Chapter 36
Chapter 36
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 36
Chapter Title: Triumphal Ceremony (1)
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The Emperor rose from his throne, swaying slightly as he descended the steps. He patted Prince Franz's shoulder and praised his achievements.
"Your Majesty, all of this is the work of Third Prince Yuno. The Third Prince shattered the gates of Streve—a feat no master in the empire could accomplish—and led the breakthrough himself. This is the greatest merit of the campaign. Please take that into account."
"No, Your Majesty. I merely followed Crown Prince Franz's command."
The Emperor watched his half-brothers, Franz and Yuno, who always cherished each other despite their different mothers, with a pleased gaze.
"Very well! I name the Crown Prince and Third Prince as the top contributors to this expedition. To the Crown Prince, I grant the honorary position of presiding over the Council of State in my stead."
The ministers in the throne room let out sighs at the Emperor's declaration officially recognizing the Crown Prince as the complete heir, but Franz gave a wry smile.
It was obvious the Emperor intended to dump the council meetings on him so he could spend his later years frolicking with his favorite concubines. But he couldn't refuse, so Franz accepted.
"It is a position I am still unworthy of... but if you entrust it to me, I will do my utmost."
Meanwhile, Second Prince Heinrich, watching from a corner of the throne room, bit his lip hard. He leaned in to hear the whisper from a minister nearby.
'Your Highness... With things as they are, we should accelerate the plan...'
'Not yet... Just... just hunker down for a bit. We move slowly as planned. There's still time.'
'Understood, Your Highness.'
Having composed his expression, Heinrich strode to the center of the throne room with a beaming smile. As the Emperor pondered rewards for Yuno, Heinrich made his petition.
"Your Majesty! For the Third Prince, who has achieved such tremendous merit, how about granting him a fief? Viscount Nikana and Baron Tesida, who were in charge of guarding the central Monster Mountains, have requested to resign due to age and lack of suitable heirs. What if we combine their fiefs and grant them to the Third Prince along with a baronial title?"
"Hmm... There haven't been any monster uprisings lately, so it's not dangerous. A prince holding a baronial title concurrently seems a fitting reward, but we should hear from the man himself. Third Prince, what do you think?"
"That is exactly the reward I desire! Your Majesty, entrust it to me!"
Yuno had dreamed since childhood of having his own fief and living there. He didn't know what his second brother's intentions were, but since it aligned perfectly with his wishes, he welcomed it enthusiastically.
"No! H-how could we send a child who just returned from the battlefield to such a dangerous place? Moreover, I cannot allow the Third Prince to be posted to some remote outpost!"
But the Empress, who had been listening quietly, suddenly stood and objected. The Emperor calmed her down first.
"We'll discuss this further at tomorrow's Council of State... Next, rewards for the commanders of the 1st, 4th, and 5th Legions. I name each legion commander as a second-class contributor. The 1st and 4th Legion commanders may inherit their titles to their sons. Additionally, I enfeoff the 5th Legion commander as a baron."
Rewards continued, and since the long war had ended in victory, many received honors.
"Tonight, a banquet will celebrate our triumph. I expect many to attend. Secretary, oversee the preparations thoroughly."
"Yes, Your Majesty. Leave it to us without worry."
With those final words, the Emperor left the throne room. Yuria rose from the throne and descended.
She fixed a sharp glare on her son as she approached, forcing the nobles who had been coming to congratulate the Crown Prince and Third Prince to shrink back from the terrifying Empress's aura and make way.
"Crown Prince, could you step aside for a moment?"
"Hahaha... Of course, Your Majesty. Come, everyone, let's go. Before the main banquet starts, have a light drink at my palace. I'll tell you all about the valiant exploits of our imperial army as we faced the Theseito forces. Hahaha."
The quick-witted Crown Prince led the assembled nobles out.
As the nobles departed and Yuria approached him, Yuno braced himself, eyes squeezed shut, expecting her signature back-smack.
