Chapter 153: 083. Ruppel Olfolse -1 (Part One)
**
One month had passed by since King Rahamma’s death.
Imposing drum beats resounded out, and the marching band performed their piece to the matching rhythm of the booming noises.
All of Aslan’s subjects flooded out to the streets and knelt towards the royal palace before prostrating on the ground.
Meanwhile, the members of the Aslan aristocracy were rushing to enter the palace, fearing that they might not get there in time. While on their way, they took in the sight of the kingdom’s capital city.
They spotted Paladins stationed in between the buildings, as well as in all the avenues, streets, and even on some rooftops.
In front of them were Aslan soldiers, now unarmed, kneeling on the ground while putting their hands on their heads. Some were even crouching completely to the ground too.
The Aslan nobles could only shed thick, cold sweat drops and shudder in fear. They still hadn’t gotten used to the massive upheaval that was currently taking place in their own kingdom.
Soon, the nobles lined up on either side of the palace’s royal audience chamber.
“Just what is going on? Are we announcing our intent to surrender? And a coronation at the same time as well? Since I was in the frontier region until recently, I have no idea what had transpired during my absence.”
“Is that so? Just take a look around you. This is supposed to be our capital city, yet to think that the Paladins have occupied it…!”
“His majesty, King Rahamma, has fallen in the battlefield. And the one who will succeed the throne, is…”
The nobles who were chatting to each other hurriedly clamped their mouths shut. That’s because they could hear heavy, rhythmic footsteps resounding out from the outside the chamber.
Soon, the Paladins kitted out in white armour strode inside in an orderly formation, before standing on the left and right sides of the carpeted path.
They placed their hands on the hilts of their swords and waited. Their silent yet imposing dignity caused the Aslan nobles to shrink back.
Despite this place being Aslan’s royal audience chamber, not a single one of the kingdom’s soldiers were present. Even though this was an illogical situation in any other normal circumstances, no one here dared to bring up the strangeness of it all.
Unfortunately for them, they had no choice in the matter.
Because they were the ‘defeated’. The victors were the rulers, and they enjoyed the right to decide everything.
And the one to represent this stark fact was…
A Paladin made a loud pronouncement, “The great and noble Seventh Imperial Prince from the Theocratic Empire…!”
The other Paladins shot probing glares at the Aslan nobles from underneath their helms. Divinity gushed out from them as they started pressuring the nobles, forcing them to kneel down and bow their heads.
“The one possessing the noble status of the Saint, his highness Allen Olfolse, has graced us with his presence!”
The Seventh Prince of the Imperial Family brazenly strode into the enemy kingdom’s royal palace. And not just any regular part of the castle either, but the king’s royal audience chamber no less.
He walked forward while his cape flapped grandly in the air, with two Paladins acting as his guards. One was a young girl, while the other was a middle-aged man.
The Aslan nobles sensed a dignified aura oozing from the prince with every step he took. Despite being a boy in his teens, the charisma they could feel coming off of him possessed this mythical quality, making them swallow back their humiliation and bow their heads deeply.
The Seventh Imperial Prince walked over and settled down on the king’s throne at the back of the audience chamber.
The nobles stared at the prince, and as more cold sweat trickled down their faces, another person made her entrance to the audience chamber.
“Her majesty, Tina Aslan, is now gracing us with her presence!”
A young girl entered the audience chamber filled up with this persistent heavy atmosphere. She was none other than Tina Aslan, currently wearing a beautiful robe befitting a princess. The hashashins were following right behind her.
The nobles and remaining surviving feudal lords on the sides of the audience chamber sent her less-than-welcoming glares.
This occasion was supposed to be a coronation, as well as to declare the kingdom’s defeat and subordination to the empire.
But because Aslan’s culture was heavily male-centric, these nobles naturally felt dissatisfied by the fact that a mere girl, and also a Dark Elf that would be nothing more than a slave in any other times, had managed to succeed the throne.
However, they couldn’t disobey this decision.
The one who chose her as the new ‘king’ was the Theocratic Empire’s Holy Emperor, Kelt Olfolse, after all.
The reason for her selection was simple enough; King Rahamma’s entire family was charged with the crime of starting the war and got purged without mercy.
The only blood relations of the previous king to survive the cull were the demi-humans, those designated as tools of battle.
They were all treated as weapons, and even worse, as slaves despite being Rahamma’s children. Which was why the holy emperor thought that if such a demi-human climbed to the throne, ruling over Aslan would be a far more ‘efficient’ process overall.
With a demi-human as a king – or a queen in this case – the royalty’s authority would fall compared to before. The royal faction and the feudal lords would soon enter the relationship of keeping each other in balance for the sake of their own benefits.
