Esteban was currently trying his best to keep his distance from Mabel. He was afraid that getting too close might backfire. After seeing Mabel doing well in a place where he wasn't, he found it easier to endure the separation.
'Almost hugged a child who didn't want it.'
Unexpected encounters were not part of the plan, and he almost lost control, but fortunately managed to pass by indifferently. Gustav clapped and praised the emperor.
"Remarkable, Your Majesty. Well done!"
"Wait, I left something in the office!"
Before Esteban could mention the pay cut, Gustav had already darted off. Unable to see Mabel as much as he wanted, Esteban poured his attention into the coronation preparations. The recommended supervisors were all so unsatisfactory that he couldn't entrust Mabel's coronation to them, so he decided to oversee it himself.
'I can't let my daughter's coronation be ruined.'
Over the course of a month, Esteban kept receiving news about Mabel.
"Today, Her Highness played with the divine beast at the entrance of the northern forest. She was amazed by the pudding served as dessert."
"Today, Her Highness played with the divine beast in the garden. She spilled the ice cream served as dessert."
"Today, Her Highness fell and burst into tears."
When he heard this report, he was so startled that he almost rushed over. Nonetheless, the coronation preparations proceeded smoothly without Mabel's knowledge. Finally, the day arrived. Just as dawn was breaking, Mabel was still in dreamland. The child had no idea that she was about to become the emperor.
"Your Majesty, Mabel is undoubtedly a genius. I can communicate with her."
"Yes. She reacts quickly and can speak a little."
Because of Oscar's words, Esteban had made sure to keep Mabel's surroundings tightly controlled.
'Let's get rid of her while she's asleep.'
Oscar also added that Mabel seemed to dislike being the emperor and didn't want to be one. But what could a one-year-old and two-month-old child possibly know?
'Good. Let's make her the emperor by force.'
After all, she would be a nominal emperor, and he would handle all the affairs. Thus, Mabel, still sound asleep, was 'transported' to the Sun Hall by Esteban for the coronation. *** Wobble, wobble-.
'What is this? The ground is shaking.'
It couldn't be a massive earthquake, so I assumed it was a dream. I ignored the shaking and surrendered to the dream.
'Yesterday, the sheep were sheared, and it was a struggle-.'
Snore... Before I could finish my thought, I fell back asleep. When I woke up again, the surroundings seemed unusually noisy.
"...Gardenia... Your Majesty... ascension..."
What is this? As soon as I opened my eyes, an unexpected scene greeted me. I was still in my sleeping attire, with hand and foot restraints, sitting on a small throne. Below me, more people were kneeling than at my birthday party. The atmosphere was serious and solemn, and I thought it must be a dream. But it was too vivid to be a dream.
My still groggy mind couldn't grasp the situation. I slowly lifted my head and saw a familiar face.
It was the first time I had seen him since the day he ignored me and left after our encounter. He hadn't visited since then, so I thought it was about time he showed up. In my previous life, my father only hit me when I was old enough to understand. At least he didn't hit me, so I thought it was okay, but why did I feel a sense of relief?
'As if I was expecting to see him...'
It had been almost a month since I last saw him. His facial features seemed sharper than before. I stared at the emperor's profile in a daze and suddenly snapped back to reality.
This wasn't the time. I quickly assessed the situation. All the nobles, including Oscar, were gathered. The hall was decorated magnificently. The emperor, dressed in a splendid ceremonial robe, stood before a new crown. The last piece of the puzzle was the bombshell announcement the emperor made at my birthday party. The answer was clear.
It was definitely the coronation! The ceremony was in full swing, and they had proceeded without waking me up. How could this be? A coronation without the main subject...! The emperor hadn't noticed that I was awake yet.
"Emperor Esteban Nis Ermano. If you approve the succession of the Ermano royal family, place the crown on the successor."
The emperor reached for the crown. It seemed to be the final step.
I jumped up and ran to the table with the crown, pushing it with all my might. Fortunately, the table wasn't too heavy. Crash! The table fell with a loud noise, and the crown rolled to a stop in front of my feet. I didn't miss the opportunity. I kicked the crown with all my strength.
Clang, clang! The crown landed in front of an unknown noble, making a sharp sound. I glared at the crown, panting.
'Who do you think I am to do as you wish?!'
I didn't want to be controlled by others anymore.
"Down with the emperor, no way!"
If I ended up as the emperor again, it would be no different from my previous life, where I ran away and fell to my death from the roof. I would make my own decisions, even if I regretted them later. I didn't want to be the emperor. Oscar said he didn't want to be the emperor, and neither did I.
Suddenly, I felt all eyes on me. All the kneeling nobles were staring at me in shock.
'Is this a bit too much...?'
Their expressions clearly showed they thought so. In the awkward silence, someone suddenly clapped.
"Indeed, as I've heard, you are growing rapidly. You are a fine talent!"
"Beautiful kick! How can you achieve such a perfect parabolic angle!"
"Your speech is also clear, showing that you will be a great ruler who won't be swayed by advice!"
I was overwhelmed by the praise. I stumbled backward and fell on my bottom. But the people clapped and cheered even more. They were strange.
'This country is doomed!'
Either everyone here was crazy, or I was the only one. Thud. Something was placed on my head.
I tried to check with my hands, but they were too short. When I bowed my head, something fell onto my lap. ...It was the crown.
'What? I kicked the crown!'
I checked, and the crown was still in the spot where I kicked it. Then what is this crown...? Suddenly, a deep shadow fell over me.
"That's my crown, and this is a new crown made for Mabel."
I didn't expect that. Such extravagance. Before I could recover from the shock, the nobles' congratulations poured in.
"Congratulations on the ascension of the new emperor!"
"May the Ermano family's glory be eternal!"
Despite my fierce resistance, I became the emperor. 'What? Give me back my resistance.'
"Interesting things happened while I was away."
Duke Javier, a prominent figure in the emperor's faction and the owner of the wealthiest merchant guild in Ermano, watched the coronation with interest. During his quasi-exile to the south, Princess Mabel, the second in line to the throne, was born, and the current empress passed away. The princess's birth was extraordinary, and she was coveted by the Holy Kingdom of Abellar as the 'Seed of the Divine.' Duke Javier, however, didn't think much of it, assuming it would just be a source of conflict. But then,
'I didn't expect the emperor to be so infatuated with his daughter.'
He had only heard rumors, but seeing it with his own eyes was truly remarkable. The emperor couldn't take his eyes off the princess and was alert to her every movement. Duke Javier's mind raced. His business and political acumen whispered to him.
'This has great potential.'
This was also why he didn't oppose the abdication. Despite the emperor Esteban still being alive and Oscar being a capable adult, the princess, who couldn't even speak properly, was made the new emperor. Esteban was sweating as he watched Mabel's pouting face. Duke Javier, intrigued by the scene, suddenly met Esteban's gaze. He flinched. The emperor's cold eyes seemed to pierce through him. The message was clear: don't mess with me. Duke Javier smiled warmly and bowed.
'The more you resist, the more you want to provoke someone.'
The duke's lips curved into a sly smile. ***
I am one year old. I became the emperor.
'How absurd. Me, the emperor.'
Even as I was carried to my new bedroom, I couldn't believe it. I just sat there, dazed, being carried by the nanny.
When I finally snapped out of it, I looked around the new emperor's bedroom and my jaw dropped.
It was huge. Enormous. The princess's bedroom was already quite spacious, but this was ridiculous.
'I could play soccer in here.'
Despite the lavish furniture, it still felt empty. The nanny, tidying the bed, asked affectionately,