The Succession Ceremony (2)
It had been a long time since she last ventured outside, Selena reflected from within the gently swaying carriage.
A new lease on life, granted solely through Grylls’s benevolence. She had no intention whatsoever of letting it go to waste. Her ultimate goal was to provide him with steady, unwavering support so he could eventually escape the Forest of the Four Seasons. To that end, she had scoured countless tomes to unearth any scrap of lore regarding the mythical forest, and in the meantime, faithfully supplied him with Elixirs whenever opportunity allowed.
‘Mr. Grylls is already exerting an immense influence on nations across the continent. His name will almost certainly come up during today's succession ceremony.’
Her underlying purpose in attending this ceremony in person was precisely that: to gauge the prevailing political currents and public sentiment concerning Grylls. Some might dismiss him as merely a prominent fixed nick on an anonymous forum, but the reality was far from trivial. Grylls had already turned El Dorado completely on its head, pushing the theocracy to the very brink of civil war.
And what of the Central Plains? Hadn't the chosen successor to the villainous ancient progenitor of the Blood Cult emerged through his broadcast? Absurd though it was that said successor happened to be a gorilla, that revelation alone had been enough to set the remnants of the Blood Cult rampaging once more.
‘The Heavenly Demon managed to put out the immediate fire with an offline beatdown, but still…’
It would surprise no one if the Blood Cult flared up again at any moment. Just like that, the deeper Grylls delved into the mysteries of the Forest of the Four Seasons, the more violently the entire world convulsed. Most recently, had he not proven the living existence of the Sky Whale, a creature thought to reside purely in mythology? Even Selena had rubbed her eyes repeatedly in disbelief upon seeing it. She had only ever encountered tales of Sky Whales in myth-inspired children's fairy tales. What was more, he had even harvested that Sky Whale’s byproduct: ambergris. The sheer value of that substance defied all description.
‘Praise the Sun merely burned it as incense, of all things. And Allfather acted far too hastily.’
When Grylls offered to share a portion of the ambergris with her, Selena had briefly debated accepting it. Yet after deep consideration, she chose to decline. Had it been an artifact of legend, she might have relented, but this was an ingredient of myth. Legends at least carried scattered historical records detailing their properties and known effects; myth, on the other hand, consisted of oral fragments that had only been reconstructed in recent eras. When not a single scholar could explain how a whale native to oceanic depths could swim through the sky, who could predict the consequences of consuming its ambergris? One could never foresee what side effects it might cause. It was precisely because it was unknown that it was terrifying.
Praise the Sun might have treated burning it like a trifling amusement, but in truth, he had shouldered an astronomical risk. The Forest of the Four Seasons was an uncharted demonic domain with virtually nothing known about it. No matter how brilliant Selena was, uncovering every secret of the forest on her own was realistically impossible. That was why she planned to seek out like-minded individuals.
‘Though I certainly can’t be overt about it.’
Among high nobility, the Gallery was widely stigmatized as a cesspool of base vulgarity and unrestrained desire. It was best to refrain from ever uttering its name in public circles. Still, nobles were only human; the percentage of closeted Gallery users among them was bound to be remarkably high. Of course, given how high society excelled at speaking in evasive euphemisms and veiled metaphors, identifying them wouldn't be easy.
‘I have to return to the Academy soon too… This is going to be tricky.’
She had merely filed for an indefinite leave of absence due to her Nine Yin Severed Meridians, never formally dropping out. Above all, returning to the Academy was essential for the sake of Mary, the soon-to-be new face of House Mercedes. Supporting Grylls was paramount, but she could not simply turn a blind eye to her real-world duties.
“Selena, darling. If you feel faint at all, please tell us right away. There is no need to overexert yourself.”
Her mother, seated across from her, spoke with tender maternal worry, snapping Selena from her reverie. Seated beside her, Duke Mercedes wore an identical look of quiet concern. Selena wished to offer a reassuring smile, but the corners of her lips refused to lift properly. Both now and in the past, a warm, beaming smile had never come naturally to her.
“Please don't worry about me, Mother. I can even handle strenuous exercise without issue now. See for yourselves.”
To put their anxieties to rest, Selena extended her arm. In times past, it had been reduced to skin and bone, resembling a withered, brittle branch. Now, however, supple flesh and lean muscle clung to it, radiating vibrant health. Coupled with the lustrous sheen of her complexion, she looked completely removed from any notion of frail invalidity.
Mary stared at Selena’s elegant arm with round, fascinated eyes before speaking up.
“Excuse me, Lady Selen—”
“Sister.”
“…Selena-unnie. What in the world did you eat yesterday for your skin to turn out like this?”
Mary’s question was entirely warranted. Even Duke and Duchess Mercedes looked over with evident curiosity. Until her miraculous recovery, Selena had never stepped foot outside. Consequently, her skin had always been as pale as fresh snow, an alabaster complexion that persisted even after her cure. Yet for some unknown reason, her skin had undergone a stunning transformation overnight. It wasn't that the tone itself had changed; rather, a brilliant, luminous radiance emanated from within. With that porcelain gleam enhancing her delicate features, her beauty shone more resplendently than ever.
