CH 118.1

The coronation ceremony took place in Lupus Square.

Francisca, the heir to the throne, kneeled on a single knee on a platform high enough for citizens to look up to, and the Archbishop held the crown over her head.

“Archbishop Vedic dares query the Queen by borrowing the name and authority of the Goddess. Do you solemnly swear, Queen, to rule Lupus, and hence the kingdom of Prona, by law and custom?”

“I solemnly swear.”

“Will the Queen exercise her royal power according to the law, with fairness and mercy?”

“I will.”

“Finally, does the queen acknowledges that she puts her faith in Goddess Iris and that she would serve the Goddess with all her heart and soul as she would her own mother?”

“I swear.”

“Then, I, Archbishop Vedic borrow the name of the Divine Mother and consent. You are the Queen of the Kingdom of Prona from this moment onward.”

The regal crown rested on Francisca’s head.

Archbishop Vedic knelt down and muttered hymns as he placed the crown.

“Please be a merciful and wise queen.”

Francisca nodded her head and stood up, looking around at the people fanning behind the Archbishop.

Hero Cloud and his teammates.

Hero Lorian and his teammates.

The cohort of Royal Knights.

She looked back.

Francisca froze.

Under the podium—

—many of her citizens were looking up at her with eyes full of anticipation, enough to crowd the vast plaza.

Heavy.

Their gaze toward her and their expectations was so heavy.

Her lips stuck together and couldn’t be separated.

No.

This was the most important moment.

She must suggest a way for the kingdom to move forward so that the citizens could feel at ease.

‘So please, open up!’

Just as she felt her lips would twitch and fall off her face.

– You’re too stiff on the shoulders.

Cloud’s voice stuck in her head.

Startled, she looked behind her. He smiled and waved his hand slightly.

Seeing him, the pressure that had weighed on her shoulders alighted.

Yeah, she was not alone.

Francisca raised her voice and fixed her scrutiny on the citizens who only looked at her.

“In the recent past, we faced a great ordeal.”

Darkness fell on the faces of the citizens. It must have reminded them of the fear they felt that day and the precious things they had lost.

“But we persevered. We did not succumb to the evil and darkness and even overcame it. What else can we not overcome? We even defeated the malevolent Heavenly King!”

It wasn’t the citizens of Lupus who overcame the Heavenly King.

Cloud.

It was something he did alone.

But Francisca didn’t bother to tell the hard truth. Instead, she emphasized ‘we’ so she could pack the painful memories together.

Because people have the habit of finding strength in collective unification.

Especially if it’s a difficult memory.

Murmurs carried over.

Strange heat began to dwell in the plaza.

Francisca didn’t miss it and declared it out loud.

“I, Francisca Frutois, promise you—Lupus will prosper. It will become incomparably richer than before. We will create a city full of laughter and joy and happiness, not tears and grief.”

Citizens cheered at the Queen’s confident tone.

– Wow!!

– Long live Her Highness!

– Prosperity to Lupus!

Francisca smiled as the crowd cheered.

She was worried about what she would do if she messed up, but she had warped it up nicely.

Now her role was over.

After her speech, Francisca stepped back and the Archbishop stepped forward in her stead.

As the archbishop stepped forward, the noisy plaza slowly began to quiet down.

Finally, when it was completely quiet, the Archbishop opened his mouth.

“Dear citizens of Lupus, blessed be you. Like all of you, I sincerely congratulate Her Highness the Queen on her coronation. No one can deny that Her Highness the Queen is today’s protagonist.”

Lorian smiled looking at the archbishop, who addressed the public.

‘Looks like he made a choice.’

Otherwise, there would be no reason for the archbishop to step forward.

As expected, the Archbishop lifted the queen up a few times and sprinkled consolation and hope, finally finishing with that there was a person indispensable to this city.

When the people asked, the archbishop pointed to Lorian with a gnarled finger.

“Hero Lorian, people. As you may already know, a lot of food and ration was distributed at the squares. It was Hero Lorian who contributed the food. Greet him with applause and cheers.”

No citizen was surprised by the fact the archbishop revealed. It was because Lorian had spread enough rumors.

But apart from that, they were grateful in their heart deep.

Citizens greeted Lorian with applause and cheers.

“It’s not something I did in hopes of hospitality, but I’m glad the citizens are happy.”

A humble expression schooled on his face.

The Archbishop continued.

“Her Highness the Queen has decided to bestow a present to Hero Lorian as a token of her gratitude. Hero Lorian, please kneel before Her Highness.”

Even Lorian was a little surprised by his pronouncement.

Because this wasn’t what he had asked for.

‘It’s worth the money.’

The situation was good for Lorian, if not very good. If he was to receive a gift from the queen herself, it would leave a deep impression on the citizens.

Lorian willingly got down on one knee toward the queen.

“Hero Lorian. We present this bracelet to you in gratitude for your services to Lupus.”

The bracelet Francisca handed over had gold edging and colorful patterns and embellishments.

She couldn’t have given him an ordinary bracelet, so it must have some function.

Lorian bowed his head toward the queen.

“Thank you, Your Highness, the Queen.”

He returned to his original position and glanced at Cloud. He was curious to see how he was reacting.

It would be best if he looked as distraught as possible…

‘Hmm?’

Contrary to Lorian’s expectations, Cloud’s expression was mirthless and poise. Just silently looking ahead.

However, Lorian smiled at the sight.

‘Pretend Cloud, pretend.’

This was even funnier.

Just when Lorian almost chuckled at him and pulled to wear the bracelet leisurely, the archbishop continued.

“Next is Hero Cloud.”

As if he was done with Lorian, the archbishop pointed at Cloud.

This… was something he had not expected.

‘What the hell is he doing?’