Chapter 86 Blood and Fire in Platinum City (Part 2)

Chapter 86 Blood and Fire in Platinum City (Part 2)

Charlotte gazed westward, but the heavy snowfall completely obscured her view.

Andre looked at his suddenly silent sister, puzzled, but he didn't know if he should ask. What if Charlotte scolded him again? He wasn't some kind of masochist; being constantly called "foolish" by his younger sister was embarrassing even for him.

"What are you thinking about?" Lena, however, had no such concerns and asked directly.

"The snow is too heavy."

Charlotte's reply seemed to come out of nowhere.

Lena didn't understand and wanted to press further, but Charlotte suddenly shouted:

"Rayne!"

The knight who had followed them all the way from the Viscountcy of Lanwan, Rayne Nazares, quickly appeared before Charlotte. "Your Excellency, what are your orders?"

"Take off your armor, get a fast horse, and head in that direction. See if you can find any more bloodstains. It would be best to confirm roughly where that giant eagle came from."

Charlotte pointed not directly west, but slightly southwest – the accurate direction from which the giant eagle had flown, and naturally, the direction of the Bonan Duchy.

Although her brother had mindlessly guessed that something had happened in the Bonan Duchy, considering the harsh weather and the eagle's severe injuries, Charlotte suspected the creature hadn't actually flown a very long distance.

"Yes, Your Excellency."

Rayne Nazares immediately accepted the order and departed.

After the knight left, Charlotte discarded the fluff she held, grabbed a handful of snow to wipe her hands, and was about to urge the servants to pack faster – although unsure of exactly what was happening, leaving this troubled place quickly was always the right move. Suddenly, another guard reported that a guest had arrived outside the manor, claiming to be the Finance Minister, Rade Paste, the Earl of Ifa, wishing to see the Duke of Green Plains.

"The Earl of Ifa?" Andre didn't recognize the name.

"It's said he has some acquaintance with Father. Brother, you should probably meet him," Charlotte suggested.

"Alright." Andre nodded and had the guard lead the man in.

As soon as they met, Rade got straight to the point: "Where is the Duke of Green Plains? His Majesty the Emperor has passed away suddenly. The Empress requests the Duke's presence at the funeral."

"My maternal grandfather intends to rebel, so my father has already returned to the Green Plains Duchy to defend our home," Andre stated.

Andre's strikingly blunt reply caused Rade's mouth to twitch slightly.

Charlotte had expected Rade to rebuke Jose Mellerfield, but instead, the Finance Minister shook his head, sighed, and said, "Then you two should leave quickly as well. Don't linger in Platinum City. Return to the Green Plains Duchy as soon as possible."

Hearing the tone in Rade's voice, which didn't sound like that of a confidant of Empress Mary, Charlotte's eyes flickered. An idea struck her. Pointing at her brother beside her, she said:

"Since it's an invitation from Her Majesty the Empress, why not let my brother attend His Majesty the Emperor's funeral in Father's place? He has nothing better to do right now anyway."

Rade rejected the idea without hesitation. "Don't do anything unnecessary. Her Majesty the Empress is extremely busy right now and has no time to deal with you."

After saying this, Rade seemed still uneasy and added, "The Duke of Green Plains must have warned you before he left, right? Stop playing around. For the foreseeable future, there won't be anything fun in Platinum City. In fact, it will be very dangerous. Go home quickly."

"Very dangerous? Why is it very dangerous?" Charlotte widened her large, round eyes, feigning pure ignorance.

"Do you really think everyone in Platinum City now is a loyal subject willing to serve the new Emperor? If that were the case, the one coming here to invite the Duke of Green Plains wouldn't be just me, all alone."

Rade waved his hand dismissively, clearly having no interest in wasting more words on these two youngsters. He urged Charlotte and Andre one last time to go home quickly, then returned towards Platinum City.

Though the words were perhaps spoken casually, they struck a chord with the listener. Charlotte watched Rade Paste's departing figure, lost in thought.

As Rade had said, Empress Mary was indeed very busy. The first thing she needed to do was pull the newlyweds, Henry and Anne, away from their wedding feast, get them redressed, and prepare for the ascension ceremony.

Upon suddenly learning of his uncle Emperor Leopold's death, Henry felt almost no sorrow, only overwhelming excitement, a stark contrast to the flustered Anne beside him.

Just moments ago, Henry had been seething over Jose Mellerfield's casual humiliation. He wanted revenge, but as merely the Crown Prince, Henry couldn't fathom how he could possibly deal with a powerful feudal lord like the Duke of Green Plains.

But now, he was about to become Emperor!

"When I ascend the throne, will the Duke of Green Plains swear fealty to me?" Henry interrupted the Lord Privy Seal, Uros Lindar, who was instructing him on the ascension procedures.

