Kiser was in hot water as soon as he returned to the council chamber. The nobles on his side immediately started criticizing Kiser’s announcement.
The only reason they had survived was that they had happened to be away from the capital at the time of the massacre.
“The public’s opinion of the Britten family has dropped severely.”
“You gave an Imperial Order to Joshua Sanders to kill his own father? Everyone is pointing fingers at the Imperial Family for your cruelty.”
The Imperial Family’s public image was already bad because the devastation of the citizens’ lives was primarily caused by the two princes. However, the citizens weren’t trying to distinguish who was right or wrong—they just needed someone to take out their anger on.
“The prestige of the Imperial Family has been dragged through the mud. There are over a thousand Imperial Knights, but they needed the Martial God’s help in dealing with a single man, the former Duke of Agnus...”
“That is not the only problem. The nobles want to send their own investigators to investigate the massacre further.”
Kiser finally sighed. “Someone has to take the responsibility in the end.”
“Your Highness, you need to be strong. It’s obvious how the other nobles are going to react after they’ve lost the heads of their families. If they direct their anger at us—”
“Kaizen is dead,” Kaiser interrupted.
“...Yes, that’s right. You are the only legitimate heir to the throne, Your Highness.”
“No, there is one more.”
The noble’s eyes widened. However, Kiser wasn’t even looking in his direction anymore.
“...Here is what we’re going to do,” the Prince stated. “His Majesty, Kaizen, and over a hundred nobles officially were slaughtered by the previous Duke of Agnus and a group of unidentified assassins named ‘Heimdall’. Burn all the bodies before the nobles dispatch their investigators.”
A storm of shock hit the nobles in the council chamber.
“Yo-Your Highness, but...”
“They won’t believe us, but they won’t be able to pry any further since His Majesty and Kaizen are dead. Of course, the nobles will also lose all faith in the Imperial Family...” Kiser trailed off with a faint smile. “...but that’s only going to happen if a Britten takes the throne.”
“Yo-Your Highness, wait—”
Kiser nodded. “Yes, I’ll take responsibility. The next heir to the throne can be Joshua Sanders, the Martial God and my aunt’s son. Besides, he’s the hero who took down the leader of the assassins.”
“Your Highness!”
“I now know the truth, and everything has to be straightened out. However, I don’t have the right to do so when I turned the Empire into this mess.” Kiser relaxed, as if a great burden had been lifted off of his shoulders. “The citizens are in need of a capable leader now more than ever. If both candidates have the right to inherit the throne, it’s only right that the more skilled one rule over this Empire.”
Footsteps suddenly echoed off the walls of the chamber.
“...Here comes the protagonist,” Kiser mumbled. ”The man that will take the throne.”
“The Martial God!”
Even the nobles that had remained silent turned to look. Serciarin was beside Joshua too, although she didn’t look good.
“Other countries are already busy as hell since they haven’t finished taking care of the Continental War’s aftermath,” Zegar refuted.
“Do you really not get it?”
“What...?”
“The leaders of the countries that we sent the delegations have legitimacy—like Emperor Cerona of the Swallow Empire and the pope of the Hubalt Empire—and they’re all against the Continental War. We need to accept their legitimacy and quickly declare the complete cessation of the Continental War, don’t we?”
Icarus’s wise words instantly shut Zegar down.
“...You’ve already planned that far?”
Icarus smiled. “Of course; I’m Icarus, the first strategist of the Sanders Family.”
* * *
A month later, a loud fanfare echoed through the air. Brilliant magic fireworks joined it, beautifully decorating the sunny sky. Today was a day that would go down in the history of the Avalon Empire. Delegations had arrived from the other countries to celebrate the coronation, despite the chaotic state of affairs in their homelands. Ulabis and Lilith, the two most powerful people in the Swallow and Hubalt Empires, even came personally to the coronation ceremony.
Before the eyes of the world, Joshua, the star of this coronation, walked down the long red carpet that extended beyond the wide-open palace gates to the platform in the great plaza of Arcadia.
“He’s handsome.”
“When was he not?”
“I really didn’t think he would become the great emperor. Shall I try seducing him since I’m here?”
“Wake up. He’s become a man beyond our reach.
“Well, I’m quite popular in the Hubalt Empire, so wouldn't I still have a chance?”
While Lilith and Ulabis bantered, Joshua had reached the platform.
“Woahhhh!!!!”
The citizens of Avalon shouted thunderously as Joshua slowly reached his hand out to the gold crown that shone with a brilliant gravitas.
‘Emperor...’
Many memories flashed through Joshua’s mind. There was still a lot on his mind, and he didn’t think this was the end. In fact, he was just getting started now. He was going to protect his people and build his own empire. He wouldn’t let anyone take anything from him—not again.
‘No matter what.’
Joshua set his jaw and grabbed the crown.
“Woowwwwww!”
The crowd’s earsplitting cheers rolled over him.
* * *
On the last day of Year 728 of the Continental calendar, Joshua Sanders became the 52nd emperor of the Avalon Empire.