“Perhaps it's because I've been exercising consistently? If you keep exercising, Mary, yours might look like this too.”
“Ugh, but I hate exercising…”
Mary’s grumbling coaxed a ripple of warm laughter across the carriage. Even Selena, usually maintaining an icy countenance, let the faintest smirk grace her lips.
‘To think eating a spoonful of honey could cause such a change.’
What Selena had consumed was none other than the honey gifted by Grylls. Harvested directly from the Forest of the Four Seasons, its flavor had been exquisite. But she had never dreamed it would yield such a miraculous cosmetic effect.
‘Well, a blessing is a blessing.’
As a young woman, having flawless, glowing skin was something to celebrate, never to lament. Of course, once the social gathering commenced after the coronation, it would inevitably draw an avalanche of attention. A wave of annoyance washed over her just imagining it, but for the sake of her overarching goal, she could readily endure it.
“Mary. Once the ceremony concludes, stay right by my side no matter what. Understood?”
“Yes, sister!”
“And when the nobles speak to you…”
Selena patiently walked Mary through all the pitfalls and etiquette required for her debut on the imperial stage. Their parents watched the scene with profound contentment. For years, the household had lived under a suffocating pall of sorrow due to Selena’s terminal illness, but those dark days were gone. Only bright days and a hopeful future awaited them, and this succession ceremony would mark its grand beginning.
“It seems we have arrived. Let us disembark.”
“Yes, Father.”
Before long, House Mercedes reached the imperial palace where the succession ceremony was to take place. Escorted by her father, Selena stepped down from the carriage. The moment her boots touched the flagstones, an audible wave of gasps and murmurs of admiration rippled through the surrounding crowd.
‘And so it begins,’ Selena thought, preparing to let the flattery slide off her like water.
Just then—
“…Hm?”
Her gaze locked squarely onto someone standing in the courtyard.
While Selena possessed snow-white hair, the person standing before her had shimmering silver hair that seemed steeped in pure moonlight. Her striking beauty was undeniable, but the sharp military uniform she wore lent her an overwhelming aura of dignity and martial authority.
‘Ash? But wait…’
The appearance of Ash, the empire’s supreme swordsman, was shocking enough in its own right, but something else caught Selena’s eye and demanded her immediate attention.
It was Ash’s skin. A complexion so radiant and lustrous that it virtually glowed. Aside from a slight difference in natural tone, the uncanny, dew-like sheen felt eerily, unmistakably identical to her own.
“Hmm. It appears Count Menethil is attending as well.”
“Indeed. I heard she had become a complete shut-in.”
“Count Menethil? You don’t mean Swordmaster Ash?”
Hearing the whispered chatter nearby, Selena swiftly broke eye contact. Baffled as she was, staring any longer would only make things awkward.
‘What on earth…?’
Even as she proceeded into the palace interior, Selena couldn't help stealing subtle glances in Ash’s direction. It could easily be a coincidence. Yet the timing felt far too uncanny. Was Ash entertaining the exact same suspicion, or had she merely looked over out of appreciation for another’s beauty? There were far too many possibilities to reach a firm conclusion.
“Lady Ash… err, Count Menethil is stunningly beautiful too. Though not nearly as much as you, sister.”
“Do you think so? Personally, I think Count Menethil is far more striking.”
“How could you say that! She couldn't hold a candle to you. The only thing remotely comparable was her skin, I suppose.”
“…Did you think so too?”
When Mary brought up her skin, Selena inquired cautiously.
Mary nodded, voicing her unfiltered impressions. “Yes. It gave off an almost identical vibe to yours, sister. Could it really be because she exercises?”
“I imagine that's the reason. Which is why you ought to work out diligently as well.”
“Ugh… but still, working out is so…”
If even Mary noticed it, it was certainly no trick of the light. Had Ash truly eaten that honey as well? Specifically, the honey gifted by Grylls? If Grylls had shared it, he would undoubtedly have sent jars to the fixed nicks he was close with. And Selena was intimately familiar with the core members of Grylls’s circle.
‘…No. It’s too early to jump to conclusions.’
She would only know for sure once she spoke with her directly. Even if Ash proved to be one of the fixed nicks close to Grylls, nothing fundamentally changed. Acknowledging each other openly offered zero benefit. It was the Gallery, after all—a realm teeming with degenerate nonsense so shameful that speaking of it aloud in polite society brought only embarrassment. It was far safer to keep one's mouth shut, feign ignorance, and play dumb.
‘Still, if Ash really is one of the fixed nicks who supported Mr. Grylls…’
Even after arriving at the grand audience chamber where the succession ceremony would unfold, Selena remained lost in thought. The fixed nicks acquainted with Grylls all possessed distinct, unmistakable personalities. Among them, if she had to pick one who aligned with Ash, only one candidate came to mind.
