Chapter 55

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Translator: Harry Potta
Chapter: 55
Chapter Title: The Wise and Virtuous King
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#55

Lucy slowly extended her hand.

Whees, who had been gazing down at her, lifted her hand and brought his beak to its back.

It was a bit too ambiguous to be called a kiss, but the meaning was unmistakable. Whees murmured in a low voice.

“Congratulations on your ascension to the throne. I wanted to be the first to congratulate you, and I am honored to have the chance.”

“Thank you, Whees. Your contribution was significant.”

“Not at all. I hope you have a day as radiant as your beautiful self. I will see you later, then.”

Whees turned and left, his expression stiff. The slight twitch at the corner of his eye made him seem shy, but the atmosphere was such that Lucy felt she shouldn't tease him, so she silently watched his retreating back.

She left the inner palace and joined Zen. With every step, the clamorous atmosphere seeped into her skin.

The murmurs, mixed with excitement and anticipation, reached a crescendo upon arriving at the hall.

Lucy passed a flushed Marquess Rutherford whose cheeks were trembling, Count Bubehol who was stroking his white beard, and Duke Kill who watched her with an enigmatic expression. She walked toward the man waiting for her just below the dais.

“You have arrived.”

Walter, who had been standing sideways, shifted only his eyes to glance at her and offered a whispered greeting.

His hair was neatly slicked back, a black coat was draped over his dark gray uniform, and he stood with his sword planted on the floor, both hands resting on the pommel.

His impeccably mature appearance was a perfect match for his title as the Grand General of Parnas.

Lucy raised an eyebrow and let out a faint, ambiguous smile.

Normally, the Three Ducal Ministers would greet the new monarch together before the dais, but now only Walter, serving as the acting Grand Marshal, was there to receive her.

Walter had lamented quietly that having to recite the blessings alone might look shabby, but his presence alone was more than enough to fill the roles of three people.

*Men really are all about their looks.*

One handsome man standing there is far more effective than a hundred ordinary ones.

Feeling the gazes of the crowd on her back, she stepped onto the dais.

The officiants, who had been standing like decorations behind the dais, tilted the cloths they held, creating strange shapes. From somewhere, the clear tones of bells and chimes spread, and one by one, the officiants opened their mouths to recite the congratulatory address.

In the solemn atmosphere, all the nobles bowed their heads, paying homage to the new monarch. The final bell chime faded, and as if on cue, Walter took a deep breath and raised his voice.

“To the new master of Parnas, may you be the brilliant light that illuminates the starless night.”

His distinct pronunciation spread softly through the hall. Then, like a round, other voices followed.

“To the new master, may you have the clear wisdom to dispel the darkness before you.”

“And the blessed prosperity to reap the seas from a single seed.”

The lords, who had been bowing, recited the words in place of the Grand Minister of Education and the Grand Tutor. At this signal, monks of the Nameless God ascended the dais one by one and surrounded Lucy.

The coronation ceremony began with the highest-ranking priest of the temple, an old man known only as the Second Priest, standing before her and reciting a blessing.

Unlike the other monks in their gray robes, the old man wore a white vestment and applied red cinnabar to the corners of Lucy’s eyes to ward off evil.

“Arsinoe Thea Neoparnas, the 19th ruler of Parnas. In recognition of your sagacity and wisdom in protecting the royal bloodline, the Nameless God bestows upon you the title of Wise and Virtuous King.”

Wise and Virtuous King.

Lucy’s eyes twitched upon hearing the royal title.

*It would have sounded cooler if they’d gone with something easier to understand, like the Wise Queen or the Sagacious Queen.* As if oblivious to her agitation, the priest unrolled a scroll and began to read its contents in a slow voice.

The coronation did not take long. The priest read the document and instructed her to repeat after him as he muttered something in an ancient language. With a serious expression, Lucy did as she was told, then received the royal scepter and crown.

*It’s lighter than I thought.*

The crown, which she had expected to be heavy, was about the same weight as a tiara. The scepter wasn't very heavy either.

Lucy stared at the scepter in her hand with a complex expression.

Did the weight of the throne feel so light because she had seized it herself, rather than having it thrust upon her?

Or was it because she was still ignorant and had yet to realize its true weight?

Or perhaps… was it a matter of the heart?

Ascending the throne was merely a means to an end. It was a position she had chosen to drive her opponent into checkmate.

But now that she wore the crown, she wondered if this was truly all right.

Was it right to use this vast kingdom for her own selfish desires?

Killing that man had been her life's ambition, but to start a war or act rashly just to bring about his downfall…

“Hmm.”

