A few days since the coup d'état was carried out.
Krasland has regained its former tranquility, and people are now moving in
and out of the city.
The only difference is that armed soldiers are patrolling in each and every
place.
They are the soldiers who sided with Lucy in the coup d'état army, now
known as the Revolutionary Army.
Although they are still in the military, they have been assigned security
duties under Lucy's orders.
This is because the military police, whose job was originally to maintain
security, cannot be moved.
Many people in the upper echelons of the military police had ties to
Marquis Krall.
Therefore, I had to replace them with my own units.
I looked down from the castle window at the citizens and the patrolling
soldiers, then returned my gaze back to the room.
There I saw Lucy signing some papers.
We are currently alone in the room.
"Lucy, it's time. Let's go to the entrance hall."
"I understand. But please let me sign these papers one last time."
She wrote her signature in beautiful, flowing handwriting, then put down
her pen and stood up.
"That said, are you sure you want to go dressed like that? I mean, dresses
and jewelry should make you more glamorous…"
Despite her coronation being held exactly after this, Lucy was dressed no
differently than usual.
She wore her military uniform with matching sword at her waist, as if she
was intending to slay monsters at any moment.
"It's okay. I'm used to this. Also, I'm not good at making myself pretty
anyways."
When she said that, Lucy took my arm and pulled me towards her.
She pulled me in a flash with a strength I could not imagine from her
slender arms.
She also hugged me as she did so.
"I don't mind being in any position as long as Yuushin is by my side."
"Yeah, you're right."
I also said this as if it can't be helped.
Besides, who would complain now that she triumphed over the one who
reigns at the top of the Krasland? If y ou a re ab le to r ead thi s messa ge,
yo u ar e re ad ing f rom an una uth or ized ag greg ate sit e. R ea d at my W
ord Pr ess at st abbi ng wi th a sy rin ge. hom e. b log to supp ort me and my
tra ns la tions.
I waited for her to let go of my hand, and then I offered my hand this time.
"Then, let us go, Your Excellency the Marchioness. To the coronation
ceremony."
◆ ◆
The largest hall in the castle, the entrance.
That is where the coronation ceremony will be held.
Since Krone hardly participated in the battle, being in the logistics position,
I put her in charge of this coronation ceremony.
After the battle between the Marquis' forces and the coup d'état forces, the
castle was immediately cleaned at a rapid pace for the event.
The floor of the entrance hall where the bloody battle took place was
polished, and new furniture was brought in to replace the tattered pieces.
After all, it's impossible to invite people if the place is in such a terrible
state.
However, even with the vigorous cleanup, many spots still have fresh scars
which showed the intensity of the battle.
The walls are still riddled with huge ballista bolts, and the front gate is still
broken.
Even the windows are still smashed.
But it was proof that Lucy took her current position by force.
(The guests must have silently sensed the grandeur of the battle from this.)
Krone silently spoke to herself. Then a voice beside her interrupted her
thoughts.
"Still, I didn't expect so many people to attend here."
The person was none other than Anastasia.
She is looking at the invited guests gathering one after another with great
interest.
At first, they were wary of her because she was of the Demon Race, but
gradually, they discovered that she was a lot… more approachable than they
thought.
Count Krall's wounds on her in the last battle were already healed, but
based on what Krone has heard, it was only this morning that she could
move properly from the exhaustion of her physical and magical strength.
"It is the same for humans and animals alike: they come to say hello when
the boss changes."
Before they noticed, Tilda had already arrived in between them,
supplementing Anastasia's words as she spoke.
Although she was not holding a spear, her weapon of choice, her eyes were
as sharp as a bird of prey.
She was looking out for any suspicious characters among the guests.
If there were any sympathizers of the Marquis among the guests, she would
catch them before they can act.
"But still, they're really a lot. Though I sent invitations to all the nobles and
even the most influential people in town, I never expected it to balloon this
much."
Krone let out an involuntary sigh as she said this.
As soon as the battle was over, Krone and her men made invitations from
the list of names of the nobility.
The invitations would also serve as a letter of inquiry as to whether or not
they would agree to work for Lucy.
Later, the invitations would be checked with those in attendance, and those
who did not respond would be dealt with accordingly.
The number of visitors grew, and the hall was filled to capacity.
Considering the number of invitations sent out, she could say that most of
the influential people support Lucy.
"It looks like it's finally going to start. Here comes the crown."
The Archbishop of the city's church appeared before the women's eyes.
Although the church in Krasland does not endorse involvement in political
or military affairs, they are considered important witnesses to such events as
the replacement of a ruler.
