Chapter 264: Coronation Ceremony (6)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 264: Coronation Ceremony (6)
A day had passed.
Grand Regent Richard had given me a general overview of the coronation proceedings. After a brief rehearsal that hardly qualified as practice, they seemed content to let me rest.
But I had no intention of idling. With nothing specific to do, I headed straight for the royal palace’s training grounds.
The facilities were top-notch, but unlike the academy’s training grounds, it was impossible to train in peace. The attendants insisted on watching over me. Even though I’d thrown a fit and tried to drive them away, at least two were required to stay behind at all times.
It was the same inside the palace. Attendants always waited in the hallways and followed me wherever I went. It seemed it would take some time to get used to this level of scrutiny.
This is complicated.
Meanwhile, my mind was cluttered with other thoughts—specifically, the Primordial Ice Sovereign and the message left by the Dorothy from the first round.
…Let’s try to keep my head clear. Getting lost in unsolvable worries and losing focus on the task at hand would be a massive waste.
*
That night.
I leaned against the balcony railing of the royal palace, overlooking the cityscape of Düpfendorf. The view was so breathtaking that my feet had moved there of their own accord.
Thanks to the clear sky, I was told a record number of citizens were out to enjoy the aurora borealis dancing across the night sky. Even from this distance, the scale of the festival was obvious; it must have been quite a sight up close.
At that moment, I sensed someone approaching from behind.
“Senior?”
“Nihi…”
As expected, I heard Dorothy’s flustered voice.
What’s with that "Nihi"?
When I turned my head, I saw Dorothy standing there awkwardly.
“Your sneaky approach doesn’t work on me anymore.”
“You’re no fun… You could at least pretend not to notice.”
Dorothy sighed in disappointment and moved to stand beside me, leaning her arms on the railing. She had left her witch hat in her room, leaving her face fully visible. The glow of the ice mana radiating from the palace contrasted with the night scenery, enhancing Dorothy’s already enchanting appearance.
For a moment, I found myself mesmerized.
She really is beautiful.
“Huh? What is it?”
“I was just wondering what brought you here.”
“I don’t have anything particular to say.”
“Really?”
“Yeah.”
“Oh, okay.”
She probably just came to enjoy the view—and maybe play a little prank on me.
“The coronation is tomorrow, right?”
“Yes, in the morning.”
“You’re finally becoming an Elemental King. The kid who was once called the Academy’s Weakest has grown into a real big shot~.”
I chuckled. “Yeah, I guess I really am becoming an Elemental King.”
“How does it feel, Your Majesty Isaac?”
“Huh? Hmm… Nothing in particular?”
“Aren’t you happy?”
“I suppose I am.”
“See? That’s a feeling, you fool.”
Fair point.
“Have you decided what you’re going to say in your speech tomorrow? Oh, do you even have to give one?”
“That’s up to me.”
“Are you going to?”
“Probably not.”
“Ugh, you’re so boring…”
Dorothy stood on her tiptoes and hooked her arm around my shoulder.
“Hey, Isaac. Becoming the leader of a country is a huge event. It’s a rare, once-in-a-lifetime experience. You should give a heart-pounding speech and move the people, you know? Don’t you have any sense of romance?”
“Well… I don’t know. I don’t think I’m the type to be moved by that sort of thing.”
I adjusted my glasses.
“And Senior, you’ve been calling me boring a lot lately. If you keep saying it, I might actually become boring. People tend to become what they’re told they are…”
“Yeah, yeah, I’m not listening. I can’t hear you~!”
I tried to explain earnestly, but to my dismay, Dorothy stepped away, tapping her ears with her palms and chanting “Lalalala” to block me out.
Aren’t you just blatantly hearing only what you want to hear?
“Uh…”
“Nihihi. By the way, it’s sooooo pretty here~.”
When I finally gave up on the explanation, Dorothy quickly changed the subject. Leaning on the railing and stretching her arms, she gazed at the sky with an awed expression, looking like a character from a movie.
“…It is.”
I followed her gaze to the scenery of Düpfendorf.
The Ice Kingdom. The ground was a pristine white, and the northern lights flickered across the dark sky. It felt like being at an ultra-luxury resort that would have cost tens of millions of won in my previous life.
“This place has a real mood. If you tried to woo a girl here, most of them would fall for you on the spot!”
“Isn’t that a bit of an indecent thought…?”
Not that I, a scoundrel pursuing a harem, had any right to judge.
“It just means it’s that beautiful, you rascal.”
Dorothy nudged me and laughed.
“I’m only telling you this because it’s you, but I lived in a really shabby place before coming to the academy, you know? I used to imagine living in a place like this and being called a Princess. I guess everyone has those kinds of dreams. Anyway, it was a fantasy of mine. Standing here like this makes me feel… fulfilled. Nihihi.”
“Do you feel like a Princess now?”
“Of course. Don’t I look like one? With this face, a beautiful dress would make the look perfect.”
“You’re so full of yourself.”
“Yeah, and you’re cocky. That response is just asking for a beating.”
It was a joke, of course.
Obviously, I wouldn’t disrespect my Goddess by calling her a mere Princess.
