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The new year had begun, and it was currently January 2021.
On the day of the Imperial Election, Angelica Sacrament awaited the election results in the VIP chamber of Andal’s royal castle. 12 years had passed since her father’s death, and finally, this day had come. The day she would become Empress.
She didn’t feel like reading a book, nor did I feel like drinking wine. Not feeling hunger either, Angie simply stared into emptiness, seated in her chair. Footsteps echoed down the carpeted hallway, and the door swung open without a knock.
“Angie-sama! You’ve won the election!” (??)
A young attendant shouted.
“Ah…” (Angelica)Tears of joy threatened to overflow.
“Congratulations… Congratulations.”
The attendant wiped the tears from his eyes with his sleeve. It wasn’t just the young attendant. All her vassals knew. They knew the extent of Angie’s bitter experiences. No matter how many accomplishments she achieved, she was ignored, imprisoned in Altima, subjected to all forms of harassment. Special laws were even enacted to seize taxes from Altima.
Numerous assassination attempts, poison in her water and wine, more than ten lives lost, whether they were tasters or not. Each funeral strengthened Angie’s resolve. When a plague aimed at her spread, she wept while watching her suffering subjects.
Overcoming such hardships, Angie stood here now. She was granted the right to be crowned. With the coronation ceremony, she would become the queen of this country.
Angie rose from her chair and embraced the young attendant.
“Angie-sama…” (??)
“Thank you. It’s thanks to all of you… I’m grateful.” (Angelica)
Her words came from the heart.
—
One month after the Imperial Election.
The coronation ceremony was taking place in the Cathedral of Gilmaresk. It aws once the city where the Imperial Governorate of Tyrellme was located during the era of the Xerxes God-Protected Guard Empire, boasted a cathedral larger than the one in Andal.
“Great late Emperor, Reinicht Sacrament’s child and the lord of the ancient city of Altima, Angelica Sacrament. Under the name of Lord Isus, I confer upon you the crown to rule over the Tyrellme region and the eight northern provinces.” (??)
The Archbishop of Gilmaresk spoke and placed the crown on Angie’s head.
Normally, there would have been about six months’ grace period before the coronation ceremony, during which the Pope would be invited, and in this case, a crown suitable for Angie’s head would be remade. However, chaos ensued in the Papal States after Epitapho Palazzo was taken prisoner, leaving no such opportunity.
Yet Angie was content. The slightly oversized crown was lined with cotton on the inside to fit snugly on Angie’s head. It wouldn’t look inappropriate.
“Holy Empress Angelica Sacrament. Shepherd of the Lamb guided by God. May blessings be upon your reign.” (??)
“I humbly accept the mission from God.” (Angelica)
Then, Angelica stood up.
Swinging the royal scepter, she turned around.
“Angelica Sacrament hereby declares herself the new Empress of Tyrellme!” (Angelica)
As Angie shouted…
“Your Majesty Empress Angelica! Our true ruler! The pure maiden!” (??)
Angie’s subjects cried out, drawing their swords in unison and sheathing them with vigor. The sound of swords rang out like musical instruments.
“We pledge our swords to the one and only! We will risk our lives to protect the Empress!” (??)
As soon as these words were spoken, the orchestra began playing magnificent traditional music. The light from the stained-glass windows was beautiful. Everyone before Angie bowed their heads and lowered their eyes, showing reverence for the new empress at this moment.
It was a glorious coronation ceremony. It felt like the entire country welcomed the arrival of the new empress. It was as if a cold winter had ended, and spring had come.
Then, let’s make it at least a long summer.
That was what Angie thought.
—
And one week later…
“Hey! What do you mean the treasury is empty?!” (Angelica)
Empress Angelica confronted the former Count Divar in the Divar Household’s mansion in Andal. Angie’s soldiers had crowded into the garden and taken control of the mansion. She stood alone and faced Duke Deaver and his son, as she questioned them.
“Now, now, please calm down.” (Leonard)
Leonard Deaver, whose father mistreated, tried to soothe.
Angie was furious.
“Silent!” (Angelica)
She shouted in anger.
“What is happening? You’ve even empty treasury, selling off villas and retreats. What’s the meaning of this?! If you and your son are conspiring, I’ll arrest you for embezzlement!!” (Angelica)
“You will find nothing.” (Leonard)
Leonard remained calm.
“We haven’t done anything.” (Divar)
The former Duke Divar said.
“Like we’d just sit back and do nothing! Who besides you lot can dispose of our property at will? Where did the money from those sales go?” (Angelica)
Angie was furious beyond measure.
What does it mean that even the Imperial treasury is empty?
