Chapter 21
Chapter 21
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 21
Chapter Title: Birthday Commemoration Ball (2)
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The crown princess consort that Rainen had taken was the talk of the town among the nobles. There wasn't a single noble who didn't know that the birthday celebration banquet held for Rainen just a few months ago had actually been intended to find him a bride.
To solidify Rainen's power even further, his faction had summoned noble ladies, while the opposing noble faction had sent their daughters to the event as a means of checking him. Others had come from various places as well, but in the end, Rainen ignored everyone throughout the entire week.
Then, on the final day, he dropped a bombshell that turned everything upside down. I will not take any of you as my bride!
Everyone was plunged into shock. By making that statement alone, Rainen had already shouldered a significant political burden. A royal's words were always considered public declarations, no matter the circumstances. In the end, he bore the stigma of going back on his word.
This gave the noble faction the upper hand. They sharply criticized him, saying how could a royal who couldn't even keep a promise become the next emperor and rule the empire? They strongly argued that it was time to replace the crown prince with Raibus.
Of course, Rainen's faction shot back that it was absurd. Raibus was still too young, and they could simply hold another banquet where he could then choose a crown princess consort. But even they knew how ridiculous that sounded.
While the two sides bickered back and forth, Rainen caused a scandal.
Out of nowhere, he had seated a woman of unclear origins as the crown princess consort!
The common folk were still in the dark, but the news was already spreading quietly among the nobles through the palace servants.
Both sides felt like they'd been struck from behind. Rainen's faction was thrown into confusion by his sudden marriage, while the noble faction lost their chance to press the issue since, in the end, he had kept his promise.
However, no one could figure out why he had kept the marriage a secret. The noble faction immediately began attacking Rainen, claiming there must be something wrong with the crown princess consort for him to do that.
They pinpointed the matter in the imperial council chamber. Wasn't she someone unqualified whom he had deliberately placed in that position?
[It would be best if you went there and saw for yourselves what kind of person I've brought. I think it wouldn't be a bad idea to judge then.]
But who was Rainen? He wasn't shaken in the slightest by their attacks. Even knowing that the crown princess consort was becoming a political liability, he was pushing straight through.
Watching this, his faction felt like their insides were bursting. She was an obstacle to his position. Yet they couldn't understand what kind of woman she was for him to defend her so fiercely. On top of that, he hadn't said a word about her.
They were frustrated. They knew nothing, and he wasn't allowing them to know. Just what did this crown princess consort have that he was hiding her away like this?
The same went for Marquis Ispillot, head of one of the empire's meritorious ducal houses. A few days earlier, he had secretly entered Rainen's office and received a proposal to act as the rumored crown princess consort's foster father.
[Your Highness, what in the world is going on? Can't you tell me about all this?]
[I trust you. Don't ask about Via. Wait until I tell you everything. Don't make me abandon you.]
The marquis had three sons. He had always sung praises about how nice it would be to have a daughter, but he never imagined one would suddenly appear like this.
"Marquis, what's going on here? Do you know anything?"
"Has His Highness given you any hints, Marquis?"
"Just what is happening..."
'Hoo...'
The marquis sighed inwardly. The nobles of Rainen's faction kept asking him what was going on. But he brushed them off each time. His head ached from the constant questions about something he didn't know either.
As Rainen's faction nobles murmured in confusion, the nobles supporting Second Prince Raibus began whispering loudly.
"Don't you think His Majesty the Emperor has been too lenient with Crown Prince Rainen all this time?"
"It has to be because he's gone soft from that accident thirteen years ago."
"Indeed. It's time for His Majesty to reconsider."
"Second Prince has shown so many achievements lately. Isn't it time to change the crown prince?"
"No one is more suited to the throne than Second Prince."
"Shut your mouth! The appointment of the crown prince is solely His Majesty's will. What right do you have to decide that?"
"You all know full well that Crown Prince has lost his mind over some woman lately. How can you think he has the sanity to inherit this empire from His Majesty?"
Rainen's faction and the noble faction began clashing fiercely. Amid the chaos, the meritorious houses remained silent. They didn't think the arguments were entirely wrong. But they had only one concern.
'Magic succession.'
Rainen was the successor candidate because he was the firstborn. However, he was ultimately just a 'provisional successor' for any contingencies.
Magic succession was the power transferred to the sole heir when the emperor's time came. Upon inheriting this magic, the heir gained all the knowledge and mana accumulated by the founding emperors up to that point. The new emperor would then erect a barrier encompassing the entire empire and maintain it until death.
This was the secret behind the Luminir Empire's rise as the continent's greatest nation.
But most nobles were unaware of it. The founding emperor had ordered the existence of mana to be hidden before his death. Thus, only the emperor, empress, successor, pope, emperor's chief attendant, and the heads of the four great meritorious ducal houses knew (with Kashan being an exception as both intelligence chief and heir to the Remiachi family).
Because of this, the Luminir Empire had no real succession struggles. The magic successor was decided early on. There was also a process that the other side could accept, so they naturally supported and protected the successor as they grew.
Moreover, there had been a decisive incident. When the losing side previously refused to accept the result and rebelled, the successor slaughtered them mercilessly with magic. After that, it became an unwritten rule that once the crown prince was set, the opposition would step up to support him.
'But this time, Prince Raibus has shone too brightly.'
This time was different. Rainen was a substitute, and Raibus wasn't lagging behind in any way. Physically, Raibus was still young and thus behind, but he would catch up with growth.