*I wonder.*

During her time at the command headquarters, Lucy had observed the life of the Royal Army, half by choice and half by force. She had also diligently studied the organization and key figures of the administration to prepare for governing.

What she learned was that a great many people worked for the sake of the country.

Parnas, which from the outside seemed to run on the royal family alone, was in reality a massive rickshaw pulled by the strength of countless individuals.

If this was the case just looking at the internal workings, adding the ordinary people living under the nation's protection meant that an unimaginably vast number of lives supported the very foundation of the royal family.

Though her bloodline was tenuous, she had been born a royal of sorts, and having risen to become the Crown Princess, she thought she understood the immense impact her words could have.

But actually holding the symbol of authority itself was a completely different feeling.

Before, her words could sway people's joys and sorrows; now, a single word could determine the life or death of multitudes.

Only then did Lucy realize the weight of the throne.

“Did that madman know all this and still start a war?”

She thought of Crown Prince Alex. The man who ruled a nation even larger than Parnas, yet started wars without hesitation.

At this point, she was almost impressed by his ability to charge forward for his beliefs, with no regard for the lives of his people.

Then again, the line between a tyrant and a virtuous ruler is paper-thin. If you sacrifice a thousand soldiers to kill ten thousand enemies, most will call you a hero, not a murderer.

History is written by the victors.

Even if he was a crazed racist trying to eradicate the Raphi and Lycans, as long as he won, he would be painted as a benevolent king.

She looked up at the ceiling with an annoyed expression, then lowered her gaze. All the subjects were waiting with eager faces for her to speak.

“Ah.”

The first royal decree.

They were waiting for the first command immediately following the coronation, which had now become a tradition.

Even though it was a royal decree, it was merely symbolic, usually a lighthearted joke to liven up the atmosphere. The 18th king, her predecessor, had ordered wine to be brought for an immediate toast, and the 17th king had declared that drinking in the gardens was permitted for the day of the coronation.

Lucy moistened her lower lip and scanned the crowd.

*Right. I should issue a light command.*

“From this day forth, I shall withdraw from politics.”

The fervent heat of the hall, so intense it seemed to shimmer, instantly turned ice-cold, as if doused with frigid water.

Fortunately, most of them reacted with incomprehension. Before the shock could ripple through the crowd, Lucy quickly continued.

“And I intend to revive the position of Chancellor, which was abolished over a century ago. Barring special circumstances, I will not interfere in domestic affairs. Therefore, the lords and all officials, great and small, are to consult the Chancellor, who will act in my stead, on matters of state. Furthermore, the Chancellor shall take responsibility for running the country and contribute to the prosperity of my reign.”

With a rustle of her robes, Lucy descended from the dais. She stopped before Duke Kill and extended her empty hand.

*“Do you perhaps intend to reinstate Duke Kill as a lord?”*

Marquess Rutherford’s question came to mind.

Restoring Duke Kill to his position as a lord wouldn't have been a bad idea, but she was still annoyed that if he had just obeyed her from the start, there would have been no need for this unnecessary rebellion and trouble.

And he had made things difficult for her by getting a three-month suspension.

Was that all?

He had gone out of his way to cause her trouble and make her work, while Goedel Kill himself had enjoyed a leisurely life at the temple. Lucy’s conclusion was that this old man deserved to suffer a bit more.

*He wanted to be king anyway, so let him try being something like a king. That old coot.*

“I look forward to working with you, Chancellor Kill.”

Lucy smiled even more brightly at the Duke, who was staring at her hand with a bewildered expression.

⚜ ⚜ ⚜

“She’s truly a madwoman.”

Kill muttered, tilting a wine bottle to his lips.

His face had been flushed red throughout the ceremony, and he had kept a hand on the back of his neck. The moment the coronation ended, he grabbed the servants by their collars and demanded they bring him alcohol.

Then, casting aside his usual refined demeanor, he plopped down on the steps of the dais where the ceremony had taken place and began drinking straight from the bottle.

Rutherford and Bubehol, who stood by watching him, were caught in a deep dilemma: should they stop his undignified behavior, or should they join him for a drink?

Fortunately, the hall, now emptied of the crowd, contained only them and a few servants left to clean up. Marquess Rutherford lifted the hem of her dress and sat down awkwardly beside Kill.

“I would like to advise you to refrain from such disrespectful words toward Her Majesty… but I cannot deny that it was a rather bewildering proclamation. Did she not give you any hint beforehand, Your Grace?”

“If she had, do you think I’d be sitting here like this? Do you know what that woman said to me before she left?”

“Didn’t it end with her saying she looked forward to working with you?”

“As if.”

His eyes, staring at the wine, were calm. But the deep downturn of his lips betrayed his twisted state of mind.