Reader’S Regeneration Life [EN]: Chapter 236

236

Coronation Ceremony

“Have you come?”

“…You don’t look well. Are you alright?”

“I’m fine.

Just say I was a little tired from a restless night.”

Sion didn’t ask why she had a restless night, and Princess Vanessa didn’t tell him the reason.

But they already knew the reason, or so they thought, which was why they acted that way.

‘Edgar IV’s condition must have been quite bad last night.’

Still, there was no news of the king’s death, so it seemed they had passed one crisis.

With Prince Erader completely out of the picture, there was nothing to worry about, but if the king suddenly died at this timing, there could be friction.

“I’m really sorry for calling you so early in the morning.

I hope my restless night didn’t cause you to have one too.

I’m really sorry.”

“Not at all.

If Your Highness calls me, it must be for a matter of great importance to the country. I can’t distinguish between morning and night, can I?”

Jan, who was standing quietly next to Sion, had a look on her face that said, ‘What did I just hear?’

Just a moment ago, he was saying that being lazy was the best and that sleep was better than food in the morning, but suddenly he changed his tune and was filled with a sense of duty, so it was certainly surprising.

But she was also a tribal chief who knew about social life.

So, rather than making unnecessary objections, she quietly listened to the conversation between Princess Vanessa and Sion.

“It seems like it’s getting closer.”

“Yes, the time is not far off now.

That’s why I’m saying this…”

Princess Vanessa glanced at Jan, who was sitting next to her.

“Jan Temujin.

There is something I would like to ask of you.”

“A request?”

“I would like to postpone the discussion about the marriage alliance with Duke Sion Claussen a little longer.

I’m asking you not to mention it first, in case you’re upset.”

“The reason you’re saying that is because you want to postpone one source of controversy in case there’s a disturbance later on.

Am I right?”

“If you do as I say, I can give you and the northern tribes a justification for not being called ‘barbarians’.

What do you say?”

Then Jan’s face was filled with interest.

The kingdom’s people so tiresomely called the northern tribes ‘barbarians’.

They didn’t settle in one place to farm, they didn’t have a fixed living area, that is, houses, and they were so lacking in etiquette and formality that it was almost too much, so everyone in the kingdom called those who lived in the barren lands of the north that.

It seemed that the tribes had suffered quite a bit from that word ‘barbarian’, so Jan looked at Princess Vanessa with an unprecedented expression, as if to tell her to speak quickly.

“There will be a coronation ceremony soon.”

At the word ‘coronation ceremony’, Sion was more surprised than Jan and turned his head so sharply that it made a sound!

He looked at Princess Vanessa with an intense gaze as if to ask if it was true, and she slowly nodded her head to mean that what Sion was expecting was correct.

“One month.

Within that time, we will hold a coronation ceremony to announce that a new master of Hispania [a fictional kingdom] has taken office.”

“…Isn’t that too fast?”

“It is His Majesty’s will.

He said that in order for young people to prove their abilities, those who are as old as you must step down when it is time to step down.”

“So that’s why Your Highness was acting as a proxy for His Majesty in almost every role yesterday.”

“My brother is already confined to his residence, and Count Isik, who can be said to be my brother’s biggest supporter, sent a letter yesterday, didn’t he?

The nobles of the south always wish for the well-being of the royal family, and they also welcome my return.

You know what this means, don’t you?”

The reason why Princess Vanessa was mentioned in the official letter was only one.

It was a blatant announcement that they had switched ‘ships’ [changed their allegiance].

It was like a trumpet announcing that the nobles of the south, who had supported Prince Erader, were now Princess Vanessa’s strong supporters.

“At this point, those who don’t notice are the strange ones.

A storm has already broken out internally, and the most important people have made their decisions and are showing them through their actions, so it means that the results of those actions will soon appear.”

The man who was discussed as the number one in the line of succession to the throne suddenly closed his mouth, stepped back, and went into seclusion.

Princess Vanessa, who was known as the second in line, was like a fish in water, going back and forth at royal banquets, greeting nobles, and trying to gain their support.

The nobles of the south, the strong supporters of Prince Erader, especially Count Isik, suddenly changed direction and were showing a very favorable attitude towards Princess Vanessa ‘officially’.

In all of this, the most important person, Edgar IV, is secretly pushing everything to Vanessa without saying a word.

‘At this point, anyone who doesn’t notice is an idiot, just like the Princess said.’

