“My goodness.”
The moment the boy clutching the insignia surfaced above the water, the vast lake transformed into the temple’s altar.
“Your Holiness!”
The priests, looking at the three people who appeared in between, tensed up. Kailus, Siani, and Redian, who unconscious and cradled in the woman’s arms.
“So it has come to this.” Kailus realized the lake had closed, and they had returned to reality as the scene changed instantly.
“Well done, Redian.”
“…”
His gaze landed on the woman. She was slowly stroking the boy’s wet hair. Those eyes were full of conviction, and the smile was as if she knew everything.
As Kailus stepped back and watched,
“…”
Redian slowly opened his eyes.
“Are you okay, Redian?”
His still vacant blue eyes, not fully conscious, drifted before settling on the woman.
“…Master.”
The previously cold and eerie gaze softened in an instant. Even in a state where dream and reality were mixed, he recognized her.
“Indeed…”
Kailus was certain there was something between them. No mere human could possibly wield influence over one who had ruled over hell and been the king of the devil world. Even he, a high priest, had not been able to kill that being, who now looked at a mere human with such eyes.
“Thank you for returning, Rere.”
Now, Kailus’s focus was fixed on Siani. A being who could handle the incarnation of a devil and tame that ferocious soul…
Who is this woman?
Kailus spoke as he watched Redian, who had just awoken, clutching her hand as if it were salvation. “As a high priest conveying the will of the goddess, I declare to the whole continent.”
The lake did not turn black. The boy had returned holding the insignia.
“Theia, the protector of the empire, has granted this boy the imperial insignia…”
Though their true nature was still uncertain, the outcome before him was enough.
“Our temple, in obedience to the solemn command of the deity, pledges allegiance to His Royal Highness, the Crown Prince.”
So, it had to be accepted.
“Please accept our blood and souls, Your Royal Highness.” Kailus knelt on one knee before Redian.
“Salute.” Then, the senior priests also bowed their heads to the ground.
It was the return of Redian Hyu Rixon, who would be the ninth emperor of Meteora.
* * *
Throughout the ceremony, tension flowed among the crowds surrounding the castle and square.
“Is it almost over?”
“Less than an hour left. The ceremony only lasts for a day.”
Blue light would flutter from the temple’s tower once the successor was decided after the ceremony.
“It seems it will end like this.”
Dawn broke, and morning came, but…
“It’s impossible that the empress would have lied.”
No participant returned, and there was no movement from the temple.
“Even if the late royal princess’s son is alive, the goddess might not have permitted it.”
The people’s expectations turned to disappointment, then to resignation.
“Look there!”
“My goodness!”
Someone’s shout drew numerous gazes.
“Impossible.”
From the tower, a blue radiance was indeed spreading.
“His Royal Highness the Crown Prince has returned!”
The light that overwhelmed the air spread as if embracing the entire empire.
“The goddess has granted Meteora a successor!”
“Long live the Rixon imperial family!”
Everyone staring at the brilliant light shuddered. The sweet scent, the gentle yet clear flow, the sky dyed blue. People knelt, their faces mixed with cheers and emotion.
“Long live His Royal Highness the Crown Prince!”
Cheers of ‘Long live’ echoed everywhere the goddess’s light spread. Heads bowed throughout the vast territory in reverence for the returned crown prince.
“Oh my gosh, look there! Looks like Redian must have succeeded!”
“Kyaa!”
The imperial family, who had been watching all night, also cheered. As Moriana and the empress hugged each other and jumped for joy.
“Oh, goddess.”
Tears welled up in the emperor’s eyes as he covered his mouth. The boy, thought to be fated for death, had returned.
“…Thank you.”
It was all the will of the goddess.
* * *
Redian, who had lost consciousness, was moved to the imperial palace.
“To think we would be connected by such a fate.”
In the meantime, I faced the emperor in the parlor connected to Redian’s bedroom.
“From the day Princess and I met, it must have been destiny, not coincidence.” The emperor’s face had become haggard, perhaps tense throughout the ceremony.
“Congratulations, Your Majesty.”
The emperor smiled at my words. Though trying to hide his emotions, it was clear his smile was sincere.
“Princess, you must know about Redian’s birth and his past.”
“…Yes.”
