Chapter 66
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 66
Chapter Title: Queen's Inauguration Ceremony (6)
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The nobles' social gathering in the palace was finally drawing to a close.
Only then could Kern Tayla let out a sigh of relief.
His aide, who had been acting alongside him, caught the faint weariness in Kern Tayla's eyes.
"You must be quite tired, Duke."
"You noticed?"
"Yes. You can't fool my eyes, even if you could fool others."
"Ha ha. Well, we've spent enough time together."
Now they knew each other so well that a mere glance sufficed.
Just having someone he could trust with his back on the battlefield made him feel truly blessed.
"I really don't think these social gatherings suit me."
He felt more at home wielding a sword against enemies outside.
But his aide thought differently.
"Isn't this proof of our peace?"
"Peace... Peace, you say..."
When the unparalleled hero Rodri defeated Muorat, it had been fine to speak of peace.
However.
If someone asked Kern now, in Rodri's absence, whether this era was truly peaceful, Kern would reply:
"I don't think so yet."
There were Ratio's followers, for one.
And lately, suspicious organizations had been popping up with unsettling frequency.
Moreover.
"Every time a fragment of the Demon God appears in the world, disaster follows."
Even with Rodri around, forces aiming for the Demon God's descent through those fragments had emerged four times, only to vanish without a trace.
Those who sought the Demon God's descent.
And those who stood against them.
Their conflicts alone kept the air thick with the threat of war everywhere.
'Come to think of it, there was that report of an unusual Demon God fragment discovered, aside from Inkra's.'
No research results had come in yet.
Kern was checking periodically, but all he heard was that it would take more time.
In this situation, it was far too early to claim peace.
'Something feels off.'
And that intuition never failed him.
A man came rushing in breathlessly to report to Kern and his aide.
"There's a commotion outside the palace."
"A commotion?"
"Yes. Suspected Ratio followers are causing a disturbance."
Kern's eyebrow twitched.
The man spoke in the past tense.
Which meant...
"The situation has already been resolved?"
"Yes. But there's some concerning information."
Even if the incident was over.
There was one thing that needed verification.
"People at the scene reported spotting Captain Mion."
"The Royal Guard captain was there?"
"Yes. And I overheard some palace maids earlierthe princess is nowhere to be seen."
"......"
Unless it was something truly extraordinary, Mion never left Bernica's side.
That was the Royal Guard's duty.
So why had she suddenly gone outside the palace?
'The princess has always wanted to see the world beyond the walls herself.'
Ever since Parvo Wilden's assassination, Bernica had never once stepped out.
It must have been suffocating for her.
After tomorrow's queen inauguration, she would be even more confined to the palace.
That pressure might have driven her out.
Kern immediately grabbed his sword.
"Where did the disturbance happen?"
Kern planned to head there himself.
If another incident like Parvo Wilden's occurred.
The kingdom would face another massive crisis.
The regime itself could crumble.
"Contact Swordran. Tell them to prepare to mobilize immediately."
"Yes, understood."
Just as they were about to leave the party.
The door suddenly opened.
And then...
"......!"
Kern and his group couldn't help but flinch in surprise.
That was because.
"What is it, Lord Kern?"
Bernica Wilden.
She had returned to the scene with Mion.
As soon as the disturbance broke out, Bernica hurried back to the palace with Mion.
She couldn't risk staying outside, not knowing when Ratio's remnants might target her.
Upon entering the palace, she quickly changed clothes and reappeared before the assembled nobles.
At her entrance, the nobles once again paid their respects.
Kern did the same.
But Kern still couldn't shake his suspicious gaze.
As if sensing it.
Bernica spoke to Kern first.
"Lord Kern. Do you have something to say to me? You've been staring at me so intently since earlier."
"I just received a report about a disturbance outside the palace. People said they spotted Captain Mion there..."
At those words, Bernica's eyes flickered for a moment.
Kern didn't miss it.
But then, Mion stepped forward.
"I went there myself to confirm reports of Ratio followers."
"Then you could have sent others. Why go personally? Isn't your duty to protect Her Highness the Princess?"
"Eliminating threats stirring outside is, in the broader sense, protecting Her Highness."
"......"
"And Her Highness remained in the palace the entire time. Even if something happened, with you and Swordran here, Duke, there would be no threat to her safety. So I felt secure leaving briefly."
Kern listened quietly to Mion's explanation.
He had plenty he wanted to say.
