My Slain Dragon Bride

Chapter 270. Godfrey

There was a place Olivia was visiting for the first time in her life.

It was the throne room.

Since it could only be used when the Emperor was present, even Alexander, the Crown Prince and the Emperor’s representative, had not been permitted to enter. As a result, it had remained unused for a long time.

Exactly as long as Olivia had been alive.

"Check the Princess’s appearance once more."

"Yes!"

At the Head Maid’s command, the maids who had been following Olivia once again attended to her appearance.

Even as she waited, voices could be heard coming from inside the throne room.

—It is an honor to behold His Imperial Majesty, the Great Light. How long has it been since Your Majesty last reigned?

—It is truly overwhelming to see the Light of the Empire ascend the throne once more.

The foxes who had been wielding power in the absence of the tiger were now heard flattering him.

Olivia silently recorded the names of the owners of those voices one by one in her mind.

I will have their tongues pulled out and execute them.

’That is that.’

Olivia drew in a deep breath.

She always got out of bed with the mindset that she was stepping onto a stage, but this was the first time she had ever been this nervous.

’Godfrey Arken.’

The man most deeply connected to her sister’s death.

The fundamental reason she had come to hate her own blood relatives.

Despite being such a man, this was the first time Olivia would see the Emperor in person.

He had never shown himself even once since the day she was born.

All she had were the words her sister, Stella Arken, had once spoken.

She had said:

—He wasn’t like a person of this world.

Stella’s expression was still vivid in Olivia’s memory.

Olivia knew what the faces of people looked like when they spoke about fathers who were either strict and distant or incredibly affectionate.

Stella’s face had been neither.

It had been the expression of someone who felt uneasy simply because that existence was there.

For Olivia, questions about Godfrey had never ceased.

What does the father I hate most in this world look like?

And today, at last, she would see it with her own two eyes.

The attendant standing beside her checked her posture once more before opening the door.

In the magnificent throne room, ministers stood in rows along the red carpet, kneeling toward the stairs leading to the throne.

The only person who held his head up with even a little stiffness was Grand Duke Valdemar Golt.

Following etiquette, Olivia did not raise her head and proceeded along the carpet.

Even if he was her blood relative, he was the Emperor.

Standing before the stairs, she lifted the hem of her skirt and bowed her head.

"Olivia Arken offers her greetings to His Imperial Majesty."

After a brief moment, it was Valdemar’s voice that came from above.

"The Princess may raise her head."

Olivia raised her head at those words.

The figure she had been so curious about was finally revealed from behind the veil.

Emotion welled up inside Olivia’s chest.

The sight was utterly repulsive.

The same lethargy she had always felt whenever she looked at Alexander’s body.

It was a body upon which that lethargy had been completely imprinted.

If she had not been wearing the mask she had trained herself to maintain, she might have committed an act of disrespect.

"It is my first time meeting you, Your Imperial Majesty."

"There is no need for formalities. Olivia, am I not your father? Call me Father."

"Your Majesty bears a great and noble name as the legitimate heir. How could I dare to address you in such a manner?"

"I already told you there is no need for that, haha."

Godfrey’s face was filled with emotion.

"That tiny little girl has grown into such a beautiful woman... It truly brings tears to my eyes. I had only heard about it, but you really do look just like your mother."

"As someone who bears the name of House Arken, it is merely the basic duty of this girl to maintain her appearance so as not to cause Your Imperial Majesty any shame."

"Indeed, you are my daughter. It would not be an exaggeration to say that you are a beauty who will bring glory to this nation."

Olivia felt a chill.

Her well-trained political instincts were telling her that something was coming next.

"I heard that you are going to become a Saintess."

"That is correct."

"How astonishing. I heard that despite not being a monk, you serve the God of Light and the Sun, Alte, and have reached the Fifth Enlightenment?"

"This girl must correct you. I have not reached the Fifth Enlightenment. I remain at the Fourth."

"Hm? Then how are you going to advance to the Fifth?"

"May I dare to speak about that matter?"

Just as Godfrey was about to open his mouth, Valdemar interrupted.

"Go ahead, Grand Duke."

"Princess Olivia is currently being sacrificed to the political games of the Alte Religion."

"A scapegoat? What could they possibly want from her?"

"It is because of the unfortunate incidents that have been occurring so frequently lately."

Valdemar’s words continued without pause.

He was pushing the matter so relentlessly that Olivia could not even get a chance to make a single argument.

Olivia unconsciously clenched her fists.

If I could use magic right now, I would twist that man’s neck.