Now the King’s will is clear.

His successor will be Princess Vanessa, and the future of Hispania will be the responsibility of a ‘Queen’.

“I am formally inviting you to that coronation ceremony, Jan Temujin.”

“…Are you serious?”

Jan’s eyes narrowed, showing a reaction that she couldn’t believe.

In fact, her reaction was understandable, as the coronation of a country’s king was a very solemn national event in itself, and access was strictly restricted except for foreign envoys officially dispatched.

While this was the case for the official country of Nudiana Holy Prussia, inviting the barbarians, who were not a country but a union of tribes and did not observe etiquette or formality, to the coronation ceremony itself was a risk for Princess Vanessa.

“The nobles of the kingdom will surely object.

They will say that barbarians should not be present at such an important event.

Even our tribes expel the weak who fail to pass the ceremony at the warrior appointment ceremony and tell them not to be seen.”

“Of course, there will be objections.

There will be countless people, from those who really care about the authority of the kingdom to those who just want to oppose my will unconditionally.

But I will push through with it.

Jan Temujin, I will invite you as a ‘guest’ to the ceremony where I ascend to the throne.

Then the nobles will have no choice but to treat you differently, and naturally the social status of the various northern tribes will rise a little.”

Inviting the leader of those called barbarians to the coronation ceremony as a guest.

That is the Queen’s will to see them not as barbarians, but as people on a similar level to the kingdom.

Of course, in order to follow the will of the monarch, the nobles and the people of the kingdom will not be able to treat the northern tribes as barbarians.

If they do, they will be insulting their own king by saying that their queen has invited the barbarians to the most important event of her life.

“However, in order to suppress the nobles’ opposition as much as possible, Jan, you must be very quiet until the coronation ceremony.

You must also refrain from saying or doing anything that would provoke unnecessary animosity.”

“So that’s why you’re saying we should mention the marriage alliance later.”

“That’s part of it.

You’ll have to work harder than that.”

“What do you mean by effort?”

“Actions and words that clearly convey the feeling that the people of the north want peace with the kingdom, want to exchange with the kingdom, and wish for each other’s eternal prosperity.

Clearly, the efforts of you northerners are needed, not just the efforts of one side of the kingdom.”

“…What do you want?”

“What you used to do in the north, abandon it here.

Although you are not a noble of the kingdom, act more like a noble than any other noble.

So that people from other kingdoms can’t even find fault with you.”

This was a problem that had been raised since Jan first set foot in the kingdom.

A woman who is only a tribal chief is too arrogant or too stiff.

I know you’re strong and have a strong sense of pride, but the saying ‘when in Rome, do as the Romans do’ didn’t come out of nowhere.

In order to reduce the animosity that the other person is pouring on you, you must not create a reason to harbor animosity.

In that respect, Jan was a perfect woman in the north, but in the kingdom, she was just a crazy woman who was easy to pick on.

Aside from everything else, each and every one of those words was perfect for making enemies.

“Act like a noble…?”

“The coronation ceremony will be held within a month.

The time is until then.

I’ll assign someone to you, so make sure that the nobles no longer say things like ‘a barbarian woman’ about you, Jan Temujin.

If I don’t see any improvement at the final check…”

Princess Vanessa paused for a moment, then continued, putting a colder energy in her eyes than Jan’s.

“I can’t respect you anymore either.”

The master’s advice and warning to the guest who came all the way from the far north.

Jan flinched at Princess Vanessa’s change, unlike her.

Until just now, she thought she was just an ordinary woman, no more than someone much weaker than herself.

‘But, what on earth is this cold energy?’

As expected, Sion is surrounded by scary people.

Jan thought so and answered aloud that she would do so.

At her answer, Princess Vanessa nodded her head as if she was pleased, and with the last words that she hoped Jan would listen to her, she issued an order to the two men to leave.

“Ah, wait a moment.”

“Yes?”

“Duke Sion Claussen.

You stay for a moment.

I have something to say to you personally.”

At Princess Vanessa’s words, Jan nodded her head and moved her feet first.

Then, the maids who were waiting in advance guided her to a space where she could wait for a while, and now only Sion and Princess Vanessa were left inside.

“…”

An awkward silence began to flow.

From Sion’s point of view, it was a bit much for a subordinate to open his mouth first.