If I let my guard down, I’d end up spending the whole night praising Dorothy’s looks. I needed to maintain some semblance of sanity.
“Isaac, will you live here after you graduate?”
“If all the problems are resolved and nothing unexpected happens.”
It was the best answer I could give. The future was still far too uncertain.
“All the problems…”
Dorothy propped her chin on her hand and looked at me.
“You know.”
“Yes?”
“Is there something you’re not telling me?”
Huh?
“What do you mean?”
“…”
Dorothy stared at me intently, as if trying to probe my soul.
I didn’t ask why she was questioning me. Dorothy could read emotions. Even if I kept a perfect poker face, she had the ability to see through the cracks in my mind.
I planned to search for the Dorothy from the first round. It was bound to be incredibly dangerous; I wouldn’t have the capacity to protect anyone else, nor could I take anyone with me. That included the Dorothy standing in front of me.
If I told her my plan, she might try to follow me regardless of the risk. I couldn't predict what kind of disaster that might invite.
“I’ve already told you everything important, haven’t I? You probably know me better than anyone else.”
I feigned nonchalance. After staring at me for a long moment, Dorothy turned back to the night view.
“Really?”
“Yes.”
“…Liar.”
Dorothy murmured quietly, a hint of dissatisfaction in her voice.
Pretending not to hear, I continued to look out at the night with her.
If I recalled the explanation from the first round’s Dorothy, going to the Icy Lake was no different than a moth flying into a flame. However, both the game developer Higgs and the first Dorothy seemed to believe that reaching the Icy Lake was not entirely impossible for me.
If it were impossible, they wouldn’t have mentioned it in the first place.
*
Brilliant sunlight shone down on the land of white snow.
The coronation ceremony proceeded with grand, magnificent music. The citizens gathered in the square focused their eyes on me as I stood on the wide palace balcony.
The four Legion Commanders, the soldiers of Düpfendorf, and numerous attendants were lined up in orderly ranks. I walked slowly toward an elderly woman who stood overlooking the people from the railing.
I was dressed in luxurious white and gold attire, adorned with elegant decorations. A grand cape draped over my shoulders, fluttering in the wind. I tried to maintain a serious, dignified expression, but inside, I was incredibly nervous.
The cheers and applause of the citizens washed over me.
The Dragon Maiden…
The elderly woman was Millie, the Ice Dragon Maiden. Dressed in pure white, she was the highest religious authority in Düpfendorf. She was forbidden from any contact or communication with the outside world unless it pertained to duties or rituals involving the Ice Sovereign.
She was a symbol of asceticism and sanctity—so much so that even I, the Ice Sovereign, had not met her until this moment.
I knelt on one knee before Dragon Maiden Millie.
Millie opened a beautiful case held by the ice knight beside her. Inside lay the ceremonial silver dagger, the Blade of Frost Flowers. For the ritual, I would borrow it temporarily and return it during the ceremony. That was the proper order.
With a kind smile, Millie carefully lifted the Blade of Frost Flowers with her gloved hands and respectfully offered it to me. Dorothy and Alice watched the scene from a distance.
Radiant ice mana fluttered around Millie. I received the Blade of Frost Flowers and infused it with my own mana. My power mixed with hers, spreading beautifully like a blossoming flower.
As I stood up, holding the Blade of Frost Flowers aloft, every attendant and soldier saluted in unison.
Millie cast an amplification spell and spoke.
“Here and now, we welcome Isaac, the second Ice Sovereign, who inherits the authority of the first Ice Sovereign, Veronica Aslius.”
Millie bowed her head.
I took two steps forward, standing at the very edge of the balcony, and looked out at the citizens. Then, I drew the Blade of Frost Flowers and held it high for all to see.
Behind me, beautiful white jade-colored magic surged, and a giant white dragon soared into the sky, displaying its majesty.
The citizens of Düpfendorf stared at me and the dragon in awe. The cheering stopped. Their faces were filled with reverent wonder. As if prearranged, they all knelt and bowed. Everyone paid their respects.
I lowered my arm. For a long while, I had to navigate through a sea of overwhelming emotions.
*
“My child, you seem deep in thought.”
We were traveling across Düpfendorf’s territory by carriage. Alice, sitting opposite me, spoke in a gentle voice.
“Yeah…”
At some point, I had forgotten to train with the magic tool in my hand and was simply staring out the window. All I could see were the vast, white snowy fields known as the harshest land in the world.
The attendants had wished me a safe return, but it was clear they wanted me to reign over Düpfendorf permanently as soon as possible. Even though they didn’t show it, many felt a sense of resistance to my confident declaration that I would return to the academy.
Considering the weight of the title of Elemental King and the responsibility of ruling Düpfendorf, it was natural for my emotions to run deep. Moreover, the mysteries surrounding the Primordial Ice Sovereign added layers of complexity. A moment’s carelessness could cause everything to unravel like a tangled thread.
However.
“There’s no need to overthink it, yet here I am.”
One way or another, my priorities were clear.
Thanks to Alice, I regained my composure and organized my thoughts. I gripped the magic tool tightly, continuing my mana mastery training.
For now, it was time to struggle for survival.