I Became the Youngest Prince in the Novel

249 - The Coronation Ceremony (3)

TL/Editor: raei

Status: ongoing

Illustrations: none

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Rising Star Palace was one of the many palaces within the imperial palace complex.

Unlike other palaces, Rising Star Palace served only a single purpose and was used perhaps once every few decades.

Yet it remained maintained and was considered one of the most important places in the imperial palace complex for one simple reason.

Rising Star Palace was where the emperor's coronation ceremony took place.

Even before the ceremony began, countless people had gathered there, creating a massive crowd.

Nobles from the capital and congratulatory envoys from around the world filled the space.

Among them-

"There are so many people here," said Olivia Bright, who had once traveled to the City of Light with Zion.

She looked around at the crowd while swishing her long platinum blonde hair.

Since Elysis had been chosen as Saintess, there was no need for the Saintess selection ceremony anymore, so Olivia had returned to the capital to live the decadent life she'd wanted.

Though she would normally skip such events to drink from morning onwards, she had decided to attend since this was Prince Zion's coronation - someone she had some connection with.

'It's hard to believe I rode in the same train car and fought alongside the future emperor. Moreover...'

With that thought, Olivia's gaze turned to the direct bloodline members of House Agnes seated in the place of honor.

"It's also the first time I've seen so many imperial family members attend a coronation."

First Prince Rubrious Agnes.

Second Princess Evelyn Agnes.

Fifth Princess Diana Agnes.

Three imperial family members sat waiting to witness Zion's ascension to the throne.

This wasn't just unprecedented - it had never happened once in history.

"It truly is an astonishing sight."

An elderly raccoon beast-kin approached Olivia and spoke.

It was Jang Maldong, who had fought alongside Zion in the Beast Sea.

"Since the founding of the Agnes Empire, almost no other imperial family members attended coronation ceremonies. They were all either killed in succession battles or left in states worse than death."

Olivia asked "Oh wow, you're cute! But who are you?" but Jang Maldong continued without answering:

"To not only subjugate competing siblings without killing them, but make them sincerely celebrate like this should be impossible... yet he's done it. Prince Zion truly seems different from any previous emperor."

"Well... he certainly is different."

Olivia agreed, remembering how Zion had acted in the City of Light.

"And despite the chaos of war preparations throughout the empire, this many people have gathered... there seem to be even more than at the World Conference from over a decade ago."

As Jang Maldong spoke while watching the crowd still pouring into Rising Star Palace, his eyes suddenly grew sharp.

"Hm, even those people came..."

True to his title of Wandering Fist, he had traveled throughout the empire in the past.

Because of this, Jang Maldong immediately recognized the faces of those who entered and went to greet the imperial family in the seats of honor.

Pope Simeon Zacharias of the Order of Light and Ackendelt, who had recently become mayor of the floating city Adegrifa.

The leaders of two powers who hadn't appeared even at previous Emperor Urdios's coronation were showing themselves here.

It was a scene that perfectly demonstrated Prince Zion's immense influence.

'To have this much influence before even ascending to the throne?'

But that wasn't the end - the surprise of Jang Maldong and others only grew with each subsequent arrival.

"Haha! To think such a joyous day would come!"

Bathar, chief of the Giant Colony.

"On such a day, I must naturally attend."

Halegrion, leader of the Fairy Forest and First Leaf of the World Tree.

And then...

"The Beast King!"

Even Wolhaun, newly crowned as Beast King.

While previous emperors' coronations had received massive congratulatory delegations and mountains of tribute from the Three External Worlds, their leaders had never personally appeared even once.

Yet today, breaking all precedent, the leaders of all three had appeared.

It was truly unimaginable.

Among them, the Beast King's personal attendance particularly shocked people.

The Beast Sea's pride matched its superior strength compared to other regions, which was why even during the previous emperor's time, they had only shown themselves once.

Of course, that had been a different king than Wolhaun, but still.

'Just what kind of magic did he use?'

This was the thought shared by all those gathered as they watched the leaders of the Three External Worlds.

As Rising Star Palace filled with questions and astonishment-

'This is even better.'

A secretive smile played across Lupelt Arcline's lips as he watched the scene with his followers from one side.

His reasoning was simple.

The more people who attended the coronation-

The higher their positions-

The more weight Prince Zion's announcement after the ceremony would carry.

Of course, the content of that announcement was already decided.

'I wish the ceremony would end quickly.'

Just as Lupelt's smile deepened with that thought-

"Prince Zion enters!"

Along with the knights' announcement at the main gate-

CLANK!

The palace grew so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

This wasn't because people chose to be silent.

THUD.

