A Long-Awaited Family Reunion
It had been a long time since my family had gathered in one place.
"Deviang... you're finally getting married."
The beautiful woman with long, black hair speaking with tears welling in her eyes was my older sister, Octavia Ryan. She was the sister who had looked after me since childhood, and she was now the Queen of the Northern Sea Kingdom.
"I know, right? Who would have thought my brother would marry Princess Theodora, the most beautiful woman in the Empire?"
Sitting next to Octavia was a short woman with bobbed red hair. This was my younger sister, Mary, the current regent of the Grand Duchy of Francesco. Both of them were family members I trusted with my life.
"Haha, how have you been, Sister?"
Octavia nodded at my question.
"I'm always the same. My husband treats me so well."
My sister and her husband were famously lovey-dovey. In the original novel, I recalled that they, along with my nieces and nephews, had been sent to the guillotine for their involvement in Valorang's rebellion. But this time... I would make sure that never happened.
"But... how is the Crown Princess?"
I let out a sigh at Octavia's question.
"Just... so-so..."
Though we were about to be wed, our relationship was closer to that of mortal enemies. She resented and hated me, believing I had killed Ipa... but for now, I intended to keep her close, at least until the wedding was over.
"Still... I know it must be hard for the two of you to get along, but if you take the first step, Devi, wouldn't she open her heart a little?"
Uh... not a chance. My sister didn't know what I had done to Theodora, but...
"Huh...? How could that ever happen?"
Mary shook her head vigorously, as if she already knew everything.
"Why? The Crown Princess must have some feelings for him, right? Otherwise, why would she agree to the marriage?"
Finding it difficult to explain my deeds to my innocent older sister, I quickly changed the subject.
"Ah, Mary, speaking of which, shouldn't you be getting engaged soon too?"
At my words, Mary blushed slightly and twirled a strand of her hair around her finger.
"Mmm... I'm planning to head back to the Grand Duchy with Agrippa after the wedding."
To see that wild mustang of a girl blush... I felt like I had witnessed something I shouldn't have.
"Oh my! Really? Are you two actually getting married?"
Since Octavia had known Agrippa—who used to follow me around all day before she got married—she was fully supportive of their relationship.
"But why didn't you invite Agrippa?"
I looked at Mary, who was grumbling slightly at me for not inviting her future husband. Agrippa is probably... fighting a desperate battle against a mountain of paperwork today as well.
"But Devi, you look pale. Are you alright?"
Octavia looked at me with a worried expression.
"Haha... it's just from pulling all-nighters."
Lately, the workload had been insane. Between wedding preparations, securing funds, and the fact that Epirus and Egypt had completely slipped from our direct control, our tax revenues had plummeted. For now, we were plugging the holes in the national treasury with funds from the Grand Duchy, but it was true that our tax income had shrunk compared to the late Emperor's reign. Come to think of it... losing Epirus was a bit painful.
"Still, a groom shouldn't look so haggard..."
"Exactly! Agrippa's face has halved in size too. Aren't you overworking him, Brother?"
I chuckled softly.
Was it because I was with family for the first time in a while? In this place, where it was hard to speak comfortably with anyone other than Agrippa, I felt a sense of relief. It felt somewhat healing. Wrestling with paperwork every day, playing tug-of-war with MP Alexander over various issues, and dealing with the imperial nobility had left me psychologically exhausted.
Knock, knock!
At the sound of someone knocking on the drawing room door, I answered, "What is it?"
"Your Grace, MP Alexander has arrived to see you."
With a troubled expression, I turned to Octavia and Mary. "I have to go for a moment. I'll see you both later."
Mary stood up and asked, "Brother, where is Agrippa anyway?"
"Hmm? He should be at the Grand Duke's Office. Want to come along?"
Mary's eyes lit up, and she nodded vigorously. "Yes, I'd love to! See you later, Sister."
"Hehe, alright. See you later."
Leaving my smiling sister behind, I walked down the corridor with Mary.
"Mary, thanks for lending me your maids."
