The Archduke’s Flower is in Jeopardy - Chapter 143



Only Krnovel

Episode 143 New era
2024.02.11.

　
The palace was busy since early morning.

“Chief Chamberlain!”

The urgent voice of a servant was heard rushing in, but Gregory, who was looking at the documents, did not notice.

“Chief Chamberlain!”

At the sound of the servant who was approaching close by calling again, Gregory finally looked up from his papers.

“Did you just call me…?” … ?”

“Yes, Chamberlain!”

Gregory said ‘Oops!’ He made an expression of interest. As it had been a while since he succeeded Isaac, the previous chamberlain, he was still unfamiliar with the title chamberlain.

“Hmm, okay… … “What’s going on?”

“The head maid is urgently looking for you!”

“Marlene?”

As the employees of the Grand Duke’s family moved to the imperial palace along with the Grand Duke and the Grand Duchess, they naturally became palace servants belonging to the Imperial Palace.

Among them, Marlene was once again in charge of the position of head maid in the empress’s palace, which she had held during her time as empress. She was there to assist the Grand Duchess, who became the new owner of the Empress Palace.

“yes! Ahead of the final preparations for the coronation ceremony… … “They say there’s a problem.”

“A problem?!”

Tomorrow, a coronation ceremony would be held where the Grand Duke and Grand Duchess would officially ascend to the positions of Emperor and Empress. It was an event that all the people of the Jupiter Empire were looking forward to.

He and all the courtiers in the palace were working hard the entire time… … It was a big deal that there was a problem. Gregory quickly stood up and headed to the empress’ palace.

“Marlene, what on earth is going on!”

“Lord Gregory!”

Gregory arrived at the empress’ palace and quickly looked for Marlene. When Marlene spotted Gregory, she came running over to him and started complaining to him.

“Is it true that you examined His Highness properly last night?”

“no way… … .”

“you’re right! “His Royal Highness has visited the Empress’s palace again!”

Gregory touched his forehead as if he was troubled by the news that happened last night.

“Even though we change His Highness’s sleeping quarters every day. How on earth do you find out every time? … .”

This morning, when I went to visit the Grand Duchess in the room where she was sleeping, I was so surprised to see the Grand Duke calmly opening the door and coming out… … . Marlene looked thoughtful with her serious face.

“If this is the case, isn’t there a spy in the empress’ palace?”

“… … “That won’t be it.”

Gregory, who already knew how the Grand Duke found the Grand Duchess, shook his head.

“Otherwise, does that mean he went through numerous rooms himself? No matter how much you love Rain… … .”

Marlene, unaware of the existence of the Grand Duchess’ scent that only the Grand Duke could smell, sighed deeply.

“You keep breaking the law like this.”

According to a long-standing law of the Jupiter imperial family, sleeping with the emperor while the empress was in office was restricted except for certain periods. Although it is not impossible to have a relationship after a stable period, it was a law that took into consideration the health of the unborn fetus and the mother.

“But no way…” … “Have you done something that could be harmful to His Majesty Rain?”

“That’s because Sir Gregory doesn’t know any better!”

As Gregory timidly took the Archduke’s side, Marlene raised her eyes upward and shouted in frustration.

“The last time I put on the final piece for the coronation dress, how… … .”

Recalling that time, Marlene’s cheeks blushed and she trailed off.

Her wife, Pont Feigne, and her assistants, who were in charge of making Idel’s dress to wear at her coronation, were speechless for a while with their faces flushed, just like Marlene’s reaction.

– Hmm… … I think this coronation dress should have a high neck design to express an elegant atmosphere.

Madame Pontfeuigne hurriedly took control of the situation. The off-shoulder dress, which was originally sewn to take advantage of Idel’s slender shoulders, had to hastily add lace to cover the décolleté line.

The white skin beneath the dense lace that covers the neck… … Her man’s deep affection fell and red flower buds bloomed here and there.

“Besides, Her Highness was tired and took a nap! Tomorrow is the coronation ceremony, so you should sleep well tonight. Therefore, Sir Gregory, you must make sure that His Majesty never visits the Empress’s palace today.”

Listening to Marlene’s new request, Gregory nodded her head as if he understood, but an expression of uncertainty was evident on his face.

Marlene doesn’t know it yet, but the first item that Caeron, who will be crowned emperor tomorrow, will pass is the amendment to the imperial law that Marlin mentioned.

Under the inscription of abolishing the evil customs and laws of the old era, Caeron ordered the abolition of useless laws. In particular, he pointed out the clause restricting the emperor and empress from sleeping together and even emphasized that it should be thoroughly erased.

‘There is no way we can stop His Majesty’s will like this… … .’

Gregory expected none.

As he expected, a familiar guest came to Eidel’s bedroom on the night before the coronation ceremony, and the day of the coronation ceremony dawned with the new voice of Marlene, who discovered it the next day.

