Yesterday, the high priest who had recited the funeral prayer for the imperial family

was today placing the emperor’s crown upon Ileon Gredrick’s head.

Even on the day of the coronation, Ileon appeared with his long hair cut short.

Once his hair was cut, the gentle image of a saintly figure vanished completely,

leaving only a sharp-featured, strikingly handsome man.

Celia Brillion watched the scene before her with a complex and conflicted expression.

“O eternal glory of Abelon, radiant sun. To you I bestow the imperial crown,

along with the sacred title of Basilisk.”

The high priest, whose appearance exuded warmth, placed the golden crown—

studded with various jewels—upon Ileon’s head as he bestowed his blessing.

“May the blessings and grace of the divine always accompany Your Majesty.

May your path be free from hardship and adversity. If trials arise,

may you overcome them all with bright and wise intelligence.

May brilliance alone fill the path before this new sun.”

Having blessed Ileon, the high priest knelt on both knees before him.

“A servant beneath the divine bows before His Imperial Majesty,

Emperor Ileon Gredrick Basilisk.”

Following the high priest’s kneeling, every attendee of the coronation

knelt on the floor and bowed to the new emperor, Ileon.

But one person alone—

Celia Brillion—neither knelt nor bowed.

People looked at her with puzzled expressions,

yet Celia remained seated, spine straight and unmoving.

One of those kneeling on the floor was about to rebuke her for her disrespect,

but before he could speak, a slow, deliberate voice came from Ileon.

“Lady Celia, do you have some dissatisfaction with my becoming emperor?”

Now that he was emperor, Ileon no longer used honorifics toward Celia.

Countless eyes turned toward Celia.

Celia clenched her fists tightly. If she used her ability here in front of so many,

it would not even reach Ileon, and she might end up coughing blood immediately.

Never had she resented her failing body more than today.

“I asked if you have any dissatisfaction.”

Though his voice was slow, it carried weight.

Celia found it laughable.

He was the most prepared emperor imaginable.

First, seizing the throne the very day after the imperial family’s funeral,

as if he had been waiting for this moment all along.

Second, the way he looked down at her—someone who refused to bow—

as if she were nothing more than an insignificant ant.

“Is this, then, the ‘interesting thing’ you spoke of yesterday?”

Celia’s retort left everyone present in shock.

Only Ileon gazed back at her with a faint, calm smile.

“Then?”

Ileon rested his chin on one hand, observing Celia’s reaction.

“I think I’ll take my leave now. It’s less entertaining than I expected.”

With those words, Celia attempted to escape the suffocating coronation.

One of Ileon’s subordinates moved to forcibly stop her,

but Ileon raised a hand, halting him.

“Let her go. Nothing changes just because one person leaves.”

Celia felt that things had gone terribly, irreversibly wrong.

More precisely, ever since Ileon had entered the imperial palace.

The man who had ruined people’s lives without a trace of guilt

was now seated upon the imperial throne.

Everything seemed to unfold exactly as he had planned.

During the coronation, someone standing beside her had even burst into tears from emotion.

“Long live His Imperial Majesty, the new emperor!”

Witnessing the crowd collectively swept into such delusion,

Celia felt as if her mind were clouding over.

In truth, Celia had attended the coronation for a specific reason.

Just before the ceremony, Ileon had imprisoned Dietrich Calypso,

blaming him for failing to protect the imperial family.

Ileon had left a note on Celia’s bedside table,

promising that if she came to the coronation, he would release Dietrich from prison.

Before Celia could even consider how Ileon had infiltrated her estate

or whether the note was genuine, she heard a knock at the door.

Knock knock.

– You are ordered to attend, without fail.

When Celia did not open the door, men forced it open and entered—

knights loyal to Ileon.

– If you do not come, there will be consequences.

They seemed ready to drag her by force if necessary.

The moment Ileon’s knights entered Dietrich’s estate without hesitation,

Celia suddenly feared the note about Dietrich’s imprisonment might be true.

Worried for Dietrich, Celia followed Ileon’s knights to an unknown destination.

She had no idea it would be Ileon’s coronation.

Celia neither understood Ileon, nor did she wish to.

If Ileon broke his promise, she had planned to use her ability to steal the prison key

and free Dietrich herself—even if it damaged her body.

As Celia hesitated, wondering whether to head to the prison

or return to Dietrich’s estate, she noticed something strange.

‘Dietrich isn’t the type to quietly submit to imprisonment. What’s his intention?’