Mary grimaced at my words. "Hmph, if you're really grateful, stop giving Agrippa so much work. He says he's dying every single day."
I smirked. "Then would you like to stay in Roman instead?"
Mary's face turned pale, and she shook her head frantically. "No way! I heard you and Agrippa work through the night every single day. I could never do that."
I let out a bitter laugh.
"But... is the Crown Princess really acting so strangely that you need my maids?"
Looking at Mary's slightly tense face, I complained to her. "Don't even get me started. This is a secret, but... she was caught trying to escape last week."
She had boldly bribed the maids and servants, planning to slip out of the Imperial Palace with the Empress Dowager and Princess Joy... but thanks to Mary's maids, we had successfully stopped her.
"Ugh... poor Crown Princess... If she hates the idea of marrying you that much, just let her go..."
I replied to Mary, who looked at me with pity. "If I could have let her go, I would have..."
We had already come too far to let her go now.
"Sigh... then, even if it's after the wedding, wouldn't things change if you treat her well?"
I smirked. "I'll be lucky if I'm not poisoned after we have a child."
Mary stared at me. "Do you really think the Crown Princess would try to assassinate you?"
I replied, my voice lacking certainty. "The probability is high. From Theodora's perspective—since she doesn't know about our secret pact—she'll assume our child will become the next Grand Duke."
"Hmm... that does sound dangerous."
"So, let me borrow them for just a year or two. Okay?"
"Hmm... I have to lend you my maids for one or two years, but you're only letting me have Agrippa for two months?"
Left speechless, I cleared my throat. "Ahem... but without Agrippa... the Empire won't function."
In truth, Agrippa and I were currently grinding our very souls to keep the Empire running somehow. I figured that once the wedding was over and the high-ranking officials were appointed, we could catch our breath. Well... I'll survive until then, right?
Mary spoke up hesitantly. "Um... Brother, do... do you really have to make my son your successor?"
I nodded. "Yes. I have no desire to bear such a heavy burden."
Back on Earth, there was a famous saying: He who wears the crown must bear its weight. Just like those words, power comes with equal responsibility and cost. That was why, once all of this was over, I planned to dump all my titles onto Mary and go traveling.
"Still... I feel like you'll feel sorry to your child later..."
"No way. They'll be a member of the Imperial Family, so they won't mind."
Of course, that was a lie.
"If you say so, I guess I can't help it... Oh, right! Brother!"
Mary spoke as if she had suddenly remembered something.
"I'm going to participate in the upcoming tournament."
At those words, my mind went blank. "...What?"
Ignoring my reaction, she continued with an excited face. "My body's been feeling stiff lately since I haven't fought in a while. I want to get some exercise. Honestly, I was so disappointed when the war with the Emperor Faction fell through."
"No... but... still..."
"Absolutely not! Do you have any idea how dangerous the Imperial Tournament is?"
The Empire had a unique tradition. Whenever there was a monumental or joyous occasion, the Imperial Family would host a tournament to bring joy to the citizens. Champions would be crowned in five disciplines: Group Battle, Swordsmanship, Jousting, Archery, and Rhetoric/Oratory. And naturally, a tournament was being held to celebrate the monumental occasion of Theodora's coronation and wedding.
"Hehe, Brother, do you really think I'd lose?"
Mary smiled cheerfully.
"Still, no!"
Mary stared intently at me. "Really? Not even a little?"
"No, absolutely not."
Mary puffed out her cheeks in annoyance. "Why?! I was so excited when you said I'd get to fight the Emperor Faction, and now you're totally raining on my parade!"
But rules were rules.
"This is an order from the head of the house. Absolutely, positively not!"
I knew Mary was strong, but the Imperial Tournament was an arena where the strongest in the continent gathered. In other words... Mary could get seriously injured or even die, so I spoke firmly.
"If you try to sneak in, I'll have you struck from the family registry."
"Ugh..."
The grand audience chamber. Hundreds of people had gathered here. Fortunately, the hall was vast and spacious enough to accommodate everyone comfortably. The coronation was about to begin.
Thud!
