The Weight of the Crown
A king was, after all, the sovereign of a nation. The meaning carried by that position was far too heavy for any mere human to bear.
Edmund Carsein had always prioritized his kingdom's interests above all else. And so, he now made the greatest decision of his life.
He would use the constellation forces, which he saw as thorns in his side, to crush another power. Fortunately, there was a perfect pretext. The devotees' reason had flown out the window anyway.
Edmund Carsein judged this moment to be one of the rarest opportunities in his lifetime. It didn't matter that the targets were apostles of the Father God, with whom he had shared a deep alliance. Uncontrollable devotees were no different from ticking time bombs.
"I-is that... truly...?"
A few ministers gasped in horror upon hearing his opinion, drawing sharp breaths.
"Your Majesty, please reconsider..."
"No."
Edmund hardened his resolve with a stern face. His own life wouldn't last much longer. In the time he had left, he had to pave the way for the world his daughter would live in.
"They've been abandoned by their god, and their forces won't hold out much longer."
He knew all too well the words of factions without a constellation. He'd faced them countless times, and some had even been wiped out by his own knight order.
"Before they fade away meaninglessly, we will erase the Black Sun from this world..."
Black Sun.
The name of his longtime nemesis slipped from the aged king's lips.
After the constellation called the Father God ascended to the Absolute's throne, these vermin had barely clung to life like cockroaches in the sewers.
But Edmund knew. Before their crushing defeat in the holy war against the Father God—what scale of power they had wielded, and how they had lurked in the shadows of the Regarium Kingdom.
'Why didn't we exterminate them back then?'
Being merely human, Edmund couldn't fathom the Father God's intentions. And the price for that...
With their sole rival gone, they would surely move to expand their influence again.
"B-but still. How can we turn on the devotees of our lord god, who has watched over us all this time...?"
Some ministers rebelled against his judgment.
"..."
Edmund fell silent for a moment, surveying them. Every one of them had been immersed in the Father God's faith.
Religious backlash was something he couldn't overcome.
"We've lived in peace all this time."
Fanatics choked with thirst for miracles and blessings, far removed from reason and logic. The emergence of a single constellation had that much impact.
For devotees of that constellation to occupy such important seats in council spoke volumes.
"Do you want this nation—our country—to become a playground for other constellations?"
"Th-that's..."
"..."
But they couldn't be ignorant of the disasters wrought by constellations.
"This isn't my kingdom. It's ours."
Edmund Carsein declared with undiminished vigor, even in his frailty.
"It's the land where our families live."
It had just been luck. An anomaly among constellations had appeared by chance, and happened to be stronger than the others.
But now, he was gone. Their lord god, the Father God, had vanished somewhere, abandoning his children.
It was quiet for now, but other constellation forces would soon move to fill the void.
And so...
"You all know how the Black Sun's demons have massacred our people over the years."
Those horrific scum had to be eradicated when the chance arose.
"Will you sit idle and lose more family?"
Edmund Carsein scanned the room.
"Or will you act first to protect those you love?"
No more opposition arose. His charisma was that overwhelming.
"Our war will be a long one."
First, create a pretext for the Father God's apostles to attack the Black Sun. A cunning one no one would suspect.
Once the devotees responded, then dispatch the knight order to strike both forces.
"Y-Your Majesty...!"
When the messenger returned from the royal knight order sent to stop the holy war, Edmund Carsein's world crumbled.
"Lord."
#
"P-please... kill me."
The frail king dragged his worn body into a dogeza. At this sudden confession, I could only sit there, staring at his bald crown.
'What the hell is going on?'
I'd come for a peaceful favor, and suddenly the king was kowtowing.
As the clueless one here, all I could do was...
"...Raise your head."
Act merciful, as if I knew everything.
'Calm down first.'
For a constellation, face mattered—face. Even if I didn't know, I had to pretend I did. No matter how flustered, I couldn't lose composure.
"I don't want to see someone I once shared ideals with like this."
"B-but, Father God..."
"Get up."
With a firmer tone, the king finally peeked up.
I had no hobby of tormenting an old man who looked ready for his deathbed tomorrow.
"Uh, ack."
Now he was kneeling upright on the bare floor. Seriously, why?
"...Sit in your seat."
"...But, Constellation. I..."
"Sit."
"..."
Edmund Carsein scrambled up and sat in the nearest chair. Good. Obedient was nice.
I took a moment to catch my breath.
Let's think. So, he was the one who incited my kids to attack the Black Sun.
'Why on earth?'
I was gone, sure. Maybe he thought it was a chance to create a favorable situation for his side.
My devotees had severe separation anxiety. Without proof I was trapped, it wasn't impossible they'd flip out.
'Heh.'
I never imagined things would unfold like this.
'The culprit was right here?'
No need for a long investigation—he'd confessed solo.
