There had been so many incidents and accidents that people’s minds and bodies were utterly exhausted.

The nation’s name had changed, and Emperor Ileon had died by the blade of the Royal Knight Commander.

It was indeed a shockingly rapid transformation.

Yet, the majority of people showed no particular resistance, because they needed a strong leader to guide them.

The emperor before Ileon had been nothing more than a puppet, excessively indulging in women, while Ileon had lured people into complacency with a smiling face, only to carry out mass slaughter.

National name. Emperor. What did any of that matter?

More important was whether they themselves could eat well and live comfortably.

Having lived for a considerable time as the Royal Knight Commander of Abelon, Dietrich well understood what people truly desired.

When someone itched, you scratched it; when someone felt uneasy, you gave them stability.

Dietrich neither coveted the throne like the man he had killed, nor did he immediately sit upon it.

Instead, he proved himself through ability.

Dietrich had pondered with Celia on how best to lead the nation, and together they established policies, which he implemented without fail.

The excessively abundant wealth of the Brillion family, who had selfishly seized riches by selling off Celia, was evenly distributed to the poor who could barely afford food.

The Gredrick Dukedom, long symbolic of Abelon, and the Servantes Dukedom, Arthur’s family, were not only stripped of their titles but also had all their assets confiscated.

Their crimes had been too great for anyone to dare protest.

It was the complete collapse of Abelon.

It had already been nearly a month since Abelon became the Empire of Anastasia.

In just one month, the lives of the imperial citizens had changed beyond recognition.

Streets once filled with unrest were now bustling with people, as if nothing had ever happened.

Pockets that once contained not even a speck of dust now jingled with coins, and with peace of mind came the absence of anxiety.

“Come now, fresh fish caught just before dawn! Today only, buy five and get one free!”

At the fishmonger’s loud cry, people eagerly picked out fish with sparkling eyes.

“Give me five of your freshest ones, please.”

“If I buy ten, you’ll give me two extra, right?”

“That’s right, customer!”

Dull faces once clouded with gloom now blossomed with smiles.

Every street brimmed with vitality.

Though people were everywhere, today the square before the imperial palace was especially packed.

This was because an important announcement would be made from the palace today.

“Could it be about new policies?”

“Policies are always published in the newspaper the same day they’re announced. This must be something different…”

“Look, what’s the use of us speculating among ourselves? His Majesty will surely handle it well.”

People’s faces were filled with excitement.

Their lives had visibly become richer in just under a month.

They were finally realizing how crucial a leader’s role could be.

They conversed, each imagining Dietrich and Celia.

“Brill… no, His Majesty’s lover is said to be incredibly beautiful.”

“Hey, don’t drool. Unless you want to die for daring to desire her.”

Who was Anastasia, the fallen kingdom’s princess and namesake of the new nation?

Once called the flower of Brillion, she was known as everyone’s first love.

She had been summoned to the old emperor’s bedchamber and falsely accused of being a witch.

And now, she was the one and only lover of Emperor Dietrich.

It was said that Dietrich guarded her so closely that no one had seen her in nearly a month.

Well, considering he had even renamed the entire country after his lover, there was nothing more to say.

Though none dared reveal their inner feelings for the emperor’s beloved, many men still secretly admired her beauty.

“…Should I apply to become a royal knight right now?”

When it was announced that royal knights and palace servants would be recruited regardless of social status, applications poured in from all over.

Indeed, it was a position of great honor.

The privilege of becoming part of the new nation’s imperial household was not something anyone could claim.

Shortages were quickly filled.

Of course, though recruitment was open to all regardless of status, it was far from indiscriminate.

For example, even if one passed the royal knight exam testing swordsmanship, they still had to pass Sir Anderson’s in-depth interview to be officially knighted.

Failing the interview meant immediate disqualification, regardless of swordsmanship scores.

Though questions varied each time, the first one was always fixed.

“A friend of mine said the very first question is: ‘Are you certain you harbor no improper thoughts toward His Majesty’s beloved?'”

“…”

“He said when he answered ‘no,’ he was rejected on the spot. …Even though he lied, apparently Sir Anderson saw right through him.”

The men conversing fell silent in unison.

They had briefly indulged in sweet dreams and felt happy—even if their mental state was now shattered.

Then, the murmuring in the square grew louder.

“It’s His Majesty!”

At someone’s cry, thousands of eyes in the square turned to one spot.

Dietrich had just appeared on the terrace made of white marble.

Emerging in a black uniform, accompanied by guards, a crimson cloak fluttered behind him.

Upon his jet-black hair sat the imperial crown.

He wore it so perfectly that everyone gaped in awe.

His crimson eyes, beneath straight brows, seemed to pierce through every person even from a distance.

Slowly scanning the crowd, Dietrich’s lips parted.

“As you all know, I have a beloved lover.”

Dietrich turned around.

As he smiled gently with closed eyes, someone followed his laughter and stepped lightly out from within the terrace.

Wearing a jeweled tiara, she appeared—Anastasia, Dietrich’s one and only lover, once known as Celia.

