The Abandoned Empress

The third day of the fifth month in 964 by the imperial calendar. Today, they were going to hold the state funeral ceremony of the late emperor after a long period of preparation.

There were refreshing yellow green lights lit in the streets under the golden sunshine.

The Central Palace was quieter than expected, although all the nobles of the empire arrived in the capital for the ceremony, except for the local nobles who could not attend because they were too far from the capital or had special circumstances. Those who could carry the late emperor’s coffin were limited to the great nobles with the rank of marquis and above, so most of the nobles already moved to the great hall of the temple Sanctus Vita.

In the central hall, where the emperor’s coffin was temporarily placed, bells continued to ring softly. People on standby had a solemn expression, ready for the upcoming ceremony.

When I was lost in thought, looking at the emperor’s stone coffin, a blonde man who stood out among those in black came to me and said, “Hello, Lady Monique. Sorry for my mistakes the other day,” he was the son of Marquis Mirwa.

“…Hello, sir.”

“Why aren’t you with the crown prince? Oh, you are dressed in a formal dress, not uniform.”

“Well, only full-fledged knights can attend the funeral procession. I am not eligible yet.”

“Oh, really? I think I made a mistake because I’m not familiar with the knights.”

I sharply glanced up at the man who slightly bowed. Isn’t Marquis Mirwa one of the core members of the noble faction? Why is he trying to approach me and show interest?

“I heard that you were serving as the captain’s aide. Is that true?”

“Yes, yes.”

“Then, you must know very well about the work of the knights. Sometimes… ”

“The Sun of the empire, His Majesty, is entering now!”

When I was wary of this man who kept talking to me, I heard the protocol officer announcing the arrival of the new emperor. People talking in small groups of two and three bowed all at once.

“We’re honored to see the Sun of the empire, Your Majesty!”

“Everybody, please stand up.”

When I raised my head, I saw him in black formal dress. His face was expressionless, as usual.

“Start the ceremony.”

When he ordered coldly, the royal knights in black uniforms instead of the usual white ones escorted him to the late emperor’s coffin. Some of them carried the coffin covered with a blue cloth on which a roaring golden lion engraved on their shoulders.

When they reached the main gate of the Imperial Palace and laid down the coffin in a carriage drawn by six horses, the official knights of the 1st and 2nd Knights got on the horses. The 1st Knights, who saluted the new emperor, departed first, followed by the new emperor and great nobles in black robes, escorted by the royal knights. Finally, the 2nd Knights in black uniforms stood at the end of the procession.

The streets of the capital were crowded with people. Unlike the knights’ inspection ceremony held last year, most of the people in the capital filled the streets in an orderly atmosphere.

When they saw the procession carrying the late emperor’s coffin, their cries were heard all over the streets.

I looked up at the sky for a moment through the black veil hanging under my hat.

‘Are you watching, Your Majesty? So many people are grieved that you were held in Vita’s arms.’

I felt like tears were about to drop, so I quickly blinked and silently drove a horse.

On the streets where everyone was silent, only the sound of cries, horse hoofs, and rolling wheels were heard.

When the procession went around the capital’s streets and reached the border between the noble and commoner districts, the pure white temple under the blue sky came into view.

Today, hymns were resonating through Sanctus Vita, which was shining brightly with the bright sunlight. After the process arrived at the entrance of the temple through the huge arched gate, the High Priest and the top priests wearing green ceremonial cloaks over white vests greeted them.

“May the blessings of lasting peace with him!”

People followed the priests spraying holy water, climbed the six stairs, which symbolized perfection, and went into the great hall.

The pillars towering under the tall ceiling were colored golden, and the colorful stained glass was shining beautifully in the sunlight. The altar installed on the six steps was covered with pure white fabric embroidered with geometric patterns in gold thread, and the wall above the altar was elaborately carved with various shapes of wood branches.

When the orchestra played, the lower priests, who were wearing yellow-green and green priest suits, began to sing a requiem. As the nobles lined up on both sides bowed their heads, the High Priest leading the procession walked toward the altar slowly, dragging his long white hair followed by the royal knights carrying the emperor’s coffin and the top priests.

The late emperor’s coffin was placed on the altar covered with pure white fabric, and the new emperor in a black dress stepped forward. After receiving a wreath made of white flowers from an apprentice knight, he slowly approached the altar.

When I looked at him staring at the coffin without any movement, I felt worried.

‘Is he okay?’

I heard that he handled state affairs without any agitation on the day the emperor died, and I also heard lots of people whispering that he had no close relationship with the emperor as father and son, but I was still worried. He was a human before the emperor. Could he stay indifferent when his only family member was held in Vita’s arms?

“Please lay the wreath.”

When the protocol priest said that, all the nobles, starting with Duke Lars, approached the altar and laid down the flowers under the coffin. While silently looking at the crest of a roaring lion embroidered on the cloth covering the coffin, I also laid down a white flower and said goodbye to him. The area underneath the altar began to be covered with white flowers gradually.

How long had the ceremony been going on?

As the last person finished laying the wreath, the sea of flowers spread around the coffin.

The requiem grandly echoing throughout the temple and the delicate floral scent wafted around the temple.

A man with red hair, dressed in a black uniform, stepped to the altar. He was Duke Lars, the Sword of the Empire and No.1 in the noble hierarchy. He looked around the participants and slowly opened his mouth. It was the start of the memorial service mourning the death of the emperor.

“Glory to the Castina Empire! Emperor Mircan Lu Shana Castina, the Sun of the great empire and the master of the honorable empire. He was the great emperor who ruled the millennium empire and the 20 million people. He was truly the father of all of us …”

Only

Only Duke Lars’s voice echoed in the large hall. While everyone was silent, the memorial service continued, praising the late emperor’s achievements, starting from his ascension to death.

Was it because of the floral scent that gently tickled the tip of my nose? Suddenly, I remembered his kind smile one day when I walked along the Imperial Palace garden. I also recalled his kind voice when he looked at the silver flower trees and showed me one by one before my return. After my return, he kept some distance from me but took care of lots of things for me.

I was thirsty.

“… The Sun of the glorious Castina Empire, please rest in the arms of Vita! ”

I also said goodbye to him deep down, timed with Duke Lars’s last words.

‘Your Majesty, the people have regained the hope of living during your rule. Before my return, you said that it was your dream to create a world where the royal family members and the noble family members would conduct themselves according to their titles. You said that since everything we enjoyed was from the people, we should know how to take responsibility for it, and that it was our duty as the ruler of the empire. Although I can’t be the new emperor’s wife as you wished, I will do my best to create the empire you were longing for.’

When I raised my head, wiping my tears, I saw the new emperor staring into the air.

He was standing blankly in a black robe without any agitation. Lots of people misunderstood from his lack of sorrow that he was displeased with this ceremony, but his empty eyes clearly told the truth. His navy blue eyes looking up at the sky were empty.