While Noah was admiring him anew, the trumpet sound announcing the Emperor’s position echoed.

Carson hadn’t met his father since he came to the capital. And the Emperor hadn’t summoned him either.

“He seems to have aged more.”

In the past year, he had lost many children. No matter how high the emperor was, not showing signs of aging any longer was more strange.

The Emperor held a staff in his hand.

It was a staff decorated with the finest diamonds sent from the land colonized on the distant continent. This item could only be seen during the Emperor’s coronation and Prince Chae Bongsik’s ceremony.

So, even among the powerful nobles, many hadn’t seen this staff.

People stared with eyes that seemed to go blind at the giant diamond hanging at the top of the staff.
Carson licked his lips at the sight and glanced around. The moderate factions turned their backs, and the voting was in favor, but the seats of influential families were still sparsely occupied.

“When I see things like that, it makes my pottery act up.”

“Please, Your Highness. Lower your voice here.”

But he paid no attention.

“Can you believe that thing symbolizes eternal beauty? To extract that, countless people have to die. It might be a cursed item.”

He had actually visited the diamond mines in the colony. It was truly a horrific scene that one could hardly witness. Diamonds had to be mined by digging as deep as the tallest spire of the highest temple in the empire. It was different from gold or iron.

“When I become Emperor, I’ll free the colonies and get rid of the diamond mines.”

“What?”

Both the speaker and the listeners were surprised and locked eyes simultaneously. Carson was the first to avert his gaze.

“If I say so, that’s what it is. If I say so.”

“I-I understand.”

But Noah found it difficult to catch his breath due to his pounding heart. He tried to focus on the ceremony, thinking that his inner turmoil was due to the splendor of the castle. He didn’t forget to add a plea for him to speak quietly.

Soon, the vice-official raised the Emperor’s crown and stood side by side with the Emperor.

Because producing jewels that emitted a violet light was so rare, only the royalty could wear violet emblems. Moreover, since violet amethyst was also a rare item, the Crown Prince at the Crown Ceremony wore a crown adorned with amethyst.

With a melodious trumpet sound, the Crown Prince, who would become the new Emperor of Keynes, began to ascend the altar.

“How did such a character come out?”

“Please, enough.”

“Shut your mouth?”

He consistently showed his displeasure, occasionally laughing playfully. It was both because of his nature that disliked seriousness and his usual habit of dealing with awkward situations. Moreover, his words were true.

Both the Emperor and the Empress were adorned, and in addition to their jewelry, they had a beauty that anyone would turn around to look at in their younger days. However, Duke Anthony rarely received compliments about his beauty, even in passing.

As Anthony stepped onto the platform, the Emperor approached.

Appointing the Crown Prince was the Emperor’s sole authority. No matter how much the times changed and the master of the age changed, this unique duty belonged solely to the Emperor.

Soon, the congratulatory speech for the appointment began.
“When I become Emperor, inheriting the will of heaven, the ancient emperors who knew how to rule the empire by establishing a Crown Prince to strengthen the foundation of the country have experienced the sorrow of losing a Crown Prince, who is also my eldest son, in a massive storm once. Nevertheless, I am extremely delighted that I can establish a new foundation. Therefore, I have contemplated on this matter for a long time. To uphold the intentions of the past emperors, I hereby make this important and solemn pledge. My son, who is to become the new Crown Prince, has adhered to the so-called ‘restraint of the youngest son,’ not stepping into the realm of the eldest son. He becomes more intelligent every day, demonstrating his purity even further…”

The Emperor, who was speaking at length, took a deep breath.

“Receiving the spirit of the past emperors, I follow the precedent by offering sacrifices at the Heclesia Temple. In the 351st year of the imperial power, after achieving the most significant achievements in this era, I appoint Carson von Raymond, Marquis and Duke, who has contributed greatly, as the new Crown Prince. Let the new Crown Prince reside in Granzheim Castle, continuing the imperial lineage for millennia and taking to heart the maintenance of the intentions of the past emperors.”

A chilling silence fell over the hall at that moment. People couldn’t even bring themselves to swallow.

“Oh, damn it!”

And the one who broke the silence was none other than Carson von Raymond, who had just become the Crown Prince.

Anthony reached out to the crown that the vice-official was holding, but the vice-official, despite his bewildered expression, hugged the crown to his chest.

He reached out to the scepter again, but the Emperor threw the item away. The staff, adorned with various decorations, made a loud noise as it rolled on the floor. No matter how much he wanted to become the Emperor, it was against the law to pick up something that had fallen to the ground.

Then, a hysterical scream burst from the Empress, who was on the altar.

“Aaah! No, no!”

As the nobles murmured louder, the Empress’s knights drew their swords. The sound of blades coming out of the scabbards echoed sharply.

At the same time, the Emperor’s knights rushed to block Carson’s path. It was a volatile situation where blades could clash at any moment. The nobles moved urgently, trying to escape from Woluming Castle.

It was an unprecedented and unheard-of event, something that no one had ever experienced or seen before.