From Princess Vanessa’s point of view, she felt somehow embarrassed to speak as a woman.

While they were looking at each other and wondering how to start the conversation.

In the end, it was Sion who decided to take the lead.

“Is His Majesty alright?”

“Ah.”

Princess Vanessa sighed, as if she hadn’t expected those words to come out of Sion’s mouth.

She stared blankly at the man sitting in front of her for a moment, then smiled and opened her mouth.

“He was a little critical last night.”

“…”

“It seems that he was too long at the banquet hall and his body was strained.

Fortunately, they say he has overcome one crisis.

It’s really fortunate.

Otherwise, the joyful party day would have become a gloomy funeral.

Ahaha…”

The saying that laughing is not laughing [a forced or insincere laugh].

Perhaps that is the most suitable word for Princess Vanessa right now.

Sion didn’t know exactly what it was like for a child to watch their parents, who they thought would be as strong as iron forever, crumble in an instant, but he thought it was probably no different from the collapse of everything in the world.

Sion, who prided himself on his eloquence, didn’t know what to say in this situation.

What could he say to comfort the princess sitting in front of him even a little?

“The marriage alliance.

You said it was all for the kingdom.”

“That’s right.”

“You said you were ready to bear all the disadvantages you would have to endure because of it.”

“Of course.”

“…Then, can’t I give you those disadvantages instead of that woman?”

“Yes?”

Sion couldn’t understand Princess Vanessa’s words for a moment.

But soon he could see what she was talking about in such a roundabout way.

She was desperately avoiding his gaze, fidgeting with her hands as if she was dying of anxiety, and the energy that she was on high alert was evident in every corner of her body.

“With just one royal order, I can arrange the marriage between a decent noble and that woman.

There are plenty of men from great noble families, even if it’s not you.”

“Your Highness.”

“To be honest, if a smooth relationship with the northern tribes is maintained as it is, there is no need to form a marriage alliance.

If we are intertwined with what we need from each other, we will not be able to antagonize each other even if we regret it.”

“Princess Vanessa.”

At Sion’s call, Princess Vanessa finally came to her senses and let out a sigh.

Then, she realized what she had unconsciously said, closed her eyes, and sighed.

“…I’m sorry.

I didn’t mean to show you such a disheveled appearance.”

“You’re too anxious.

As Your Highness said just now, it may not be that the marriage alliance must be concluded unconditionally.”

“I’m saying this because I think you would choose Jan, that woman, over me.”

It was a pointed remark, but Sion couldn’t exactly say no.

If someone really asked him to choose a marriage partner between Jan and Vanessa, Sion would choose Jan after a little thought.

‘Because it doesn’t interfere with my movements, and rather, there are many cards I can use.’

In addition, if I get involved with the royal family, there will be much more checks than now.

To exaggerate a little, enemies will probably spring up from all sides just by sitting and breathing.

It can’t be helped.

Until now, Sion has created his image as a ‘great hero who always wins even in adversity’.

Going to the battlefield and winning at the young age of adulthood.

When the enemies rushed in, he used tricks to make them retreat on their own.

Even though he can’t use mana at all, he faces it with dignity without despairing.

Even though it was a perfect enemy territory, he calmed down the northern barbarians.

He eventually defeated all the pirates that even the sea people struggled with.

All of them were scenes that were seen by many people in the kingdom as a hero who shone brightly and finally won even in hardship and adversity.

‘Originally, humans support those who struggle and succeed.’

But if that hero no longer jumps into hardship and seems to be hiding behind a strong fence, who would cheer, support, and follow him as before?

It doesn’t matter what Sion did before or what merits he made.

In the eyes of the people, Sion is no longer a flower or light that blooms in hardship, but someone who has finally chosen to settle down for his own sake.

‘To be honest, I want that, but I’m suffering like this to live well on my own.’

To survive in this land that is destined to be destroyed, we must resist, and if we are going to resist, it is right to do it not alone, but with many people, or even with all the others.

And in order to lead such people, I had to be in a difficult and tiring position.

‘Make them feel pity, not jealousy.

Then you can use those who were trying to use you.’

I will definitely survive.

With my people until the end.

I don’t care if others die or not.

I’m a villain, so I’ll be faithful to that role.

But, in order to do that, I need others.

Because they have to fight with me, resist with me, and die for me instead.

So, I have no choice but to be the hero they want.

―――――――Author’s Note―――――――

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