"Thus, we, 282 princes and servants of the Supreme God, according to the covenant we have long maintained, pledge our loyalty to Liv Gracia, the rightful heir of the Gracia family!"
Before the main coronation ceremony, Maya Arendt, who had climbed onto the platform, shouted those words. Originally, this was supposed to be done by the most powerful among the nobles, but now that the Lartman ducal family had become the subject of the coronation ceremony, that role had passed to Marquis Arendt. At the same time, it was proof that Maya Arendt was close to the Emperor, so she was satisfied with her role.
Now it was Liv Gracia's turn to appear. Everyone's gaze turned towards the door. They were all curious about what face the woman who had become the new Emperor would have.
However, Liv Gracia did not come out.
"Ahem, we will enthrone Liv Gracia as the Emperor!"
Maya Arendt shouted again, watching for reactions, but Liv Gracia still did not appear.
"What's this?"
"Has some problem occurred?"
"Did someone use trickery?"
"Surely there isn't another issue with the imperial throne?"
The nobles began to stir. How could the protagonist not appear at her own coronation ceremony? They were suspecting if there was another problem with the imperial throne. Like whether forces opposing Gracia's ascension had harmed her or something like that.
Just as even Maya Arendt was at a loss and flustered, the huge doors opened. And finally, the protagonist of the coronation ceremony revealed herself.
Liv Gracia walked out naturally along the path laid before her.
"Ah..."
Someone exclaimed in admiration at that sight.
Dressed in a white dress with a white cape, she looked more sacred than anyone. She was truly worthy of being called the Emperor of an empire. Moreover, her white hair gave an even more mysterious feeling, and her pale pink eyes that seemed to pierce through them also gave a strange impression.
Soon the coronation ceremony continued, and all the subjects enthroned Liv Gracia as Emperor according to procedure.
* * *
Marquis Arendt knelt and presented the crown to her. Liv placed it on her own head, studded with red jewels.
This crown had been used since Emperor Beatrice of the Garcia Empire and symbolized absolute power. August had also worn this crown through his coronation ceremony, but the meaning was different now. While August's power was self-obtained, Liv's power was recognized by the Supreme God of the Holy Hilysid Empire.
With the crown on her head, Liv inwardly sighed in relief.
'Thank goodness.'
She thought she was late, but fortunately, she had managed to make it just in time. Thanks to that, the coronation ceremony was proceeding without problems.
At that moment, a servant who had entered with his body lowered whispered something in Maya Arendt's ear, and after nodding, Marquis Arendt shouted in a loud voice:
"Along with Liv Gracia, Emmett Lartman will take care of this land!"
As Maya Arendt called Emmett's name, some servants glanced around. They were servants who knew that Emmett had been poisoned.
However, the doors opened, and Emmett entered the hall with such a dignified stride as if nothing had happened. Emmett sat in a place slightly lower than Liv, and Maya Arendt presented Emmett with a huge golden brooch. Emmett attached it to his uniform.
'Are you feeling alright?'
As Liv made eye contact with Emmett, he smiled faintly to indicate he was fine. Seeing that, Liv was able to feel somewhat relieved.
"Ah, blessings shall descend... Hilysid..."
"Grace shall dwell in this land..."
Those gathered sang along with the national anthem, and the high priest offered words of blessing and loyalty to Liv. Saintess Hildegard also blessed Liv.
Probably by now, knights outside would have started marching near the imperial palace. People would gather to watch it. In this way, the news of Liv's ascension would be widely known.
Liv glanced at Emmett sitting with an upright posture. It was really fortunate that he seemed fine now. Sighing in relief once again, Liv recalled what had happened just a short while ago.
* * *
"Your Majesty, where are you going!"
Liv shook off Hildegard's arm and ran. Hildegard followed her in shock, but Liv flung open the door of the room where Emmett was.
"Liv? No, Your Majesty?"
