1 000 - Prologue
The big, white chandelier and the hall's golden walls were brilliantly affixed to the ceiling by the force of magical crystal stones.
The round-shaped dining table is not only filled with many sorts of luxurious and expensive food and drinks that stimulate appetite, but it also uses the most expensive silk textiles as tablecloths.
Next to the table are gold-colored chairs that have been set as neatly as possible so that they look not only nice but also elegant and not crowded when mixed with other colored chairs.
In the large, opulent main Imperial palace hall, numerous servants were occupied preparing and making sure nothing was missing.
To prevent the crowding of attendees at this year's Coronation due to the excess of elite nobles who came to the Imperial hall, the doors of the numerous Imperial halls that were immediately connected to the main hall were purposefully left open widely.
Not only were leaders of noble families from other countries or prestigious and well-known capitals invited, but also heads of regional noble houses who were from the middle class.
What type of magnificent event could bring all the continent's low and high nobility together in one place at the same time?
Of course, when a major event is held directly by the leaders of all the nobles.
Then….
What kind of leader could command, coordinate, and give orders to the nobility who were not just separated from the central palace but also had varying powers and levels of loyalty?
The answer is clear.
The Moel Empire's Emperor.
The first and only person in history to successfully unite a wide continent into a single Empire.
A thousand years ago.
Previously, most of the continent's lands were occupied by dozens of countries.
But as conflicts happen frequently, it also happens frequently that countries are lost, united with another, or create new countries. Most of these countries did not endure for very long.
One day.
A youthful King who inherits a little country called Moel comes.
The King was able to wipe off practically the whole continent and combine it into what is now known as the Moel Empire. The largest continent is now centered on the Empire.
He was the so-called Great King, as well as the greatest swordsman and top sword master.
Graham, the Great Emperor.
Some verses sound like this:
His red-blond hair resembled a flaming twilight. He appeared to be quite charming, was riding a white horse in the center of the war, and instilled unrestrained dread in his enemies.
The large continent where they currently reside is known as Graham Continent in honor of his magnificence.
And now, after a thousand years. It was time to hand over the throne to a new generation after the Emperor alternated frequently due to old age, illness, or other circumstances.
After the former Emperor passed away six years ago, the time has come for the new Emperor to ascend to the throne.
The Coronation Ceremony was held on a huge scale as a result. Ring the bells of each tower to wake up and alert everyone on the Graham Continent.
That the Great Emperor's Coronation would be held soon.
Of course, practically all of the small country's Kings and nobility who occupied the entire Graham Continent, whose center was in the Moel Empire, had to come, attend, and swear the pledge of allegiance at the new Emperor's Coronation.
Daring not to attend this sacred Imperial Coronation celebration would be deemed a rebellion in the future Emperor's rule.
As a result, nobles from all over the world representing their separate regions and countries agreed to attend the coronation of the new Emperor, after the previous Emperor died six years ago.
A powerful voice echoed lightly. "Notify them of my arrival."
"Understood!"
Standing in front of the entrance, the Imperial Guard opened his jaws wide.
"The future Emperor of the Moel Empire, His Highness the Crown Prince, has arrived!"
The massive door slowly opened, and a red blond-haired man, dressed in a flaming red Imperial Prince uniform with gold embroidery, a red robe with a wolf's head symbol and a gold cross that appeared sacred on the wolf's forehead, a robe that only Emperor Moel was allowed to wear, began to enter the main hall with an aura filled with charisma.
The hall fell silent suddenly. Only the sound of footsteps could be heard. The sound of footsteps was strong and confident.
Most of the nobility swallowed their saliva because they were anxious when they heard the voice's footsteps since they were.
"Your Majesty..."
Without hesitation, all the nobility from around the Graham Continent glanced at the figure who was walking to an Imperial Palace.
When that enormous figure arrived somewhere, the nobles who had just stood arrogantly staring at him instantly kneeled. Their heads are down to the floor.
They sensed that something terrifying was grinning widely above their heads as their heads gazed at the ground, but they chose to ignore it for the time being.
"We kindly congratulate the Moel Empire's single ruler!"
They all said those words at the same time as if they had been promised from the start.
"We will pledge allegiance to His Majesty."
The figure sits on a throne that is not only covered in pure gold but also has the main section constructed of a mystical wood branch known as the 'World Tree.'
As a result, only the direct descendants of the Great Emperor Graham are eligible for the extravagant and holy throne.
"All right." In the large and silent hall, which was also populated by a variety of strong and extraordinary people, the voice of the figure seated on the cushioned throne sounded fairly loud.
