Merchant Noble is out (1/4 chapters for today)
Queen’s Accession
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It has only been one week since Casablanca entered the royal capital. Casablanca’s coronation ceremony was held. Louis’s coronation ceremony was out of the question due to Leo’s military campaign, and Leo also did not hold a coronation ceremony.
Therefore, although the kingship shifted from Louis to Leo to Louis to Casablanca, there had not been a coronation ceremony for decades, since the time of the father-king Zerold I.
This time, invitations were sent to all nobles and influential figures within one week, attendees were decided, and preparations for the ceremony were made. The officials in charge spent their time working without even a moment to sleep.
The reason for hastily conducting the coronation ceremony was to “establish the fact of accession”. While Louis was in hiding, it was necessary to conduct the coronation to clearly show Casablanca’s position both domestically and internationally.
—
The day of the coronation.
At the entrance of the royal palace, treasures sent by nobles from all over were piled up like a mountain. Even now, they were continuing to increase.
“Casablanca-sama, many congratulatory gifts have arrived from the nobles across the lands.” (Fran)
“They send gifts, but they don’t attend the coronation ceremony. As expected of nobles, they’re skilled at maintaining political balance.” (Casablanca)
Hearing Fran’s report, Casablanca looked around with satisfaction, while making a sarcastic remark.
The nobles “respected” Casablanca’s wishes. Their stance was “We neither support nor oppose your declaration of the throne, but we understand that you have taken such actions”. It was a deliberately vague expression of their intentions. Although it gave the impression of being evasive, it was a hundred times better than being opposed.
“The nobles’ support was what sustained Louis-sama. Now that the nobles have abandoned him, he is no longer a threat.” (Fran)
“Leo is no longer here. Louis is no longer here. Marie has married into Arc’s household. In the end, the one who gets the last laugh is me.” (Casablanca)
After confirming the congratulatory gifts, Casablanca returned to the palace to change into her dress.
—
Arc, who had been granted a special audience before the ceremony, visited Casablanca in her private room. She was taking her final break before the ceremony.
“Casablanca-sama, the dress suits you well. If you had such a beautiful dress, I wish you had worn it for my wedding with Marie.” (Arc)
Since it was a formal occasion, Casablanca was wearing a deep crimson dress. Unlike the pitch-black dress she wore at Marie’s wedding, this one emphasized her radiant presence. The slightly darker lipstick highlighted her beauty, while her dignified eyebrows and sharp features brought out her intelligence.
“Hehehe. Today, I’m the star of the show.” (Casablanca)
She laughed in high spirits at Arc’s flattery.
It was unusual for her, who was famous for not being pleased by compliments about her appearance. That alone showed how much today was a bright and cheerful day for her.
“Well then, I will be waiting for you near the throne.” (Arc)
Since directly staring at the monarch was considered rude and presumptuous, it would not be possible to look at her much during the coronation ceremony. Arc decided to imprint her beautiful appearance in his memory for now and withdrew.
—
“We will now commence the coronation and crowning ceremony of Queen Casablanca I of the Laplace Kingdom.” (Fran)
The coronation ceremony had finally begun.
At Fran’s words, the attendees lowered their heads all at once, waiting for the star of the day to appear.
This coronation ceremony.
The attendees were arranged in a specific order. Their rankings were clearly established.
From the front…
Nobles who sided with Casablanca in this rebellion, such as Arc and several others.
Religious figures such as Zenon from the church.
Nobles who did not participate in Casablanca’s uprising but attended the coronation.
Representatives from noble households across the kingdom.
The governors of the various territories directly under the royal domain.
Powerful figures such as guild masters of adventurers and merchants from various places.
The nobles were not arranged according to titles, such as dukes or counts, but rather based on whether they had been allies of Casablanca. Such an arrangement was unprecedented, showing Casablanca’s firm resolve.
Furthermore, where separation of church and state was strictly enforced in this kingdom, the participation of religious figures like Zenon was also unheard of. The one who had most strongly advocated for the separation of church and state was none other than Casablanca herself, but now that they had supported her, she pragmatically reversed her stance and gave them importance. This, for better or worse, was very much like her.
“Her Majesty Queen Casablanca enters!” (Fran)
With their heads lowered, they could not see her well. Only the sound of her garments rustling could be heard.
“Raise your heads.” (Casablanca)
At her command, everyone raised their faces.
Casablanca’s outfit was the deep crimson dress she had worn earlier, now with the addition of a thick white fur-like mantle draped over her shoulders. It was likely the formal attire of a monarch. Arc casually wondered if she wasn’t hot wearing such a heavy outfit.
“This time, in the face of the kingdom’s crisis, I have resolved to rebuild the kingdom with my own strength and restore peace once again. I overthrew the previous monarch with my own hands and returned to the royal capital in this way. Therefore…” (Casablanca)
Casablanca began her lengthy inaugural speech.
Its content was ordinary. It was the prosperity of the kingdom, the pursuit of peace, the hope of the people. Given Casablanca’s character, many had been on edge, fearing she might use the coronation speech to declare war on all the nobles, but as expected of her, she did not go that far.
“Well then… We will now proceed with the crowning.” (Fran)
Fran announced it with a dramatic air.
The main event of the coronation ceremony, the crowning, was about to take place.
Who will perform the crowning?
If the previous monarch were alive, they would crown the successor. If the previous monarch had passed away, a high-ranking official, such as the grand chancellor, would perform the crowning. However, in this case, there was no one of sufficient status to crown Casablanca, who had ousted Louis.
Zenon jokingly volunteered, but Casablanca firmly rejected it. After all, if she knelt to the High Priest to receive the crown, it would imply that the royal family was subordinate to the church. It was likely a dark joke on Zenon’s part, but Arc did not find it amusing in the slightest.
As all attention turned to the curtains from which the crowning official would emerge…
“I kneel to no one.” (Casablanca)
Casablanca declared as she took the crown into her own hands.
“No way…” (Arc)
Arc unintentionally muttered. Sitting in the front row, his words likely reached Casablanca’s ears. She glanced at him briefly.
Then…
“I shall crown myself.” (Casablanca)
She raised the crown with both hands and slowly placed it upon her own head. The hall stirred. It was unprecedented. Her actions conveyed her utter disregard for tradition.
Is she rejecting only the tradition of the coronation? Or is she also rejecting the long-standing alliance between the monarchy and the nobility?
In her conviction that she had become queen through her own power, Casablanca was strikingly similar to her brother Louis. After adjusting the crown to fit properly, Casablanca raised her right hand and declared:
“As of this moment, I proclaim the accession of Queen Casablanca I, both home and abroad.” (Casablanca)
For a moment, silence filled the hall. Then, the stunned attendees scrambled to their senses and hurriedly raised cheers.
“Long live the Laplace Kingdom!” (??)
“Long live the Laplace Kingdom!” (??)
The fact that she had crowned herself would soon be reported by messengers.
At that time, how would the nobles react?
The earlier relief that “she refrained from declaring war on all nobles during her speech” had been short-lived. After all, Casablanca was still Casablanca.
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