Walter's eyes widened as he seemed to be giving instructions to the physicians. Perhaps realizing Liv had become Emperor from the reactions of the physicians in front, Walter asked Liv politely.
"Your Majesty, shouldn't you be at the coronation ceremony? What brings you here?"
"All physicians are to leave."
Although there was no explanation, the physicians quickly followed Liv's order and left the room. Only Hildegard and Walter remained, looking at Liv with eyes demanding an explanation.
"Your Majesty, I understand how you feel, but you must go to the coronation ceremony."
"I have a way to save Emmett."
At Liv's firm voice, Walter's eyes widened.
"How... Surely you're not planning to take your own life? That absolutely cannot be allowed, Your Majesty. We won't let you attempt that."
Seeming to feel uneasy at Walter's words, Hildegard was poised to stop Liv at any moment. Seeing this, Liv shook her head and ordered Hildegard.
"Hilda, go to my room and bring what's in the safe."
"The safe...?"
"Yes, there's only one item in the safe."
Hildegard looked bewildered but quickly ran to Liv's room. Only Walter, who remained in the room with Liv, continued to nag.
"Your Majesty, I understand your concern, but you really must go. I will certainly save the Duke."
At that moment, Hildegard carefully entered the room holding something in her hand. Walter's eyes widened even more as he confirmed what it was.
What Hildegard was holding was a dagger. Thinking Liv might use it to take her own life, Walter jumped up from his seat and shouted.
"Your Majesty! You really must not!"
"It's not like that."
Liv took the dagger from Hildegard. The dagger was glowing as if it were no ordinary object, and seeing that the dagger seemed to have some power, Walter's face became a little calmer.
"This is Ibisikaite, the dagger of the first Emperor Feyte Gracia."
Liv recalled the legend associated with Ibisikaite. Besides determining the border with the Kingdom of Reboer with just this dagger, there was a famous legend about this sword.
After Anfang Gracia's death, Feyte Gracia reverently enshrined her body.
However, those who checked Feyte Gracia cut Anfang Gracia's body into pieces and scattered them throughout the country.
Feyte Gracia gathered them in one place and stabbed Anfang Gracia's heart, and then Anfang Gracia's body became whole again.
Afterwards, Feyte Gracia cremated her body.
There were many anecdotes related to this. Like beautiful flowers blooming where Anfang Gracia's body was briefly buried, or a thousand-year-old tree growing there...
But what was important now was the fact that Ibisikaite had worked a miracle.
The moment love is imbued in the sword, it works a miracle once in the user's lifetime.
Didn't Viscount Wolfe also say this when he handed Ibisikaite to Liv?
-It's a sword filled with love.
"I can do it."
A miracle itself, 'deus ex machina'.
Liv quietly looked down at Emmett while holding the dagger in one hand. Although she believed this sword would heal Emmett, she was still afraid at the thought of stabbing Emmett's heart. It seemed it would be better to stab her own heart instead.
'No, I have to do this.'
Liv is not stabbing him, but trying to heal him. Liv slowly raised the dagger, recalling her desperate will in her heart.
She did not doubt that a miracle would occur after using this sword. She didn't worry that Emmett might die.
This sword responded to love.
And Liv did not doubt her love for him.
Thud...
Finally, with a terrible sensation, the moment Liv stabbed Emmett's heart with the dagger and pulled it out.
"Uh..."
Although she had clearly stabbed his heart, strangely no blood flowed out. The clothes he was wearing weren't even torn. As Liv was bewildered by this sight, Walter, who had placed his finger under Emmett's nose, said:
"The Duke's breathing is returning to normal."
"Really?"
Even to Liv, Emmett's complexion seemed better than before. Seeing Emmett's finger twitch, Liv quickly grasped one of his hands with both of hers.
"Emmett! Can you hear me?"
As Liv called Emmett's name several times, Emmett slowly opened his eyes. As soon as he opened his eyes and faced Liv, he blinked slowly.
"Liv...?"