Just then, the sun in the sky was briefly hidden behind a patch of white feathery clouds.

It was as if even the sun, dazzled by her extraordinary beauty, had chosen to hide.

The crowd gazed up at the two as if enchanted.

A noblewoman glared at her husband, who couldn’t take his eyes off Anastasia, and pinched his arm hard.

“Ouch.”

As a small commotion arose in the crowd, Anastasia extended one hand toward Dietrich.

Dietrich gently took her hand and lowered his head to kiss the back of it.

Though Dietrich was the emperor, he treated Anastasia with even greater reverence than one would show an emperor.

“I plan to marry my beloved very soon.”

At Dietrich’s words, men in the crowd sighed in unison.

Regardless of whether the crowd watched them or not, Dietrich and Anastasia smiled brightly only at each other.

They were a pair so dazzlingly perfect that no one else could possibly intrude.

Especially noticeable was the way Dietrich’s eyes glistened with unmistakable adoration, visible even from afar.

“I declare before you all today that for my entire life, the only woman will be Anastasia.”

Truly, he was an incomparable romantic.

Dietrich had declared in a square filled with thousands that Anastasia was his eternal lover and companion.

Women gazed at Dietrich with envy and longing.

But that night, it is said every man who had admired Anastasia soaked his pillow with tears.

Decades later.

“Extra edition! Extra edition! Our Empire has formed an alliance with the Seville Empire located across the sea in the Eastern Continent!”

A boy, still soft with baby fat, scattered newspapers across the streets.

People bent down to pick up the papers and murmured among themselves.

“…An alliance? Wasn’t it because the First Emperor laid such a solid foundation that we didn’t even need alliances?”

“Hey, didn’t you know? The Seville Empire has been developing rapidly since Emperor Casadin ascended the throne.”

“Oh, Casadin… wasn’t he the one who rose from being a gladiator slave to emperor?”

“Hey, watch your words. The Seville Emperor was originally the crown prince of a fallen kingdom too—just like our First Emperor.”

An elderly woman walking beside an old gentleman smiled faintly at the people’s conversation.

“Madam, your hat is slightly tilted.”

The old gentleman held his wife’s hand tightly with one hand and gently readjusted her white hat with the other.

His hair was fully white, and deep wrinkles lined his forehead and eyes—clear marks of time.

Yet, his hands, hardened with calluses, showed he had long held a sword.

He had aged gracefully, proof of the beauty that once stole women’s hearts.

Even after decades, his gaze toward his wife remained as loving as ever.

“…It took quite a long time.”

At his wife’s words, the old gentleman smiled faintly.

“Didn’t you once say, ‘Did you think founding a nation was easy?'”

“I didn’t know it would take this long. Did I know restoring a ruined nation would swallow up forty years of our lives?”

“I’ll be happy anywhere as long as I’m with you. Whether it’s the imperial palace or not.”

At her husband’s words, the old lady’s eyes narrowed.

“You’re determined to follow me even to the afterlife, aren’t you?”

“Of course. I’ll follow you there and take care of you. I’m your loyal dog, after all.”

“Can’t you stop with that nonsense? Dog, my foot. You’re more like a hundred-year-old fox.”

Pouting, his wife spoke, and the old gentleman burst into laughter.

The old lady laughed along with her husband.

“Still, I’m glad our daughter is a capable emperor. At least we can travel now, even in old age.”

“Of course. Whose daughter do you think she is?”

The old lady smiled brightly as she thought of her daughter.

Their daughter, inheriting her father’s crimson eyes and her mother’s silver hair, was utterly adorable.

—”Let’s take one character each from your name and mine. We’ll name her Kasha.”

Kail, Dietrich’s true name, and Anastasia, Celia’s true name.

The child named Kasha had grown up thriving under their love.

Watching Kasha grow, they passed the throne to her and spent their happiest days in the imperial garden, where flowers bloomed luxuriantly.

Though their travel plans were delayed, they considered it a good life, all things considered.

The old gentleman gazed tenderly at his wife, lost in memories, then kissed her cheek and whispered affectionately.

“I love you, Asha.”

Kail, the First Emperor, once known as Dietrich, gently smiled as he held the hand of his wife, Anastasia, who had aged alongside him for more than half a lifetime.

Just then, something squirmed inside Anastasia’s clothing and peeked its head out.

It was Redwine, the parrot, child of Popo.

“…When did you bring that thing again?”

“It’s Popo’s only child.”

“You’re impossible. Why did Popo have to keep a male, of all things…”

At Kail’s words, Anastasia burst into clear laughter and patted his back.

“You’re ridiculous.”

A noble reading the newspaper watched the elderly couple walking away with tender affection, their faces filled with envy.

“Wait, those people who just passed by—could they possibly be the First Emperor and Empress?”

“What are you talking about? Such noble figures should be in the palace. They wouldn’t come out into such a noisy street.”

“…You’re right. I must’ve been mistaken.”

Wherever they went, the two would always be together.

Happily, until their very last breath.