CH 164

I was shaking my head when a servant announced the Emperor’s arrival. The loud voice rang through the hall.

“The first light of the Great Ivant, The Emperor Ridrian Ferid Lebrooks, is entering.”

Soon, the entrance opened, and he entered.

He climbed the high place where the throne was situated to symbolize that the twelve Gods that ruled of this world were watching over him. He moved his heavy cape and sat on the throne, but not before he looked around and our eyes met.

Before I could react, he turned away and said something to the lead guard. Kraman hesitated, then nodded and left.

What was the order that made him hesitate?

Kraman was very loyal in other ways to Raven. I wondered for a moment, but then the servant by the Emperor’s side announced the start of the ceremony.

“Now, the ceremony will start.”

The ceremony began with a soulless speech from the Emperor.

Two nobles were being reinstated. To think that they were all receiving a title like me…it seemed quite a lot of families had been involved in one scandal. I’d been told that there were even more families without descendants. Such a big scandal.

The first young man who was called went up to Ridrian and politely knelt. He was stiff, as though nervous. Ridrian’s husky voice rang through the hall.

“Alpas Moraine,” he said, “I declare you’re reinstated as a Baron. At the same time, I declare that I recognize that you have officially inherited the title from the previous Baron, Dresron Moraine.”

Ridrian’s face was expressionless, unlike the man, who seemed both happy and nervous.

People will think that looks charismatic.

But I knew that he was bored. It didn’t seem like him.

“I thank you for your honor,” said the man. “I, Baron Alpas Moraine, swear to the life God Terrace that I will serve you loyally, Emperor Ridrian Ferid Resbrook.”

The Emperor tapped the Baron’s shoulders with his sword. It was a formality, but I’d heard that the official inheritance didn’t happen if that didn’t happen. It was just on principle.

The life God, Terrace. Thinking about it, my power comes from Terrace.

The clapping continued in the hall. I was deep in thought as I heard that. Two days ago, Ravis had taught me how to use the divine power. One of the ways was to believe in the God I was praying to, as it increased my powers. Still, I couldn’t help but wonder.”

I’ve never really believed in Terrace.

If anything, I hated him. But my power was as great as the Pope’s. I couldn’t understand that part—in caft, it felt a little odd. All this I thought about as ten nobles received their title.

“Iona Lesprey. Step forward.”

And I couldn’t react fast enough to the sound of my name.

“Iona.” Eris tapped me, snapping me back to my senses.

“Yes!” I grabbed the dress, not wanting to step on it, and slowly climbed up. He stood at the top.

Ridrian.

His face seemed to get closer as I climbed the stairs. It was the Emperor’s face. Seeing him at an official event after seeing him personally felt a bit weird.

All of a sudden, it hit me. This is the distance between Emperor Ridrian and Viscount Lesprey. This is right.

Biting my lip, I knelt before him.

He stared at me for a moment, then declared in an unusual voice: “Iona Lesprey, I declare that you have officially been reinstated as a Viscount. At the same time, I declare you have officially inherited the title from the previous Viscount, Badrein Lesprey.”

As he tapped lightly on my shoulders with his sword, I bowed and responded, “I thank you for your honor. I, Viscount Iona Lesprey, swear to the life God Terrace that I will serve you loyally, Emperor Ridrian Ferid Resbrook.”

Even though this was a great moment, I couldn’t feel it. My mind was bursting with thoughts about Ridrian. There was a lot of clapping, and I turned quickly so I could avoid being so close to him.

“Ah!”

I’d stepped on my dress and lost my balance. I closed my eyes, feeling my body tip forward.

I’m falling!

It was obvious I’ll be hurt badly when I rolled down the stairs. Had I done something wrong to stairs? Why did I keep tripping!

“Iona!”

My body stopped in the air at the sound of Ridrian’s voice, and I felt a pressure on my waist.

“Are you ok?”

I opened my eyes. He was holding my waist, a worried look in his golden eyes. I quickly extricated myself from him and bowed, feeling my heart fog up again.

“My apologies, Your Majesty,” I said.

“As long as you’re not hurt, it’s okay,” he replied. “Proceed.”

I bit my lips at the sound of his official tone. It had gotten rowdy at the bottom.

Ah! He just said my name.

The emperor had called a viscount’s name. That was showing his friendliness. Feeling a little troubled, I quickly got down. Then I left hall without caring about the festival that was to happen after.

I just want to go home.

But the moment I got out of the hall, Kraman walked up to me. It seemed like he’d been waiting the whole time.

He bowed. “Greetings, I’m Kraman le Trios, the lead guard. I’ll be escorting you to the drawing room under His Majesty’s order.”

My eyebrows rose. “Pardon?”

That was what Ridrian ordered before the ceremony? To wait instead of going home?

“How about going for a walk, if you don’t like the drawing room?” he suggested. “His Majesty’s suggestion.”

“What about guarding His Majesty? Isn’t that your duty?”

But I was simply questioning the obvious.

“His Majesty doesn’t need me to guard him.”

He said it with no emotion, as though it hurt his pride. I could barely say anything.

“His Majesty suggested a walk?”

“He said he’ll call you the moment the ceremony is over.”

“I see.”

I thought I would be sick to the stomach as Kraman, the lead guard, would be escorting me personally. But I felt better when he said Ridrian would call me right away. As happy as I was that he needed me, I still felt like running home.

Ah, even the home was given to me by Ridrian. The attendees as well…

His presence penetrated every aspect of my life. I couldn’t run, even if I wanted to.

I bit my lips. “I’ll go to the drawing room.”

“I’ll lead you.”

I was escorted by the lead guard Kraman, Terrace’s first sword Dylan, and Eris the female lead.