CHAPTER 491: SIDE STORY - CORONATION CEREMONY (5)

0% “...”

“What did I just hear?”

After Clana’s final bombshell, whispers started to spread through the long silence.

“The Empress... one of the wives?”

“Is this a joke?”

It was only natural.

The idea of an Empress being one of someone’s ‘wives’ was unfathomable—something straight out of a third-rate play or novel.

“Even if Frey is the Hero... can this really be allowed?”

Even if that ‘someone’ was Frey, the Hero who had saved the world.

“Indeed. Not even the Empress can ignore the ancient laws.”

Many high-ranking nobles had attempted to take multiple wives over the years.

But the Empire’s ‘ancient law’ had always thwarted those efforts.

The ‘legal wife’ was limited to one.

It was a powerful rule designed to prevent any single noble house from gaining overwhelming power, enforced by an ancient magic—a mysterious force lost long ago.

“Defying ancient magic... not even the Hero or the Empress would survive that.”

“Right. Even the First Hero and the First Empress couldn’t defy it...”

As this absolute rule seemed on the verge of being broken after a thousand years, murmurs began to rise.

“This new Empress... she’s quite progressive, isn’t she?”

“Is that a good thing or a bad thing?”

“If she has valid reasons and solutions, it’s youthful boldness. If not, it’s recklessness.”

As the gazes of not just ordinary citizens but nobles and rulers from other countries turned quizzically toward Clana...

“I will listen to the opinions of the citizens and the nobles regarding other reforms and make amendments where needed.”

After reading the atmosphere with an impassive face, Clana spoke again.

“But I will not do so for my final statement.”

“...”

“That is not a proposal for agreement but an announcement to all.”

Her words carried unwavering conviction.

“...Damn it. We must stop this at all costs.”

“My son has already passed the age for an engagement...”

Nobles who had spent years trying to secure engagements for their children hurriedly began planning countermeasures.

“Don’t worry, we have ancient magic on our side.”

“She’s bluffing. It’s probably just a show to delay any engagement. Who knows why she’s doing something so pointless...”

Those who trusted in the existence of ‘ancient magic’ assumed Clana was simply being reckless and remained confident.

“The legal review by the judiciary has already been completed, and the marriage registration has also been finalized.”

“”...!!!””

“And the Empire’s ancient magic could not prevent that registration.”

As Clana began her explanation, everyone fell silent.

“And here is why.”

When Clana pulled something from her robes, all eyes focused on her hand.

- Flutter, flutter...

In her hand was an old document, swaying gently.

“This is an ancient law enacted a thousand years ago by the First Hero and his wife...”

As she began explaining the document, people’s expressions grew increasingly dazed.

“...The key point is that the ‘Hero’ has the legitimate right to take multiple wives.”

Despite the atmosphere, she continued explaining without hesitation.

“Of course, this law also applies to Frey Raon Starlight, the Second Hero.”

“...”

“It has already been applied once in the imperial family, so there is no issue.”

For a top secret involving the three duchies and the imperial family that had been sealed long ago, it was disclosed surprisingly quickly and boldly.

“Wait, so what does that mean for the family tree...?”

“After a thousand years, does it even matter?”

“Still, it’s confusing.”

As the shock of her revelation began to subside and the commotion died down a bit...

“I will now reveal the names of the Hero’s wives, myself included.”

Clana reignited the dying embers.

“Kania... the Starlight family’s butler? He’s marrying his butler?”

“The Dragon Lord? Is the Empire’s Hero into unusual relationships?!”

“T-The Saintess, who must remain chaste... married? The Sun God will be furious...!”

“H-Huh?? Ruby... the Second Demon King?! Married to the Hero?!”

It was a predictable reaction.

“A-A second sun cannot exist under one sky! The Sunset family must remain the twilight behind the sun! If they hold the stars again...!”

“There’s been talk of the Bywalker family being elevated to a duchy... If this is true, it’s practically confirmed.”

“Sisters sharing a husband...? My God. Even the barbarians of the Eastern Continent don’t do that!”

Aside from Serena, who had already been Frey’s fiancée, all the names on Clana’s list were at the pinnacle of their power or highly controversial.

“Well... I believe that concludes my explanation of its legitimacy.”

I can’t accept this!

Multiple wives are already unacceptable, but the Empress herself joining them? This is outrageous!

We must protest immediately!

When Clana was about to conclude her announcement, many nobles were already shifting in their seats, planning to voice their objections.

“...Does anyone have an objection to my decision?”

However...

