Chapter 9
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 9
Chapter Title: The Princess and the Grand Duke (8)
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The reign of former Emperor Theodore came to an end overnight.
The imperial capital seemed to greet a morning no different from any other, but the master of the palace had been newly replaced.
Everything proceeded smoothly.
This rebellion, which should have happened much later, had been prepared in secret by Kasian long in advance. He had forged alliances with high-ranking nobles across the empire who shared his vision.
The nobles, weary of Theodore's endless war-mongering, threw their support behind Kasian without hesitation once a clear alternative emerged.
They proved Theodore's atrocities to legitimize the new imperial authority, and Kasian quelled all the chaos to seize control of the empire.
The citizens' reactions were favorable as well. Parents who sent their sons to the battlefields every day, only to receive their corpses in return, could hardly hold the former emperor in high regard.
Kasian promised to halt the empire's conquests and focus on domestic affairs.
He paid special attention to the survivors of the fallen Luna Duchy, declaring its former territory an autonomous region and permitting the scattered refugees to return home.
He didn't just open the path back—he provided generous compensation and expressed his condolences and regrets.
"Phew... This is quite taxing."
Overwhelmed by the endless stream of work, he slumped in his chair and stared at the ceiling.
"Shall I chant a spell to give you some energy?"
His gaze, fixed on the ceiling, caught sight of a woman with night-sky-colored hair.
She held a cup of steaming tea for him.
"Let me hear it."
"Eh? I didn't think you'd actually want to hear it."
"I'm ready, so show me quick."
"W-well, then... just a short one...?"
Erin took a small breath and began infusing the tea with magic in the cutest manner.
"A magic spell to give you strength when you drink it... Yap yap!"
Of course, no real magic flowed out, but Kasian couldn't help smiling at the sight.
"Aah, don't laugh...!!"
"...I didn't laugh."
"You did!! I can totally see your lips curling up...!!"
Erin's face flushed red as she pounded on Kasian's shoulder.
It felt like she was hitting hard from her perspective, but to him, it was little more than a massage.
"Then shall I try this tea infused with energizing magic? I'm curious if it really works."
He sipped it slowly, savoring it, while Erin watched him intently.
"How is it...? It can't taste bad..."
Kasian felt a mischievous urge to tease her as she fidgeted with her clothes anxiously.
"It's definitely lacking a bit in flavor."
"R-really...? I put a lot of effort into it, but it's really that bad...?"
It had been a joke, but seeing her on the verge of tears threw him off balance for a moment.
Kasian waved his hands frantically in excuse.
"It's delicious! I can feel the energy surging powerfully...!"
"Liar. You just said it was bad."
"That was obviously..."
"F-fine, whatever. Actually, I forgot to add one thing. That's probably why."
"What's this thing you forgot?"
As if she'd been waiting for that, Erin beckoned him closer with a whisper.
"I'll tell you as a whisper. Want to lend me your ear?"
Kasian tilted his head skeptically but obliged.
Seizing the moment, Erin lunged at him.
Mwah.
"The energizing magic I forgot to add. Not lacking anymore, right?"
Her face red as a tomato, Erin bolted out of the office without even meeting his eyes.
Left alone, Kasian blinked in stunned silence, then gently touched his right cheek where her trace lingered.
"It does give me energy..."
Hmm...
Why on earth did that guy look at me like that?
The former emperor, Theodore or whatever, recognized me right before he died.
The hypothesis that came to mind was simple.
Have I been to this world before?
Having passed through countless worlds so far, remembering every single one was practically impossible.
Well, if I'm curious, I can just look it up.
After roaming the palace all day, I finally found the place I was after.
The imperial library deep underground, accessible only to the emperor.
Of course, I didn't get permission from the current emperor, Kasian.
After all I've done for him, he can't complain about me sneaking in.
It was dim without sunlight, so I snapped my fingers to light up the room.
The underground space was vast. A normal person would need months to find specific information here.
But for me, a simple snap sufficed.
I pictured the documents about myself in my mind, and faint echoes guided me to certain books.
This one...?
I flipped through the dusty tome page by page. My hand, skimming quickly, stopped at one point.
[There was a knight. Stronger and wiser than anyone here. Like an angel, he united lovers. He sacrificed everything to protect them and bestowed blessings. If you had a beloved, you could run to him for help. Though he couldn't unite every love, he truly...]
The text continued from there.
To sum it up:
If you have a beloved, go to that knight.
No matter how difficult, he will resolve it all.
And beside it was an illustration resembling my past self.
I used to bless everyone's love back then, though now I choose selectively.
But after a certain incident, I stopped wanting to meddle in everyone's affairs.
That incident was ages ago, and I have no memory from the even earlier time this book describes.
Sigh... Have I lived so long I've got dementia?
Whatever the case, it's clear I've been in this world before.
That's why that emperor recognized me.
Having learned what I needed, I turned to leave when my eye caught a book near the entrance.
Unlike the others, it was dust-free, authored by former Emperor Theodore.
[It's been years since I lost my beloved...]
Thud.
I closed it right there.
Do I really need to see the rest? It's obvious, isn't it?
Something like... I needed your power for my beloved... Yeah, predictable.
I could read more of his story, sure.
But why would I...?
Why should I care about a villain's backstory?
With my curiosity satisfied and interest vanished, I left the basement promptly.
Time to go watch the kids' wedding.
At last, the day the empire's fate officially changed dawned.
The capital's plaza was packed with crowds from across the empire.
It was the day of Kasian's coronation and Erin's investiture as empress.
The new emperor stood at the altar in a uniform embroidered with splendid gold thread.
Beside him stood Erin in a pure white dress blending the Luna Duchy's traditional patterns with the empire's emblems.
Her beauty had always been striking, but dressed like this, she was a vision.
As the two reached for the crowns from the temple's high priest, a mystical sight unfolded in the sky.
"Congratulations, kids."
The plaza's people looked up. From the clear sky, pretty petals rained down like blessings on their marriage.
Erin caught a falling petal and showed it to Kasian with a bright smile.
Pinkish rose petals.
"Luna Roses...!"
"Beautiful."
"Right? Definitely Luna Roses."
"No, I meant you look beautiful, Erin."
"Uh...?"
Kasian placed the empress's crown on the flustered Erin's head, then took her hand and turned to face the plaza's citizens.
"I, Kasian von Wolfgang, hereby declare myself emperor of the empire from this day. I welcome Erin Luna, standing at my side, as the empire's one and only empress, and pledge to achieve this empire's prosperity together with her!"
The citizens' cheers shook the capital.
Erin gazed lovingly at Kasian's eyes beside her.
She couldn't believe the bond started fifteen years ago was ending in such a beautiful conclusion.
"I love you, Kasian."
In lieu of words, Kasian pressed his lips to hers.
The petal rain continued from the sky, and all who beheld the scene blessed their love.
From the plaza's highest point,
Luhan watched their kiss with satisfaction.
"Nice. It's exactly the kind of ending I love."