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IBP 172
Unlike Empress Hervezette, who had frozen stiff, the nobles seemed largely indifferent.
“Oh my, it’s been a long time! You are Lady Coco Ardos, aren't you?”
“I heard you went to study abroad at the Noble Academy; it seems you've returned recently. You look much more mature.”
“I suppose you've come to see the divine beast.”
Neither the members of the House of Ardos nor Lady Coco responded to those words.
Coco merely brushed back her flowing, long silver hair and gave a bright, innocent smile.
Just as the people of the Ardos family surrounded her as if protecting a small child, Coco stepped boldly forward toward the Emperor and gave a spirited greeting.
“Lady Coco Ardos greets Your Majesty. I returned not long ago!”
“Ah, I see. It has been a while, Lady Coco.”
“It is truly an honor to be able to see Your Majesty like this!”
She had completely omitted where she had returned from, but no one was curious. Instead, as Coco smiled with her eyes curving into crescents, exclamations of how cute she was erupted.
People chattered about which academy Coco had attended. However, for the Empress, there was something far more important and intriguing than Coco's return.
‘I don't know how on earth she came back alive, but...’
She had thought the girl was dead, yet she had returned.
‘But what does that matter?’
Today, at this very spot, the Empress herself would be reborn as the master of the divine beast.
Empress Hervezette managed her expression and shifted the topic.
“Duke Ardos, where is the divine beast? Today is the identification ceremony; did it not come with you?”
At her words, the atmosphere shifted instantly.
“Now that you mention it, it is the divine beast identification ceremony, but the divine beast is nowhere to be seen.”
“I heard it was a white puppy divine beast, so I was looking forward to seeing it today...”
Many nobles glanced behind Coco, tilting their heads in confusion.
It was then that Chloe looked at the Empress and answered calmly.
“The divine beast did come with us.”
“Is that so? Then where is it?”
“However, I don't think we can proceed with the divine beast identification ceremony immediately.”
The Empress questioned, puzzled.
“What? Why?”
“Grand Duke Rivera has not yet arrived.”
“...The Grand Duke? Why has he not come?”
“Well...”
Chloe's gaze shifted toward Duke Ardos and the Emperor.
* * *
In front of the largest plaza in the capital.
A multitude of people had gathered along with laborers driving stakes into the ground.
“What are they doing now?”
“I heard they're setting up temporary image stones...”
One of the laborers, glancing at the whispering crowd, slammed his shovel into the ground and spoke.
“They're installing image stones so that commoners can also watch the great divine beast identification ceremony!”
At those words, a stir broke out here and there.
It was only natural, as ordinary people never even had the chance to see a divine beast.
Grand Duke Rivera, dressed in full uniform, gave a final check of the image stone.
“Has the installation been completed in all ten plazas of the capital?”
“Yes. I am told that Grand Prince Caligo is currently installing the image stones in the southern region and is on his way back.”
“I see.”
Thinking of Caligo, he gave a slight nod.
“Confirm that the image stone transmission is working properly and then wrap it up.”
“Yes, Your Grace. Then, where should I send the report...?”
“Reporting will be difficult, so the work must proceed without any issues, right?”
His expression twisted mischievously.
It had been a long time since an Imperial Palace ball was held. His mood was foul at the thought that he hadn't been able to escort his fiancée, Chloe.
As soon as he finished speaking, he held up a teleportation scroll.
“I must go quickly. Along with my brother.”
* * *
“...The Grand Duke installed image stones so that all commoners could watch the divine beast identification ceremony?”
“Yes, Your Highness. It is a matter that His Majesty also authorized today.”
Empress Hervezette looked at the Emperor. The Emperor nodded with a warm smile. He was likely expecting that his imperial authority would be further elevated through this divine beast identification ceremony.
The corners of the Empress's mouth curled upward perfectly.
‘Foolish Grand Duke Rivera. This will only serve to announce to the whole world that I possess the divine beast.’
Because of this, neither the prestige of the House of Ardos nor the authority of the Emperor—who would have a divine beast descend in his era—would be strengthened.
Only the authority of Empress Hervezette would be exalted.
With an intrigued expression, the Empress tilted her head.
And right then, the doors opened again.
“His Grace Grand Duke Rivera and Grand Prince Caligo Rivera have entered!”
