Chapter 70

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter: 70

Chapter Title: The Emperor's Recognition

-----------------------------------------------------------------

The Emperor hadn't been waiting behind the curtain from the very start of the banquet.

When Hilia had asked the Emperor to lend her Artanus Hall, she'd made one additional request.

"If it becomes certain that Your Majesty acknowledges me, please grace the banquet with your presence."

"And who decides that?"

"There will be proof so irrefutable that no one can raise any objections."

With those words, Hilia flashed the most confident smile imaginable.

The Emperor knew that smile all too well.

It was the smile of his late wife.

"You're truly such a coward."

"Roxelin, I..."

"Who else would take in a man as cowardly as you if not me?"

And so, the Emperor had given his conditional approval.

"If you show me proof that no one can deny, I'll come."

And Hilia had truly delivered.

Long after the banquet in Artanus Hall had begun...

The Emperor had witnessed the phenomenon from his private chambers in the main palace.

The eclipse of the dragon.

Of course, the Emperor hadn't truly believed that Artanus had blessed Hilia.

But she had accurately predicted a phenomenon that neither the imperial family nor the Magic Tower could foresee.

She had used it to solidify her position and authority beyond anyone's reach.

'With this level of ability and boldness, she'd more than suffice as Crown Princess.'

And that wasn't all.

'This girl might actually make good on her bold claims.'

"I know better than anyone that Your Majesty truly wants to save your son..."

"Give me just one chance. I'll prove I can save your precious son."

The Emperor—no, Walter Estrid—felt hope rising within him for the first time in ages.

That was why.

When Hilia's voice came from beyond the curtain, he smiled genuinely.

"I pay my respects to the great proxy of Artanus and the sole sovereign of the Estrid Empire."

He nodded to the chamberlain who had been waiting at his side.

The curtain parted to the left and right, revealing the bustling Artanus Hall filled with people.

It was the first time since his coronation that the hall had been so crowded.

At the banquet's outset, it had been dominated by influential nobles from the western regions.

Had it remained that way, it would have been hard to say the Emperor's initial condition had been met.

'It would have been only a half-hearted banquet.'

It couldn't have been a proper Artanus Hall banquet.

But now, the hall was filled not just with western nobles, but with aristocrats from across the Empire, including the capital.

No one could claim the banquet was half-hearted or lacking now.

Not even the woman currently sitting as Empress could have achieved this.

The Emperor paid no mind to the assembled crowd bowing their heads in perfect unison.

His gaze was fixed solely on the one person who had orchestrated this moment.

The Emperor rose from the jade throne and descended the steps himself.

He addressed Hilia and Arpad directly, still with heads bowed.

"Raise your heads. Crown Prince. And..."

The Emperor's crimson eyes turned to the one wearing the tiara of moon and stars.

And at last, the title passed his lips.

"...Crown Princess."

Now, no one could say Hilia hadn't been recognized as Crown Princess.

In response, Hilia slowly rose, escorted by Arpad.

The same confident smile she'd worn a month ago when making her bold declaration graced her pink lips once more.

Hilia replied brightly.

"Your gracious presence honors us beyond measure, Your Majesty."

The Emperor chuckled softly as he glanced at his son, who was smiling sincerely for the first time in ages beside her.

And he declared publicly.

"You're a lucky man with your wife, Arpad."

Arpad's brow twitched, but he didn't openly contradict him here.

"...Yes, Father."

To those who knew the tension between father and son, the atmosphere felt astonishingly warm.

Of course, Hilia was quietly sighing in relief.

She poked Arpad in the side.

And shot him a glare.

'Seriously, even in a moment like this, you're going to be so stiff?'

Arpad pretended not to notice.

'This guy, really!'

Just then, the Emperor spoke, preventing Hilia from poking Arpad again.

"Calling me 'Your Majesty' feels a bit too formal."

"Pardon?"

The Emperor smiled warmly and patted Hilia's shoulder.

"Didn't you call me something else at the last banquet?"

What was this about?

Hilia was briefly flustered but soon realized.

'No way, that thing I said last time to rile up the Empress?'

It was hard to believe.

So she asked awkwardly.

"Abba... Mama?"

A gentle smile spread across the Emperor's face.

"...Yes. That sounds nice."

Arpad barely managed to hide his crumbling expression.

But hardly anyone noticed.

Everyone was too shocked.

'The Emperor?!'

'Am I hearing this right?'

'No way!'

At that perfect moment, Grand Duchess Axion interjected seamlessly.

"Your Highness the Crown Prince. Your Highness the Crown Princess. The banquet will soon become a wedding reception. You must receive greetings from all present."

The Emperor chimed in from beside her.

"Quite right, Grand Duchess."

"...Yes, Your Majesty."

Shockingly, the Grand Duchess—who hadn't even looked at the Emperor since the late Empress's funeral—responded graciously.

This bought even more astonishment from those around.

'Those two? Impossible!'

'Is the sun rising from the west twice today?'

'The reason for this sudden change... there's only one.'

Everyone gazed in awe at the Delphin Duchess—no, the woman now beyond anyone's denial as Crown Princess.

'All these miracles have happened since she arrived!'

Moreover, everyone present had witnessed it.

The astonishing miracle.

The golden dragon eclipsing the sun.

It was impossible not to acknowledge her now.

Starting with Grand Duchess Axion, everyone in the hall bowed their heads and knelt in unison.

The hall echoed as if with one voice.

"We pay our respects to Her Highness the Crown Princess."

Hilia received the greeting with her head held high and back straight.

Honestly, I got a little emotional.

When the Emperor called me 'Crown Princess' for the first time.

And in the moment when everyone in the hall greeted me all at once.

A thrilling sense of accomplishment surged through me, and something hot welled up in my chest.

In that instant, it wasn't just the hardships of the past month that came to mind.

Three regressions.

The brutal, miserable deaths and horrific experiences.

Each time, I'd come closest to the Crown Princess position, but I'd never truly claimed it.

But in this moment, I was recognized as the undeniable Crown Princess.

The pain from three regressions couldn't be fully compensated by this.

But just a little, very slightly, it felt like some recompense.

As I raised my head, my eyes met those of the only other person besides the Emperor and Arpad who hadn't bowed.

'Evangeline.'

Or rather, the possessor whose name I didn't even know.

She stared at me in a daze.

And I gave her the brightest smile in the world.

At the same time, I mouthed silently.

I was certain. Evangeline—the possessor—understood what I'd said.

'Look forward to it. This is just the beginning.'

Evangeline's shoulders seemed to flinch.

Kneeling on the floor, Viscountess Pilerun trembled violently.

'W-what do I do? What should I do? If this goes on, I'll...'

That was when Hilia approached her personally.

"You told quite an amusing story earlier, didn't you, Viscountess Pilerun?"

Viscountess Pilerun lifted her pale face.

"Y-Your Highness?"

"Who was I supposedly jealous of, and what did I do? Say it again."

Hilia's flower-like smile felt utterly terrifying.