"Oh? So that is what happened?"

Godfrey appeared to have recognized the seriousness of the situation.

Olivia quickly pulled out the cards she had prepared in her mind, ready to persuade him.

"Olivia."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

"Tell me yourself. Do you want this?"

Olivia nodded and answered.

"As the Princess of the Arken Empire, I wish to serve the people. I believe that is the destiny entrusted to me."

"Is that so? Then do it."

"I understand that Your Majesty is also opposed to—... What?"

An unexpected situation had occurred.

Everyone was shocked by those words, but the two most astonished were Olivia and Valdemar.

"Did I not say so? Let her become the Saintess."

"Are you truly serious?"

"Would I say two different things with one mouth? You said it would take place in a month, so proceed with it as planned. That is my will."

Olivia stood there with a blank expression.

Valdemar cleared his throat, attempting to draw Godfrey’s attention.

"Grand Duke. You say she is destined to become a Saintess. How could I, as Emperor, possibly stand in the way of that?"

"It is nothing more than a scheme by the religion. It is explicitly stated that only those who have reached the Fifth Enlightenment can become a Saintess. How could—"

"The life of a member of the Imperial Family is far removed from a life of restraint. So it is not entirely incomprehensible that the religion would make such a claim."

Godfrey continued.

"The Alte Religion is a pillar of the Empire. Do you not understand that the religion responsible for binding the minds of the Imperial subjects together needs power so that they do not tremble in fear?"

"That is true, Your Majesty, but..."

"Do you have anything else to say?"

Valdemar closed his mouth.

He appeared unable to accept the decision easily.

His emotions were swirling violently.

"It seems you have nothing more to say, so allow me to speak."

Even Valdemar, whose authority was immense, could not treat this man carelessly.

Absolute authority.

No matter how utterly incompetent that bastard was, there was no denying that he stood in such a position.

"I will write a congratulatory address for you and support the ceremony. Become the Saintess representing the religion, my daughter."

"I am overwhelmed by Your Imperial Majesty’s boundless grace."

The matter seemed to be proceeding smoothly, yet the tension only grew thicker.

Olivia saw it.

On Valdemar’s face, she saw the most powerful emotion she had ever witnessed from him.

***

One month later, on the day of the Saintess appointment ceremony.

Ferda was staying at a high-class inn in the capital of the Arken Empire.

When he had attended the council, Ferda’s position had been poor, and he had been treated like an unwanted guest.

However, thanks to his continued growth and technological monopoly, the Far East had become a land that attracted considerable attention. As Ferda had emerged as a new power, his position had changed dramatically.

—Would you please stay at my residence and spare me some time for a conversation?

—Please, stay at our house...

Prominent nobles and wealthy magnates throughout the Imperial capital had tried to invite Ferda into their mansions, but he politely declined them all.

Even if he had to stay somewhere, he would rather stay at a cheap inn. He could not sleep in someone else’s house.

’Godfrey Arken...’

The Emperor of the Arken Empire.

He never took even a single step outside his chambers, to the point that people called him the Emperor who slept eternally.

Even the attendants serving him inside were absolutely forbidden from communicating with the outside world. His security was so strict that supplies were delivered through an intermediate passageway in order to minimize external contact.

The attendants were said to be able to see his appearance only after death.

Ferda had once managed to draw such an Emperor out.

After Ferda had forced the Chief Mage of the Arken Empire to submit and displayed his anger toward the Imperial Family, Godfrey Arken had emerged from his chambers.

When Ferda saw him, a feeling of disgust had surged within him.

It was similar to the feeling he had experienced when he first saw Alexander.

Alexander possessed greed beyond his station, and that greed had irritated Ferda.

But Godfrey was on an entirely different level.

The reason this man could not leave his chambers was apparent from his appearance alone.

Blond hair and blue eyes.

Muscles that had deteriorated from lack of movement, along with a protruding belly.

A raccoon-like appearance and a servile smile.

The flattery of a noble member of the Imperial Family trembling before a mere Mage.

Perhaps because it had gone beyond the extreme of ugliness, ironically, Ferda’s anger subsided at the sight.

It felt as though all the murderous rage boiling inside him had evaporated simply because Godfrey’s appearance was so pathetic.

’Why did he come out now?’

The timing was strange.

Even when his second son, Ureas, died, he had not shown himself.

Why had he appeared when Olivia’s becoming a Saintess had officially been confirmed?

’And why... is he writing a congratulatory address for her?’

Young noblewomen were tools for politics.

Olivia had been courted by many young nobles, and she had received such gazes not only from men her own age but even from older men, including married ones.