As the doors opened, a single man slowly emerged.

Something overwhelming emanated from him, forcefully sealing everyone's lips while drawing their gazes.

THUD, THUD.

Instead of the white robes adorned with stars symbolizing heaven's mandate that previous emperors had worn for their coronations, the man wore pitch-black clothing as he walked toward the central platform.

Had darkness descended?

Though everything around them remained brightly lit, everyone in Rising Star Palace felt as if they were entering the blackest night as the man slowly walked past them.

Despite his languid gaze, each step released an ominousness that sent shivers down their spines and filled them with tension.

Zion Agnes.

The protagonist of the coronation had finally appeared.

How long did that silence persist?

"Th-then let us begin the coronation ceremony."

Only after Zion had fully mounted the platform did Solomon Valdemir, the noble in charge of ceremonies, speak with a trembling voice.

Though Solomon had conducted many ceremonies with Zion before, obvious tension still filled his eyes.

"First, to Eternal Emperor Aurellion, founder of the Agnes Empire..."

The rest of the coronation proceeded smoothly.

The respects and congratulatory messages to previous emperors, and all other ceremonies.

After everything was complete-

THUD.

Zion, who had been facing the platform, slowly turned around.

He silently surveyed the crowd watching him with various emotions.

Then-

"From this moment forward."

Though quiet, his voice clearly reached the ears of everyone present.

"I, Zion Agnes, hereby declare that I have become the master of Agnes."

ROAR!

Thunderous cheers erupted as if they had been waiting for those words!

The cheers were so massive they spread beyond Rising Star Palace to the entire imperial palace complex.

And in that moment-

THUD, THUD.

Something no one had expected began to unfold.

The leaders of the Three External Worlds rose from their seats and ascended the platform where Zion stood.

Questions filled the eyes of the cheering crowd at this sudden action.

"I, Bathar, chief of the Giant Colony and leader of the Blue Claws, pledge eternal loyalty to His Imperial Majesty Zion Agnes, true master of the world."

Bathar spoke as he knelt on one knee before Zion.

As if this was the signal-

"I, Halegrion, leader of the Fairy Forest and First Leaf, pledge eternal loyalty to His Imperial Majesty Zion Agnes."

Halegrion knelt beside him and spoke the same words.

And as if that wasn't enough-

"I, Wolhaun, King of the Beast Sea, pledge loyalty to His Imperial Majesty Zion Agnes."

Finally, Wolhaun knelt and bowed her head.

Not a trace of hesitation could be found in their eyes, as if they had planned this from the start.

"!!!!!!!"

Rising Star Palace moved beyond shock into pure astonishment.

A loyalty pledge.

And not just any pledge - the highest form that no emperor since the Eternal Emperor had received.

Though the Three External Worlds were officially imperial territory, over time they had become semi-independent tributary states.

Yet now the leaders of these three powers were offering perfect loyalty pledges like during the Eternal Emperor's time.

It was so incredible as to be unbelievable even while watching it happen.

Yet Zion accepted the Three External Worlds' loyalty pledges with his usual indifferent expression.

As if this was all perfectly natural.

After receiving their pledges, Zion looked at the crowd again and slowly began to speak.

"I have something to declare here."

'...Finally!' Joy began filling the eyes of Lupelt and the other Noble faction nobles.

Having their person become the first empress of such a powerful emperor would be an enormous advantage.

However-

"The Agnes Empire now faces war."

Zion's next words differed from their expectations.

"A war important enough to determine the fate of the entire world."

The great war where humanity and monsters would stake everything.

A war that could neither be avoided nor lost.

"Yet despite this, rats who eat away at and rot the empire for their own gain still remain. Many of them, in fact."

Perhaps sensing something in Zion's words-

"Wh-what are you saying!"

Confusion began filling Lupelt's eyes.

"In some ways, they're even worse than our enemy, the demon realm. If we fight the war while keeping such rats inside, we will surely be defeated."

SCREECH!

As if they had been waiting, countless knights from the Twilight Sword, House Ascalon, Ozlima's Babel, and more began surrounding Lupelt and all the Noble faction nobles attending the coronation.

"Wh-what are you doing!"

"Why are you-!"

The nobles cried out in confusion and anxiety.

"Therefore, I, Zion Agnes, Emperor of Agnes, shall issue my first command."

A bright yet ominous smile began spreading across Zion's lips as he watched Lupelt and the nobles.

Endless darkness swirled in his slowly narrowing eyes.

"Including Arcline here present-"

From the emperor's cruelly smiling lips came-

"Erase every Noble faction family existing within the empire."

An absolute command that could not be defied.