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Chapter 270
Godfrey
There was a place Olivia was going to for the first time since she was born.
That place was none other than the Audience Chamber.
Since it could only be used when the Emperor was present, not even the Crown Prince and Imperial Proxy Alexander was permitted, so it had been left neglected for a long time.
It was exactly the same age as Olivia.
"Inspect Her Highness the Princess's appearance once more."
Ĕ n ǔ m а .і ḋ
"Yes!"
At the Head Maid's command, the maids following behind her readied Olivia once again.
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Even while waiting like that, voices flowed out from the Audience Chamber.
-We pay our respects to His Majesty the Emperor, the Great Light. How many years has it been since Your reign?
-It is deeply moving that the Empire's Light has ascended the throne once more.
The voices of foxes exercising power where there is no tiger, fawning and flattering, could be heard.
Е̇ ń ůḿ а
Olivia wrote down the names of the owners of those voices one by one in her heart.
She would rip out their tongues and execute them.
'That's that, and this is this.'
Olivia took a deep breath.
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It was the first time she had ever been this nervous, she who always rose from bed with the mindset of stepping onto a stage.
'Godfrey Arken.'
Wѐb̃ n̂ о̆ v̇ ѐl̈ Е n û m̆а̇
The man most deeply connected to her sister's death.
The fundamental cause that made her hate her blood relatives.
Even so, this was the first time Olivia was seeing the Emperor's face.
Since the day she was born, he had not shown his face even once.
All she had were the words her sister, Stella Arken, had told her.
She had said this.
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-He was not like a person of this world.
Stella's expression was still vivid.
Olivia knows the expression people make when they speak of a father who is strict and awkward, and a father who is infinitely kind.
Stella's face was neither of those two.
It was simply a look that said his very existence was creepy.
For Olivia, the questions about Godfrey never ceased.
Еn̂ um̆ а̄
What kind of face does the father I hate the most have?
And today was the day to confirm it with her own two eyes.
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The attendant who had been standing by checked her bearing once more and opened the door.
In the splendid Audience Chamber, ministers lined up centered on the red carpet, kneeling toward the stairs leading to the throne.
The only one holding his head up, if barely stiffly, was Grand Duke Valdemar Golt.
Following etiquette, Olivia did not raise her head and moved along the carpet.
Wе̄ b̆ ǹ о v ё l̄ Е n̆ů m̃а́
Even if he was blood, he was the Emperor.
Standing before the stairs, she lifted her skirt hem and bowed her head.
"Olivia Arken pays her respects to His Majesty the Emperor."
After a moment, what was heard was Valdemar's voice.
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"Princess, raise your head."
At those words, Olivia raised her head.
E ǹ um̃ а.іd̂
The face she had been so curious about was unveiled from its veil.
Emotion welled up in Olivia's chest.
That appearance was utterly repulsive.
The lethargy she felt every time she saw Alexander's body.
It was a body where that lethargy was soaked in entirely.
If not for her trained mask, she might have committed an impropriety.
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"It is an honor to meet you for the first time, Your Majesty the Emperor."
"There is no need for formalities. Olivia, am I not your father? Call me Father."
"Your Majesty bears the great name of the legitimate line; how could I dare to do so?"
"Did I not say there is no need? Haha."
Godfrey's face was brimming with something.
"That tiny figure... to have grown so beautifully. It is truly a tear-jerking matter. I only heard by word of mouth, but you truly resemble your mother exactly."
Ё nú m̈ а . і́d̃
"As a person bearing the name of House Arken, it is only basic for this girl to keep her appearance neat so as not to bring shame to Your Majesty the Emperor."
"Indeed, you are my daughter. It would be no exaggeration to call you the color that will illuminate this country."
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Olivia felt a chill.
Her honed political instincts were telling her that something would follow next.
"I heard you are to become a Saintess."
"That is correct."
Е̇n ům а
"Truly astonishing. Though not a monk, you serve the God of Light and Sun, Alte, and reached the Fifth Realization?"
"This girl speaks. I have not reached the Fifth Realization, and remain at the Fourth."
"Huh? Then how did it become the Fifth?"
"May I dare to speak on that?"
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At those words, just as he was about to open his mouth, the one who cut in was Valdemar.
"Speak, Grand Duke."
Ёnu̇m а̂.і_d_
"Her Highness Princess Olivia is currently being sacrificed to the Alte Order's political games."
"A sacrificial lamb? What could they possibly lack?"
"It is because unfortunate incidents have been occurring frequently as of late."
Valdemar's words continued without pause.
He was pushing so that Olivia couldn't even persuade him a little.
Olivia unconsciously clenched her fist tight.
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If she could use magic right now, she wanted to twist that neck.
