Chapter 268 : Chapter 268
Chapter 268 : O King, May You Enjoy an Era of Peace and Prosperity
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CLOP—! CLOP—!
A flagbearer holding the banner symbolizing the Aleos family galloped out of the castle gates. It was already the sixth one in a row.
"Wow."
Watching this, Edard could not help but gape in awe. Growing up under a father who owned a fairly large ranch, he had seen all sorts of fine horses. Even to his eyes, the horses that had just passed were top-tier steeds that one would be lucky to see even once in a lifetime.
"Goodness, what on earth is happening for such precious beasts to appear all at once......" Edard muttered blankly while going through the procedures for his exit pass.
The gate captain replied, "Heh heh. You've been so focused on chasing the holy light that you've grown blind to the dark affairs of the mundane world, Priest Edard."
"Excuse me? What do you mean by that?"
The gate captain gazed casually at the receding back of the flagbearer. He added in an indifferent tone, "In half a month. His Majesty the King's coronation ceremony will be held."
Edard's eyes widened in surprise.
"Excuse me?! I-Is that really true?"
"Why are you so surprised?"
"B-Because it's so sudden! It's already been four years since he ascended the throne, and to hold a coronation ceremony now......"
"Well, who knows. This time, the scale itself is different. They say it's going to be held on a massive scale by opening the royal palace entirely to the commoners."
"EHHHH—!?"
Edard unwittingly let out a scream. Startled, the captain gritted his teeth and mimed kicking Edard's backside.
"Hey, you punk! You'll make my ears fall off!"
"No, but there's never been a precedent like this! Even if it's done publicly, they usually do it in the plaza, but opening the royal palace......!"
"How should I know? Anyway, they must have kept their mouths completely shut to prepare for any unforeseen variables, which is why the schedule ended up so tight. That's why they're even mobilizing steeds like those to send messengers. In any case, it looks like only we will be working our fingers to the bone for a while, tsk."
As if simultaneously fed up, the two men shook their heads. In the first place, the affairs of their superiors were beyond their realm of understanding.
"Anyway, what on earth brings you here?"
The gate captain's gaze moved to the long line of wagons strung out behind Edard. There were no fewer than eight wagons, each drawn by an ox bearing a yoke. Every wagon was packed tightly with oak barrels and wooden crates.
"A one-month travel pass. Usually, it never exceeds half a month at most, but are you planning to go all the way to Conwell this time?"
The gate captain approached the wagon and sniffed. The salty smell of cured meat seeping through the gaps in the crates and the heavy volume of tightly sealed grain sacks were extraordinary.
"Haha, oh, Captain. Even if it's me, if I tried to go to Conwell, I'd probably be robbed completely bare by bandits before I even reached the Central Region."
Edard replied affably and grabbed the reins of the lead horse.
"I'll be back, Captain. Though I don't know if I'll be able to see the coronation ceremony."
However, Edard did not return by the day Philinus II's coronation ceremony was held.
RUMBLEEE—
The royal palace, which had always been firmly closed under strict security, opened wide.
The citizens of the Imperial Capital, who had been waiting outside, poured in.
Only when the palace gates opened could they finally see the Pantheon rising like a massive mountain range at the edge of the horizon.
A belated rumor spread that it had emptied all the quarries in the Kingdom. Truly, its facade finished in white marble reflected the sunlight, shining blindingly.
"Wow, it feels like we've entered a completely different world."
Every single citizen who entered could not close their mouths. The very texture of the air was different.
"To think a building could be this huge, it's somehow scary."
Truly, there was nowhere to rest one's eyes. Everywhere they looked, it was nothing but wondrous. From the overall framework to every intricate relief, it flaunted the royal family's authority and cutting-edge technology.
"Mom! Look at this! My voice echoes! Ah—ah—ah—!"
"Keep quiet, you punk! If you make a racket here, simply getting kicked out won't be the end of it!"
The children's boisterous shouts quickly scattered into the dizzying ceiling above. Even craning their necks to look up, the ceiling seemed endless, and the walls and floor were entirely paved with smoothly polished marble.
Throughout the passageways stood square stone pillars rising as if to pierce the ceiling. The four sides of each pillar, illuminated by magic tool lighting, were packed tightly with golden epitaphs commemorating the achievements of the previous kings. It was an obelisk where reception was permitted only to commoners who could not enter the deep cemetery.