The fact that the Archbishop, the head of the church in Krasland, showed up
is a further affirmation of Lucy's position.
"It appears that Lucy and Yuushin are here as well."
Lucy, the star of the day, and Yuushin, her adjutant, appeared next.
The coronation ceremony is about to begin in earnest.
◆ ◆
As we followed the Archbishop into the ceremonial hall, we were greeted
with thunderous applause.
It was as if we were in the middle of a torrential downpour.
"We've got quite a collection here. This will save me a lot of extra work."
I whispered this, and Lucy gave a small nod.
Looking at the audience, I can see the merchants and nobles we had known
before the coup, as well as nobles who could be called heavyweights of
Krasland.
There are some who have refused the invitation and are still trying to be
loyal to the Marquis, but judging from this venue, they are in the minority.
"Then, ladies and gentlemen, let us begin the coronation ceremony."
The ceremony began with the Archbishop's solemn voice.
The content of the ceremony, however, was not so important.
A formal prayer was said, and offerings were made.
After that, it was time for the enthronement.
"Now then, Lucy Finlay. Do you pledge your self to do your utmost as the
new ruler of Krasland?"
The Archbishop stood in front of Lucy and asked her.
"…Yes."
"Then…"
After several exchanges with the Archbishop, he finally reached for the
table beside him. Th is ch a pter tr an sla tion is m ade p ossi bl e by sta bbi
ng with a sy r inge t ransl at ions. ch eck on ly up-t o-d ate trans lati ons on
my Wor dpr ess si te.
There, was a crown, modest in decoration but elegant.
Lucy knelt down on one knee and offered her head.
The Archbishop took the crown and placed it on Lucy's head.
Well, to be honest, it doesn't look good with that outfit.
Lucy stood up once the crown was placed on her head, and the Archbishop
bowed to Lucy and turned to the guests.
"I hereby proclaim the new ruler of our lands, Marchioness Lucy Finlay
Krasland!"
The audience applauded fifty percent louder as the Archbishop spoke these
words.
It sounded as if we were standing right next to a waterfall.
I was a little surprised, but Lucy immediately stopped it with a movement
of her hand.
The applause stopped, and there was silence.
"Thank you all for taking time out of your busy schedule to attend to me."
Her tone is as polite as ever.
"I am Lucy Finlay, the newly coronated Marchioness of Krasland. I would
be very grateful if you could help me run this city until our council starts to
move in earnest."
Lucy's future plans have already been spread throughout the city, so there
are no questions to be raised now.
Everyone here will affirm the idea and support her.
"…As you have already known, I still have to implement many of these
plans, so I will be leaving right after this. But I have prepared refreshments
for your stay. Please enjoy yourselves as much as you can."
Normally, the participants would have greeted Lucy after this, but the
situation was that urgent. The guests should have understood this.
I followed Lucy as she walked away and went into a nearby break room.
My men and servants are all busy, so it's just the two of us in the room.
"Yuushin, how did I do?"
After Lucy confirmed that I had closed the door of the room, she asked.
"I thought you were a princess of some kind. But I still think the crown
looks better with a dress."
When I said this, she looked in a nearby mirror and giggled.
"Once is enough for me to wear a dress with Yuushin."
"…I see."
These words brought an image of Lucy in a pure white dress into my brain.
"If you go to a party, other women will come up to you. But the battlefield
is different. Over there, no one can take Yuushin's place but me."
She must be really confident, saying this with a big smile on her face.
Lucy is still in the military, and in there, I am still her adjutant.
But I hope she stops going out willingly to exterminate monsters now that
she has obtained a position of absolute safety.
While I was thinking this, I was enveloped by a pair of arms.
"You've already made a move on five or so women, haven't you? I won't
tolerate any more additional, okay?"
"All right. I understand. So please don't put so much pressure on me. you're
going to break my arm."
Lucy's eyes gave a slightly dangerous glint, but I think that's just my
imagination. Not.
Now that the coup has been successful and the case is closed, the excuse
that I was doing it with the other women out of necessity won't work from
now on.
It seems that she won't allow any more tricks, so I will keep it in mind.
"…So, why did you lie to the guests earlier? You don't have any more plans
for today."
"Isn't it obvious? It is to spend some quality time with you, Yuushin. We
haven't hang around like this lately, so you'll be spending the rest of your
day with me, okay?"
After saying these words, I was pushed down to a nearby couch by Lucy.
The threat of monsters has not yet disappeared, and there are many other
things to do.
But for now, I want to enjoy the sweet time with Lucy in the safe place I
finally have, so I did as she asked.