Raising the Princess to Overcome Death-Chapter 215: The Beggar Siblings – Mother's Necklace
215: The Beggar Siblings – Mother's Necklace
- Clang! Clang—Clang!
Lutetia, the capital, greeted an unusual morning.
With the eastern dawn, the distant sound of church bells resonated softly, and soldiers in neat uniforms, not armor, assessed their positions at every intersecting road.
It was definitely a different day than usual.
The streets were clean, and the early morning passersby were dressed impeccably, with nothing to criticize. If anyone wasn’t properly dressed, soldiers would rush over to scold them, though no fines were imposed.
It was the day of preparations for Akinene.
With just a week left until the ownership of the Conrad Kingdom changed hands, Lutetia’s citizens were doing their utmost to welcome their new master. They tried on newly purchased clothes, repaired fallen roofs, and repainted walls.
If the efforts of ordinary citizens were commendable, the palace was even more so.
Starting preparations ahead of the citizens, the royal palace showed no sign of any flaws. Servants repaired the cracked floors, maids replaced all the candles in the palace with new ones, and expensive whale oil filled every lamp long ago.
All this was for one person, Prince Eric de Yeriel.
Nobles gathered in small groups at the royal palace. While they adjusted the order of the ceremony to be held next week under the guidance of the royal chamberlain, the protagonist of Akinene, Prince Eric de Yeriel, was also checking his schedule.
Dressed in splendid royal attire. The summer clothes were thin but densely embroidered with gold. The several-meter-long red cape draped over his shoulders swept the spotless floor smoothly as he walked, accompanied by Cardinal Verke, maids holding his cape, and a few guards, following the etiquette of the Arcaea Empire towards the king's bedchamber.
According to the traditions of the Arcaea Empire, if the king was bedridden and couldn’t attend Akinene, the successor had to have an audience with the king accompanied by a representative of the Cross ChurChapter The church would confirm that the king was unfit for governance and acknowledge the successor.
This process, rare in the long history of the Arcaea Empire, was originally presided over by the Holy Maiden, but in the current situation where the continent was divided into seven kingdoms, the cardinal had to act as her substitute.
- Step, step.
However, only 12 people ascended the stairs, passed through several halls, and climbed more stairs.
Though it was a strict procedure, today was just a rehearsal for preparing for Akinene. Normally, nobles would follow in droves, but the prince showed leniency.
The king’s bedchamber was on the fourth floor. Climbing the high palace’s floors was too much for the elderly heads of families just for a rehearsal. So today’s schedule was roughly practiced and followed by a modest banquet.
The nobles decided to wait for the prince in the first-floor banquet hall.
In the silence where not a word was exchanged, they finally reached the fourth floor. The scent of good incense candles filled the air where Caderyk de Yeriel, the King of the Conrad Kingdom, had been bedridden for over ten years.
“May God's blessings be with you. We hope the king regains consciousness next week, but if not, Prince, you must proceed with the ceremony. First, come closer to the bed and pray for the king's recovery…”
The etiquette officer droned on about the customs of the Arcaea Empire, but Prince Eric didn’t seem to listen attentively.
Honestly, everyone knew the king wouldn’t wake up. It was laughable to believe he could recover now, with his complexion turned black and the stench of decay lingering for over ten years.
The king was merely clinging to life thanks to the immense blessings poured by Cardinal Verke.
“After that, the cardinal must confirm the king’s condition. Of course, the cardinal will judge next week, but if it seems the king cannot govern, he will inform the gathered nobles…”
Cardinal Verke didn’t tune out the droning etiquette officer. After all, it was his responsibility regardless of who became king, so he meticulously memorized the procedure, occasionally glancing at Prince Eric de Yeriel.
“The next step is to pay respects to the late Queen Ainass de Yeriel. We have prepared a sacrificial table in her room. Now, let’s proceed to…”
“That’s enough.”
“Pardon?”
“Lighting incense, right? I can handle that; I’ve done it many times, so there’s no need for more practice.”
“But, Prince. The rituals performed by the successor during Akinene are different from the ones you performed for the queen. As the legitimate heir of the Yeriel royal family, now you must honor her as your mother…”
“As the legitimate heir? Now?”
Prince Eric de Yeriel glared sharply at the etiquette officer.
Uh-oh.
The etiquette officer realized he had misspoken and shrank back. Prince Eric, glaring murderously at him, spoke.
“Leave. I’ll change clothes and go, so inform the nobles that the banquet will start soon.”
“Y-Yes, Your Highness.”
The annoying etiquette officer hurriedly left. Prince Eric de Yeriel then turned to Cardinal Verke, someone he also didn’t want to see, and forced a smile.
“Cardinal Verke, you’ve worked hard. You could’ve come alone, but you brought many priests and paladins.”
“Yes. As we welcome the new ruler of the kingdom, the church must show its sincerity. I will take my leave now.”
Cardinal Verke abruptly turned away.
Prince Eric, who had intended to exchange a few polite words before sending him off, stood dumbfounded for a moment, then exhaled sharply. He couldn’t understand why that money-grubber was leaving so easily.
Usually, he would harp about the king's treatment costs, trying to extract every last penny…
Though he didn’t want to treat his father, he couldn’t outright say, “Stop the treatment,” so dealing with Verke was truly annoying.