Besides, most nobles didn't know about magic succession. And since Raibus hadn't clearly stated his position, people began saying why not make him crown prince instead. That faction was growing into a real threat.
Of course, Rainen's overall power base was much larger. The four great meritorious houses were on his side, and most influential nobles belonged to him.
However, it was true that Rainen had lost his head over a woman. He wasn't neglecting his duties entirely, but it was a point that could be exploited at any time.
Moreover, to fully inherit the magic, one needed a robust body, dedication to the empire, and the mental fortitude of an emperor.
But could Rainen really achieve that now? If forced to choose between her and the empire, might he not pick her?
Perhaps... the time might really come to change the crown prince.
That was their worry. If the successor switched to Raibus, Rainen would have to die.
In particular, Count Remiachi, head of the Remiachi family where Kashan belonged, was concerned. He had heard much through his son and seen much as the head of an intelligence family.
'I need to take a look at the situation.'
As the nobles were in the midst of their verbal sparring, trumpets announcing the arrival of the royals sounded, and all the nobles present bowed to them. Even as they did, they stole glances at the rumored crown princess consort.
Her face was as lovely as a flower, her movements and etiquette overflowed with grace, and her bearing was utterly refined. The noble faction could find no flaw to exploit. She was perfect. They bit their lips in silence.
Receiving the gazes of the crowd, the royals headed to the thrones on the dais. The emperor sat on the foremost throne. The empress sat beside him, and Rainen and Carnivella sat behind them. The emperor addressed the nobles bowing to him.
"Today is the day I came into this world. All nobles of this empire, I express my infinite gratitude for attending my birth anniversary, and I hope you all enjoy yourselves to the fullest today."
Soon, grand songs filled the air. Nobles lined up, presenting their tributes to the emperor.
"Your Majesty, this is tea from the Remus Kingdom."
"This is a mineral from a distant continent, stronger than iron..."
"Flower tea from the Rasoni Kingdom..."
"Specialty goods from the port city..."
Carnivella indifferently watched the nobles presenting their tributes to the emperor. Sensing her boredom, Rainen whispered in her ear from the side.
"We can dance as soon as this ends."
"I'm looking forward to it, Master."
At that moment, her foster father, Marquis Ispillot, presented his tribute to the emperor and knelt before her.
"Crown Princess Consort, I'm relieved to see you're well."
"No need, Father. It's good to see your face like this."
The noble faction gnashed their teeth. They had hoped to catch her on her unclear background, but Rainen had already prepared countermeasures. That's why he had confidently told them to judge later.
Feeling they were a step too late, they ground their teeth. It was like winning with eyes covered, but now they had lost any pretext to oust her. Her unclear origins were covered by being the foster daughter of a meritorious house.
By then, the tributes had ended, and it was time for dancing. The music shifted accordingly. To the lively tune, the emperor and empress joined hands and began to dance.
"Let's get up now too."
At Rainen's touch, she smiled and stepped out with him. He said playfully to her.
"Lady, would you dance with me?"
"Anytime."
The two began dancing in the center of the hall. With his flawless movements, Rainen gently led Carnivella. They turned smoothly to the music. Even in her form-fitting gown, she moved with fluid grace.
Their bodies drew closer with the music. He whispered teasingly.
"You're not tense anymore since you don't have to worry about stepping on my feet?"
"I graduated from that ages ago."
Their lively dance and beautiful forms drew everyone's attention. They were a perfect match, like a couple destined by heaven.
"Ugh... they match too well!"
"No, I can't accept it!"
"No! Crown Prince..."
At their stunning sight, the noble ladies crumpled their fans or chewed their handkerchiefs. Glancing at them, she said.
"You're quite the heartthrob."
"But you're the only one I see."
"You're stating the obvious."
Whether they wailed or not, he and she were lost in their own world. They had practiced dancing whenever they had time, but dancing in party attire and uniforms felt entirely different.
They spun round and round, whispering love to each other.
"You're so handsome today."
"I love you."
"I love you too."
It felt like ages had passed, but in truth, they hadn't even been married for a year yet. Still, they showed each other new sides every day. They loved it so much that they fell deeper in love.
"Shall we go?"
"Yeah."
As they confessed their love, the music ended. He gently pressed his lips to the back of her hand. Their figures shone like exquisite sculptures. Everyone gasped in admiration.
"Sob sob, Crown Prince..."
"I... I have to admit it."
The music shifted to something more upbeat. Younger nobles began dancing to the tune. They slipped through the crowd and went outside.
"Coming here lifts my spirits. Is it because this is where we first met?"
To be precise, their first meeting had been on the terrace above. But this garden exuded cool freshness, and being alone together stirred excitement.
"Nice. Our secret spot?"
"The gardeners made this garden just for me, so yeah, you could say that."
The garden, blooming beautifully with flowers, had been created by the gardeners on the emperor's orders solely for the late empress. His mother had loved flowers dearly and had gardens made across the empire. The spot where they had confessed their love was one of them.
"It feels like over ten years have passed, but I'm still amazed it hasn't even been a year."
"Doesn't that mean the time with me has been that good?"
At Rainen's words, Carnivella smiled as if she owned the world.
"Yeah."
Her expression made his heart skip. He had planned to stroll and talk, but he changed his mind.
"This is an act of God."
"What?"
"If I break the contract, it'll be all your fault."
With that, he scooped her up and headed to the bedroom.