His expression soon turned troubled. “I wonder if Redian will believe it was unavoidable.” It was a voice laden with long-held guilt.
“Now, whether he can truly pledge loyalty to this imperial family and empire, regardless of the reason he was abandoned….”
Revealing Redian’s identity was a blessing, but what followed would undoubtedly be challenging.
“During the ceremony, I also had a conversation with Duke Felicite.”
Thus, despite the joy, the emperor seemed worried about various matters.
“The duke honestly told me everything about where and how Redian was rescued and what happened in the underground castle.”
The duke, who had been waiting for the outcome in the palace, must have hurried back to his estate. To prepare for the departure of Crown Prince Redian Hyu Rixon.
“Listening to the duke, that temperament of his….” The emperor trailed off.
He must have been shocked. From the emperor’s perspective, having only seen Redian following me, that was understandable. After all, thinking back to Redian before he met me or the original character in the story…
“But even I noticed he seems to rely on and follow Princess quite a bit.” Suddenly changing his expression, the emperor looked at me intently. “Accepting to participate in this crown prince ceremony was also by the Princess’s will, wasn’t it?”
It wasn’t a wrong statement. But with all the lives I’ve experienced, why he was laying the groundwork and what he was about to say next made me tense.
“Of course, at the time, he was merely my knight…”
“So, how about Princess taking care of Redian, no, the crown prince, for about a year?”
“Cough, cough.” I almost spit out the tea I was holding.
I was willing to do a handover in good faith, but to take care of him for a year? Just when dazzling freedom was within my reach?!
“No, Your Majesty.”
“Well, since Redian hasn’t officially ascended as crown prince yet, perhaps the title of aide might be a bit too much.” But the emperor continued as if he hadn’t heard my answer. “How about being a tutor for the royal prince and royal princess? After all, Redian is also of royal prince status, and if you could also take on Moriana’s education, it would be perfect.”
Perfectly ridiculous…
“Your Majesty, I appreciate your high regard for me, but.” I smiled as I pulled out my skills for a polite refusal. “The crown prince, no, His Royal Highness should receive education befitting his status. I am not suitable for such a role, and…”
My gaze was firmer than ever.
“Now that His Royal Highness has changed status, he is far above and more distinguished than I. While we were in a master and knight relationship, it’s not appropriate for him to follow me as before, given the change in status.”
Indeed, when Redian was my knight, I was his master. But now that Redian has become the crown prince, I should be the one bowing down to him. It was wishful thinking on the emperor’s part to expect Redian to follow me as in the past.
“Thus, His Royal Highness will likely keep his distance from me now.” Saying this made me feel slightly, just slightly bitter.
I wanted him to rise above all this time.
How would Redian, now awake, accept our relationship, which had been reversed overnight?
“You should come when I say come and go when I say go.”
“Even if you’ve come up from the underground castle and gotten closer to me, our relationship remains unchanged.”
My past actions towards Redian quickly flashed through my mind. Am I being avenged?
“Therefore, Your Majesty, please retract that command. How could I possibly take care of His Royal Highness, the Crown Prin-”
“Oh dear, Your Royal Highness, you’ve just woken up; you shouldn’t be doing this!”
It was just then.
What’s this?
A commotion arose from the bedroom connected to the parlor. As the emperor and I turned our gazes,
“…Master.” Redian, having woken up and immediately sought me out, halted his steps. The pale, sharp gaze softened upon seeing me.
“My apologies, Your Majesty. The moment His Royal Highness woke up, he urgently sought out the princess.” The attendants who had hurriedly followed him tried to explain.
“You’ve awakened, Your Royal Highness.”
The thought that I needed to calm Redian first flashed through my mind.
“First, let’s greet His Majesty the Emperor.”
“I thought you had left me behind, Master.” Redian, rushing over, knelt on one knee before me.
Huh?
For the first time in my life, I could feel the emperor looking at me and Redian as if telling me to treat him as if he didn’t exist.
This shouldn’t be happening, right?
His gaze was too intrigued.
“But…”
Suddenly, Redian’s gaze, which had turned ice-cold in an instant, was directed at the emperor.
“What were you discussing with this man?”
This man is not just anyone. Redian, he’s the emperor, your great-uncle…
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