The Coronation - Part 1
The cheers rang through Chloris Avenue and the buildings lining its sides.
“Long live His Highness Prince Richard!”
“Glory to the Kingdom of Zylan!”
Richard rode forward, occasionally raising a hand to wave at his subjects. Even amid the clamor, he did not miss the conversations threaded through the noise. From time to time, voices rose from the crowd.
“Is His Highness Prince Richard going to become the queen?”
“You idiot, His Highness is a man. He won’t be a queen—he’ll be king.”
In a country that had known only queens for three hundred years, some people had never even heard the word “king.”
“Then what happens to the divine contract?”
“You still believe in that old legend after three centuries?”
“Legend or truth, the contract between Queen Chloris and the god is the very foundation of this nation. It’s not something we can simply dismiss as a fairy tale.”
“I don’t think Zylan is so fragile that it would collapse just because we stop spouting that nonsense.”
“It won’t collapse immediately. I don’t believe our country is that weak, either.”
“Then what’s the problem?”
“Time. The time it will take to find a new foundation. And in the meantime, other nations will continue to advance.”
Some among them spoke with surprising insight. Richard turned his gaze toward the source of the voices. Not only he, but his attendants, knights, men-at-arms, and a good number of the onlookers all looked in that direction. Only two people seemed oblivious to the countless eyes now fixed upon them.
The boy riding beside Richard asked him quietly, “Shall I have them killed at once, brother?”
“No, leave them. Nothing will change just because they speak that way.”
Richard answered and turned his eyes forward again. The procession, which had slowed for a moment, resumed its former pace. The boy who had spoken to him wore a clearly discontented expression, yet he did not voice his displeasure. Instead, Richard did.
“Are you dissatisfied, Rio?”
“Not at all, brother. I follow your will.”
“Not my will—yours.”
“……”
“Of course you’re dissatisfied. You probably want to slaughter them all. Am I wrong?”
“No, brother. That is not the case.”
“It is. Even I feel that way.”
Caught with his true feelings exposed, Prince Rio’s face flushed scarlet. When Richard turned to look at him, Rio averted his eyes. Richard gave a small chuckle at the sight before facing forward once more.
“Thank you for thinking that way, Rio.”
“I-it’s nothing, brother!”
Rio’s already red face burned even brighter, like a ripe tomato. But Richard, unaware of the true reason, simply continued speaking to his younger brother with gentle affection.
“Still, Rio, that kind of thinking is weak. Even if those thoughts are your enemy, you have far stronger enemies to face.”
“I understand.”
“Do you know what I’m trying to say?”
“You’re telling me not to waste effort trying to erase hostile thoughts, aren’t you?”
“Correct. If you must fight hostile thoughts, it is better to fight those who act upon them.”
“Like Derim, you mean?”
Richard gave a small nod and a quiet hum of agreement. Rio fell into thought. It was undeniably sound advice. His elder brother, Prince Richard, was not merely skilled at war—perhaps it was because he excelled at it—but he was both strong and wise. Richard knew what needed to be done to achieve his goals and how to secure victory. This latest campaign had been no different.
Many both inside and outside the kingdom opposed Richard’s ascension, but the greater number were within Zylan itself. Yet while they were numerous, they could not act. The ones who did act were not Zylan’s own rebels, but nobles from Derim. Instead of fighting enemies who could not move, Richard had chosen to fight those who could. And now, after a resounding victory, he was making his triumphal return through the heart of Venterum.
If there was any man who could be praised in the flesh, it was his brother—Prince Richard of Zylan. The ancient pagan gods were said to have blinded their followers with their radiance. Or perhaps it was their majesty or beauty. But Rio thought that Richard was exactly like that. To compare the accursed pagan gods to the great Prince Richard was the height of blasphemy, yet Rio could find no better metaphor to describe his brother’s brilliance.
“And if, in the process, you also gain justification, then that is the very best outcome.”
“I will keep it in mind, brother.”
He bowed his head toward the brother he respected more than anyone—though of course it could not be seen—and answered. At that very moment, Richard glanced back and spoke.
“Ah. My words must have been boring. A clever boy like you would already know all this.”
“No, brother!”
“It’s all right, it’s all right. I spoke out of turn. I’m sorry.”
“No! It’s not that… the reason I looked away was…”
What could he say? That Richard looked like one of those pagan gods? Or that he shone so brightly Rio feared he would be blinded if he stared too long? With no other words to offer, Rio simply closed his mouth.
“It’s fine. At your age, you should be talking about women rather than such heavy topics. Isn’t that right?”
“Brother! I have no interest in such things.”
“Oh, come now. At fourteen, you are more than old enough to begin acting like a man. Tell me, is there no noble lady who has caught your eye?”
“……There isn’t. Truly.”
“Nonsense. Not even among the maids?”
Richard slowed his horse until he was riding right beside Rio. His face was full of mischief. Rio startled and yanked on his reins, but Richard’s horsemanship was far superior. Before long, Rio found himself pushed to the very edge of the procession. Cornered, Rio was subjected to even more teasing.
“So it is a maid! With a face that red, there’s no use trying to hide it. Which one is it?”
“It’s not like that, brother.”
“It isn’t? Is it one of the chambermaids? Annie? She’s quite lovely. Her skin is pale and soft, too. Or perhaps Big Jenny from the second-floor hall? Hm?”