With a heavy sound, the doors of the audience chamber swung open.
A majestic melody began to play, and a woman made her entrance.
As the massive doors parted, she walked gracefully along the purple carpet. Clad in a white dress and draped in a purple mink cloak, she made her entrance. She was the Crown Princess of the Empire—no, from this day forward, she was the Empress of the Empire, Theodora.
Her appearance today... I had always thought she was beautiful, but what was this? She exuded an aura of nobility so profound that it made her seem untouchable. A face of pure majesty. A cold gaze and expression.
Soon, she reached the throne.
As she stood before the imperial seat, a man wearing a five-tiered tiara spoke.
"Theodora Augusta, Crown Princess, kneel."
Following the command of the Pope, who spoke in a booming voice, she knelt on the golden cushion placed before the throne and humbly clasped her hands.
Seeing this, the Pope placed his hand upon her head and began to pray.
"Almighty El, before You stands the Crown Princess whom You have established. Bless her, guide her along the righteous path, lead her not into temptation, deliver her from evil, and grant her the desires of her heart..."
And so... a prayer that felt as though it would never end began. I had no idea how much time had passed. If I had known it would take this long... perhaps I should have brought some paperwork with me? Between yesterday and today... the work was piling up, and I knew my body would suffer once I returned to the office.
"In Your holy name, we pray."
Finally, the prayer ended.
The grand music swelled once more, and Theodora took her seat upon the throne.
"Theodora Augusta, Crown Princess, do you swear before the Almighty El to bring peace to this continent of Muya granted by God, to respect the laws of the Empire, and to care for the nobility and citizens with love?"
To this, Theodora replied, "I swear."
Hearing her response, the Pope lifted a golden orb from a chest held by a nearby servant and placed it in Theodora's right hand.
"Theodora Augusta, Crown Princess, do you swear to hate and punish wicked evils to protect the continent of Muya granted by God, and to strive to establish justice in this land by annihilating those who torment humanity and all other races?"
Once again, her incredibly beautiful voice echoed through the audience chamber.
"I swear."
At her words, the Pope took a sword from the chest held by the servant on the right and placed it in her left hand. It looks heavier than I thought... Will she be alright? She should be... It's ceremonial. It's pure gold, but still, it's for the ceremony... I had worried that she might find it too heavy, but my concerns were unfounded.
As she rested the sword in her left hand upon her lap, the Pope spoke again.
"Theodora Augusta, Crown Princess, do you swear, by the authority granted to you by God, to lead the lost and the suffering of this land, to rule the world with justice and fairness, to guide the wandering aright, and, by the authority bestowed upon you by God, the Imperial Parliament, and the great Gold Dragon Rike El Sadat, to govern the Council of Five Races equally and lead all races righteously?"
"I swear."
At her response, the Pope took a scepter from the chest on the left and placed it in Theodora's left hand. Then... he stood behind the throne and spoke.
"Theodora, Crown Princess, will you faithfully keep the oaths you have spoken?"
"I will."
"Lastly, make a vow of what you wish to achieve upon becoming Empress."
"I, Theodora Augusta, shall uphold the sacred mission and duty passed down through generations of my ancestors to protect this nation and defeat its enemies..."
At that moment, her eyes met mine.
"...And I shall stand against those who seek to usurp this Empire, ensuring that peace and prosperity protect this continent of Muya and the Empire for eternity."
It was her own way of declaring war.
Hearing her vow, the Pope placed the Imperial Crown, the symbol of the sovereign, upon her head and declared:
"As of this moment, I declare Theodora Augusta as the new Empress of this Empire!"
At those words, Theodora placed the orb on her lap and extended her right hand to the Pope. The Pope knelt and kissed her hand.
"Long live Her Imperial Majesty, and peace to the Empire!"
As the Pope cried out, everyone echoed his words.
"Long live Her Imperial Majesty, and peace to the Empire!"
And so, she ascended the throne as Empress. The citizens, nobles, and priests of the Empire celebrated her coronation.
And... our wedding was scheduled to begin immediately after.