Chapter 409. Proclamation Ceremony (4)
Serena Laksasia remained silent for a moment at the sudden cold atmosphere, but immediately let out an awkward laugh.
"Ah…. I mean, what I wanted to say is that, being honest regarding Marquis Palatio, I didn't say he seemed unpleasant enough to make me lose my appetite."
After finishing her sentence, even she felt she had escaped a critical situation quite well, so she sighed with relief inwardly.
But, unfortunately, the faces of Yutia and Rine watching her were pure expressionlessness.
And thus, Serena spoke again amidst the silence.
"……To be honest, the master– no, the marquis… isn't someone disgusting to look at, right?"
"Yes, yes. I think the same too. In fact, if we look at it coldly, the marquis is handsome."
Serena nodded enthusiastically, as if agreeing with Yutia.
It was impossible to retract everything completely, but at least she thought she had managed to save the situation with that comment.
However.
"The godfather… is handsome?"
"Yes, yes."
"Didn't you just say he was ugly?"
"Ah."
When Rine mentioned what she had said earlier, the atmosphere froze again.
Seeing both their faces filling with suspicion again, the princess let out an exhausted sigh.
"No, what I meant is that… even if he is objectively handsome, he isn't that attractive to me personally, that's all."
"But you admit he is handsome even if he isn't your type."
What? Didn't she say she liked handsome men?
Liar… their eyes said while staring at her.
Serena hurried to reply.
"No, I… personally don't think he is that handsome…"
"Ah, so the godfather is ugly and unpleasant….?"
Is she insulting the marquis to that extent now?
The marquis isn't like that.
This is getting really annoying.
Those kinds of expressions on their faces made Serena's vision go dark.
Because she finally understood. She had fallen into an impossible choice, where any option meant death.
"No, it's not that… objectively he is handsome, yes, but he isn't the type of handsome that matches my taste, that was what I meant."
"So in the end, is the marquis handsome?"
"Yes… yes."
"And didn't you say you liked handsome men?"
"No, I mean, yes, I like them, but… Marquis Palatio doesn't have such a good personality and–"
"Ah, the godfather's personality isn't good?"
"Ah."
Serena tried desperately to make excuses to survive, but in the end, the conversation went round and round in circles.
That day.
"Good, listen carefully, princess. The title of ‘Kalanon’ of the master–"
"Y…. yes…."
Serena received an intense lesson from Yutia and Rine on why Marquis Palatio was handsome, excellent, and great.
……From late at night until sunrise.
A little later, when there was one day left for the proclamation ceremony.
Marquis Palatio's residence was full of important figures, more than ever before.
Even the two kings who constituted the core of the Allied United Kingdoms were present.
And under them, numerous dignitaries from various duchies gathered to celebrate Alon's ascension.
"Brother!"
"Nangwon, it's been a while."
"Yes, brother, have you been well?"
"How is your sister?"
"Good. She couldn't come due to… you know, the situation. But she is fine."
"I'm glad to hear that."
"Since I know you are busy I will retire here, although I would like to talk more. It seems many people are waiting for you."
"I appreciate your consideration."
"I will visit you after the ceremony!"
When Nangwon left the office cheerfully, Alon let out a small sigh, at which moment Evan spoke.
"A lot of people have gathered."
"That's right."
"Truthfully, at this point, it is faster to count who didn't come."
"……Certainly."
Alon nodded.
It was just as Evan said. With only one day left for the ceremony, it was faster to search among the people who had some connection with Alon for those who hadn't come.
"The only ones who haven't come are Seolrang and Karsem…."
Even so, Alon didn't feel any annoyance.
With the Divine Blood rampaging, traveling was almost impossible.
Besides, Colony was still recovering, and Seolrang might not have fully recovered from her wounds after the last battle against a Divine Blood.
"……Evan."
"Yes, Lord Marquis."
While thinking about it, Alon called Evan.
"Has any news arrived about Seolrang?"
"Seolrang?………………Ah, right, she asked me to let her know immediately if there was news."
Alon nodded, and Evan searched his memory.
"Well… no, there hasn't been anything special. They say she is fine, even."
"……Really?"
"Ah, although it seems that due to the injuries she doesn't leave her room much."
"I see."
When Alon nodded immediately, Evan tilted his head, intrigued.
"Lord Marquis, did something happen with Seolrang?"
"Why do you say that?"
"Lately you seem to worry a lot about her."
Alon thought for a moment.
"It's not that. It's just that… something unsettles me."
"Something unsettles you?"
"Yes."
At the brief response, Evan seemed to remember something.
"Ah, right. How did it go yesterday?"
"…Yesterday?"
