As soon as he called Liv's name, Liv exclaimed with a brightened face:
"Yes, it's me! Are you feeling alright?"
"The coronation ceremony..."
Despite having just returned from the brink of death, Emmett was worried about Liv's coronation ceremony. Seeing this, Liv felt somehow frustrated and tightened her grip on Emmett's hand.
"You can worry about yourself first! You're the one who was poisoned..."
"The coronation ceremony hasn't started yet. But we should go now."
At Walter's words explaining on Liv's behalf, Emmett finally looked relieved. He opened his mouth in a slow tone.
"My body feels refreshed. Liv, did you do something?"
"It's the power of Ibisikaite I received from Viscount Wolfe's domain. The sword of the first Emperor Feyte Gracia."
"Ah..."
Fortunately, Emmett's body seemed to have fully recovered, but judging from his slow reactions, he still seemed dazed.
As Liv was examining Emmett with a worried face, Hildegard said in an anxious voice:
"Your Majesty, I think you really need to go now."
...Hildegard's words snapped Liv back to reality. Although Emmett was more important to Liv, he had recovered his life through the miracle of Ibisikaite. She couldn't be late for the Emperor's coronation ceremony.
"Emmett, I'll go ahead. Stay here and recover."
"Don't worry, I think I'll be able to come out soon too."
Thus, Emmett was freed from the crisis of death and was able to safely attend the coronation ceremony.
* * *
The day after the coronation ceremony, Liv summoned the nobles staying in the capital. Upon hearing this news, nobles from nearby areas hurriedly rode carriages to the capital. It was an opportunity to see what kind of person the Emperor was, and they couldn't miss it.
In the Sun Room, the owner now sitting on that imperial throne was Liv. The tapestry depicting August had been replaced with another. All statues that even slightly reminded of August were removed, and their places were filled with vases of bright flowers instead.
However, this did not make Liv sitting on the imperial throne look any less imposing than August. The nobles looked up with unfamiliar eyes at the young woman who, though small in stature, had a mysterious dignity. They had felt it since the coronation ceremony, but she was clearly of Gracia's bloodline.
Finally, when it seemed everyone had gathered, Liv slowly opened her mouth.
"Now that we've finished dealing with the traitor August Steinberg, we should also sort out his collaborators."
At those words, tension filled the hall. If Liv wanted to find fault, they could easily be branded as August's collaborators. On the other hand, if they were lucky, they could be recognized as meritorious families. They began to look around at each other, searching for someone to accuse as a traitor.
The first name that flowed from Liv's lips was someone everyone had expected.
"The Marquis Schmidt family will receive the same treatment as the Steinberg family."
Marquis Schmidt had been executed a few days before the coronation ceremony for the crime of cooperating with the traitor. He had committed so many evil deeds helping August that no one objected to this decision.
"And since two families out of the Five Noble Houses have disappeared, we should now determine new meritorious families."
The nobles had expectations at those words, but unfortunately, those who would fill those positions were already decided.
"The five families that helped restore the Gracia family will now become the new Five Noble Houses, and from now on, they will be called the 'Five Meritorious Houses'. First, the Duke Lartman family."
At those words, Emmett stepped forward. His gaze towards Liv was filled with affection and devotion.
"The Marquis Arendt family."
Maya Arendt, who had neatly combed her hair today, paid her respects to Liv. It was rare to see a woman wearing a uniform.
"The Count Hamelsvoort family."
Walter Hamelsvoort stepped forward, and Hildegard Hamelsvoort stood behind him. They were all meritorious in their own right. The deceased Rudolf Hamelsvoort and Vanessa Hamelsvoort would also be recorded in history as meritorious subjects.
"The Count Schulze family."
As Hayden Schulze of the Schulze Count family, thought to have been exterminated, stepped forward, the nobles murmured.
"Didn't His Majesty kill him before?"
"I heard Duke Lartman had smuggled him out."
"Then could it be that from back then..."
"Shh!"
Hayden's eyes were red as if he couldn't believe this situation. For him, there could be nothing more moving than his exterminated family becoming a meritorious family, and the master he served miraculously becoming Emperor.
"The Viscount Wolfe family."
The old Viscount Wolfe came forward, supported by his grandson and granddaughter. The nobles fell silent, feeling the pain he had endured all this time on his face. Everyone had tried somehow to catch the new Emperor's eye, but they realized they could not be recognized as much as these meritorious families.
"The ranks of the above meritorious families will all be raised. Also, from now on, the Five Meritorious Houses will be given priority consideration in all imperial affairs regardless of rank."
After that, the Emperor mentioned additional families that had rendered meritorious service. They were the ones who had fought on Lartman's side at the end.
Fortunately, no additional families were branded as August's collaborators at this gathering. Those who had actively fought on August's side had already been punished. Also, the fact that August had suppressed other noble factions worked in their favor. Except for the Five Meritorious Houses, no family had noticeably benefited, but the nobles returned satisfied that they had not been punished in relation to August.
* * *
One of the good things about becoming Emperor was being able to access places that had always been forbidden.
"I received a lot of help thanks to Ibisikaite."
As Liv said this while standing among the Gracia tombs, the voice of the Supreme God was heard from the sky.
I'm glad it was helpful, my child.
At those words, Liv smiled faintly, and the dissatisfied voices of other gods were heard.
We have done much for you too.
Pay attention to us as well.
"Of course, I received a lot of help from other gods too. If even one of you had been missing, I wouldn't have come this far."
Enduring the power of the gods had made the young Liv suffer.
But at the same time, without them, Liv would have closed her eyes lonely in Abgrund. That's why Liv could never hate them. She knew how much help that power, which her younger self had resented, had ultimately been to her. Liv no longer blamed them, and she didn't dislike the pain she had experienced in the past. After all, by enduring that pain, she was able to come this far.
Liv quietly looked at the tombstone in front of her.
[Founder of the Holy Hilysid Empire
The One Who Started Everything
Feyte Gracia]
Liv passed that tombstone and headed towards the tombstone at the very edge. Officially, the death of the Gracia couple was due to illness, and as long as there were eyes watching, even August couldn't desecrate their bodies, so the previous Gracia Emperor and Empress were also buried here.
[27th Emperor of the Holy Hilysid Empire
Roni Gracia
His wife
Sarah Gracia]
"Are you watching?"
Liv opened her mouth in a soft voice.
"Your daughter has finally become Emperor. I now have everything I was supposed to have originally."
The sky was especially blue today. It was rare for the Holy Hilysid Empire, which usually had poor weather.
"So be happy now."
Liv clasped her hands and prayed for them. By now, they would have met the Supreme God who loved them in heaven. And they would have finally found peace seeing their daughter succeed in her revenge and reclaim her rightful place.
At that moment, the sound of someone walking steadily was heard. The people who could enter the Gracia cemetery were strictly limited, and besides Liv, there was only one person. Liv turned to him with a smiling face.
"Emmett."
"Liv. Ah, I should call you Your Majesty now."
"You can call me Liv when we're alone."
Holding his hand, Liv added.
"I like it when you call my name."
That moment when she fell in love as he called her name. Liv still couldn't forget that moment. As if recalling the same moment, Emmett's face reddened.
"I'll call you as much as you want, my Liv."
Liv smiled brightly while holding his hand. She was so unbelievably happy that she was no longer afraid of this world.