"Ho, so such a thing happened?"
Godfrey appeared to have recognized the gravity.
Olivia quickly pulled cards from her mind, preparing to persuade.
"Olivia."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
W̄ӗ b n̄о̇ v̄ѐľ Е̂ n̆ú m̄ а
"You speak. Do you desire that matter?"
Olivia nodded and answered.
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"This girl, as a Princess of the Arken Empire, wishes to serve the subjects. I believe that is the heaven-sent destiny given to me."
"Is that so? Then do it."
"I also know that Your Majesty could refuse... Huh?"
But an unexpected situation occurred.
Е.ñǔm ã ._і_d̈
Everyone was surprised, but the most surprised were Olivia and Valdemar.
"Did I not say? Become a Saintess."
"Is that truly Your will?"
"Would I speak two words with one mouth? Since it was said to proceed in a month, it shall proceed as is. That is my will."
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Olivia made a blank face, and Valdemar coughed dryly to draw Godfrey's attention.
"Grand Duke. You say she is material to become a Saintess by receiving a heavenly mandate; how could I, the Emperor, block it?"
Е̇ñ u m̆ ӓ
"That too is merely the Order's trickery. They explicitly stated only one who has reached the Fifth Realization can do it, so how..."
"Royal life is far from a disciplined one. So the Order's words are not entirely incomprehensible either."
Godfrey continued speaking.
"The Alte Order is the Empire's pillar. You well know that the Order must have power to bind the spirits of the Empire's subjects so they do not tremble in anxiety, do you not?"
"Your words are correct, but..."
"Do you have more to say?"
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Valdemar closed his mouth.
He looked like he couldn't easily accept it.
Emotions were swirling.
"Since it seems there isn't, let me speak."
That absolute authority that even the high-ranking Valdemar could not treat lightly.
No matter how incompetent that damn bastard was, the fact that he stood in that position was certain.
W̄ ĕb̆ n̆ оv еl Е̇nu m а
"I will write a congratulatory address for you, and support the event. You become the Saintess representing the Order, my daughter."
"I am overwhelmed by Your Majesty the Emperor's grace."
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Things seemed to proceed smoothly, but the tension only deepened.
Olivia saw it.
In Valdemar's expression, glanced at briefly, was contained the strongest emotion she had ever seen from him.
* * *
Е nù ma . і̄ d̆
One month later, the day of the Saintess Appointment Ceremony.
Ferda was staying at a luxury inn in the Capital of the Arken Empire.
When he attended the Council, his standing was poor, so Ferda had been treated coldly.
However, with continuous growth and technology monopoly, now that the Far East was becoming a land of attention, his standing changed as he became a rising power.
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-Would you be so kind as to stay at our home and share a little conversation?
-Please, at our home...
Wе b̆n о̊ v ё l Еṅum̆а
Nobles and tycoons representing the Imperial Capital tried to invite Ferda to their mansions, but Ferda politely declined them all.
He would rather stay at a low-grade inn; he couldn't sleep in someone else's house.
'Godfrey Arken...'
The Emperor of the Arken Empire.
He was called the eternally sleeping Emperor, not moving a single step out of his bedchamber.
The attendants serving inside absolutely could not communicate with the outside, and security was so thorough they received supplies through an intermediate passage to minimize external contact.
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The attendants could only confirm his appearance upon their death.
Ferda had once dragged that Emperor out.
After Ferda subjugated the Arken Empire's Chief Mage.
When he showed anger toward the Imperial Family, Godfrey Arken appeared from his bedchamber.
Seeing that figure, a feeling of disgust surged in Ferda.
It was similar to when he first saw Alexander.
Е̇ n̄u m̂ а .i d̀
He possessed greed that knew no bounds, and that greed grated on Ferda's nerves.
But Godfrey was on a different dimension.
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The reason this man couldn't leave his bedchamber could be felt from his appearance itself.
Blond hair, blue eyes.
Muscles atrophied and belly fat from not moving.
A raccoon-dog-like appearance, smiling obsequiously.
W̌ё b̈ñо̆ v̊e l̇ Е̄ n̂ ǔ ṁа
The fawning of a noble Imperial Prince trembling before a mere mage.
Was it because he surpassed the extremes of ugliness?
Ironically, Ferda's anger subsided at that sight.
He felt the boiling killing intent completely evaporate at the pathetic sight.
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'Why did he come out now?'
The timing is subtle.
W̊ e bńоv̌ е ĺ Е̄ nů m̂ а̊
He didn't show his face even when the Second Prince Ureas died.
Why did he show his face when it was officially confirmed that Olivia would become a Saintess?
'And why... write a congratulatory address?'
Young ladies are tools for politics.
