I Became the Tyrant of a Defense Game [EN]: Chapter 817

Besides that, after touring the tombs of several kings in preparation for the reburial,

I finally headed towards the tomb of the Bringer Duchy… the tomb of Dusk Bringer.

“Your Grace!”

“Have you arrived, Your Grace?”

The Dragon Blood Knights, who had been waiting for me, saluted in unison.

Grand Duke. Grand Duke Dawn Bringer.

Muttering my dragon name, which still felt a little unfamiliar, I nodded lightly and silently went before Dusk Bringer’s coffin, paying my respects.

I didn’t feel sad.

Because she, whom I met again in the spirit realm, sent me off with a smile.

I, too, decided to bless her afterlife with a happy heart.

“I entrust my mother’s coffin to you, Dragon Blood Knights.”

“Yes, Your Grace.”

“We will hold the disbandment ceremony tomorrow, and the day after, we will depart for the Bringer Duchy. Until we arrive at the duchy, you must protect my mother’s coffin well.”

“We will protect it with our lives.”

A faint unease flickered on the knights’ firm faces.

Knowing the reason, I smiled at them.

“Do not worry. I have no intention of abandoning the duchy.”

“……!”

The knights were flustered, as if their concerns had been read correctly.

I had inherited the position of Grand Duke of Bringer, but I was also the Crown Prince of the Everblack Empire.

Depending on my stance, the Bringer Duchy could simply disappear. It could be annexed by the empire, torn to pieces, or simply vanish into the annals of history…

But I had no intention of doing that at all.

“No, it’s quite the opposite.”

I looked around at the knights and spoke with conviction.

“For a while, I intend to focus on my life as the Grand Duke of Bringer, not as the Crown Prince.”

“……!”

The knights looked surprised.

In fact, this was a natural course of events.

My father, the Emperor of the Empire, was still alive and well, and it would take quite some time before I inherited the Everblack Empire.

Until then, I intended to operate from the Bringer Duchy and learn more about the governance of the country and the politics of the world.

I had ruled Crossroads for the past three years, but Crossroads was originally a small city, and its role was mainly focused on a military fortress.

Strictly speaking, I was still lacking in many ways to rule a country. If it was the Everblack Empire, which occupied half the world, there was no need to say more.

So, before inheriting the empire, I intended to study how to be a king in the Bringer Duchy first.

And in this process, I intended to solidify the Bringer Duchy as a brother country of the empire and establish its position so that it would not be shaken.

‘……Well, I’ll have to see if things go as planned.’

The Bringer Duchy was a precious country to me.

It was also a country that could provide a solid background for me, who lacked a political base.

More than anything, the legacy of the previous Grand Dukes was burning in this country.

Even though the Dragon Blood had disappeared, their spirit had to be carried on.

I had no intention of abandoning the Bringer Duchy.

“……”

I carefully stroked the coffin where Dusk Bringer was sleeping with my fingertips.

Please watch over me, Mother.

As one who carries the name of Bringer, I will do my best to live without shame.

***

That afternoon.

The lord’s mansion. The reception room.

Knock knock-

After a knock, Evangeline strode into the room.

“Senior, did you call for me?”

Evangeline, who had carefully closed the door and turned around, spoke cheerfully.

“Did you call me because of the disbandment ceremony schedule tomorrow? You don’t have to worry, I’m preparing well……”

Evangeline stopped talking.

Only then did she notice the people waiting for her, filling the reception room.

In the reception room, not only the main party members including me, but also several vassals, officers, and servants who had worked in Crossroads for a long time.

The warriors of the White Corps who had fought with Evangeline, fellow heroes, and several kings from various countries.

And my father, the Emperor of the Empire, and several knights and scribes under his command were gathered together.

“Welcome, Evangeline.”

I gestured to Evangeline, who was frozen in surprise.

“No… I should call you this now.”

After clearing my throat.

I spoke her new title with emphasis.

“Marchioness of Crossroads.”

“……!”

As if struck by lightning, Evangeline’s shoulders trembled, and she straightened her back the moment she heard the title.

I smiled.

“Are you ready to inherit the honorable title of the family that your father has protected, and the position of lord of this city?”

“……”

She bit her lip and stared at me with green eyes filled with all sorts of complex emotions.

And then, with a trembling voice, but resolutely and bravely-

Evangeline answered.

“Yes!”

I stepped aside, and the Emperor, who had been standing behind me, stepped forward with his cane.

Evangeline, who approached with a nervous step, knelt on one knee before the Emperor and bowed her head.

“Long live the great Emperor. This humble servant pays respects to the supreme one.”

“Evangeline Cross, the eldest daughter of the Cross family.”

The Emperor spoke solemnly to the young knight.

“I know that your parents and your ancestors have protected the imperial territory with blood and tears in this southernmost border.”

“……”

“The city of suicide, the city on the tombs, the monster front… the names for this fortress city were truly diverse.”

The Emperor shook his head slightly.

“However, now is the time to discard all the old names.”

“……”

“The monsters have disappeared, and instead, a new path has opened to the south.”

The Emperor gazed far to the south – in the direction of the Lake Kingdom.

“Crossroads must become another front line of the empire, bordering a new country and a new civilization.”

Listening with her head bowed, Evangeline’s emerald eyes sparkled with clear determination.

“It must be reborn as a new center of culture and trade, where countless paths from countless countries intertwine, moving away from a fortress for war.”

“……”

“Evangeline Cross.”

The Emperor asked softly.

“Can you carry out this heavy responsibility well?”

