Yuma and Bell returned to the Princess’s palace.
On the way back, they couldn’t have a deep conversation.
They had just faced the [Red Knight] and dealt with a bit of chaos taking down those knights.
Yuma and Bell headed to the place where they had spent the most time recently. It was none other than the training grounds.
Normally, the training grounds next to the princess’s palace were often empty, but Yuma had instructed his attendant, Royan, to make sure no one entered today.
Yuma and Bell sat side by side on the stairs.
“I’m not hurt.”
Yuma’s blue eyes locked onto Bell.
“When did I say anything that made it sound like I don’t have much time left?”
Bell scrolled through the back of her memory. That day’s events were vividly etched in her mind.
“Two days ago. After our early morning stroll, you said that as we were climbing the stairs…”
This time, it was Yuma recalling the memory.
He clearly remembered what thoughts had occupied his mind while climbing those stairs after their walk.
‘It was probably about how the demon army’s invasion was imminent…’
And at that moment, a memory of coughing up blood came to mind. After consuming the [Poisonproof Fruit], the first time he coughed up blood was right after that early morning stroll.
Once he sorted out his thoughts, Yuma opened his mouth again.
“That probably meant that the invasion of the demon army is just around the corner.”
“…Uh?”
Bell’s eyes widened in surprise.
Yuma’s words were hard for her to accept.
“So, then… the blood?”
It wasn’t just talk; it was a problem that involved actual blood coming out. No matter how she thought about it, it was indeed blood.
“The blood was a side effect of my mana manipulation. It’s just a characteristic of my technique to spit out murky blood after pushing myself a bit hard. That’s all it is.”
Yuma began to smoothly spin excuses he had thought of while walking slowly back to the palace.
Bell stared at Yuma with eyes that were wildly shaking.
She seemed unsure whether to believe him or not.
“In about a month. It should be fine in about a month.”
Talking about the [Poisonproof Fruit] would likely take too long to explain fully, and saying it was due to using too much power when killing a god would only lead to more worries.
So, he created the most reassuring story he could…!
Bell’s condition didn’t seem great, after all.
‘If the princess asks again later, I’ll say it this way then.’
He had already mumbled something about the aftershock of killing a god to the princess.
Yuma felt his karma growing heavier by the moment.
Duke Yuma felt his karma piling up more and more.
Though he hadn’t committed any sins, his karma still seemed to grow relentlessly.
Duke Yuma held the trembling hands of Bell, who was still shivering.
Bell could feel Duke Yuma’s warmth flowing through her hands.
“I won’t die.”
Bell’s shoulders shook violently. Duke Yuma placed his hands on her quaking shoulders.
“So, there’s no need to worry.”
“Uh, um…”
Bell nestled back into Duke Yuma’s embrace once again.
The only difference from a few hours ago was that back then they were standing, but now they were both perched on the training hall steps.
With a grip that suggested she didn’t want to let go, her arms wrapped around his waist, burying her face against his chest.
Duke Yuma noticed the tears welling up in Bell’s eyes again. Without thinking, he started to pat her head.
Seeing her shivering in anxiety was just too pitiful.
“I’m okay.”
“Really? Not lying…?”
Bell kept asking.
“Really, I’m not hurt. It’s not like there’s not much time left, right?”
“Nope.”
“Then the sudden swordsmanship lessons were just because you needed it. You wanted to pass it on to me?”
“Yeah, it’ll help you grow.”
“That’s true… what Duke Yuma says is always right. Hehe.”
At last, the visible shivers that had been so apparent began to quiet down.
Finally feeling reassured.
“Thank goodness…”
She nodded slowly and wiped her tears away.
“Really, thank goodness.”
Duke Yuma genuinely felt an inexplicable weight of guilt rising within him.
Bell stayed silent, burying her face in Duke Yuma’s embrace for a while.
‘… I’ll only trust half of it, Duke Yuma.’
Castle Bell thought to herself in his arms.
‘… If my lord’s words are true, then I’ll get strong quickly so that my lord won’t have to step in.’
Bell made that resolution.
*
After finally managing to convince Bell and returning to his room, Duke Yuma felt drained.
– You made a very wise choice. If you had told the truth about the [Fruit of Immortality], Lady Bell might have tried to kill the master. At least a bit of embarrassment is manageable.
– You saw it just now, didn’t you? Lady Bell’s genius. I was truly amazed to see her flawlessly executing the Cherten style. Even if Lord Dekan had seen it, he wouldn’t have been able to hold back his amazement.
– Aah, aah. Just now, that master-level being created by the unidentified god was warded off by the master’s skills. Please utilize that skill while holding me again next time.
Damn this guy.
He started to act up again.