But.
"......Understood. Let's leave it at that."
He decided against it.
With such an important event tomorrow, he had no desire to raise his voice against the Royal Guard captain now.
Bernica and Mion moved away from Kern.
In a quiet voice, Bernica said.
"Lord Kern probably... noticed, didn't he?"
"Yes. He knows, but chose to let it slide."
He had given them a pass.
But.
"If something like this happens again, he won't let it go next time."
"......"
Bernica nodded heavily at Mion's words.
The kingdom's fate hung on Bernica's safety.
Kern wouldn't keep overlooking such a critical lapse.
This was a one-time mercy.
There wouldn't be a second.
As the nobles' social gathering neared its end.
Bernica's trembling had finally subsided, thanks to sitting and watching the event.
Mion's constant reassurance at her side had helped greatly.
"You should wrap up now and get some rest."
Bernica decided to follow Mion's advice.
As she moved around to exchange greetings with the remaining nobles.
Lucas Leyden couldn't help but grow anxious.
"Where's Roin? This kid still hasn't shown up?"
"Come to think of it, no word yet."
Elien seemed flustered too, scanning the surroundings.
It had been over an hour since he said he was going to the bathroom.
Roin still hadn't shown his face in the hall.
A golden opportunity to greet the future queen in advance.
To leave such an honorable occasion casually.
Lucas's anger began to boil over.
Just before it erupted.
"Sorry, Father."
Roin approached without a sound and spoke, startling Lucas.
"W-When did you get here?"
"About ten minutes ago. I spotted Jerka Tayla on the way and chatted with him briefly."
An effective defense Roin could muster.
The Tayla family.
Hearing he'd been bonding with Jerka Tayla made Lucas's anger dissipate instantly.
How could he scold him for getting close to a Tayla family member?
If anything, praise was in order.
In fact, Jerka appeared before Lucas and greeted him first.
"My apologies, Baron. It seems I held Roin up unnecessarily."
"Oh, no, not at all. Please, keep being friends with our Roin from now on. Ha ha!"
"Yes, Baron. I will."
Once Jerka had moved a short distance away from the Leyden group.
He glared at Roin and said.
"That settles the debt from the Demon God fragment incident, Roin."
"Thanks."
Thanks to Jerka, Roin had navigated the crisis smoothly.
He'd exploited Lucas's particular weakness for the Tayla family.
After sending Jerka off, Roin returned to his family.
Just then, Bernica and Mion were approaching the Leyden family.
As minor nobles on the outskirts, their turn to meet the princess was inevitably low priority.
Elien smiled faintly at the tense Lucas.
"Don't be so nervous."
She even adjusted the crooked bow on his tuxedo herself.
When it was finally the Leyden family's turn.
They all bowed to Bernica in unison.
"We greet Your Highness!"
"Raise your heads."
At her command, they slowly lifted their faces.
In that moment, Bernica and Mion's eyes widened in shock.
"You...!"
Both women's gazes locked onto Roin.
Unlike the surprised women, Roin simply smiled brightly.
With so many eyes around, Bernica and Mion couldn't press Roin for details about that incident.
Nor did they have a public excuse to summon him alone.
It was an awkward situation.
That awkwardness persisted until the next daythe queen's inauguration ceremony.
The moment Bernica donned the ring and necklace symbolizing queenship.
Those present at the ceremony cheered loudly, commemorating the glorious occasion.
Perhaps from witnessing the queen's inauguration firsthand.
Lucas's eyes welled up, his chest swelling with emotion.
"Your Majesty! Please lead this kingdom well from now on!"
Elien, seated beside him, scolded him for being sentimental.
Viola, bored to death, had been dozing off for a while.
Amid it all, Roin noticed Mion still couldn't tear her gaze from him.
'I wish she'd stop staring.'
Still, he could understand her position.
Roin had committed an offense against Bernica.
Even if unknowingly, the result was undeniable.
Touching royalty without permission was a grave crime.
Of course, it had been unavoidable.
No one would expect a princess there.
But beyond thatwhy was he pursuing Ratio's followers?
How did he know that information?
There were plenty of questions for Roin.
Yet letting it slide meant...
'Bernica must have decided to overlook it.'
She had no choice.
Pursuing accountability for Roin would only confirm her own outing that day.
Better to stay silent.
'Being royalty sure is exhausting.'
Thanks to that, though, Roin avoided a hassle.