And the Emperor must already know that Valdemar had feelings for Olivia.

Had the Emperor judged Valdemar’s authority to be inferior to the influence of the Alte Religion?

"The appointment ceremony will begin soon. We must leave for the Imperial Palace now."

Zed, who had been assigned as his attendant, said so.

"Is the carriage ready?"

"Of course."

"Then let us go."

Ferda climbed into the carriage.

Normally, they would have gone straight to the Grand Cathedral where the appointment ceremony was to be held.

However, the unexpected appearance of the Emperor had resulted in an additional ceremony.

"They said it would be an initiation ceremony?"

Ferda asked Garnet, who had already climbed into the carriage.

"That’s right. We’ve received information that it will be conducted according to the rites of the Alte Religion, so that is how it will proceed."

"I suppose we have no choice but to interpret the sudden appearance of the Emperor supporting the religious order."

Garnet nodded in agreement.

"This is on an entirely different level from a simple provocation or warning. It is essentially the same as slapping Grand Duke Valdemar across the face. I can’t believe the first thing the Emperor does after finally showing himself is to spread shit like this..."

Garnet sighed.

Ferda understood the feelings of someone who had to gather and process all that information.

"What do you think Grand Duke Golt will do?"

How would he respond to the Emperor’s sudden interference?

The man who had failed to obtain Stella Arken was now targeting Olivia.

A man who had already lost someone once was bound to become obsessed.

"In my judgment, the Grand Duke will not move recklessly. Having lost both arms, if he acts rashly now, everything will be over for him."

"What if his feelings for Olivia are stronger than that? Couldn’t he make her worthless as a Saintess?"

Grand Duke Valdemar had been skilled at using agitators from the lower classes to spread rumors whenever he wanted things to go his way.

"That will not happen."

"Why?"

"Surprisingly, Grand Duke Golt is trying to protect Olivia’s honor."

The easiest and fastest way to obtain a woman.

Destroy her value by tarnishing her chastity.

The moment something became the subject of gossip, its original value was bound to collapse.

Yet Valdemar had not used such a method.

Did he respect Olivia?

Or was it because he was simply attracted to Olivia precisely because she was valuable?

Or did he believe he could obtain her easily enough without resorting to such methods?

’Regardless, becoming a Saintess won’t make things easy for her.’

Ferda had promised to become Olivia’s patron.

Therefore, it was only right that he support her affairs with everything he had.

"There’s no telling what might happen to Olivia during the ceremony, so keep a close watch on everything."

"I will carry out your orders."

Ferda’s carriage arrived at the Imperial Palace.

Many nobles who had already arrived were seated, waiting only for the Emperor to appear.

A short while later, the instruments of the Imperial Orchestra rang out powerfully.

The balcony doors that had been closed opened, and a man appeared from within.

It was the Emperor Ferda knew well.

Godfrey Arken.

Behind him came Grand Duke Valdemar Golt and his knights, creating a magnificent spectacle.

Every noble rose from their seats and began applauding.

They enthusiastically cheered at the Emperor’s appearance, singing praises of the Arken Empire’s unwavering strength.

The Emperor looked down at the scene with a satisfied smile.

When he raised his hand, the applause and cheers ceased.

He took out the congratulatory address he had written and began reading it.

"From this moment onward, the initiation ceremony for my proud daughter, Olivia, as she leaves the Imperial Family, will—urgh!"

The Emperor’s voice suddenly broke unnaturally.

The nobles who had been quietly listening to his voice looked up at the balcony with confused expressions.

"Uaargh!!"

Then the Emperor’s chest suddenly thrust upward toward the sky.

The buttons holding his clothes together flew off, and something writhed within his chest before emerging.

It was a sight no one could believe.

A silver blade had sprouted from the Emperor’s fat, raccoon-like body.

Covered in bright-red blood, the sword had pierced through him from his back.

The red blood flowing from Godfrey’s mouth proved that the wound was fatal.

Shraaak!

The silver blade tore upward in a red arc as it was pulled free, completely destroying any remaining hope.

The figure revealed through the body, split precisely in half, was unmistakable.

Yet no one could believe what they were seeing.

The owner of that blade was Grand Duke Valdemar Golt.

His back was remarkably straight, making it difficult to believe he was a dying old man.

A blood-covered silver sword was held in his hand, and even the final motion of sheathing the weapon was performed with perfect precision.

With everyone below the balcony as witnesses, he declared:

Grand Duke Valdemar Golt had assassinated the Emperor.

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