Duke Yuma concluded that it might be time to put Balmung in solitary confinement.
– Master, hold on for a second….
Swish
Yuma ignored Balmung’s words and shoved him into the spatial pocket.
Two hours later, he pulled out Balmung.
– I’ll stay quiet, Master.
After clearing up the misunderstanding with Bell and teaching her one more sword technique, time flew by quickly. Before anyone knew it, it was already the day of Princess Brigitte’s coronation.
Even the nobles who might have had complaints about the First Princess becoming the next emperor had vanished. To be more precise, even if they had grievances, they didn’t dare say a word.
This was because Emperor Agares had gathered the nobles and nailed it down.
The next person to sit on the imperial throne would be Princess Brigitte.
Seated in her chair, Brigitte had a dazed expression.
“I wonder if there’s any meaning in all this fuss.”
Brigitte remarked as she watched her maids fussing over her face.
The maids knew her words weren’t directed at them. Right behind Brigitte stood the former Grand Marshal of the battlefield, Yuma.
With a disinterested tone, Yuma said, “I didn’t expect you to complain about your appearance while pondering where to hold the coronation. When I asked why you were personally picking out the venue, you said it was because it was your first time.”
Brigitte slowly nodded her head.
“That’s right. I did say that.”
“Since it is both your first and last coronation, you might as well look as beautiful as possible.”
Brigitte’s mouth twitched into a smirk.
“Indeed, you’re right, Yuma.”
After sending the maids outside, Brigitte adjusted her white and gold dress that felt heavy with significance.
Then she murmured softly, “Thank you for bringing me this far. My sword.”
“That’s quite an unexpected thing to say. Didn’t this day come a lot faster than you thought?”
Yuma was right.
It had come a lot sooner than she expected.
It had only been about three months since she met Yuma.
As she met Yuma’s unwavering blue eyes, Brigitte chuckled.
“To call the journey thus far laborious would be an understatement with how much more we have to face ahead.”
That was true.
Brigitte continued, “Will you keep staying by my side?”
Yuma nodded.
He could never abandon his fundamental comrades.
It was something he always thought, but Yuma was quite satisfied with the hero party he had formed.
“Don’t say something obvious; just focus on the coronation.”
“Right, right.”
Brigitte slowly rose, and Yuma stood beside her.
Brigitte opened the waiting room’s door.
She then pulled aside the curtain leading to the stage.
The place Brigitte chose for the coronation was, in the end, the same spot where the first emperor of the Brigitte Empire declared himself emperor.
It was the same place where Princess Brigitte was declared the first Empress of the Astes Empire.
The spot where the War King Ikeras von Astes was born.
Right in front of the grand palace, at the so-called “Cross of Glory” in the heart of the capital.
In a location all the citizens of the empire could see.
And because of that, countless guards were stationed.
A lofty platform with protective artifacts set up on three sides stood tall.
That platform was where Brigitte would stand.
Thud— Thud—
The knights trotted forward.
With their spears held high.
The military band beat the drums.
Thud— Thud—
The red flags with golden borders, symbols of the Astes Empire, fluttered. Inside those flags was a golden crown surrounded by a spiraled circle.
Behind the numerous knights, a golden carriage rolled forth. Inside that carriage was First Princess Brigitte.
“Here comes First Princess Brigitte!!”
“The birth of a new Emperor!”
The voices of the citizens resonated through the Cross of Glory.
Step by step.
Brigitte ascended the glorious platform where the first Emperor of the empire was born. There was no hesitation in her footsteps.
Her white hair flowed elegantly. Draped over a dress blending white and gold was a golden cloak.
Behind Brigitte stood the old Emperor.
With white hair and blue eyes, it was Emperor Agares.
The cheers of the citizens rose again.
Contrary to the rumors that Emperor Agares was frail and that his days were numbered, he stood tall without a hunch.
“Brigitte von Astes, what kind of Emperor will you be?”
A solemn question echoed.
“This empire has never crumbled against anything. Not against enemy invasions. Not against poverty. Not against disease. Nothing has ever toppled this empire. And it will not crumble in the future.”
Brigitte’s voice resonated through the Cross of Glory.
“Whoever dares to threaten the empire will be met with punishment in the mighty name of Astes.”
A calm vow flowed forth.
“For those who believe in and follow me, Brigitte von Astes, only glory will follow.”
The cheers of the citizens boomed.
“In the name of Agares von Astes, ruler of the Astes Empire, I declare.”
The Emperor removed his crown.
“From this moment on, I proclaim Brigitte von Astes as the Emperor of the Empire.”
The crown rose above Brigitte’s head.
“Let that vow be proven before the citizens of this empire.”
A new Emperor had ascended.
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