A New Sun - 3
In the entire history of the Kpelleofen Empire, there had never been a single case of a new emperor ascending the throne through abdication.
As a result, rumors were spreading that the Ministry of Palace Affairs—busy preparing for the abdication ceremony—was tearing its hair out while poring over the precedents of every previous empire. The Imperial Household Director, who was surely suffering the most, must have been cursing the former Palace Minister who had resigned.
Whether the Ministry of Palace Affairs suffered or not, however, was none of my business as the minister-designate of the Inspectorate Ministry. Had I still belonged to the military, I would have been killing myself to maintain perfect public order throughout the ceremony. Had I been a pure Ministry of Finance man, I would have been coughing up blood trying to secure the budget. But for this auspicious occasion, there was simply no place for the Inspectorate to stick its nose in.
So I had assumed I could spend my days peacefully at the Academy and simply glide up to the Imperial Capital on the day of the ceremony itself.
"Karl, how about this outfit?"
It had been pure arrogance to forget, even for a moment, that my happy little mental circuits always shorted out.
I stared blankly at the formal robes Mar was holding up. As it happened, this abdication ceremony would not only see the Crown Prince ascend as Emperor; it would also invest the Imperial Grandchild as Crown Princess. As that child's godfather, I was destined to stand in the spotlight whether I liked it or not.
Which was why Mar had been selecting my clothes for days already. Wherever she had managed to obtain them, the chairman's office had turned into something resembling a dressing room.
Yes. It had been like this for days. Days spent on a single set of clothes.
"Of everything I've seen so far, that one seems the most splendid."
I forced the words out through the mental fatigue. To my eyes they all looked more or less the same, but if I said so, this might end a little sooner—
"That's the one I showed you a moment ago."
"I apologize."
I bowed my head at once. I had stupidly walked right into the bluff.
Even with my head lowered, I could feel Mar's gaze. The top of my skull prickled; I almost dreaded what emotion might be in that look.
Did I really zone out that badly?
Even I had to admit the reaction had been far too careless. From Mar's perspective, her husband was about to stand before the empire's nobles and citizens—and even the envoys of every nation on the continent. Of course she would want him looking his absolute best. Wanting to make the person you love look magnificent was practically instinct.
Knowing that and still reacting the way I had was a clear mistake, but I did have something of an excuse. A man who normally lived in nothing but Audit Department uniforms had been stuck choosing a single set of clothes for days on end. How was anyone supposed to stay sane? One day I could have endured. Beyond that was a different story.
"Perhaps we should rest a little before we continue choosing."
With that, Mar sat on the sofa and lightly patted her lap.
I understood the meaning well enough. I approached carefully and laid my head across her knees.
Heaven.
No pillow in existence could possibly be softer than this.
"I'm sorry. It must have been terribly bothersome."
"Not at all. Choosing with you has actually been enjoyable."
I answered in a hurry, clinging to a mind that wanted to drift off. Mentally exhausted, yes—but bothered? No. Mar was taking the time for my sake. How could I possibly resent that?
At my answer she gave a soft little laugh and began stroking my hair with gentle fingers.
"Father and my brother always found this sort of thing a nuisance as well. So you can be honest."
"...It isn't bothersome. But I will admit I'm a little tired."
The sincere answer drew a deep, satisfied smile from her.
So my father-in-law and brother-in-law had been just as weak to this situation. At least I wasn't the only one being dramatic.
"Honestly, watching Father and my brother walk around always left me a little frustrated. Even a tiny bit of care would make them look truly dashing, yet they just wear whatever they always wear because it's comfortable."
I almost nodded without thinking. I, too, preferred the clothes I was used to.
"That's why I wanted to dress you up at least, Karl. Though it seems you're the same way."
I rolled my eyes this way and that, unsure how to answer. Mar leaned down and pressed her lips to my forehead.
"I'm sorry for being so greedy. You look like the most splendid man in the world no matter what you wear. I'd forgotten that."
"And you, Mar, are the most beautiful."
I returned the somewhat embarrassing compliment as it was. She burst into laughter that suggested she didn't entirely dislike it.
"Sole first place? Or joint?"
"...Joint, I suppose..."
Her laughter only grew louder at that.
Even a compliment on one's lover's appearance required a joint ranking. What a bizarre situation. Today was the day I began to respect the Golden Duke.
After all those days of torment, we decided I would simply attend the abdication ceremony in my Audit Department uniform. Godfather to the Imperial Grandchild who was about to become Crown Princess or not—my identity was still that of a civil servant.
Besides, at a national event where the imperial family itself was the main character, a mere official showing up in lavish private finery rather than a neat uniform would have felt somehow off.
"Ah, I should have had an Inspectorate Minister's uniform prepared in advance. Careless of me."
"How could a mere designate wear a minister's uniform? I accept the sentiment alone with gratitude."