The treasures there were all of great historical significance, integral to the Sacrament Imperial Family’s history itself. All of that were gone. Moreover, it was said that even the villas and estates had been sold off to others. Even if she used the empress’s authority to reclaim them, they’d naturally demand repayment.
No matter how Angie searched, the immense proceeds from the sales were nowhere to be found. She came back thinking that they had run away, but Divar and his son were still there. She felt like yelling.
“Father, let me explain.” (Leonard)
Leonard said casually, so Angie drew her sword and pointed it at him.
“Speak.” (Angelica)
“We don’t know anything. It was done by Her Majesty the Queen.” (Leonard)
“Then, where is Her Majesty now?” (Angelica)
Of course, Angie had considered that possibility. Apart from remnants of Alfred’s faction, only the Queen and the Divar family remained. Yet, the Queen was nowhere to be found. Not in the royal castle, and the estates and villas had been sold off.
She thought the Queen might have fled abroad, but there were no signs of escape. Normally, someone of her stature fleeing would involve a large entourage and belongings. There was no way she could have disappeared without a trace.
“She’s invited to this house. To a hidden room.” (Leonard)
Leonard said nonchalantly.
Angie frowned.
“In that case, I’ll question the Queen. Where is this hidden room?” (Angelica)
“Talking to her will only lead to unpleasant feelings. Please calm down first.” (Leonard)
“Calm down? How can I!” (Angelica)
In a fit of rage, Ange smashed the vase with his sword.
“Alright, alright, let me speak enough. Even after that, if we’re not pleased with you, you can kill us.” (Leonard)
Saying this, Leonard stood up on his own and poured water into the glass on the table from a water jug. It moistened the throat without any effort.
“…” (Angelica)
Leonard had a sword pointed at him, but neither he nor his father had drawn any weapons. His father was the same.
“You realize it was at my father’s behest that I contacted Your Majesty Angie, correct? It’s a theory for survival during times of turmoil for our household.” (Leonard)
“Of course.” (Angelica)
The Divar Household had been loyal followers of Alfred. Now that Angie had taken over, they couldn’t continue that loyalty without scrutiny. Instead, they would likely investigate past betrayals and hold accountable those found guilty.
However, this would no longer be the case with Leonard on her side and engaging in various activities under the guise of a loyal retainer. Just because she cooperated with them didn’t mean that she had to particularly promote Leonard, but if the previous head of the household retired modestly and Leonard became the head of the household, it would become difficult for her to treat the Divar family harshly.
Angie knew from the beginning that that was what they were aiming for. It was a transparent survival strategy.
“Well, I guess that’s why they didn’t trust me.” (Leonard)
“By the Queen?” (Angelica)
Therefore, the queen was kept in the dark and couldn’t become a criminal. It seemed they weren’t involved, but it was not understandable.
“It’s because of Alfred-sama. He is still alive.” (Leonard)
The shock of black lightning pierced the back of my mind.
Still alive? It can’t be.
“That’s ridiculous. What was that bloodstained battle dress?” (Angelica)
Unable to trust Leonard’s words, Angie verified it herself. Sure enough, the same clothes that Alfred had worn were there, blood-stained. The hole pierced by the spear was also there.
“I’m sorry about that. But I also believed at the time.” (Leonard)
Her whole body started to tremble slightly. Her skin and spine bristled, and her waist seemed to collapse. If no one was here, she might have collapsed and been stunned for a while.
“We noticed it just a week ago. When we interrogated the queen and couldn’t make sense of it, we searched her room and found it.” (Leonard)
Leonard received a piece of paper from his father and handed it to Angie. Angie took it with trembling hands. The paper was torn into four pieces and repaired by attaching another sheet to the back.
“If that whore returns, don’t let anyone know about it. That pig will obstruct the payment of the ransom.”
It was written that way. It was certainly her brother’s handwriting. Even if she tried to read any further, her eyes would just slide over the words and I couldn’t read.
“The ransom is 7 million Kushapeni gold coins. It’s an exorbitant amount, but that’s not the issue. The question is why the Shaalta Kingdom kept his survival a secret until now.” (Leonard)
“…” (Angelica)
The reason is obvious. Why did they go to the trouble of sending those clothes and faking his death when he was alive?
“No matter how you look at it, it was to pit him against Empress Angie… In other words, they purposely let the coronation take place and let you remain in power until you gain power within the country.” (Leonard)
If news of his survival had spread before the coronation, the coronation would have been postponed, even if it was after the electoral election. If it had been before the election, the election itself would not have taken place. The election was held because the war clothes with a hole in the chest were delivered. Such a thing can easily be faked.