‘Sword Master.’
Ash was a peerless sovereign of the sword, a grandmaster who had nurtured countless disciples. Meanwhile, the fixed nick 'Sword Master' had posted exhaustive martial manuals and insights on the Gallery, single-handedly raising the martial baseline of the entire continent. With those two profiles aligning so seamlessly, the dots connected themselves.
‘Come to think of it, Sword Master was the one who provided critical aid when Mr. Grylls was mauled by that Mad Dog. Even supplying him with an Elixir.’
Elixirs were virtually impossible to acquire on the open market. But for Ash, the circumstances were entirely different. She was a strategic living weapon so vital that should crisis strike the empire, the imperial house would cling to her coattails begging for assistance. Naturally, the state lavished her with every conceivable privilege, of which Elixirs were a standard part. Employing her extraordinarily razor-sharp intellect, Selena rapidly pieced the entire puzzle together.
“…With this, I declare that a new sun has risen over the Empire!”
Thunderous applause broke out across the chamber.
The clapping echoing through the hall snapped Selena from her contemplation. At the center of the audience chamber stood the imperial throne. Before it, former Crown Prince—no, the newly crowned Emperor Arnold—was waving to the assembly with the imperial crown resting upon his brow. Behind him, former Emperor Robert, who had peacefully abdicated the crown, clapped quietly with a placid expression. Lost in her thoughts, she had entirely missed the succession rites.
‘…I need to get a grip.’
Maintaining an impassive face, Selena joined the polite applause. If she didn't clap now, the surrounding nobles would look at her askance. With the formal reception about to begin, she needed her wits about her.
‘Ash is… over there.’
Before long, Emperor Arnold exited to oversee the public festivities. With his departure, the grand audience chamber naturally transitioned into a venue for the banquet. Under normal circumstances, the throne room was rarely repurposed into a ballroom, but today was the grand imperial succession. With every dignitary and noble of the empire gathered under one roof, an exceptional dispensation had been granted.
‘It's been quite a while since I've been in an atmosphere like this.’
Sipping from a glass, Selena took in the bustling ambience of high society. In the past, she had attended so many banquets that she found them tedious to the point of irritation. But as her health deteriorated day by day, she had come to realize just how precious interactions with people were…
‘…Like hell I did. I just want to finish my business and go straight home.’
She hadn't realized any such thing. It was just as tedious as ever. Furthermore, spending all her time browsing the Gallery had turned her into a chronic homebody. Still, patience was a virtue. Selena stood quietly without drawing unnecessary attention to herself.
“U-Um, sister. What should I do now?”
“Well… why don’t we introduce ourselves to the young ladies over there first? They seem to be about your age.”
“Y-Yes!”
Of course, she didn't forget her duty to look after her adorable prospective sister. As Selena was actively introducing Mary to highborn circles—
“Pardon me for a moment.”
A colossal presence approached. A melodic, pleasant voice reached Selena’s ears. When she turned her head, she came face-to-face with that familiar figure. Tall for a woman, with a lithe, powerful frame accentuated by her crisp uniform. A breathtaking countenance, made all the more mesmerizing by the luminous vitality of her skin.
‘She’s here.’
The very person she had never imagined conversing with—yet the one dominating her thoughts today—had stepped right up to her. Maintaining her trademark impassive composure, Selena spoke.
“If it isn't the illustrious Count Menethil.”
It was still the probing phase, Selena reasoned. Yet in this world, boldness often trumped cautious deliberation.
“You know my name. It is an honor, Lady Mercedes.”
“The honor is entirely mine that you know of me, Count Menethil. But what brings you to my side?”
At Selena's inquiry, Ash hesitated, as if weighing whether to speak, before casting a discreet glance around their surroundings. It was an unmistakable posture of checking if anyone was eavesdropping. Just as Selena was about to wonder at her caution—
“Your skin looks as sweet as honey, and so breathtakingly radiant that I could not help but intrude.”
“……”
It was an intensely greasy turn of phrase. Taken at face value, one might have questioned Ash's romantic inclinations. But to Selena, it sounded completely different. At the very least, her mind translated it as:
Just as Selena had suspected her, Ash had harbored the exact same suspicion. In an ambiguous situation, she had boldly deployed a code phrase that only the two of them could possibly decipher. Selena felt her mind go blank for an instant, but she reeled her composure back in with all her might. Now that the other party had exposed her identity first, she could hardly ignore it.
“…Thank you for the compliment. Your skin is exceptionally radiant as well, Count.”
“Thank you.”
“Speaking of which, Count…” Selena paused briefly before adding with delicate care, “It appears you have partaken in some excellent honey as well.”
Those were her spoken words, but translated into plain language:
It was the exact moment an unintentional fraternal bond was formed.
‘I must take this to my grave.’
‘If she has any tact at all, she'll keep her mouth shut.’
Simultaneously, both women realized that they had just handed each other collateral over their very lives.