Saving The Abandoned Empress

Except the high ranking officials and nobles, no one else was allowed to attend.

Even the coffin was sealed up tightly to not let anyone see the late emperor’s face.

Everyone protested for this but in front of their new emperor, who was stubborn, they had no choice but to give in.

There were refreshing yellow green lights lit in the streets under the golden sunshine.

The Central Palace was quieter than expected, although all the nobles of the empire arrived in the capital for the ceremony.

Those who could carry the late emperor’s coffin were limited to the great nobles with the rank of marquis and above, so most of the nobles already moved to the great hall of the temple.

In the central hall, where the emperor’s coffin was temporarily placed, bells continued to ring softly.

People on standby had a solemn expression, ready for the upcoming ceremony.

.....

Eleanora was lost in thought, looking at the emperor’s stone coffin, a blonde man who stood out among those in black came to her to speak.

“I, Cedrick De Evan Raven, greet the future moon of our empire.”

“...I, Eleanora Ariadne La Dalton, greet the young duke of the Raven duchy.”

After the brief greeting, both of them stood awkward as it was the first time they was talking with each other.

“Well, Am going to the war too. We will be meeting each other very frequent from now on. So I thought of...”

“Oh, So are you going to represent the Raven Duchy?”

“Yes, My lady.”

Eleanora sharply glanced up at the man who slightly bowed.

Isn’t his father the core members of the noble faction and their families doesn’t get along too?

Why is he trying to approach her and show interest?

“I heard that you were trained by his Majesty himself. Is that true?”

“Yes...”

“Then, you must have very high skills... ”

“The Sun of the empire, His Majesty, is entering now!”

When Eleanora was wary of Cedrick, who kept talking to her, They heard the protocol officer announcing the arrival of the new emperor.

People talking in small groups of two and three bowed all at once.

“We’re honored to see the Sun of the empire, Your Majesty!”

“Everybody, please stand up.”

As Eleanora raised her head, She saw him in black formal dress.

His face was expressionless, as usual.

“Start the ceremony.”

When the emperor ordered coldly, the royal knights in black uniforms instead of the usual white ones escorted him to the late emperor’s coffin.

Some of them carried the coffin covered with a red cloth on which a roaring golden lion engraved on their shoulders.

When they reached the main gate of the Imperial Palace and laid down the coffin in a carriage drawn by six horses, the official knights of the 1st and 2nd Knights got on the horses.

The 1st Knights, who saluted the new emperor, departed first, followed by the new emperor and great nobles in black robes, escorted by the royal knights.

Finally, the 2nd Knights in black uniforms stood at the end of the procession.

The streets of the capital were crowded with people.

Unlike the knights’ inspection ceremonies, most of the people in the capital filled the streets in an orderly atmosphere.

When they saw the procession carrying the late emperor’s coffin, their cries were heard all over the streets.

Eleanora looked up at the sky for a moment through the black veil hanging under her hat.

‘Are you watching, Your Majesty? So many people are grieved that you were held in Goddess arms.’

Eleanora felt like tears were about to drop, so I quickly blinked and silently drove a horse.

On the streets where everyone was silent, only the sound of cries, horse hoofs, and rolling wheels were heard.

When the procession went around the capital’s streets and reached the border between the noble and commoner districts, the pure white temple under the blue sky came into view.

Hymns were resonating through Temple, which was shining brightly with the bright sunlight.

After the process arrived at the entrance of the temple through the huge arched gate, the High Priest and the top priests from Kingdom Arendel wearing blue ceremonial cloaks over white vests greeted them.

“May the blessings of lasting peace with him!”

People followed the priests spraying holy water, climbed the six stairs, which symbolized perfection, and went into the great hall.

The pillars towering under the tall ceiling were colored golden, and the colorful stained glass was shining beautifully in the sunlight.

The altar installed on the six steps was covered with pure white fabric embroidered with geometric patterns in gold thread, and the wall above the altar was elaborately carved with various shapes of wood branches.

When the orchestra played, the lower priests, began to sing a requiem.

As the nobles lined up on both sides bowed their heads, the High Priest leading the procession walked toward the altar slowly.

The late emperor’s coffin was placed on the altar covered with pure white fabric, and the new emperor in a black dress stepped forward.