Evangeline answered bravely without a moment’s hesitation.

“Of course, Your Majesty!”

The Emperor, with a satisfied smile, commanded.

“Evangeline Cross, the eldest daughter of the Cross family, raise your head!”

Immediately, Evangeline raised her head, and the Emperor took a step closer……

He bestowed a silver spear, a golden shield, and a beautiful green flag with the symbol of the Cross family, which the knights on the left and right had brought.

“Use this spear to defeat the enemy, use this shield to protect the city, and use this flag to raise the honor of Everblack and the Cross family.”

Evangeline respectfully received the spear, shield, and flag with both hands and placed them in front of her.

After the series of rituals was over, the Emperor declared.

“Now, you have inherited the family’s legacy, inherited your father’s name, and become the new Marchioness of Cross in this generation.”

Following that, the Emperor looked at me.

“At the same time, the fortress city of Crossroads is returned to the Cross family from this moment on.”

I slowly stepped forward and approached Evangeline.

On the white cloth in my hand were a file of documents proving the various rights of the city as a lord, a key ring with the original keys to the city’s major facilities, and the lord’s seal.

As I respectfully presented the items wrapped in the cloth, Evangeline received them with careful hands.

“I thank this city for its dedication to the world for the past three years. And I thank the Cross family for willingly lending their city to the imperial family.”

I stepped back, and the Emperor declared solemnly.

“The Imperial Family will never forget the loyalty of the Cross family and the bravery of Crossroads until the end of the empire’s history.”

Then, the Emperor smiled kindly.

“I hope you become a great Marchioness and a good lord. Evangeline Cross.”

“……”

“I wish you good luck.”

Evangeline bowed her head with reddened eyes.

“It is the glory of my life, Your Majesty…! I will strive to become a great Marchioness and a good lord as you have commanded.”

The Emperor nodded and slowly stepped back, signaling to me with his eyes.

I bowed to the Emperor, stepped forward, and cleared my throat.

“Lastly.”

Amidst the gazes of the people looking at me, I walked calmly and stood in front of Evangeline.

I gently grabbed Evangeline’s shoulder, who was still kneeling on one knee, and lifted her up from her seat.

Then, facing the next Marchioness of Cross, who was once a small and bold girl knight… and now a fully mature adult.

I smiled.

“As the former lord, for the new lord. I would like to recite a poem that combines advice and congratulations.”

“……”

“Is that alright, Marchioness of Cross?”

Evangeline smiled back.

“I will listen with a happy heart, Your Highness the Crown Prince.”

I took a breath.

Then, I recited the poem that I had prepared to read to Evangeline when she became the next Marchioness of Cross.

The aphorisms that she would need now that she was in a position to govern people, I recited in a low voice.

People are often illogical, unreasonable, and self-centered,

but love them anyway.

If you do good, people will accuse you of having selfish motives,

but do good anyway.

If you succeed, you will gain false friends and true enemies,

but succeed anyway.

The good you do today will be forgotten tomorrow,

but do good anyway.

Honesty and frankness will make you vulnerable and hurt you,

but be honest and frank anyway.

The person with the greatest dreams can be defeated by a petty person,

but have great dreams anyway.

People are more willing to help the weak, but only follow the strong,

but fight for the few weak anyway.

What you have built over the years can be destroyed overnight,

but build anyway.

People want help, but they will attack you when you help them,

but help them anyway.

If you do your best for the world, the world will be harsh to you,

but do your best for the world anyway.

The recitation was over.

It was a long and tedious content, but Evangeline concentrated on my words until the end, pondering the meaning of the aphorisms.

“The image of the lord you will become, and the image of this city that you will build.”

I reached out my hand.

“I will look forward to watching it, Marchioness of Cross.”

Evangeline carefully took my hand.

“I will.”

Unable to hold back, tears streamed down from Evangeline’s large eyes.

“I am still young, lacking, and full of mistakes……”

But her voice was resolute and firm.

“So that I am not ashamed of the Emperor, Your Highness the Crown Prince, and the previous lords… so that I can be proud of everyone living in this city. I will live diligently.”

As I shook her hand firmly and stepped back.

Wowwwww-!

All the people watching burst into applause and cheers.

I don’t know when the news spread, but the citizens and soldiers who had gathered outside the mansion were also shouting cheers and applause from outside the window.

The knights and scribes, worried about the Emperor’s safety, tried to calm the citizens, but the Emperor waved his hand, saying it was okay.

“Don’t pour cold water on the joyful atmosphere.”

The Emperor seemed to like this scene, and he smiled at me.

“Because this is also a scene that can only be seen in the border.”

I smiled back and, together with the Emperor, took in the sight of this noisy border.

Waaaaaaah……!

The citizens and soldiers who had gathered outside the mansion were constantly chanting Evangeline’s name.

The new lord, Evangeline, roughly wiped her eyes with her hand, which was still bandaged, and then smiled brightly and waved to those people.

“……”

Was it an illusion?

Suddenly, among the cheering crowd, I saw the figure of the previous Marchioness standing quietly.

He was no longer wearing blood-stained armor.

He was an ordinary father, proudly shedding tears as he looked at his grown daughter.

‘You can be proud, Marchioness.’

When I closed and opened my eyes, the figure of the Marchioness was no longer visible.

The long-standing guilt that had been on my shoulders also disappeared, feeling much lighter.

‘As you wished, after living freely and following your heart… your daughter has followed your path.’

I slowly raised both hands and clapped loudly with the others.

Towards the new Marchioness, the new lord of Crossroads, who was shining brightly among the people.