It made no sense that Dietrich had allowed himself to be imprisoned so easily.

Celia pondered what she might have missed.

“What are you wandering around for?”

Suddenly, a massive shadow fell before her.

Due to the rumor that any man who got close to her would die,

men rarely spoke to her, merely glancing her way.

Celia raised her head to look at the shadow’s owner.

The man had bronze skin and muscles so defined they seemed ready to burst—

it was Balt Portman.

“Aren’t you going to the coronation?”

“Why should I go? I can’t stand the sight of that Ileon anymore.”

Celia found it odd that Ileon and Balt didn’t seem close.

“Weren’t the two of you close?”

“…What’s close about it? We’re both dukes, that’s all. Nothing more.”

Balt clicked his tongue and looked at Celia.

“Now that I think of it, you.”

His gray eyes flashed sharply.

“Where did you leave your lover?”

“…What?”

“You’re dating Dietrich, aren’t you? Why are you wandering alone?”

Celia blinked several times. She hadn’t expected the rumor of their fake relationship

to have reached this man.

“Have you seen where Dietrich went? The Duke of Gredrick said Dietrich was imprisoned.”

Celia lowered her eyelids slightly, feigning distress, testing Balt’s reaction.

“Dietrich? Imprisoned? He’s not imprisoned at all right now?”

Balt raised his eyebrows, as if bewildered by her words.

“Then where is he? The Duke of Gredrick clearly said Dietrich was imprisoned…”

“Hey, do you really think he’s the type to get locked up? He’s about as skilled as I am in swordsmanship.”

“…”

“You’ve been fooled. By that snake. Obviously, when Dietrich was briefly away,

that slimy bastard lied to you.”

Balt let out a sigh.

“Go back to the estate. He’s probably searching for you like a madman right now.”

“…”

“Hey hey, speak of the devil—he’s coming right now.”

Balt pointed behind Celia. She turned her head in that direction—and indeed,

Dietrich was approaching her in hurried steps.

“You almost walked into disaster believing Ileon. You’ll repay this debt later.”

With those words, Balt vanished like the wind.

Dietrich glared at the spot where Balt had stood, then turned his gaze to Celia.

“Why did you leave the estate on your own?”

“…”

“Do you have any idea how worried I was?”

Worried?

Celia found Dietrich’s words utterly strange.

If he had truly been worried about her, he should have avoided causing her worry in the first place.

At least he could have told her beforehand where he was going.

Had he done so, she wouldn’t have had to witness Ileon’s coronation,

nor agonize over how to free Dietrich from prison.

“It was you who didn’t tell me where you were going.”

Celia stared at Dietrich calmly as she spoke.

“Don’t pretend to worry about me now, after failing to tell me anything first.”

“Do you even know why I left?”

“How would I know? You didn’t tell me anything.”

Celia felt a flicker of irritation. She had trusted Dietrich,

believing the three dukes were her enemies.

She had thought that her former fiancé would never deceive her.

But that very belief might have been the trap.

Now she wondered—was Dietrich himself possibly lying to her?

Without any proper token of engagement,

she had no way to confirm whether he truly was her former fiancé.

In fact, if the emperor she had killed really was her enemy,

could it be that Dietrich, seeking revenge for that emperor,

was tormenting her like this?

She was beginning to entertain even such absurd thoughts.

“Come to the estate. I have something urgent to tell you.”

Celia looked at Dietrich with clear displeasure.

But once they arrived at the estate, a deep silence settled between them.

After a long while, with Dietrich showing no sign of speaking,

Celia finally broke the silence.

“What did you want to say?”

Dietrich slowly closed his eyes, as if gathering his thoughts, then opened them again.

“You already know that Ileon has become emperor this time.”

Celia nodded, and Dietrich continued.

“This morning, he presented me with two choices:

abandon you, or go to the battlefield and return with merit.”

“…”

Celia assumed Dietrich would naturally choose the former.

To him, she was merely an ally—nothing more, nothing less.

“I chose neither. I won’t abandon you, nor do I wish to go to war

and earn merit for the sake of this wretched Abelon.”

Celia didn’t understand why Dietrich had made such a choice.

“Do you know what he said then?”

Celia shook her head.

“He said he would place you on the throne as empress.”

“…”

Celia could not utter a single word. She had no idea what to say.

“When I refused, he offered another choice.”

“…What choice?”

“He said I must offer my body to his younger sister whenever she desires.”