After receiving a wreath made of white flowers from an apprentice knight, the emperor slowly approached the altar.

Cathain kept staring at the coffin without any movement, Which made Eleanora worried.

After the emperor’s death, Cathain handled state affairs without any agitation and hold a private funeral like this.

“Please lay the wreath.”

When the protocol priest said that, all the nobles, starting with Duke Dalton, approached the altar and laid down the flowers infront of the sealed coffin.

While silently looking at the crest of a roaring lion embroidered on the cloth covering the coffin, Eleanora also laid down a white flower and said goodbye to him.

The area underneath the altar began to be covered with white flowers gradually.

The ceremony was finished rather quickly as there was less people.

As the last person finished laying the wreath, the sea of flowers spread around the coffin.

The requiem grandly echoing throughout the temple and the delicate floral scent wafted around the temple.

“...The Sun of the glorious Valentino Empire, please rest in peace from now on!”

Eleanora also said goodbye to him deep down, timed with the high priest’s last words.

‘Your Majesty, the people have regained the hope of living during your rule.

Before my return, You said that since everything we enjoyed was from the people, we should know how to take responsibility for it, and that it was our duty as the ruler of the empire.

Although I can’t be the new emperor’s wife as you wished, I will do my best to create the empire you were longing for.’

When Eleanora raised her head, wiping her tears, she saw the new emperor staring into the air.

He was standing blankly in a black robe without any agitation.

Lots of people misunderstood from his lack of sorrow that he was displeased with this ceremony, but his empty eyes clearly told the truth.

His red eyes looking up at the sky were empty.

While the High Priest recited the prayers of rest for the late emperor and blessings for the new emperor, Eleanora looked at the new emperor with her hands resting on her chest.

She couldn’t take her eyes off him who looked very sad, who fought against everyone to make her dreams come true.

“... May the late emperor rest in peace, and the blessing of The goddess be bestowed on the new emperor!”

When the High Priest was done praying, a requiem rang through the temple again.

The royal knights who approached the altar carried the coffin on their shoulders.

The procession passed out of the huge hall following the High Priest, and the top priests.

After burying the sealed coffin as per the late emperor’s wish, Everyone stepped out of the cemetery, leaving the new emperor alone.

Eleanora hesitated alone among the nobles who climbed the stairs, whispering among themselves.

She didn’t feel good as she was bothered by the new emperor.

“Oh, you are here, Ele.”

.....

“...Daddy.”

Alexander held Eleanora’s palm into his as he started to climb the stairs.

His dark blue subdued eyes looked at his daughter anxiously.

‘You can’t be soft for him again, I can’t bear to see you walk towards your death willingly...’

Alexander faked a cough for his daughter’s attention, who was looking gloomy.

“I’ve been looking for you as I didn’t know where you were. Do you have anything to do here?”

“Oh, no.”

“Then let’s go back.”

“Yes, Daddy.”

Eleanora climbed the stairs, without looking back.

As she stepped on the last staircase, Eleanora suddenly recalled Cathain’s empty eyes.

The moment she recalled his empty red eyes, Eleanora found herself already walking back downstairs.

“I have forgotten something!”

“Ele!!”

‘Don’t go...’

After lying to her father, who called her with a surprised voice, Eleanora ran down without looking back, grabbing the hem of her skirt.

Alexander kept staring at his daughters small figure till it gradually disappeared from his eyes and he clenched the hands which was holding her hands tightly into a ball.

Back in the past, he also looked at his daughter who was dragged away by knights from the prison to her trial grounds like this.

And she never came back again to call him ‘Daddy’ again.

She had came, but it was only on his dreams. He kept holding on to see the ends of the people who killed his daughter.

His daughter finally got the love from the man she always wanted, after her death.

She got to wear the crown again, the necklace that represents the empress that she couldn’t get when she was alive.

That man went crazy because of his love and guilt.

Everyone got their punishments... but his daughter was innocent, her unborn babies was innocent.

She didn’t looked back that day too and went to embrace the death with her unborn child in belly.

Where he could just look at her with a heavy heart from, behind the prison bars.

‘Am I going to lose you to him again, Ele?’