What nonsense about delivering a rotten corpse being creepy. He was alive.
Angie felt like punching her past naive self.
“The reason for the delay in the prisoner exchange is also because of this. If he didn’t die in battle, the soldiers would obviously have seen Alfred-sama being taken prisoner. Considering that…” (Leonard)
Leonard sighed deeply.
“The enormous amount the Queen paid to the Albio Republic… 3.21 million Kushapeni gold coins. It didn’t even reach half of the 7,000,000, but it’s not like he won’t return until the full amount is paid. Alfred-sama will be released when the time is right.” (Leonard)
The “right time” would be when Angie had grown into a force capable of opposing him. A civil war couldn’t last long unless the forces were balanced.
With that in mind, Leonard was right. The 3.21 million Kushapeni gold coins paid were a waste. Whether the Queen paid 100 coins or 7 million, Alfred would be released at the worst possible time for Angie.
However, the Queen believed her husband would not be released until she paid the 7,000,000 coins, and even though she had information that could prevent the coronation, she didn’t speak up, instead liquidating the country’s assets one by one to raise the money. If she had spoken and stopped Angie’s coronation, the payment of the ransom would have been obstructed in return. In that case, her husband would never be freed.
Even if Alfred’s survival was exposed and Angie’s coronation was delayed, there was no obligation to release him as long as the 7,000,000 coins were not paid. No matter how hard she tried, it would be delayed by 1 or 2 years. Even if the coronation was prevented, Angie would have gained power during those 1 or 2 years.
When the time was right, releasing Alfred would result in him fighting Angie and causing a civil war. As long as Angie’s ambition and Alfred’s obsession coexist, Yuri Hou will continue to hold the reins of power.
“Our plans are a complete mess too. Really, Yuri Hou is a truly terrifying person.” (Leonard)
We were dancing in the palm of Yuri Hou’s hand. Perhaps he even allowed her to escape pursuit on purpose.
Would he go this far? Is that man a demon?
“So, what will you do?” (Leonard)
Leonard asked.
“…What do you mean?” (Angelica)
“Here.” (Leonard)
Leonard walked a bit, then took a dagger from a drawer and placed it, sheath and all, on the desk.
“Ah, please don’t use it here. We’ll be killed by the soldiers outside if you do.” (Leonard)
“What are you implying?” (Angelica)
I didn’t understand the meaning.
“If you think about the happiness of the people, it would be most appropriate for you to commit suicide here, Angie-sama.”
Commit suicide?
She understood what Leonard was getting at.
“Are you an idiot?” (Angelica)
But it was too absurd.
“Then, will you go to war with your brother?” (Leonard)
Angie felt rage pierce through her entire body. She wanted to scream. She had been blessed by the entire country during her ascension to the throne. In the past week, she had met various nobles and was in the process of taking control of the army.
She had achieved a grand coronation and was now the empress of the Tyrellme God-Protected Empire. Even during Alfred’s rule, many lords had supported her ever since her father Renitscht ‘s reign, even if they couldn’t say so openly.
If Alfred returned, Angie could assert her current position and deny Alfred’s claim to the throne. However, the result would be a nationwide conflict. Naturally, many soldiers would die, the people would suffer, and the land would be ravaged. The only one to benefit would be Yuri Hou.
If Angie were to plunge this dagger into her chest and take her own life here, none of that would happen. Yuri Hou’s treacherous plans would be thwarted, and Alfred would then have to fight Yuri Hou on his own. The logic of dying makes sense.
No, it doesn’t make sense.
Despised and shunned, she had fought tirelessly, finally becoming the ruler. And the moment she became ruler, she was supposed to achieve nothing, abandon the retainers who had believed in her and followed her, and stab herself in the chest? Then Alfred would return, celebrate Angie’s death, and execute her old retainers.
That’s nonsense.
“――Of course, I’ll fight.” (Angelica)
She didn’t care if she was later scorned as a foolish woman who ravaged her country. If she could avoid that accusation, why did she endure such torment, escaping from that battlefield, as if walking on the brink of hell?
Gustav.
“If I were to choose death here, I would never have desired the throne in the first place.” (Angelica)
The one who should die is my brother. Not me.
Angie made up her mind.
“Then, I, Leonard, will once again pledge my loyalty.” (Leonard)
“I don’t need it.” (Angelica)
She didn’t need it.
“Don’t say that. That mad king will never forgive me for showing loyalty to you. You can trust me.” (Leonard)
Leonard smiled lightly.
“Then, do as you please. If you become a hindrance, I’ll cut you down.” (Angelica)
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