The carriage finally arrived at the Grand Temple. The High Priest and all the priests and priestesses came out to greet them.
In the grand worship hall, the Emperor and Empress knelt before the High Priest. The High Priest handed a golden cup filled with holy water to the Emperor and Empress, conveying a message of blessing.
“May the gods’ blessings be with our Aesnerdem Empire ruled by Your Majesties the Emperor and Empress. We pray for your long life and good health.”
As the High Priest’s benediction ended, the Emperor and Empress slowly drank the holy water.
The holy water had the effect of both bestowing blessings and healing people, so as soon as the two drank it, they felt their fatigue dissipate and their bodies become lighter.
As the ceremony at the Grand Temple proceeded quietly, Sandra approached Killian. Since Killian had been avoiding Sandra’s gaze throughout the event, her appearance was neither surprising nor welcome.
“Lord Killian, have you made contact with that silver-haired healer?”
“Not yet, Your Highness. But I’m currently looking into it through every possible means.”
“……”
The lies flowed naturally and smoothly from Killian’s mouth. Even Killian himself was surprised by his own reflexive words.
‘This person is really…!’
Had she seen through his lie? Sandra’s eyes suddenly sharpened.
Who was Killian? He was known to be quite capable and skilled. But it was peculiar that he was so slow in handling this particular matter. It was also suspicious.
‘He’s certainly not one to be this slow.’
Irritation welled up at the current situation where all she could do was urge him on. Sandra gritted her molars and spoke in a somewhat threatening voice.
“Effort alone is not enough, Prime Minister. By whatever means necessary, bring that silver-haired healer before me.”
“Yes, I will obey your command, Your Highness.”
“It must be before the coronation festival ends. If I don’t see the healer’s face by then, I will go look for that woman myself.”
“……”
Having said her piece, Sandra returned to her place. Killian’s eyes sharpened as he watched her retreating figure.
‘No matter how hard you try, it will be in vain. You will never meet her. Because I will use every means and method to prevent it.’
Killian casually brushed back his fallen hair and inwardly repeated to himself.
After completing the ceremony at the Grand Temple, the group boarded the carriage returning to the Imperial Palace. Instead of entering the palace, the carriage stopped in the square in front of it.
“Long live His Majesty the Emperor! Long live Her Majesty the Empress!”
“Long live the Aesnerdem Empire!”
“Your Majesty! May you live ten thousand years!”
Amidst the endless cheers of the people, the Emperor alighted from the carriage and ascended a podium lavishly decorated with gold. It was time for the Emperor to give his first speech before the people.
For a moment, silence fell over the entire square. Jonathan called out loudly to the people gathered in the square. His voice resonated throughout the square, amplified by a magical device.
“O Goddess Arteon of Abundance! Bestow your grace upon your servant! I shall be a sage ruler who helps the people lead prosperous lives without hunger!”
Waaah! A thunderous cheer erupted. Some clasped their hands as if in prayer and squeezed their eyes shut. Hot tears streamed down their cheeks.
The Emperor’s speech continued.
“O Goddess Selena of Love! Bestow your grace upon your servant! I shall be a sage ruler who helps love and peace overflow in the homes of the people!”
The people cheered again. Some stretched their arms straight toward the sky in prayer. Tears welled up in their eyes.
At last, the Emperor’s speech was reaching its climax.
“O Goddess Tess of Victory! Bestow your grace upon your servant! I shall be a sage ruler who helps the army guarding our borders to always be victorious, so that the safety of the people can be guaranteed!”
Waaah! A massive cheer made the air in the entire square tremble. The people were ecstatic. They shouted cheers imbued with the wish for everything the Emperor said to come true.
As if he had more to say, the Emperor raised both hands high to silence the crowd. The people who had been shouting at the top of their lungs suddenly fell silent. Some swallowed dry saliva in anticipation of the Emperor’s speech.
“I wish to announce the first national policy project I will undertake upon my ascension to the throne!”
At this unexpected announcement, people tensed. All eyes turned to the Emperor’s lips. Jonathan slowly opened his mouth, savoring their intense gaze.
“To honor the memory of the late Emperor who passed away in the unfortunate fire accident, we will install fire suppression magic devices throughout the empire. No one should ever again lose their precious life to a terrible fire accident.”
The people seemed genuinely moved by the words about installing new magic devices for their safety. This was natural, as magic devices were entirely the preserve of wealthy nobles and royalty.
“A fire suppression magic device! Who on earth came up with such a thing? Even the name sounds amazing.”
“Does this mean we can worry less about major fire accidents from now on?”
“To think the first national policy project is to reduce accidents for the people.”
“Is the new Emperor truly someone who cares for us!”