I'd been wondering how to broach the princess topic, and he'd handed me the initiative.
"All responsibility for this sin lies with me, the final decision-maker."
"..."
"Those outside this door know nothing."
Did that even make sense? Even a mad king's decree couldn't ignore backlash. Everyone must have agreed.
"So."
The once groveling old man lifted his head, meeting my gaze. There was a king ready to bear all blame.
"Cut off this wretched, frail neck of mine, and please end it here."
I glanced sideways. Belladys clenched her jaw, veins bulging on her pale chin. She'd gained enlightenment from playing in the king's palm all this time.
Deceived like a naive fool. Not content with endangering the cult's devotees, she'd even harmed her own god.
The mastermind was right there.
'Whoa, whoa.'
I quickly grabbed Belladys's wrist and shook my head.
"...!"
Her rage subsided like magic. Good thing she stayed a loyal devotee.
"Please spare my ministers and my only daughter."
Resolution burned in old Edmund Carsein's eyes.
"This worthless body will take full responsibility."
He truly seemed ready to walk into the fire for his people.
'Responsibility.'
But that responsibility held no value to me. Scolding the king here—what would I gain? The Regarium Kingdom's wrath? International bullying of our cult?
I could crush them with raw force, but human relations weren't solved by power alone.
'Hmm.'
Belladys was furious with her revelation, but I was unfazed. My head hurt over the princess issue, but I'd come to sightsee the palace.
And so...
"By sheer luck, before the holy war erupted, you protected our children."
I'd decided my answer.
-Swish.
I tugged Belladys's wrist lightly, drawing her closer.
"...?"
Over her puzzled face, I raised a hand and slowly stroked her.
Belladys stiffened at the sudden touch, then purred and melted into me.
"I can't express how grateful and blessed I am for that."
"Ahh... my love, Father God..."
Bella gazed at me, waves of emotion swelling.
'Know that, and behave.'
"King of Regarium."
I turned back to the resolute king.
"Why did you leak false information to my children?"
"That was..."
"I need the unvarnished truth."
The old man hesitated, struggling to answer. His mind must be racing. Why the madness? For what? To seize what?
"To protect what I bear... Father God."
'Good.'
I'd worried for a different answer, but this was what I wanted.
"Then, what were you protecting?"
To bare the heart, you had to drag out the deep emotions.
"Why risk your life for your nation, ministers, and daughter?"
Like one transcended from worldly cares, I calmly watched Edmund.
"...!"
Edmund Carsein shuddered as if struck, his withered lips trembling as he peered into himself.
"Because I love them."
That was the true Edmund Carsein I knew.
Maligned as a psychopath by players, masked as a cold-blooded ruler—but vowing before his late wife's portrait to protect his homeland and people from evil gods. That hesitant man's truth was mine alone.
-Forgive me. Isella, my daughter.
He drove himself relentlessly, casting aside paternal love.
Edmund Carsein was that foolishly human.
"That'll do."
I smiled brightly.
"...Pardon?"
The frail king, purging his soul for a clean end, doubted his ears.
"I said that's enough."
"B-but, my lord god. I've betrayed your grace and besmirched you."
"It's fine."
"Even at my daughter's pleas, I didn't stop attacks on your cult."
"That too came from loving Isella."
Love.
'Wait, Isella did that?'
Even for a father—how could she openly side with me before the king? Chilling truth aside, I kept eye contact with Edmund.
Confusion crept over his wrinkled face as time passed.
Tired of answers, I drove the wedge home.
"You've given the answer I wanted, so I forgive you."
I checked Bella's expression. Serene, no doubts about my judgment.
"Build a better kingdom from now on."
Honestly, the current one was excellent, but sentiment mattered here.
"One that secures the future for your only daughter and ministers."
"..."
At my casual words, Edmund Carsein...
"With my remaining life, I swear to achieve it..."
...shed tears unseen for thirty years since his wife's death.
Fantastic Rhetoric! Regarium's King, 'Edmund Carsein', pledges loyalty to you!
In battles within the Regarium Kingdom, devotees gain additional ability modifiers!
A small amount of Luck accumulates!
Some constellations are aghast at your actions.
A suspicious stellar flow is felt...
"D-dear..."
Edmund, cradling his dying queen, gazed at her with trembling eyes.
He was still young and brash then. His daughter barely cooing, the time to teach her what a true king was amid happiness.
Then hell unfolded in Edmund's life.
His queen was dying. His partner's breath fading.
Despite his throne, powerless to save even one life—Edmund watched her end in agony, as if his body tore apart.
"Our... our daughter. She'll be... safe, right...?"
"Don't worry. For now, your body—"
"Promise me, my love."
She wasn't a fool. She knew her life waned better than anyone.
"Leave a world full of love for me, you, and our lovely Isella."
Edmund could never recall his final words to his wife that day.