Uros frowned slightly and gave a vague answer: "After your ascension, all nobles directly under the Imperial Emperor should swear fealty to you."

However, Henry was unsatisfied with this answer. He repeated, "I'm asking if the Duke of Green Plains will kneel before me today and swear fealty? Oh, and his daughter, Charlotte Mellerfield – she's the Viscountess of Lanwan, enfeoffed by my uncle!"

Henry's voice was loud, and he waved his arms emphatically.

"Your Highness, mind your decorum. You are about to ascend the throne as Emperor," Uros said gravely.

"Haha, that's right! I'm about to become Emperor! What decorum do I need to worry ab—"

Henry had just let out two arrogant laughs when he met Uros Lindar's stern gaze and instantly fell silent.

Henry suddenly remembered that this Lord Privy Seal was not only the tutor of the late Emperor Leopold but also the tutor of the Emperor before him, Joseph.

"Lord Privy Seal" might sound like someone who just managed seals, but Uros Lindar was no mere figurehead. In the last few years of Emperor Leopold's life, as his health deteriorated, Uros had handled most of the state affairs. This Lord Privy Seal was truly the Emperor's right hand.

"Apologies, Teacher Lindar."

Using the same address Emperor Leopold had used, Henry bowed his head slightly in apology to Uros.

Uros nodded, then asked again, "Your Highness, have you memorized the ascension procedures I just described?"

"I have memorized them," Henry replied.

"Furthermore, add one more rule: Absolutely no loud laughter today," Uros added.

"Understood," Henry said, lowering his head again.

Though somewhat mischievous in nature, Henry had been exceptionally bright since childhood, possessing an extraordinary memory. He could immediately recall things he had heard or seen just once. This was a major reason why Henry had gained Emperor Leopold's favor and been raised by his side.

Of course, this might also be why Charlotte felt Henry held grudges far too easily.

Once Henry and Anne had changed into their ceremonial attire and the Radiant Light Cathedral had prepared the hall needed for the ascension, Empress Mary finally invited the nobles within Platinum City to attend Henry Holovin's ascension ceremony at the Cathedral.

These nobles had originally come to attend Henry's wedding. Hearing the sudden news of Emperor Leopold's death at noon, they had already mentally prepared themselves for an imperial funeral. Now, learning they were to attend an ascension instead of a funeral, a commotion instantly rippled through them.

"This... isn't this rather inappropriate? Shouldn't we hold my brother's funeral first?"

Emperor Leopold's younger brother, Henry's father, Lucheni Holovin, spoke first, voicing the doubts held by many.

However, as Lucheni Holovin glanced around at the surrounding nobles, he didn't receive the agreement he expected. Instead, a steady male voice responded: "I think it is appropriate."

The speaker was the Marquis of Blackstone Fort, Brown Lekman.

Then, the Duke of Bonan, Fernandez Paste, also spoke: "I also find it appropriate."

Lucheni Holovin immediately shut his mouth. The murmuring nobles gradually quieted down, the disturbance seemingly vanishing into thin air after just those two statements.

It couldn't be helped. The influence of the Marquis of Blackstone Fort and the Duke of Bonan was too immense. The only other person present comparable to these two giants, King Alphonse Murat of Kexin, merely held his wine glass, watching the three speakers with a mocking smile playing on his lips, as if observing a play.

Fortunately, the Radiant Light Cathedral was right next to the Imperial Palace. It only took a moment for the nobles to move there collectively.

Soon, Henry Holovin and his wife, Anne Paste, also arrived at the Radiant Light Cathedral by carriage.

Henry alighted with the help of an attendant, adjusted his clothes, and strode confidently towards the cathedral entrance with his head held high.

Anne followed behind Henry, clutching a black and white cat. Suddenly becoming Empress had made the young woman so nervous she almost forgot how to walk. The Duchess of Bonan had given her daughter the cat to hold, hoping to ease her tension.

Henry had assumed this would be the most glorious moment of his life. Yet, as his peripheral vision swept over the lesser nobles lined up on both sides, he saw not awe, nor jealousy, but expressions tinged with mockery and pity.

Henry was confused at first, then quickly thought he understood the problem.

Compared to the morning's wedding ceremony, the setup for this ascension ceremony was downright shabby. There was only a red carpet and a sacred platform holding the Emperor's crown.

Worse, Henry knew that the crown was one Emperor Leopold had worn in his youth.

According to Oran Empire tradition, the crown worn during each Emperor's coronation would be engraved with information like which number Emperor they were, their name, and from which previous Emperor they inherited the throne. It was worn only once for the coronation and then stored in the royal treasury. Therefore, generally, the coronation crown had to be new.

But there was definitely no time to craft a new crown for Henry, so they had to use Emperor Leopold's old one.