'Agh!! Independence means getting hit by Mom first! Her palm still hurts!!'
But contrary to Yuno's expectation, Yuria pulled him into a tight embrace and began to sob.
"Sob sob sob... My son. Are you hurt anywhere? Do you know how worried Mommy was? And they say you broke through an arrow barrage at the vanguard to shatter the gates? I nearly fainted when I heard. Sob sob sob."
Panicking at the tears soaking his chest, Yuno gently pushed her away and looked at her face. Yuria's beautiful features were a complete mess, her large eyes brimming with tears that fell in drops.
"Mom... Don't worry. You know how tough I am. A few arrows are nothing."
"Even so, you never know... Sob sob sob. And now you're saying you're heading to another dangerous place right away? How could that not break my heart? Sob sob sob."
Even as she wept, Yuria smacked Yuno's back repeatedly.
Whether because it was infused with motherly love or not, her palm left a solid sting on his back.
"Ow ow!! Mom!! That really hurts!! Waaah!!"
"You can't even take Mom's palm, and you want to go to the Monster Mountains?! No way! I won't allow it!"
As Yuria kept objecting, Yuno confirmed they were alone and shared the plan he'd long considered.
"Mom... Then, if you're okay with it..."
"Yes?"
As Yuno looked at her and seemed about to speak, Yuria met his gaze intently.
"What if you come down to my fief and live with me? Living with you has always been my dream. Let's live together in a place where no one bothers us, Mom."
His words sounded almost like a proposal, making Yuria's heart pound wildly.
Feeling her son's firm body against her arm, she realized he had fully become a man.
With no response from Yuria, Yuno pulled her tightly into his embrace and whispered in her ear once more.
"If you have no attachment to life in this palace... I want to live with you in my fief. That's been my wish for so long, Mom."
As Yuno hugged her strongly, Yuria's face flushed crimson. His strong arms gripped her slender waist, and she felt his massive erection pressing against her belly.
The shape of his swollen cock against her mound made her womb throb intensely, turning her back into a woman rather than a mother.
'This child wants me... My grown son, now a man, wants me as his woman... What should I do? Just thinking of this huge cock inside me... Ahh...'
As Yuria stood frozen, face red, staring at him, Yuno spoke again.
"If we all live together—me, you, Sister Isabella, Marie... even Eliza and Master Katrin—it'll be so happy. Right?"
Her body cooled rapidly at his following words. She realized Yuno wasn't proposing to her as a woman but simply wanted the whole family together.
"Argh!! Don't make your mom misunderstand! You phrased it so weirdly that I..."
"Huh? What did I say to make you misunderstand..."
"Quiet!! If I say so, then it is!!"
Yuria smacked his back once more, then fanned her heated face with her palm to swallow her embarrassment.
Struck without knowing why, Yuno asked her again.
"Mom, can't we just live together? Once Brother ascends, you won't want to stay in the palace as Empress Dowager anyway."
"Yuno!! Don't say such dangerous things so carelessly!"
"No one's around—my senses confirm it. Father is getting on in years too..."
Yuria sighed at Yuno's plea. What mother wouldn't want to live with her beloved son, no matter how rough the place? But as Empress, leaving the palace at will was nearly impossible.
"Sigh~ Let's think on it until tonight... I need a proper excuse to tell His Majesty too..."
"Really? Wooow~ Thanks, Mom!!"
Yuno rushed to her, showering kisses on her cheeks.
"Goodness~ You're all grown up and still... I haven't agreed yet, so don't get so excited!!"
"Hehehe, okay, Mom~"
Grinning like that, Yuno left Yuria behind and returned to his palace, where Isabella, Marie, Eliza, and Katrin awaited. He caught up with them.
Of course, he got an earful for ignoring them earlier.
After the lively scolding, as Yuno recounted his battlefield tales, he noticed the sun setting. He changed clothes and headed to the banquet hall with them.