"The will of heaven has reached the earth, forming an unbroken river of bloodlines—"
The solemn ceremony began. The Chief Scholar's seasoned voice echoed against the vast walls of the Pantheon, making the atmosphere somber.
The citizens, who had been incredibly excited, all held their breath and gazed at the podium with reverent postures.
"Today, the star of Aleos shall shine from the highest place once again."
Right in the center of the ceiling of the hall where the coronation ceremony was held, a massive circular skylight was pierced through. Through that gap, the midday sunlight poured down vertically like a divine revelation. The pouring sunlight scattered blindingly over the colorful marble.
"Under the witness of all gods, welcome the master of the new era."
With the central podium where the Chief Scholar, high-ranking officials from all walks of life, and Philinus II were positioned at the center, the seats for the invited nobles and the standing room for the citizens surrounded it in a massive circle.
The gazes of those thousands of people finally gathered on one spot.
"O King, may you enjoy an era of peace and prosperity."
The Chief Scholar solemnly proclaimed. Holding the crown with both hands, he carefully placed it atop the King's head.
Tap.
Philinus II opened his closed eyes. As he slowly straightened his bent knee and rose, the crimson ceremonial cloak spread out behind him billowed like a massive carpet down to the bottom of the stairs.
"It has been a long wait. Behold! This is the order of Aleos. Since heaven has permitted this crown to Us, no one shall be able to obstruct Our will any longer."
Philinus II raised one hand high. He slowly swept his gaze over the crowd filling the hall of the Pantheon.
Drunk on a sense of victory, his gaze suddenly met squarely with Adeline in the audience seats.
At that moment, Philinus II's eyebrows twitched. Something surged up vehemently inside him. His voice grew even more impassioned.
"Submit! Only then is the sole way for you to enjoy an era of peace and—"
Philinus II, who had been shouting fiercely, suddenly stopped his declaration.
TRICKLE.
A streak of blood trickled down his forehead.
"……Huh?"
That was just the beginning. From beneath the rim of the crown, dark red blood poured down in streams as if a dam had burst.
The streaks of blood flowing down his face spread eerily like fine cracks on a shattered bowl.
"W-W-What is this? What's going on? Blood......?"
Philinus II muttered in bewilderment. He frantically scrubbed his face with his palms. When he opened his hands again, they were damp with bright red blood.
The Chief Scholar, who had placed the crown on his head, froze like a stone statue, the whites of his eyes showing. The staff he dropped clattered loudly against the marble floor.
"U-Uh......?"
Philinus II's lips twitched.
Soon, screams and gasps of horror blanketed the entire Pantheon.
"A-A curse! It's the curse of the crown!"
Starting with someone's shout, profane words erupted chaotically from here and there. The terror filling the area was beyond control. Even the guards retreated, trembling with the spears in their hands.
"Aaaaaaaaagh!"
Soon, an animalistic scream erupted from Philinus II's mouth. The intense pain that washed over him belatedly was beyond imagination. The sensation of the crown's thorns tightening around his head, wriggling like living creatures and digging deep into his skull, was vividly real.
"Hurry, His Majesty......!"
"A-A doctor! Hurry, call a doctor!"
Shouts flew back and forth over the chaotic podium, but no one dared to approach easily.
It was not even an external attack. Faced with the incomprehensible sight of a crown mangling its master's head, everyone's minds went completely white.
'……!'
Adeline and Gunt were similarly frozen. The two of them stared at the sight without a single movement from their respective spots.
"Your Majesty!"
Just then, someone approached Philinus II. It was the Chief Attendant, Ternien.
"P-Palace Official! Save me! P-Please......! I'm scared!"
Ternien struggled frantically to remove the crown. The more she did, the louder Philinus II's screams grew.
"Sto-o-op! Aaaaagh! It hurts! I said it hurts!"
Ternien's face turned completely pale. With blood spurting over the King's head, she too was on the verge of fainting.
It was then.
Zisair, who had approached the King's side at some point, reached out his hand and struck the crown away.
CRUNCH!
It was instantaneous. A sound akin to flesh tearing rang out. Immediately after, a long streak of blood soared into the air. At the end of the arc traced by the blood, the blood-soaked crown and Zisair's hand flew together.
CLINK, CLINK, CLINK, CLINK, CLINK—
Drops of blood splattered across the white marble. Along that path, the crown rolled, making a clear, ringing sound.
The crown bumped against the tip of Adeline's toe and stopped.
"W-What is this......!"