But now that I’m about to be king, is he being cautious?
Ha. Scoffing, Prince Eric left the bedchamber without glancing at his father writhing in the agony of decaying flesh. Returning to his room on the third floor, he had a maid remove his cumbersome cape and changed into banquet attire. Looking back at the neatly folded royal attire on the bed, he finally felt better and smiled.
Finally, I become king.
It was the sweet fruit of years of effort. Not a result gained from being born into royalty.
Some might say it was thanks to his grandfather, Duke Tertan’s ambition for power, that he could oust Prince Leo and Princess Lena from the line of succession, but in truth, it wasn’t so.
Few nobles were as power-hungry as his grandfather, Rupert Tertan. He had to pour his divine power, meticulously saved every month, to maintain the charm he placed on his grandfather, and preparing sacrifices for Lord Oriax as a prince was no easy task.
When he had the “jewel,” he didn’t need to sleep, so he sneaked out of the palace every night to find sacrifices, living that way for over ten years. Days of sacrifice solely to become king.
“Hahaha.”
Prince Eric laughed aloud, not caring if the maids heard.
Oriax had said that once I ascended the throne, there would be no need to search for sacrifices. As the ruler of this land and all its people, I would draw divine power from all decaying things, and he wanted me to reign as king for fifty years.
How could there be anything bad about that?
It was an incredibly generous offer. As a boy, I accepted that offer, and it brought me to where I am today. Recently, Oriax had been urging me to ascend the throne quickly, hastening the timeline.
Then, Eric’s laughter, which had been bubbling up, suddenly stopped.
He approached the window overlooking the eastern and southern districts of Lutetia, intending to take in the fresh view, but his gaze was caught by his mother's necklace displayed by the window.
Prince Eric stared at the necklace with somewhat clearer eyes, then took it out from the display case. Like a crestfallen boy, he fiddled with it before hanging it around his neck.
There was no particular reason. He just... felt like doing it.
“Let’s go.”
The prince, unknowingly letting out a light sigh, turned around. Sending the maids away, he headed to the banquet hall on the first floor with his guards, where the nobles were waiting, but the hall was eerily quiet.
It wasn’t easy for a hundred or more gathered nobles to remain silent, even if they were waiting for the prince’s return.
Finding it curious, and somewhat expectant, Eric descended the stairs. The banquet hall could also be accessed from the second-floor staircase, usually reserved for the king’s grand entrance with fanfare.
Maybe the nobles are being quiet to give me a grand welcome. — With this expectation, he opened the heavy doors.
And there, looking up in amazement, were the gathered nobles. Rows of knights, prepared by someone, were also looking up, but their gazes were not solely focused on him.
Repulsive golden hair.
A young man and a lady with golden eyes looked up. When they turned to look at him, Eric de Yeriel froze.
“...Damn it.”
“Brother, it’s been a while. Not that I remember you.”
The dazzlingly beautiful lady, whom Eric de Yeriel had longed for in his dreams due to his inferiority complex about his mother's rank, yet could never be with, was the princess of Isadora’s royal bloodline.
Despite being female, she was his half-sister who preceded him in the line of succession,
Princess Lena de Yeriel.
As the princess bowed gracefully and smiled, there was a young man looking back at him more somberly.
Actually, this person made Eric de Yeriel want to curse more than the princess did.
The queen’s first son. Born with golden hair and golden eyes symbolizing the Arcaea Empire, and with blue hair representing the Yeriel royal family mixed in, he was the perfect heir to the throne just by appearance.
Eric couldn't count how many times, in his younger years, he had cursed his hair and eye color, envying this detestable person, the first in line for the throne, standing before him on the very day of Akinene.
Eric de Yeriel wanted to scream and demand that this guy be dragged out immediately. But Leo de Yeriel pointed at him first and commanded.
“Knights, seize that shameless prince and make him kneel before me.”
“What, what?!”
- Shing.
Over two hundred kingdom knights, even the guards, drew their swords. All their sword tips were pointed at Prince Eric, leaving him dazed.
No nobles stepped in to stop this.
Many faces bore suppressed yet undeniable sneers. The rest, those who should have supported him, remained silent, perhaps shocked by the knights’ actions or recognizing the futility of resistance.
“Prince Eric! Kneel!”
A mountain of swords. But the blades weren’t just below.
Even the guards escorting Eric on the stairs drew their swords on him. Somehow, these weren’t his usual loyal guards but others, implying even the captain of the guard had sided with them.
“Hahahahaha!”
Eric laughed.
Given the situation, I can no longer call myself a prince. But...
“What’s so special about being born from the queen! Fine. It’s truly impressive, my dear sibling! But let me show you who the chosen successor is…”
“Immediately kneel...!!”
“Oriax, my lord!”
Prince Eric raised his arm high.
A red light flashed from his eyes, and a huge hole was blown into the banquet hall’s ceiling. The guards who had pointed their swords at Eric were thrown down the stairs, and everyone below was in shock, looking up at the ceiling.
The only ones moving were Leo, who shielded his sister, and an old man with white hair, Cardinal Verke, who raised his sword high.
“Latzar, god of light!”
In the center of the banquet hall, Cardinal Verke performed a sword dance, scattering the holy power of the white god everywhere.
Chapter 215: The Beggar Siblings – Mother's Necklace
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