.

After today’s coronation, Johann would retire with Empress Epina and reside in a separate palace.

Rubellus unfolded the oath and turned toward the nobles.

“Oath.”

His voice was low, smooth, and unmistakably clear.

At that moment, the matter of his changed clothes vanished from my mind.

So what if the uniform were different?

This was the moment he became Emperor.

I clasped my hands tightly again.

Earlier I had thrown a childish fit about not wanting to come.

If I hadn’t come, I would have regretted it.

I was witnessing history.

“I shall love the nation and its people.”

“And I shall strive, more than anyone, to realize that love and sacrifice myself for this nation.”

Y-You’re so impressive…

I couldn’t deny it.

Even if I had given up.

Even if I would never dream again.

Rubellus was still the most handsome man in the Empire and perhaps the most capable in history.

Someone like him deserved to be emperor.

Unable to hide my bittersweet expression, I kept listening.

Yes, Aira.

Since you’re here, watch him until the end.

You once loved him.

I straightened my back and watched the man who was now Emperor.

But…

Why did it feel like our eyes kept meeting while he read?

It felt like he was looking at me.

…No?

But our eyes keep meeting…

“I will strive and strive again to win love.”

Emperor Johann glanced briefly at Rubellus.

Just for a moment.

But Rubellus did not waver.

His gaze remained fixed in this direction as he continued reading to the end.

“I will fulfill and uphold the promises I make now.”

He tossed the declaration into the sacred flame held by another page and stood tall.

“May God help me.”

At that moment, his deep violet eyes locked directly with mine.

Our eyes met fully.

I gasped.

Me? Is he looking at me?

Out of all these people?

…No.

He is.

I was certain.

His eyes were burning too intensely.

The emotion within them was unmistakable.

Passion.

Or something that looked dangerously close to love.

But…

Why would he look at me like that?

That can’t be possible.