"Yes, you had dinner with the princess of Laksas, right?"
"Well, yes."
"Did something happen?"
Evan asked with eyes full of curiosity.
But at such a gaze, Alon denied flatly.
"Nothing happened."
"……Eh? Nothing?"
"Yes. Although…"
"Although?"
"It was a bit… strange."
"…In what sense?"
Alon hesitated for a moment and replied.
"It was as if…."
"As if……?"
"As if she had been… brainwashed."
"……Brainwashed?"
Evan looked at him bewildered while Alon recalled the brief conversation.
Actually, there wasn't much to remember.
During the meal, they had barely exchanged a few sentences.
But those few sentences left a strong impact.
‘Do you like the food?’
‘Yes, it is delicious, really delicious, as expected from Marquis Palatio's food.’
‘…Thank you for the compliment.’
‘No, it's not a compliment, it's the truth. Marquis Palatio's food is really delicious. And I also like the scenery of the residence, and I also love the marquis's statue. Furthermore, I sincerely believe the marquis is a god.’
Alon thought about that conversation.
‘…What the hell was that?’
At first, he thought she was teasing him.
But observing her more closely…
The attitude of Serena was like that of a Hollywood star promoting something in Korea reciting soullessly:
"I like kimchi. BTS is the best. Long live K-Pop."
"……Well, that was it."
Alon left the topic there.
"I see."
Evan let his curiosity pass and changed the subject.
"Tomorrow is finally the proclamation ceremony."
"Yes."
"Honestly… I still find it hard to believe that the Lord Marquis will become king."
Alon felt that way too.
His dream wasn't to be a noble, much less a king.
He just wanted to defeat the Five Sins and then live quietly in Rodmil.
"How did I end up like this…?"
Looking at the sky darkening, he replied:
"Truthfully, I don't believe it either."
"Will you go to bed early today?"
"I suppose so. The ceremony is… in the morning?"
"Yes, according to what Alexion and Silly confirmed, it should end past noon."
Nodding in silence, Alon suddenly remembered:
"Ah, right. Is the crown finished already?"
Evan replied:
"Ah, they will use the one that was already made."
"…The one that was already made? So they did make it, right?"
"Yes, but they said they will make a version more suitable for you later."
"A crown suitable for me…?"
"Yes. They had some setbacks because of that."
"Mh…"
With Silly involved, Alon felt a strange bad feeling.
"But don't worry too much."
"Why?"
"They say that even if the crown isn't ready, the preparations for a spectacular proclamation ceremony are completely ready."
"…Spectacular?"
"Yes."
"What did they prepare?"
"I don't know exactly… but everyone seems to have prepared something special. I guess because it is your ceremony."
Those words increased Alon's bad feeling even more.
"Although… well, I'll keep it in mind."
He couldn't forbid them from doing something they prepared for him, so he nodded slightly.
And when he left his office to rest…
In one of the many residences of the marquis:
"Brother."
"Silly."
Deus and Silly were conversing.
"Did you finish all the revisions?"
"Yes."
"Problems?"
"None. There will be no inconveniences."
At Deus's firm response, Silly smiled with relief.
"Thank goodness. There can be no failures in the ceremony."
Having said that, she looked toward the statue.
The huge statue located in the center of the Palatio territory.
Morning of the ceremony.
"Phew…"
Perhaps because he went to bed early, Alon woke up earlier than usual.
While he petted Blackie, who was purring near his face, he got up and opened the curtains as always.
The bright light illuminated the same landscape as always.
The territory remained noisy as usual.
The sun gave life to the entire domain.
And the statue in the center also seemed the same as alwa….
Or… not?
"……Hm?"
Looking at the landscape distractedly, his gaze naturally fell on the statue.
It was still there.
But even drowsy, he noticed immediately that something was different.
The posture of the statue had changed.
It no longer had the posture of the Northern Chief; now it just had its arms relaxed downwards.
At the change… more docile?, Alon blinked in confusion.
"…Eh?"
And then he saw it.
The statue's hand… rising slowly.
Like a gigantic amusement park machine, the arm rose, adopting a pose as if it were going to summon a dark dragon.
FWOOSH!
A blue flash appeared, and blue lightning gathered in the hand.
Alon let go of the curtain.
Fsshhh—
The curtains fell again.
[…Kyu?]
Blackie, who had jumped onto his shoulder, opened his eyes in surprise.
And Alon remembered Evan's words.
‘Even if the crown isn't ready, the preparations for a spectacular ceremony are completed.’
Without saying anything, Alon brought his hand to his face.
Not even a minute had passed since he woke up, and already an unsettling feeling wrapped around him again.
