Volume 10 Chapter 17 Blessing Of The Saint
King Zeere, supported by Duke Marx and a few soldiers, was led from the stage to the room.
He looked thin and his steps were unsteady, but he never looked down, standing tall.
Sir Stefan, who received the crown, bowed deeply once more to the departing King Zeere.
I also bowed my head deeply.
──King Zeere was there for me when I was young.
He protected me from my father's cold words.
He was kind and a big man.
As a king, he must have faced many hardships and struggles.
I can only imagine what that was like.
And surely, Sir Stefan will face the same in the future──.
I lifted my head and looked at Sir Stefan.
Sir Stefan met the gaze of the quietly watching nobles.
In the front row of the gathered nobles were Sir Rail and Sir Roxas.
Then, there was Mr. Wilshark with his wife and child. And there was Mr. Clifford, who had been an enemy in Edelstein. Beside Mr. Clifford were his wife and children, huddled close.
The dressed-up children were all so cute.
"I'm──as everyone knows, I was an inadequate prince."
Sir Stefan spoke as if addressing everyone.
"As the master of the holy sword passed down from the Bernard royal family, granted by Goddess Alexandria, I should have been in a position to protect everyone, yet I was under the control of monsters, causing everyone anxiety. If that control had continued, I might have destroyed this country that my father protected."
Sir Stefan showed no signs of being downcast.
He spoke boldly, confirming the facts, calmly discussing the past.
"Ciel, Saint Lydia and the royal family of Gem's People. And Lucian, who carries the blood of the royal family of Kirschtein. I have been saved by them. Also I don't forget about Rail and Roxas of the Duke Girard family, who have long supported the royal family."
Called by name, Sir Ciel and Mr. Lucian placed their hands on their chests and bowed.
I was startled too, but I gathered my skirt and curtsied like a lady. It had been a while, but I felt like I managed to greet them gracefully without any awkwardness.
At Sir Stefan's words about Sir Ciel and Mr. Lucian, the hall buzzed for a moment.
But it quickly fell silent.
"You all know. It started with the chaos in the old Kirschtein, then the Great Temple was attacked, and battles broke out in Edelstein. But everyone helped me. There's little I can do alone. We should be able to live by holding hands together."
Sir Stefan looked down for a moment.
Then, he raised his face again.
"People of Gem and the Kirschtein. And us. The pain of the past will never disappear. But we can change what's to come. ...I want to protect people not with fighting and hatred, but with respect and love."
His confident, clear voice echoed in the hall.
"I may be an unreliable king. But I need everyone's strength. I don't know if I can be a king like my father. But please, support me."
As Sir Stefan finished speaking, someone started clapping.
The applause began as a few scattered claps and then swelled like a wave.
Sir Stefan's expression softened in relief.
Lady Emilia and Lady Anna each took Sir Stefan's hand and smiled at him.
When the applause settled down──my father called me.
"Lydia Rest. Blessed by Alexandria, the Saint. Blessings to Stefan Bernard."
Before I knew it, my dad was next to me.
He wasn't the usual dad; he seemed strangely larger.
His form had transformed into a slender, graceful beast with a shiny white coat and a fiery white mane, like a wolf.
'I am the holy beast of Alexandria. I will witness Stefan becoming king alongside Lydia.'
A dad who is really picky about having a cute puppy is saying something super holy beast-like.
Everyone is looking at him with a mix of awe and respect. I can even hear some amazed sighs. Then I hear voices saying, "How beautiful!" and "Is that what a holy beast looks like?"
Dad seems pretty pleased.
I stood in front of Sir Stefan.
Sir Stefan knelt down and bowed his head. Having the king bowing to me makes me feel really important.
Ah, I'm so nervous.
I thought I'd be okay, but so many eyes are piercing into me. I feel like I might faint from the tension.
But──this is my duty.
I have to do my best. Mom taught me that my lines are "about this kind of thing."
"...Sir Stefan. ...In the name of Alexandria, I recognize you as king and bless you."
It feels like I'm not even myself anymore.
I'm saying words I've never spoken before.
When I reach out my hand, Sir Stefan takes it and gently kisses the back of my hand.
Dad stretches his body and looks up.
From the empty ceiling, little Lobelia flowers flutter down, sparkling particles falling with them, then disappearing.
I can't use that kind of magic, so Dad must have done it for me.
With applause rising again, Mr. Wilshark loudly says, "Saint! Thank you for saving our town!" That snaps me back to reality.
I──feel so important. But I'm really not. It's embarrassing.
Mr. Clifford is also bowing deeply.
Feeling overwhelmed, I took a step back.
Then, I accidentally stepped on the hem of my unfamiliar dress and almost fell──Sir Ciel and Mr. Lucian caught me.
"Are you okay, Saint?"
"Calm down, Saint."
Whispered softly in my ear, I was called Saint, and my embarrassment hit a breaking point──.
The flowers of Lobelia that Dad made rain down disappeared from the ceiling, and then, plop plop, a rain of cupcakes started falling.
I don't really know why it's cupcakes.
The cupcake rain poured down on the nobles.
The kids reached out, laughing happily.
Lady Anna and Lady Emilia also spread their arms wide and laughed joyfully.
Maybe they sensed the cupcakes, Eir-Eir and Nel-Nel burst out from the waiting room, hopping around and munching on cupcakes.
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