Chapter 409: Proclamation Ceremony (4)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 409: Proclamation Ceremony (4)
Serena Laxacia fell silent for a moment as the atmosphere instantly turned frigid, but she soon forced an awkward laugh.
“Ah… I mean, if I’m being honest about my thoughts on Marquis Palatio, I was trying to say that I didn’t think he was a total jerk.”
After finishing her sentence, she let out a sigh of relief inwardly, impressed by her own ability to escape such a crisis.
“…”
Unfortunately, the faces of Yutia and Line, who were staring at her, remained utterly expressionless. Serena, enduring the silence, spoke up again.
“…Honestly, the Teach—no, the Marquis isn’t exactly a jerk to look at, is he?”
“Yes, yes! I think so too, of course. Looking at it objectively, the Marquis is quite handsome.”
Yutia nodded fervently as if agreeing.
Serena felt that while she couldn't take back what she'd already said, she had at least managed to salvage the situation with this latest remark.
However.
“Godfather is… handsome?”
“Yes, yes.”
“Didn’t you just say he was ugly a moment ago?”
“Ah.”
As Line brought up her previous comment, the atmosphere turned icy once more.
Watching their faces fill with suspicion again, the princess let out a low groan.
“No, I mean—to summarize, he’s on the handsome side, but he just doesn’t feel that attractive to me personally. That’s all I meant.”
“So you’re saying that while you don’t find him attractive, you admit he’s handsome.”
What, didn’t you say you liked handsome men?
You lied, didn’t you?
The two stared at Serena with those exact words written in their eyes. Serena immediately tried to counter.
“No, I don’t think he’s particularly handsome to me, but—”
“Aha—so Godfather is ugly and a jerk…?”
Now you’re insulting the Marquis to that extent?
The Marquis isn’t that bad.
I’m starting to get really annoyed.
Seeing their expressions, Serena’s vision went dark.
She realized it.
She was currently trapped in a deadly lose-lose dilemma.
“No, that’s not it. Objectively, he is handsome, but he’s just not the type of handsome that fits my taste.”
“So in the end, you’re saying the Marquis is handsome?”
“W-Well, yes.”
“Didn’t you say handsome men are your type?!”
“No, I mean, handsome men are my type—but Marquis Palatio’s personality isn’t exactly great—”
“Oh, so Godfather’s personality is bad?”
“Ah…”
She desperately spat out excuses to survive, but the conversation only continued to circle the same point over and over again.
That day.
“Now, listen closely, Princess. The Teacher’s title of ‘Kalanon’ is—”
“Yes… Yes…”
Serena received a thorough education from Yutia and Line on exactly why Marquis Palatio was handsome, excellent, and a great man.
…From late at night until the sun rose.
* * *
More time passed, and it was now one day before the Proclamation Ceremony.
The Palatio Marquisate was filled with an unprecedented number of famous figures.
For starters, the two kings who formed the backbone of the United Kingdoms were present.
Below them, important figures from numerous principalities had gathered to celebrate Alon’s coronation.
“Brother!”
“Nangwon, it’s been a while.”
“Yes, have you been well, Brother?”
“Is your sister doing well?”
“Yes. Given the circumstances, she couldn’t come with me, but she’s doing fine.”
“That’s a relief.”
“Well, you’re busy, so as much as I’d like to stay, I’ll take my leave for now. It looks like there are many people waiting to see you.”
“I appreciate the consideration.”
“I’ll visit you after the ceremony!”
Watching Nangwon leave the office with a bright expression, Alon let out a long sigh. Evan, who was standing beside him, spoke up.
“A lot of people are gathering.”
“Indeed.”
“Actually, at this point, it might be faster to count the people who didn’t come.”
“…True.”
Alon nodded. It was just as Evan said. With only one day left until the ceremony, it was easier to find those among his acquaintances who hadn't shown up.
The only ones who didn't come are Seolrang and Karsem, I suppose…
Of course, Alon didn't feel any bitterness about their absence.
In the first place, it was difficult to travel given the current situation with the Divine Blood running rampant.
Furthermore, the Colony was still recovering, and Seolrang might not have fully recovered from the injuries sustained in the previous battle against the Divine Blood.
“…Evan.”
“Yes, Marquis.”
Alon, having reached that thought, called out to Evan.
“Has there been any news about Seolrang?”
“Seolrang? …Ah, come to think of it, you did ask me to let you know immediately if there was any news regarding her.”
As Alon nodded, Evan seemed to search his memory for a moment.
“Hmm—as far as I know, there’s nothing special. If anything, I heard she’s doing well.”
“…Is that so?”
“Ah, maybe because of her injuries, but they say she doesn’t leave her room very often.”
“I see.”
When Alon accepted this immediately, Evan tilted his head.
“But Marquis, is something going on with Seolrang?”
“Why?”
“You seem to have been concerned about her quite a bit lately.”
Alon pondered for a moment before answering.
“It’s nothing like that. I just have something on my mind.”
“Something on your mind?”
“Just something.”
As he ended the brief exchange, Evan looked puzzled for a second before suddenly remembering something and asking.
“Marquis, now that I think about it, how was yesterday?”
“…Yesterday?”
“Yes, you had dinner with the Princess of Laxas, didn’t you?”
“I did.”
“Did anything happen?”
Evan asked with eyes full of expectation.
However, Alon immediately shook his head at that look.
“Nothing happened.”
“…Eh? Really?”