* * *

“I… … Is it strange?”

Eidel, wearing a coronation dress, asked Caeron with a nervous expression. The dress, nicely cut by Madame de Pont-Feigne, hugged the body comfortably, but I was a little concerned about my belly, which was nearing full term.

“You’re so cool like this.”

On the other hand, Caeron, wearing the emperor’s uniform, showed off her solid physique. Wearing a royal blue cape, he looked stronger and more dignified than usual.

“You’re cool too. “More than anyone else in the world.”

Caeron answered in a friendly voice and continued.

“Because no empress in history has had the same thoughts as you.”

“Are your thoughts the same? really… … “You won’t regret it, will you?”

Eidel looked at Caeron’s face ahead of the coronation ceremony with a cautious expression. Even though she had been talking with him until the night before, Idel could not shake off her concerns.

The reason why Caeron went against the law and came to her bedroom every night, and why she couldn’t hide her fatigue the next day, was, as Marlene thought, due to his overflowing affection… … In fact, it was to discuss the direction of the new imperial family.

“You can’t regret it. “The yellow crown didn’t mean much to me in the first place.”

Caeron gently stroked Eidel’s cheek as if telling her not to worry.

“Rather… … I value you more. “The only thing that matters in my future life is you.”

“Me too. “I want to show our unborn child the new future of the empire that you and I envision.”

The look in each other’s eyes was filled with strong affection and trust.

“Shall we go now?”

“okay.”

The two people, holding each other’s hands tightly, headed to the square where the coronation ceremony was held.
　

With the appearance of the two people, a magnificent trumpet sound sounded, ushering in a new era. The crowd gathered to watch the coronation ceremony gave their new monarch a generous round of applause.

Hearing the applause of the cheering audience, Caeron stepped up to the podium. Thousands of eyes filled with respect looked up at him.

“I, Caeron Elios de Jupiter, declare myself emperor before all the people of the empire. From now on, the emperor’s right to rule will be located under a constitution that guarantees the natural rights of the people of the empire. Therefore, even if he is the emperor, he cannot rashly treat the human rights of his people.”

The audience looked momentarily dumbfounded at the emperor’s remarks. In particular, the nobles and intellectuals who realized the hidden meaning of this statement opened their mouths.

‘Ji, His Majesty’s statement just now… … !’

‘Seo, no way… … Are you giving up the Emperor’s tyrannical powers that transcend the Constitution?’

Throughout Jupiter’s history, the imperial authority has been maintained based on absolute authority. The emperor’s power, which was above the constitution, was free and could be exercised without any restrictions. However, Caeron’s remarks meant that this despotism would be abolished and the emperor’s power would be reduced.

“In the rapidly changing times, society and the economy have developed and changed day by day, but politics has regressed, centered around the imperial family and the House of Nobles.”

This was a problem that Caeron was also keenly aware of. The House of Nobles divided into factions and continued a meaningless political struggle to protect their vested interests. In the meantime, the resolution of the livelihood issues demanded by the people of the empire or the submission of laws gradually took a backseat.

“From now on, we will handle important political issues and legislative procedures through a new consultative body called the Imperial Council. The composition of the Imperial Council will be made up of people elected through voting in each region, regardless of status.”

This was the political reform plan designed by Eidel. Eidel spoke about what she thought the future empire would look like.

She believed that as time passes, distinguishing power based on social status will become increasingly meaningless. She believed that the role of the imperial family was to help all citizens, regardless of status, live autonomous lives under equal rights, with their own voices heard.

The first step was to reform the political structure under the leadership of the imperial family. Caeron also agreed with her intention and gave his support in making it concrete. The fact that he declared these reforms in his first speech after taking the throne as emperor was also a clear expression of his will to support her will.

‘Oh, no…’ … ! What is this suddenly… … !’

‘The noble family has disappeared! Besides, are you saying that commoners are now participating in politics?’

The nobles blushed with embarrassment and anger. However, since the emperor also announced that he would give up his rights under the Constitution, they could not find any basis to claim their privileges, so they only trembled.

On the other hand, the crowd, mostly commoners, were truly happy and applauded. Their faces were filled with hope as they pictured the new empire proclaimed by the emperor.

“This reform plan that will change the history of the Jupiter Empire originated from the insight of the Empress standing next to me. From now on, the Empress and I will take the lead in protecting the future of the empire and become a beacon of light for the lives of the people of the empire.”

“Long live your Majesty the Emperor! Long live Your Majesty the Empress!”

The people of the empire shouted hurray and chanted loudly for the new emperor and empress. The day was captured on a reporter’s camera and vividly reported in an article.

It was later said to be the most important inflection point in the history of the Jupiter Empire, and it was the coronation ceremony for the emperor and empress, who were praised as the greatest monarchs of all time.

A few months after the news of the coronation ceremony that shook the entire empire spread widely, news that shook the world again came from the imperial palace.