“I told you it’s not…”
Rio denied it, but his words had no effect on Richard. Richard began listing the names of countless palace maids, eventually naming every girl of similar age that Rio could remember.
“Kelly has such a sweet voice. Some say it lacks spirit, but what do you think? Well, you’d have to try to know for sure.”
Richard kept questioning him without pause until he suddenly stopped. Something seemed to occur to him. He muttered to himself.
“No… wait a moment.”
Richard rested his chin on his hand and fell into thought. It lasted only a brief while. Then he slowly turned his gaze back to Rio and opened his mouth.
“Surely not, Rio… you…”
“Y-yes?”
Rio swallowed dryly. His mouth had gone completely dry. The scarf around his neck suddenly felt as if it were strangling him, so he stretched his neck and loosened it.
‘Has he… found out…?’
Doubt flickered in Richard’s eyes. The deeper that doubt grew, the more Rio felt his throat tighten. In the end, Rio burst out loudly.
“No! Of course not! How could that be, brother!”
“I thought as much.”
Richard accepted his words. Rio felt a wave of relief, but a mischievous smile spread across Richard’s face. It seemed his brother’s intention had been entirely different from what Rio had feared.
“So you’re still a virgin. One day this brother of yours will have to take you to a brothel.”
“Richard!”
“It’s fine, it’s fine. You are a prince of Zylan and will soon be king of this realm. Who would dare say anything if you took your little brother to a brothel?”
“I will tell the countess!”
At the mention of the countess, Richard froze. Rio pressed on.
“Have you no shame before your betrothed?”
“……There is no need to drag Marion into this, is there?”
“No, wait—surely you aren’t—”
The situation had completely reversed. Rio narrowed his eyes sharply.
“Are you still frequenting brothels even now, brother?”
“Frequenting? That is no way to speak to someone who will soon be king.”
“You are even engaged. Why can you not remain faithful to the woman who will become your queen?”
“Enough. This is not a conversation to have during a triumphal procession.”
The tables had turned completely. Now Rio was the one pressing Richard. Richard urged his horse a little faster to escape, but he could not outpace the entire procession, so he could not truly get away. Rio stubbornly refused to leave his side, and Richard had no choice but to endure the lecture.
“The formation is breaking. Stop it, Rio.”
“You were the one who broke formation first, brother.”
Rio’s scolding continued all the way until the triumphal procession entered Venterum’s High Castle and everyone dismounted.
“You constantly call yourself the future king and hold yourself so high, yet your conduct is no better than that of a lowly serf.”
“Do you think I do it because I want to?”
Once they were inside the castle, Richard’s irritation finally exploded. Rio flinched and stepped back.
“Do you think it’s my fault that I visit brothels? No matter how hard I try to be faithful to the countess—”
“Try to be faithful?”
This time it was Richard’s turn to freeze. He slowly turned his stiff neck. A tall woman was descending the stairs of the main keep. She wore a dress made of the finest silk available in Zylan, a headdress adorned with the deepest rubies, and a necklace strung with the largest pearls. Her rose-tinted cheeks were lovely, yet her cold expression made her seem unapproachable.
Rio greeted her before Richard could.
“It has been a long time, Countess of Zard.”
“It has indeed, Royal Secretary Rio. You must have learned a great deal in this war.”
“Not at all. There was nothing to learn.”
“Oh?”
Curiosity flickered in the Countess of Zard’s eyes.
“When my brother—His Highness Richard—takes the field, everything is resolved far too easily. He is truly the greatest knight on the three continents, the knight among knights.”
So saying, Rio took a step back and gestured toward Richard. Richard, who had been avoiding her gaze, startled at the motion.
“Is that so?”
The countess’s eyes grew cold once more.
“The knight among knights. Indeed, his stamina must be the greatest on the three continents. It has been a while, Your Highness.”
She greeted Richard with open sarcasm. Her attitude was utterly different from the one she had shown Rio.
“……It has been a while, Countess. I am glad to see you in good health.”
“I have been well, thanks to you. But once you ascend as the first ‘king’ of this realm shortly, that will become a thing of the past.”
“……You will soon be queen as well.”
“Queen to a king who frequents brothels. Who would be pleased to become the queen of whores?”
“Countess, your words are rather harsh—”
“I shall see you shortly.”
The countess cut Richard off, turned on her heel, and climbed back up the stairs she had descended. Richard stared blankly at her retreating figure before turning to Rio in protest.
“See? How can I possibly be faithful when she behaves like that?”
“……Is it truly meaningful to argue over who started first? The one capable of changing should be the one to change.”
“How wise, how very wise, my brother. But still…”
Richard covered his face with his hands and muttered. He had tried to protest to Rio, but even that the countess would not allow. From the landing above, she called down to Rio.
“Might I ask for an escort, Your Highness Prince Rio?”
“Of course. With pleasure.”
Rio gave Richard a polite bow and hurried over to the countess. Her expression, when turned toward Rio, was a bright and radiant smile utterly unlike the one she had shown Richard.
“……Ah, damn it all.”
Richard finally let out a curse. The maids who had been watching hesitated, until the youngest among them spoke.
“Your Highness, you will be late for the coronation.”