The people gathered in the square were now almost wailing as they cheered for the Emperor.
“Long live His Majesty the Emperor! Long live!”
“May you live ten thousand years! Your Majesty the Emperor!”
Jonathan raised both arms high, receiving their cheers with his whole body.
At this moment, he finally felt like he had become the Emperor of this empire and its supreme ruler. No, like he had become the authority of this continent, of this world. Like he had become a god.
Sandra’s eyebrows twisted severely as she watched from the side. She thought it was a day where nothing was to her liking.
[This is the timeline separator]The last day of the coronation festival. People gathered in the square in front of the Imperial Palace. It was to witness Madame Brienne’s execution.
In the center of the square stood a terrifying guillotine. The majesty of the huge blade suspended high made viewers’ blood run cold.
“I want to see how evil the face of the woman who murdered the late Emperor looks.”
“I heard her appearance is hideous from the burns.”
People raised their voices, filled with malice. Harsh curses flew from here and there, and some shouted at the top of their lungs, hurling all sorts of vicious words.
“She’s getting what she deserves. Why didn’t she just die with him instead of surviving to bear this disgrace?”
“That’s right. She’s got some nerve. Did she think she could get away with murdering the late Emperor?”
Just then, the main gate of the Imperial Palace opened and a woman in tattered prison clothes was dragged out by guards, her hands in shackles. Half of her face was completely melted from burns.
“Oh my… Look at that face…”
“It’s terrible, terrible.”
“It really is.”
People held their breath and closed their mouths, seeing Madame Brienne’s wretched appearance.
A hushed silence fell over the crowded square. Only the sound of the weary prisoner’s labored footsteps and the clanking of chains could be heard.
Finally, Madame Brienne reached the guillotine. Only then did people begin to unleash their pent-up anger.
“Kill that evil woman! Kill that witch!”
“Tear the vicious devil’s body to shreds!”
“Die! Die! Die!”
Shouts filled with rage burst out from here and there. It wasn’t just curses that rained down on Madame Brienne. Stones and rotten eggs flew from all directions.
Madame Brienne’s already wretched appearance became even more horrific. Blood flowed from her forehead where she was hit by stones, and yellow egg yolk dripped down her hair where she was hit by rotten eggs.
“It’s time.”
A guard dragged Madame Brienne to the front of the guillotine. Standing before the massive structure, Madame Brienne finally seemed to realize her impending death and began to tremble all over. Sobbing, she slowly moved her dry, cracked lips.
“Hic… It wasn’t me…! It wasn’t me! Hic! I… I couldn’t have done it! No…”
But no one was willing to listen to the sobs of a criminal who dared to kill the Emperor.
“Go to hell! You worm of a criminal!”
“May you suffer eternal punishment burning in hellfire that never goes out! Ptooey!”
Just then, the main gate of the Imperial Palace opened again and a golden carriage slowly drove into the square.
“What, what’s this?”
“A golden carriage… could it be the Emperor?”
People tilted their heads in confusion, fixing their gaze on the carriage. The carriage that reached the square gradually slowed down and finally stopped in front of the guillotine. Then the door slowly opened and Jonathan stepped out of the carriage.
“It’s His Majesty the Emperor!”
“His Majesty has come to execute that criminal himself!”
“Long live His Majesty the Emperor!”
At the unexpected appearance of the Emperor, the people gathered in the square opened their eyes wide. The mouths that had been spewing curses at Madame Brienne just moments ago now poured out words of praise for the Emperor.
Jonathan slowly ascended the platform where the guillotine was installed. The surroundings gradually quieted down. People closed their mouths and waited for Jonathan’s voice.
“My people! I, Jonathan Boinson, the 7th Emperor of the Boinson Imperial Dynasty, wish to bestow mercy on this day, in this place.”
Mercy for a murderer? And not just any murderer, but one who killed the late Emperor? Dissatisfaction could be immediately read in the people’s gazes toward Jonathan. But Jonathan did not back down.
My Step-brother Is Obsessed With Me (Female-dominant)
A gentle female protagonist vs pitiful in the early stage, and a sick male protagonist in the later stage
Cheng Songer transmigrated into the body of a vicious cannon fodder female supporting character with the same name as her in a female-dominant novel.
In the original story, the cannon fodder female supporting character was inhumane, committing domestic violence, gambling excessively, being lustful, and even wanting to sell her stepbrother to a brothel for money.
As luck would have it, she just happened to transmigrate at this time.
Seeing Cheng Qingzhi biting his lip, enduring the tears in his eyes, looking pitiful, her heart softened.
She stuffed the money back into the Madam’s hand and reached out to him.
“Brother, come home with me.”