Venomous resentment festered anew in Henry's heart. He felt slighted. This meager ascension ceremony would surely become a stain on his reign, mocked by future Oran Emperors.

Upon entering the main hall of the Radiant Light Cathedral, Henry finally saw the Empire's top-tier great nobles. He paused, scanned the assembly, and asked in a heavy voice, "Are the Duke of Green Plains and the Viscountess of Lanwan not present?"

The nobles exchanged glances. Wasn't he asking the obvious? When the Duke of Green Plains left, he nearly stepped over Henry. Of course, he wasn't here now.

Also, who was the Viscountess of Lanwan?

Did the Oran Empire even have such a title?

Receiving no response, Henry paid it no mind. He followed the ritual procedure, kneeling before the sacred platform. Archbishop Kontao placed one hand on the Codex of Faith and the other on Henry's head, solemnly reciting the millennia-old words: "God grants thee the wisdom and authority to shepherd all peoples. Thou shalt follow the teachings of the Lord God, embracing piety, mercy, and justice..."

Meanwhile, the Viscountess of Lanwan, whom the new Emperor was preoccupied with even before his coronation, had just seen off Finance Minister Rade. She was now urging the manor's servants to quickly finish packing and harness the carriages, preparing to depart.

Suddenly, Charlotte heard the rapid drumming of horse hooves. She turned her head to see Rayne Nazares galloping towards her on a swift horse, not even slowing down within the manor grounds.

Only upon reaching Charlotte did Rayne Nazares pull sharply on the reins, nearly tumbling from the saddle.

"Sir Nazares," Charlotte said, puzzled, "why are you back so soon?"

"M-Milady, quick... leave quickly..." Rayne Nazares's face was pale, and he gasped for breath.

"What happened?" Charlotte grew even more confused.

"Tribesmen!" Rayne Nazares finally managed to steady his breathing, but the words he uttered were staggering. "A massive force of Tribesmen is heading towards Platinum City!"

At the same time, in the hall of the Radiant Light Cathedral, Archbishop Kontao's ancient yet lengthy benediction finally concluded. Henry immediately responded, "I shall abide by God's teachings! May God protect me!"

His tone held a barely concealed impatience.

Archbishop Kontao pressed his lips together tightly, but ultimately picked up the crown from the sacred platform and placed it upon Henry's head.

From this moment forward, the master of this vast empire was Emperor Henry.

Having been reprimanded once by Uros, Henry managed to restrain his surging emotions and refrained from throwing his head back and laughing aloud in the sacred Radiant Light Cathedral.

He stood up and strode purposefully outside the hall, standing on the high platform before the entrance of the Radiant Light Cathedral, surveying his surroundings.

The lesser nobles, ineligible to witness the ceremony inside the hall, saw the newly crowned Emperor emerge and knelt on one knee as per etiquette, symbolizing their oath of fealty.

The residents of Platinum City, who had gradually gathered to watch the spectacle, saw the nobles kneeling and quickly knelt down as well.

In an instant, a dense sea of kneeling figures covered the area before the Radiant Light Cathedral.

Henry could finally no longer contain his excitement. However, having been warned against laughing, he paced restlessly back and forth a few times. Then, struck by an idea, Henry opened his mouth and announced his first decree as Emperor: "The Duke of Green Plains, Jose Mellerfield, has been disloyal to the Imperial family and acted lawlessly! Strip him of his ducal title! From this day forward, the lands governed by the Green Plains Duchy shall be ruled directly by the Emperor!"

CRACK!

It was as if a clap of thunder resounded in the ears of the assembled nobles. They simultaneously snapped their heads up, staring at Emperor Henry in utter shock.

Strip the Duke of Green Plains?!

Even Brown Lekman, Alphonse Murat, and Fernandez Paste were stunned speechless by Emperor Henry's declaration.

So profound was the shock that among the many high-ranking mages present, none noticed a giant eagle faltering as it descended from the sky, crashing headlong into the Radiant Light Cathedral.

The tremendous noise startled everyone back to their senses.

But it was too late.

Scattered flesh and blood splattered all over Emperor Henry's head and face.

The knight riding the giant eagle, however, was agile. He had leaped off just before the eagle hit the wall. Though he landed awkwardly and stumbled, he was unharmed.

After landing, the eagle rider paid no attention to his own condition. His lips were white, his expression frantic, muttering, "Urgent military intelligence, urgent military intelligence, report to His Majesty, report to His Majesty..."

Suddenly, his gaze fell upon the Duke of Bonan. His unfocused eyes gained a focal point. In a hoarse voice, he cried out, "Duke! It's terrible! The Tribesmen have already broken through the Bonan Duchy! They are not far from Platinum City now!"