Philinus II was out of his mind, having already lost his sanity. The pain had subsided, but it felt as if his breath would stop at any moment. It was a miracle he had not frothed at the mouth and fainted.
The thousands in the crowd did not move an inch. Everyone held their breath and watched the King flailing on the blood-soaked marble.
"……!"
Philinus II's eyes widened as if they would tear apart. Right before his eyes, a severed hand lay there, as if someone had purposefully placed it.
"Uwaaaah!"
While still sitting, he desperately dragged his bottom to back away. However, slipping on the spilled blood, he tumbled backward disgracefully, and as he frantically tried to stand up, his foot caught on his long ceremonial cloak, causing him to fall over again. His once-splendid formal attire was miserably stained with dark red blood.
His eyes welled with hot tears. Unbearable sorrow and terror washed over him.
"……!"
Philinus II's mouth gaped open blankly. Through his blurry vision filled with tears, a figure took shape.
"Adel......?"
Before he knew it, she was standing on the blood-stained podium, looking down at him.
Holding the crown with both hands.
"N-No......! D-Don't do that......!"
Philinus II hurriedly reached out his hand, but it was already too late.
Adeline placed the bloodstained crown atop her own head without hesitation.
BONG—! BONG—! BONG—! BONG—! BONG—!
Just in time, the sound of bells rang out from afar. It was a celebratory salute Philinus II had ambitiously prepared to sound at the moment the coronation ceremony concluded successfully.
"Ah!"
"L-Light......!"
Instantly, loud voices erupted from among the crowd. It wasn't just one or two. Without knowing who was first, they let out consecutive exclamations.
"……!"
Philinus II rubbed his eyes continuously. Suddenly, a bright light filled his vision.
"Ah......"
The sunlight pouring down through the window in the ceiling was embracing Adeline.
As if this person alone were the master of the holy light.
Under that sacred protection, the crown, having found its true master, emitted a brilliant radiance as if resonating with the sunlight.
Regardless of status, everyone watching was captivated. The overwhelming sense of awe was enough to naturally sap the strength from their legs.
"……No! No! I said noooo!"
Philinus II shook his head frantically and shrieked. As he backed away, pushing the blood aside with his bottom, his fingertips brushed against something. It was Zisair, who had saved him and fainted.
"C-Chief Official? Chief Official! W-Wake up......! Hurry, open your eyes right now! Do something about that bitch quickly, please......!"
He clenched his blood-stained fists and pounded mercilessly on Zisair's chest. But Zisair did not budge, just like a dead man. To see his only lifeline lying there so indifferently was enough to drive him mad with resentment.
Biting his lower lip until it bled, Philinus II looked around.
Only then did the government officials cowering around the podium, merely reading the room, enter his sight.
A surge of anger boiled up inside him. To think that they had been so arrogant when acting as parasites on his and Zisair's power, and now they were all acting like a bunch of soulless idiots, at a loss for what to do.
"You bastards! You damn bastards! Are you just going to stand there and watch?! Drag that bitch down this instant! Hurry!"
At his enraged shout, not only the ministers of the Imperial Capital but also the guards stationed around them flinched. But no one readily stepped forward.
"Can't you see her committing open treason?! You retarded bastards!"
He pointed at Adeline with a hand smeared in blood.
"Hurry! Hurry and capture that traitor and kill her! Right now!"
His furious roar echoed emptily. As the unresponsive silence dragged on despite his desperate cries, the strength slowly drained from his body.
"……"
That very Adeline stood motionless, gazing down at him intently.
Perhaps it was because of those haughty eyes. Philinus II suddenly felt a chill.
CLANK, CLANK.
Philinus II's eyes widened at the metallic sound coming from behind Adeline. It sounded like the bells of salvation.
"Ludsilla!"
The Commander of the Imperial Capital Knight Order stood side by side next to the traitor. The sight of that dignified figure once again brought hot tears to his eyes.
Why had he neglected such a loyal subject until now? In the brief moment when piercing regret and a sense of relief mixed together—
"……?"
Philinus II's face began to contort with complex and subtle emotions. As if all his facial muscles were desperately struggling, they twitched simultaneously.
"……John?"
Gunt, who appeared right after, also stood purposefully by Adeline's side.
Soon, the King's face turned ashen. His lips turned purple and chatted.
The Commander of the Imperial Capital Knight Order and the Commander of the Imperial Magic Corps stood firmly, as if protecting the traitor wearing the crown.
Adeline spoke quietly.
"Are you done barking?"
The Empress's mouth curled up in a smirk.