“If so, raise your hand. Although I never intended to seek agreement, I will allow objections at this moment.”

“...”

Putting that plan into action was a different matter.

- Crackle, crackle...

Clana, whose previously timid appearance had vanished upon her coronation, now exuded the Aura of Domination that overwhelmed even past emperors.

“...Damn. The Hero is right beside her.”

“Was this all planned from the start?”

And with Frey smiling innocently by her side, the memory of him ‘disciplining’ imperial nobles came to mind.

“Wel... if it’s that guy... he deserves it.”

“Lucky Hero...”

And for the lower nobles and commoners who weren’t politically entangled...

“The flowers of noble ladies are falling.”

“...But there will still be plenty of admirers flying toward him.”

They simply envied or lamented Frey becoming a married man, agreeing with the announcement itself.

“Very well. Without any objections, let us conclude this topic.”

No one could stop them, given that all legal issues were resolved.

“With that, I express my gratitude to everyone present today...”

As things settled, Clana composed herself and began to close her speech.

“I shall end this coronation with my final message.”

The coronation of Clana, who would surpass even the First Empress to become the greatest in the Empire’s history, was coming to an end.

.

.

.

.

.

“The era of stagnation and division that has long weighed down the Empire and the world is now over.”

Clana’s firm voice rang out powerfully in all directions.

“The sun has reclaimed its true form, the Vow has been restored, and the Hero has claimed victory once more.”

Everyone present at the coronation, from commoners and merchants to the highest-ranking officials and foreign rulers, deeply felt the significance and weight of her words.

“O witnesses of the end of the era of darkness.”

In the silence so complete that even breaths were audible...

“Let us all come together to create the era of light!”

As her brief speech ended...

“”Waaaaaaaahhh!!!””

An immense cheer erupted not just in front of the royal palace but throughout the Empire.

“The era of light, huh.”

“Well, it does feel uplifting.”

Commoners, nobles, foreigners.

Though they gathered with different motives and backgrounds, at that moment, they all celebrated together as one, welcoming the start of a new era.

“...Phew.”

While everyone was united in celebration...

“It turned out better than expected.”

“It was perfect, Clana.”

Clana, stepping back and exhaling, moved toward Frey and the others.

“Shall we now lift the ancient magic?”

“It was hard to maintain. Why is there a clause that the ancient magic must be sustained during the coronation?”

“I want to join in the rebellion game, too! With you, Clana!”

Irina and Ferloche, smiling slightly, began to release the ancient magic.

- Crackle, crackle, crackle...!!!

The coronation, which had seemed to go so smoothly...

“What... what is this?”

“...Ah?”

was suddenly disrupted at that moment.

.

.

.

.

.

“Heh, heh heh...”

A girl in a robe, standing silently beside the Magic Tower Master whose eyes had turned black, smirked darkly and raised her hand to the sky.

“Clana. I’m sorry, but...”

- Boom! Boom!

“...this older sister will take your happy ending away.”

With a voice dripping with darkness, her pale blonde hair slipped out from under her robe and swayed.

“Hurry. We must intervene before they lift the ancient magic.”

“Right. If I, who carry royal blood, succeed in intervening in that magic... you’ll swap my soul with Clana’s, right?”

“...You swore an oath of death.”

“Ha, right.”

Relaxing at the Magic Tower Master’s reply, Rifael smiled broadly and continued.

“Still, who would have guessed?”

“....”

“That you would do something like this. Until you got me out of that prison, I couldn’t believe it...”

“...Focus on the intervention.”

“Ugh, you’re no fun.”

Just as Rifael, pouting at the cold response, turned her attention back to the task...

“You... what are you doing?”

“....!!!”

Came an incredulous voice from behind them.

“How could you possibly... have that power?”

“...Tch.”

The Magic Tower Master clicked her tongue, turning her cold gaze toward the source of the voice.

“Magic Tower Master, how are you using that power?!”

“If you don’t want to die, pretend you saw nothing.”

“Y-You’re being controlled, right?! By that octopus bastard!”

Roswyn, who had been suspiciously watching them, charged at them with solar mana wrapped around her hands.

- Crackle...!

“...Ugh.”

But the Magic Tower Master stopped her with ease, her eyes colder than ever as she pulled something from her robe.

“...You mean ‘this’?”

“...!!!”

Roswyn, struggling and thrashing, gasped in horror as she recognized what was inside the small glass bottle the Magic Tower Master held.

“Too bad, but the tables have turned.”

“T-This can’t be happening...”

Inside the bottle floated a familiar-looking eye, unfocused and drifting aimlessly.