I answered the Crown Prince's casual, almost reflexive provocation with perfect calm. On any ordinary day the irritation would have boiled up from deep in my chest, but a man about to become Emperor teasing me about ministerships and the like simply dealt no damage.
No—how did a person even become Emperor? The role that bore final responsibility for every single affair of the empire?
Ugh.
Just imagining it gave me chills. I could never do that.
"Humble as ever. One could call you a model for every official and still fall short."
"You flatter me, Your Highness."
Whether that thought had shown on my face or not, the Crown Prince hastily wound the conversation down.
He had realized that continuing on this topic would only cost him. Sharp as always.
"When I receive the imperial crown from His Majesty my father, the Imperial Grandchild will simultaneously be invested as Crown Princess and become Grand Duke of Cabaschleitz. During the investiture, the Grandchild is to be held by you—the godfather and minister."
"It is truly an honor, Your Highness."
Having changed the subject, the Crown Prince brought up the schedule concerning the Imperial Grandchild. For a Crown Prince on the very eve of his accession to contact me, of course the matter would involve that child. I had expected as much.
Grand Duke of Cabaschleitz. For all the glittering grandeur of the title "Grand Duke," it was a purely nominal rank with no territory attached. Yet considering that it was the title held by the heir to the throne, it remained an extremely exalted one.
And so mixed feelings rose in me. I, still in my early twenties, was already an Imperial Count. The Crown Prince, only in his late twenties, stood on the threshold of becoming Emperor. Even we who had been through the wringer could barely bear the weight of those names—yet a baby who had not even celebrated a first birthday was about to shoulder the title of heir to the throne.
Far too heavy a burden.
It was pitiable. From the moment of birth as an imperial grandchild, becoming the heir and then the Emperor was the natural course—yet the speed was simply too great. Delaying the appointment of the Crown Princess, however, would create problems of its own.
"...I trust that you, Minister, will protect the Imperial Grandchild well."
After a brief silence the Crown Prince spoke in a low voice. Hold the child carefully and keep the soon-to-be Crown Princess safe in your arms.
Yet he surely meant more than mere protection during the ceremony. Like me, he worried about the weight that tiny child would have to bear, and he was asking me, as godfather, to watch over the Crown Princess when that weight grew hard to endure.
"Yes. I shall do so without fail."
I nodded without the slightest hesitation. I offered daily prayers for the Crown Prince's long life and health, yet I held no grudge whatsoever toward the Imperial Grandchild. If anything, I felt a godfather's affection and sense of responsibility.
I had only seen the child a handful of times so far, but the days ahead in which I would look after that child would vastly outnumber them.
Preparations for the abdication ceremony progressed swiftly. The former Palace Minister who had resigned had already handled a fair portion of the work, and the Ministry of Finance had apparently made advance arrangements as well; securing the budget went smoothly.
Showing the signs of abdication early had been the right decision after all. Had we begun preparations only now, the whole affair might not have finished until next year.
Is this the end at last?
I set down the report submitted by the Imperial Household Director and rose from my seat.
The end was approaching. What I had only vaguely felt—that once every task was finished my mission would be over—was becoming reality.
I did it.
I walked to the window and looked down upon the Imperial Palace. The vast, majestic panorama of the palace, and beyond it the distant vista of the Imperial Capital, filled my eyes.
The first time I had stood in this place, both palace and capital had been utterly bleak. They had been dying quietly, without a scrap of hope.
But no longer. Now the empire could move forward carrying hope—
"Nngh."
A returning headache forced a soft groan from me. Whether from age or something else, the headaches came more and more frequently and showed no sign of improving.
Endure.
I closed my eyes and repeated the word inside. This was truly, truly the last stretch. There would be no more burdens to shoulder alone, no more forced advances. I only needed to hold on a little longer.
A little longer—just a very little longer—and I would be able to cast everything off and step down. Then this headache would leave my side as well.
...Leave, is it.
I opened my eyes gently and shifted my gaze.
It still faced the window, yet I turned it a fraction. Not straight ahead, but toward the National Cemetery. Toward the place where someone who had left my side far too soon now rested.
I stared in that direction for a long while before closing my eyes again. As Emperor I had no right to yearn for that place. Eimanka XVI the Emperor—not Corvus the man—had no right whatsoever.
No. Perhaps even Corvus the man had none.
I shall come to see you soon.
Even so, I allowed myself the thought. If it were Corvus after stepping down from the throne—if it were a being who was no longer Emperor—then perhaps it would be all right to go and meet you.
I dared to hold such a thought.
"Your Majesty."
The voice of the Imperial Knights' vice-commander came from beyond the door.
...Yes. It was not completely finished yet. I could not afford to grow weak already.
"Enter."
I was still—We were still the Emperor.
An Emperor who must not harbor private feelings of any kind.