The coronation of the new Crown Princess took place today.
The celebration ceremony turned out to be even more grandiose and magnificent than could have been expected.
Nobles who no longer fit in the hall stood in the living room, and the servants working in the palace froze watching.
The whole world seemed to look only at her alone. At the moment when the Second Princess was officially declared the Heiress of the Empire.
"The next ruler of the Empire will be Princess Jerica Lant de Ronan, her title will be elevated to Crown Princess, and all those concerned will also be awarded ranks..." The Prime Minister read out the decree aloud.
"...To commemorate the inauguration of the new Crown Princess, today His Majesty grants amnesty to convicted criminals and awards gold medals to newborn children." The Emperor and Empress looked genuinely happy.
The Emperor proudly looked at his daughter and patted her on the shoulder. Countless people stared at the girl without taking their eyes off her.
"The Empire has acquired a successor with amazing virtues and outstanding talents. Is this not a blessing?"
The aristocrats spoke loudly.
"This is undoubtedly a day of universal joy!"
Everyone who saw the Second Princess at that moment could confidently say that the ruler's position suited her very well. She was graceful and unsurpassed. The complex design of the outfit was decorated with sparkling gold threads and jewels so that it was impossible to look away.
The inauguration ceremony was coming to an end. Usually, the successor of the imperial family, as a sign of officially accepting the title, would drink a glass of wine handed over by the Emperor.
Jerica Lant de Ronan, with an expression of complete grace, accepted the chalice.
"I congratulate you, my daughter!"
The Emperor, like a little child, was pleased and beside himself with happiness, stroking his beard.
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
Countless nobles bowed their heads before Jerica, chanting congratulations. Words praising the Empire.
"Congratulations, Your Royal Highness the Crown Princess."
"The whole country is proud of you!"
Applause came from everywhere.
The girl became the second most noble and worthy person in the entire empire after the Emperor. Realizing this, she felt a little strange.
"Has this day really come?"
Jerica came to her senses belatedly.
While everyone around was congratulating her, Jerica, although accepting these congratulations with a polite smile, seemed not to be present. In fact, she had never even thought she would become Crown Princess. Nevertheless, if everyone around was happy, then she should be happy too.
"My dear daughter, congratulations on your ceremony!"
A radiant smile never left the Empress's face. Just looking at her mother's sincere joy, the girl couldn't help but be filled with warm feelings.
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The ceremony took longer than planned. The main hall was full of people. The Emperor was giving his daughter instructions on how to behave and interact with aristocrats and people as Crown Princess.
Jerica obediently accepted his instructions. That was when it happened.
Bam!
The main door of the Imperial Palace's grand hall was famous for its uniqueness, which was connected to the family tree of the Ronan family.
However, the door, the pride of the imperial family and a symbol of the empire, had vanished without a trace. Gracefully stepping over the debris, a person walked along the red carpet.
"Long time no see, Father, Stepmother."
At this voice, a herd of goosebumps ran down the bodies of many people.
At the threshold of the throne room stood a person whom no one certainly expected to see here. Looking around, the nobles, who were initially shocked, seemed unable to believe their eyes.
"What the..." the Empress clutched the armrests of her throne, trying to understand if this was real or just her imagination.
Someone even screamed about a ghost. But no. For a spirit, the monstrous Crown Princess looked too good. Smirking, Kaena Hessen de Ronan took one step forward.
"......"
The banquet hall, which was supposed to be cheerful, filled with an ominous atmosphere, as if the sun had risen.
Of course, the imperial family was the most shocked. The Empress, who had not so long ago been rejoicing louder than anyone, stared at the uninvited guest with crazed eyes. The Emperor turned sharply pale and seemed barely able to stand on his feet.
Despite the fact that their daughter had unexpectedly returned alive, none of them looked particularly happy.
Jerica, who stood next to the others, also couldn't believe her eyes and stared at her. Her elder sister was indeed alive! Although she wanted to say something to her, Kaena didn't even grace her with a glance.
Instead, she looked solely and completely at her father and stepmother.
"Just think. I only took a short vacation, and you've already caused such an uproar."
The Emperor swallowed dry saliva.
"You... A-are you really alive...?"
The Crown Princess, hearing his words, laughed extremely cheerfully.
A refreshing laugh, which still seemed ominous, filled the banquet hall.
"Oh, it's true. It's really me. Are you glad to see me, Your Majesty the Emperor?"
There was no answer. Fear was clearly visible on the faces of the nobles, as well as on the face of the Emperor himself.
People even tried not to breathe loudly, so that their breath wouldn't resonate in this silent banquet hall and inadvertently attract the princess's attention.
Meanwhile, Kaena continued walking forward. With each of her steps on the red carpet, the blood in the Emperor's veins froze more and more.
Although he had personally declared his eldest daughter a posthumous criminal, at this moment he seemed to have completely forgotten about it. He hadn't expected her return at all. Even if the Emperor had intended to call the guards, the lump stuck in his throat wouldn't allow him to do so.
The Crown Princess, who had been speaking in a casual voice until now, gradually raised her voice.
"Your Majesty, regrettably, I must report to you that an attempt was made on my life during my vacation."
"..."
"Fortunately, I managed to avoid serious consequences and remain unharmed. However, you must understand that this is a big problem?" the Crown Princess sighed with feigned annoyance.
Thump-thump.
The sound of the Emperor's heart was too loud.
"To be precise, someone dared to lay hands on an imperial granddaughter, especially one who will become empress," Kaena succinctly summarized her words.
All those present understood what she was talking about. It was simultaneously an insult to the royal family and a crime of high treason, and it was a serious crime, more serious than any other crime could be.
The Emperor's mind went blank. He froze and couldn't react at all.
"Your Majesty the Emperor."
A polite honorific couldn't be so terrifying.
Kaena laughed.
"I am more than certain that the perpetrator of this incident is here. Therefore, for the common good, I suggest they step forward and honestly confess everything."
"......"
An even more dead silence reigned in the hall. Of course, no one did so. And especially the Empress, who was the instigator of this incident, didn't budge. Despite the fact that the Crown Princess knew perfectly well who it was, she wanted to put on a show.
"Well, since no one wishes to confess voluntarily, I will have to conduct an interrogation right here," she declared.
On her face was a smile, cold as winter when the north wind blows and cold snow falls.
Kaena clapped her hands lightly. At her call, knights of the Dark Army streamed in here.
The Imperial Palace was completely occupied by the Crown Princess's soldiers. The ominous atmosphere thickened to its limit.
"Aaaaah! Help!"
The cries of people trapped came from everywhere. Kaena Hessen de Ronan watched what was happening with enthusiasm, as if she had caught rats in a jar.
Her smile widened at these cries she heard. The princess unsheathed her sword.
And immediately after that...
Chaos truly began in the Imperial Palace.