"I am Bismarck de Moel. The owner of the Moel Empire questioned all of you who were kneeling at me."
After saying that, he took a sword that was still in its sheath from the hand of a male Knight who was standing next to the throne.
The sharp edge of the sword blade had already released several powers that terrified the nobles even before he slightly opened the sword's scabbard.
As the nobles continued to be on their knees before him, he raised the sword high into the air and pointed it at their heads.
"Do you swear to uphold my honor, serve the people, and rule following their respect?"
"We promise!"
"Good." He re-sheathed his sword with a satisfied smile.
"I, Bismarck de Moel, appoint all of you, the nobility who attended my enthronement this time, to be devoted vassals of the Moel Empire throughout my rule."
"The Coronation—"
"Stop!" The sound of a loud and dignified shout that dared to interrupt an Emperor's speech drew everyone's attention to the source of the sound.
The nobles, who had initially lowered their heads in terror due to the Emperor's pressure, eventually raised their heads because they were inquisitive about who had dared to disrupt this sacred ceremony.
"His Highness the Second Prince..." A nobleman was able to identify the intruder at this sacred ceremony of the Emperor's coronation.
When they heard that shocked voice, they immediately remembered who he was.
Second Prince of the Moel Empire.
Kairouan de Moel.
The one who lost heavily in the Emperor's throne dispute with his older brother, the first Prince, and the next Emperor.
People believed that he would withdraw after losing.
But who would have imagined that he would be bold enough to enter and disrupt the Emperor's Coronation Ceremony?
"With whom did the second Prince arrive here?"
During the first Prince's coronation as the new Emperor, the second Prince yelled as if responding to the noble's questions.
"This is my wife. She's a hidden Royal Princess! The Emperor's will is still in effect, which means I am the next Emperor!"
"What?!"
On the day of the Coronation, the second Prince unexpectedly brought a mysterious woman who was purportedly a Princess from another Kingdom who had been hidden.
How could they not be surprised?
The nobility muttered and peered covertly at the first Prince, who was meant to be the next Emperor.
The Emperor's will, which he entrusted before losing consciousness and passing away afterward
[If you desire to keep the title of Emperor. The Imperial Prince must then marry a Royal Princess from another Kingdom who is still unmarried!]
There is silence throughout the hall.
Because the first Prince said nothing, the nobles who attended the Coronation Ceremony assumed the first Prince had consented to quit because the former Emperor's will was absolute.
When everyone felt the Emperor's seat properly belonged to the second Prince, the first Prince slit the necks of the second Prince and the Princess who disrupted the Coronation Ceremony in one swift movement.
"Kyaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!"
Screams filled the hall as they saw blood everywhere.
The perpetrator, the first Imperial Prince, put his sword back in its sheath while a smirk appeared on his lips. He walked gallantly and charismatically to the golden throne as if nothing had happened just moments before.
"The second Prince is no longer alive. Additionally, the Princess of another Kingdom passed away. At this point, I have legitimately received the title of Emperor, right?" He said, raising his chin with a bloodied hand while belittling everyone in the hallway.
"Y-Yes, Your Majesty...!"
Like statues, the nobility became silent. They believed that the first Imperial Prince had gone insane to become the next Emperor, but they did not dare to protest lest they suffer the same fate as the second Prince and Princess of another Kingdom, who no longer had their heads in their corpses.
They couldn't help but listen to anything the first Imperial Prince, now known as Emperor Moel, had to say.
When they saw the blood that flooded the golden floor that also covered the Emperor's holy throne, many of the nobility averted their heads.
When the snow outside started to melt, the Coronation ceremony had finished and the first Prince had finally been formally crowned the new Emperor.
"Oh my gosh... Again?"
From the top of the pitch-dark sky, far from the hall where everyone had gathered.
Something, whose shape was obscured by the fact that it shined brightly like the sun, was frowning and complaining.
"Uh-oh... What must I do to prevent this from happening?" The sun-like ball of light was circling in annoyance.
Suddenly, it stopped moving. The sun-like ball of light was looking in the opposite direction.
A location that is out of sight and unreachable using simply the naked eye. However, this does not apply to a ball of light like the sun.
"There is no other way. This seems to be the only option."
"Hopefully this time...." Something resembling a sun was mumbling quietly, almost in a whisper. As if it had never appeared above the night sky, its light started to fade and soon vanished entirely.
And far away, a 25-year-old woman who is just an average person in general.
She had no idea that one stupid act will significantly alter her life.
"Noooooooooooo!"