Olivia had received courtship from many young masters, and of course from older men too, even those who already had wives.
And the Emperor would also know the fact that Valdemar has feelings for Olivia.
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Did the Emperor judge that Valdemar's authority was inferior to the Alte Order's influence?
"The Appointment Ceremony will begin soon. You must depart for the Imperial Palace now."
Jed, attached as an attendant, said that.
"Is the carriage ready?"
"Of course."
"Then let's go."
Ẽ n̂ũm̀а
Ferda boarded the carriage.
Originally, he would have gone straight to the Cathedral where the Appointment Ceremony would be held.
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But with the Emperor who hadn't shown his face appearing, an unexpected event was added.
"Is it called the Ordination Ceremony?"
Ferda asked Garnet, who had boarded the carriage first.
"That is correct. Information came in that it will proceed according to the Alte Order's rites, so it will proceed as is."
Ӗnu̇ḿ å . i d
"It seems we can only accept that the Emperor who suddenly appeared is pushing the Order's side."
Garnet nodded as if agreeing.
"It is a matter on a completely different dimension from simple provocation or warning. It is no different from slapping Valdemar's cheek. To think the Emperor's first act upon appearing would be to sprinkle such shit..."
Garnet sighed.
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Her heart, gathering and processing information, was understood.
"What do you think Grand Duke Golt will do?"
Е̃ ṅŭm̃ а̊
How will he deal with the Emperor's sudden interference?
The man who failed to obtain Stella Arken now aims for Olivia.
A man who has lost once is bound to be obsessive.
"In my judgment, the Grand Duke will not move easily. As he has lost both arms right now, if he moves rashly, everything will be over."
"What if his heart toward Olivia is greater? Couldn't he make her worthless as a Saintess?"
Grand Duke Golt had skillfully employed commoner agitators to move as he wished, and spread rumors.
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"That will not happen."
"Why?"
"Surprisingly, that Grand Duke Golt is trying to protect Olivia's honor."
The easiest and fastest way to get a woman.
Denigrate her chastity and crash her value.
The moment anything becomes gossip, its original value collapses.
Е̊ ṅ u m̃a
For Valdemar not to use such a method.
Does he respect Olivia, or is it simply that he feels attraction to Olivia who has value?
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Or does he believe he can obtain her sufficiently even without such methods?
'Either way, it'll be truly tough even after she becomes a Saintess.'
Ferda had promised to become Olivia's guardian.
So supporting her affairs with all his might was his duty.
Е́ nüm̊ а̊.і̆d
"Since we don't know what might happen to Olivia during the event, monitor her thoroughly."
"I will obey your command."
Ferda's carriage arrived at the Imperial Palace.
Many nobles who had already arrived sat in their seats, waiting only for the Emperor to show his face.
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Soon after, the sound of the Imperial Palace orchestra's instruments rang out vigorously.
The closed balcony doors opened, and from there a man revealed himself.
W̆еb̂ n о̀ v е l Еn̈ u m̊ а́
It was the Emperor Ferda knew well, Godfrey Arken.
Behind him, Grand Duke Valdemar Golt and his knights followed in, creating a spectacular sight.
All the nobles rose from their seats and began to clap.
They cheered enthusiastically at the Emperor's appearance, singing praises of the Arken Empire's firmness.
The Emperor looked down at that sight and showed a pleased smile.
When the Emperor raised his hand, the applause and cheers cut off.
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He took out the congratulatory address he had written and began to read it aloud.
"From now on, the Ordination Ceremony sending off my proud daughter, Olivia, eu-heok!"
The Emperor's voice unnaturally cuts off.
The nobles who had been listening quietly looked up at the balcony with bewildered expressions.
"Euo-eok!!"
Then, the Emperor's chest thrusts toward the sky.
Е̌ n̄ uḿ ă
Buttons fastening his clothes pop out, and something wriggles from within his chest, revealing its form.
It was a sight no one could believe.
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From the Emperor's raccoon-dog-like body laden with fat, a silver blade sprouted.
Drenched in bright red blood, it pierced through from his black back, and the red blood flowing from Godfrey's mouth proved it was a fatal wound.
Chwaak!
The silver blade, drawing a red trajectory upward as it pulled out, completely shattered any room for doubt.
È n ŭ mâ_
The figure visible through the cleanly bisected gap was clearly revealed, yet no one could believe it.
The owner of that blade was Valdemar Golt.
A straight waist that couldn't be seen as a dying old man's.
He held a silver sword stained with blood, and even the motion of sheathing it to finish was clean.
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He was speaking to everyone below the balcony as witnesses.
That Valdemar Golt had assassinated the Emperor.
È n̂ ũ ḿа .іď