They had returned after installing the image stones. Seeing them enter the palace quickly thanks to the teleportation scroll, the nobles began to whisper again.
“We greet His Imperial Majesty.”
The Empress's eyes narrowed as she saw Grand Prince Caligo Rivera, who was expressionless, much like Grand Duke Rivera, whose expression was unreadable.
Those who claimed to be the reliable patrons of the Ardos family were also an eyesore.
‘That trashy Rivera family can also be dealt with using the divine beast that has fallen into my hands.’
She was already looking forward to the expressions they would make. Then, the Emperor spoke.
“...First, I welcome the House of Rivera. Now, shall we begin the divine beast identification ceremony? Where is the divine beast?”
At the Emperor's words, Lady Coco cautiously raised her hand.
“I believe I can speak on that matter.”
“What do you...”
“Actually, it was a situation where it was difficult for the divine beast to appear because of Her Highness the Empress.”
Coco's clear voice rang out.
It was a known fact to everyone that the Empress had failed the imprinting with the divine beast of the dragon.
However, the child's intuitive words caused a ripple among the nobles.
“What do you mean, Lady? No matter how naive a child you are, it is problematic to insult my wife.”
This was a serious crime that could be punished as an insult to the Imperial Family.
However, since it was a critical moment ahead of the identification ceremony and the opponent was a naive child, the Emperor tried to dismiss the situation lightly. But Coco did not stop talking.
“What I am saying is that Her Highness the Empress murdered me five years ago.”
That the divine beast couldn't appear because of the Empress, that the Empress killed Coco...
The atmosphere naturally became chaotic at the child's sudden revelation.
“When Her Highness the Empress killed me by the lakeside where the divine beast of the dragon appeared, I... it hurt so, so much, and it was so hard.”
Unlike Coco, who continued her revelation with flushed cheeks as if remembering that day, Empress Hervezette remained rational.
She drew her own conclusion as to how this situation had been orchestrated.
Duke Ardos's divine beast is a fake.
The House of Ardos is in danger of being humiliated for bringing a fake divine beast to the identification ceremony.
Therefore, they needed a way to divert attention.
‘So they brought this foolish adopted child to drive me into a corner.’
It must be a plot to make her lose her position by scratching her reputation with a foolish accusation.
...But,
It was certain that they would regret it.
Because she possessed the ‘real divine beast.’
And there was no evidence left that she had killed Coco.
“It is all a lie, Your Majesty.”
She spoke firmly and then added the following.
“They are likely targeting me because they failed to bring a divine beast to the identification ceremony.”
“What do you mean by...”
Perhaps because she had struck where they were unguarded, Duke Ardos's brow furrowed slightly, and the corner of Coco's mouth twitched.
And...
‘The time has finally come.’
The time to judge those who had falsely accused her.
The time to proclaim widely that she was the master of the divine beast.
With an ecstatic expression, the Empress declared firmly.
“I wish to announce that the divine beast has descended upon me. Attendant, bring the divine beast.”
As soon as she finished speaking, the attendant bowed his head.
“I shall obey your command.”
Just as everyone was unable to hide their astonishment, Coco and the Empress's gazes finally met. Coco was...
‘...Smiling? Why?’
At the same time, the timidly cowering priest cautiously raised his hand.
“I feel the power of a divine beast here!”
A thick smile played on Empress Hervezette's lips.
“Yes. Bring the divine beast. I intend to have it imprinted with my son here.”
“Empress, what is the meaning of this?”
The Emperor's face turned beet red at this arbitrary action that had not been discussed. It was effectively an act of ignoring the Emperor's authority. However, the Empress only smiled.
‘Once the divine beast is brought, the Emperor will not be able to ignore me either.’
She lifted a small box covered with a cloth by the attendant.
People gasped as they watched her expression, which seemed almost rapturous.
And then...
“Ah... here it is.”
She took an elegant, white-furred sable out of the box and hugged it tightly to her chest.
The priest's eyes widened. Numerous nobles wore bewildered expressions. Especially Coco, who had driven her into the position of a sinner.
‘Yes, everyone will be bewildered.’
It was only natural.
Facing the fur of this brilliant sable in her arms, everyone would be worried and curious.
“Here, the divine beast sable has come to me.”
Grand Duke Rivera tilted his head.
Then, the brilliant light of the image stones illuminated the Empress.
She was smiling more radiantly than anyone else.
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