And since Tina Aslan was receiving the grace of the Seventh Imperial Prince, she was like the ‘pawn’ of the Theocratic Empire. The Aslan feudal lords were well aware of this fact and even tried raising their voices of objections, but then…
-Is there a reason why a child inheriting the king’s blood can’t ascend to the throne? If you’re unhappy about something, do speak up. I promise to listen to all of your opinions.
This one ‘considerate’ allowance from Holy Emperor Kelt Olfolse was enough to shut the mouths of the Aslan feudal lords.
Left with no choice, they decided to look forward to the future instead.
As long as a Dark Elf sat on the throne as their sovereign, they should be able to pressure her into becoming their puppets. But if she proved to be too headstrong, then they should also be able to replace her with someone else without much difficulty. That’s what they told themselves.
At the very least, she should be easier to manipulate than the symbol of fear itself, Rahamma.
“But this… this is a subordination contract, isn’t it?!”
“Is our Aslan about to become a slave state…?”
“A princess who sold her own country away? How can this be allowed to happen?!”
The nobles were shuddering away in indignation.
The Seventh Imperial Prince who had been silently observing them smiled wryly. The culprit responsible for the current state of this kingdom was actually Rahamma.
The only reason why the reparation demands extended only this far was all thanks to Tina and her connection to the Seventh Imperial Prince. If not, the holy emperor’s rage would’ve scorched all of Aslan’s nobles to death by now.
Tina continued to walk forward. She saw the Imperial Prince sitting on the throne and gently smiled.
After kneeling down, she bowed her head. “The inheritor of Aslan’s throne, Tina Aslan, offers her greeting to the Seventh Imperial Prince of the Theocratic Empire, his highness Allen Olfolse.”
This wasn’t just a simple greeting. No, she was paying respect as a servant for the second time in many months.
This greeting might be meant for the Imperial Prince, but at the same time, also a prayer made towards her Lord Angel.
The prince could only sigh under his breath while observing her.
**
(TL: In 1st person POV.)
Why oh why do I even have to sit here?
Now normally, either Ruppel or father should be doing this, but…
Ruppel was arrested for the suspicion of treason, while that deadbeat father of mine was also locked away for abandoning the position of the holy emperor and merrily gallivanting around the continent.
Thanks to their indiscretions, I now had to do what they were supposed to be doing in the first place.
Aaah, my lamentable life.
Oh, dear Gaia! I don’t care even if it’s only a few days, so can’t you, like, grant this poor lamb a much-deserved break to rest his weary soul?!
I prayed so fervently in my heart but I already knew that the dear goddess wouldn’t listen to my voice.
Charlotte, who was standing to my left, whispered in my ear, “Your highness, you must proceed.”
“Even if you say that, I don’t know where to even begin.”
“All you have to do is to read out aloud the documents, your highness.”
This time, it was Harman on my right side whispering to me.
I stared at the document and began reading its contents aloud. It contained the Theocratic Empire’s demands.
One, to send a certain amount of tributes every year. Two, release all of the empire’s citizens captured as slaves until now. Three, hand over the rights to mine a portion of all of Aslan’s natural resources. Four, hand over the rights to command the Aslan army to the Imperial Family for a period of time, and then…
…Huh, all of them were pretty one-sided, weren’t they? But then again, stuff like this shouldn’t come as a surprise to the vanquished nation.
Since Tina ascended to the throne only just now, she’d be blamed for this slavery-like contract. The nobles would badmouth her and even try to rebel against her rule.
A pretty long and arduous road lay before her, but I felt confident that she’d be able to rule them well.
That’s because…
-Oh my goodness! The trees, the trees are growing!
-Is… is nature finally returning to Aslan?!
-We may be able to plant and grow something at last! Oh, thank you! Thank you, your highness the princess!
…Thanks to her, mother nature began returning to Aslan’s withered lands, that’s why.
The kingdom’s subjects supported her.
In a kingdom where procuring even a single drop of water used to present a great challenge, rivers had begun flowing and even lakes appeared.
People who had to eke out a living through mineral ores and slave trade were finally blessed with lands they could actually cultivate.
Something their previous King Rahamma failed to achieve, she had made it possible.
Even if the nobles baulked at the idea of her rule, Aslan still needed to pay tribute every year, so they needed her power to create verdant fields.
And over time, they would end up more and more reliant on her.
“And so, I declare the enthronement ceremony and the acceptance of the subordination contract, complete.”
I loudly proclaimed the successful end to the proceedings. Fatigue had already taken a hold of me and I was rubbing my temples hard.
Charlotte quietly whispered in my ear again. “Thank you for your hard work.”
“Nah, it’s you who had to work hard. Anyways, should we get out of here?” I responded while standing up. “It’s time to go home.”
She smiled faintly at my suggestion.