“Yes. If anything—”
“If anything…?”
“It was a bit… strange.”
“…In what way?”
At Evan’s curious inquiry, Alon hesitated for a moment before speaking.
“…It was as if…”
“As if…?”
“As if she had been brainwashed…”
“…? Brainwashed?”
At Evan’s bewildered response, Alon briefly recalled the events of the previous day.
Actually, there wasn't much to recall.
They had only exchanged a few words during the meal.
It was just that those few words had left a deep impression on Alon.
‘Does the food suit your palate?’
‘Yes, it is truly delicious. As expected of the food of the Palatio Marquisate, it is wonderful.’
‘…Thank you for the compliment.’
‘No, it’s not a compliment, I mean it. The food of the Palatio Marquisate is truly delicious. For the record, I also like the scenery of the Marquisate and I really like the Marquis’s statue. Also, I believe that the Marquis is a God.’
‘….’
Alon thought back to the conversation he’d had with her.
‘…What on earth was that?’
At first, he wondered if she was mocking him.
But looking closer…
Serena’s appearance yesterday was like a world-famous foreign star visiting Korea to promote a movie, soullessly reciting “I like Kimchi, I like BTS, Son Heung-min is the best” without any emotion.
“…Well, it was just something like that.”
Alon glossed over it.
“I see.”
Evan shrugged off his remaining curiosity and changed the subject.
“Anyway, the Proclamation Ceremony is finally tomorrow.”
“Indeed.”
“To be honest, it still feels surreal that you’re becoming a King, Marquis.”
It was the same for Alon.
His dream wasn't to become a noble or a king; it was simply to save the Five Great Sins and then live a comfortable, leisurely life in Roadmill.
How did it end up like this…
Alon, staring blankly at the darkening sky, replied.
“To be honest, I feel the same way.”
“Are you going to bed early tonight?”
“Well, that would be for the best. The ceremony… is it in the morning?”
“Yes. I checked with Alexion and Silli, and it will probably be over by sometime after lunch.”
Alon nodded silently, then suddenly remembered something.
“Ah, by the way, is the crown finished?”
Recalling that Silli, Alexion, and Deus were in the middle of making a crown, Alon asked the question. Evan let out an ‘ah.’
“Ah, they said they’ll use a temporary one for now.”
“…A temporary one…? Does that mean they haven't finished it?”
“They have, but they said they wanted to make a crown that suits you better, Marquis.”
“…A crown that suits me?”
“Yes. They said there’s been a bit of a delay because of that.”
“Hmm…”
He didn't know about Alexion, but with the name Silli involved, Alon felt a strange sense of anxiety and almost clutched his head.
“Ah, but they said not to worry too much.”
“About what?”
“Even if the crown isn't finished, they said all the preparations for a grand ceremony are complete.”
“…A grand ceremony?”
“Yes.”
“What exactly did they prepare?”
“I’m not sure myself, but they said everyone has prepared something. Since it’s your Proclamation Ceremony, it seems everyone wanted to contribute.”
Evan’s words only served to amplify Alon’s anxiety.
“…I’ll keep that in mind for now.”
Still, he couldn't exactly tell them not to do something they had prepared for him. He nodded slightly and ended the conversation.
As Alon left his office to head to bed.
In one of the many villas of the Marquisate.
“Brother.”
“Silli.”
Deus and Silli were talking.
“So, are all the checks complete?”
“Yes.”
“Any problems?”
“None at all. There shouldn't be any issues.”
Deus nodded firmly as if telling her to trust him, and Silli smiled in relief.
Then—
“That’s a relief. We can’t have any problems at the Proclamation Ceremony.”
With those words, she turned her gaze toward the statue.
Toward the massive statue standing in the middle of the Palatio territory.
* * *
The morning of the Proclamation Ceremony.
“Whew—”
Perhaps because he had gone to bed early, Alon woke up earlier than usual.
He stroked Blackie, who was sleeping and purring near his face, then got up and drew the curtains as he always did.
“Hmm…”
The scenery of the Marquisate visible through the bright sunlight was no different from usual.
The territory beyond the outer castle was as noisy as ever.
The sunlight seemed to breathe life into the entire land.
Also, the statue in the middle of the territory was the same as alwa…
“….”
…ys?
“…Huh?”
Alon, who had been staring blankly at the scenery, naturally looked at the statue he considered a part of it.
His statue was still standing there.
However, even in his half-awake state, it wasn't hard to realize that the stone statue was different from yesterday.
No, he couldn't help but realize it.
The statue’s pose had changed.
From the pose of the Northern Chief, it had changed to a form with its arms lowered normally.
Alon was momentarily bewildered by the suddenly subdued(?) change—
“…Eh?”
Then he saw it.
The statue’s hand was slowly rising.
And then, like a giant machine one might see at a theme park, the raised hand of the statue…
Soon, it was lifted into a pose as if summoning the Black Flame Dragon of darkness—
Flash—!!
Blue light erupted, and blue lightning began to crackle.
Alon let go of the curtain he was holding.
Swish—
The curtains closed once again.
[…Kyu?]
Blackie, who had hopped onto Alon’s shoulder at some point, widened his eyes in surprise.
Seeing this, Alon naturally recalled what Evan had said.
‘Even if the crown isn't finished, they said all the preparations for a grand ceremony are complete.’
“….”
He silently wiped his face with his hands.
Even though he had only just woken up, a strange sense of unease washed over Alon once again.