Chapter 13: Land to Take Root In (6) END

The Empress coronation was arranged as though the whole empire had been waiting for it.

Even so, there was so much to prepare that the entire winter wasn’t enough.

Terian claimed he was getting impatient, but Larié found herself quite enjoying the wait.

She liked hearing the excitement in his voice when he described the preparations.

She liked knowing that when spring came and new life returned to the forest, she would be sitting beside him—at last.

So came the spring of the following year.

And with it, the grandest Empress coronation in the history of the Laxtreen Empire.

“I truly didn’t expect I’d be the one to return to the capital first, dear girl.”

Count Ventus had come to the capital to celebrate the joyous news.

Larié had planned to visit his territory as soon as spring arrived—but clearly, the schedule had shifted a little.

“I’m sorry. I meant to come as soon as spring started…”

“Don’t say that. Just seeing you return to your rightful place has eased this old man’s heart.”

He spoke with the same gentle expression.

Perhaps it was the spring air, but he looked healthier than the last time they’d met, which relieved her greatly.

“I’ll visit your estate before summer, I promise.”

“Yes. A proper Empress isn’t meant to leave the palace so easily… but through the forest, it’s hardly a journey at all, is it?”

As Empress, leaving the imperial palace required careful consideration.

Normally, Count Ventus would have offered her a word of caution. But seeing how thrilled he was at the idea of her visit, Larié pretended not to notice—and smiled softly instead.

Then she changed the subject naturally.

“Please take care of Rui today.”

“Of course. Don’t worry. The Marchioness of Incarze is here, and later, we’ll be meeting with the Archduchess of Avnir as well.”

“I trust you. Rui, you’ll be good today, won’t you?”

“Mhm!”

Rui was dressed in his ceremonial best for the occasion.

Normally she didn’t like putting him in anything uncomfortable, but he looked so lovely today that she felt herself tempted to do it more often.

The maids gasped in delight at how charming he looked, and Rui, pleased with the attention, stood tall and composed despite the stiffer clothing.

“Are you sure you’re not uncomfortable? You’ll have to be standing quite a while…”

At that moment, Charelle approached with concern in her voice.

Larié, too, was fully prepared for the coronation ceremony.

“I’m fine, Charelle.”

“You must speak more casually with me now, Your Majesty.”

At her gentle reminder, Larié let out a slightly awkward laugh.

But then she straightened her back and answered, reminding herself that she needed to grow used to this now—that she had resolved to do so.

“Okay. Thank you, Charelle.”

“It’s time to go, Your Majesty.”

At her words, Charelle exaggeratedly bowed and announced the time. This time, Larié let out a pure laugh and rose to her feet.

“Have a good trip, dear.”

Count Ventus, who had come all the way to the Empress’s Palace so she wouldn’t be nervous, spoke.

“Congratulations, Your Majesty the Empress.”

“Congratulations, Your Majesty!”

The ladies-in-waiting who had been with her all along also followed her, offering their congratulations.

Though they had treated her as the empress from the start, now that the enthronement day had come, they all wore expressions filled with fresh emotion.

“Hoo…”

Before leaving the Empress’s Palace, Larié took a deep breath.

She was indeed quite nervous.

The enthronement ceremony was held in the grandest hall of the Imperial Palace. Every emperor and empress in history had ascended to their place there. That’s why the original plan had been for her to depart from the House of Avnir.

That is, until Terian rewrote the Empire’s ceremonial protocols.

Thanks to that, Larié became the first empress to begin her enthronement ceremony in the sacred forest. The nobles were all convinced by the explanation that it was a special rite for her, a half-blood of a mythical being.

But the truth was a little different.

‘I just didn’t want you to go even a little far away.’

He simply didn’t like the idea of Larié leaving the palace.

It was a ridiculous reason, but Larié couldn’t help but laugh. Terian looked so much like Rui when he said it.

Perhaps because she had been thinking about him—just as she was about to head toward the rear garden of the Empress’s Palace, a voice called out from behind her.

“My lady.”

Startled, Larié quickly turned around. So did all the ladies-in-waiting who had been attending to her.

“Your Majesty. Why are you here?”

Terian should have been getting ready to make his entrance in the ceremonial hall by now.

He, too, was dressed in full ceremonial attire, just like Larié. Even the most extravagant robes looked simply perfect when worn by him.

“But I was just so nervous.”

“Yes…?”

“I was afraid it might all be a dream.”

As he said this, he naturally approached Larié.

Then, so that the ladies-in-waiting couldn’t hear, he whispered secretly into her ear.

“If my lady would take my hand, I think the nerves would ease.”

“Your Majesty.”

Larié couldn’t help but scold him slightly. It was a bit absurd.

But somehow, the tension that had wrapped around her just moments ago had completely melted away.

Perhaps he came with that very intention.

She almost smiled despite herself. Suppressing it with effort, Larié gently took his hand.

“I’ll escort you to the edge of the forest.”

She thought he would turn back, but instead he walked toward the garden.

It was truly an act bordering on overprotectiveness.

She could even feel the ladies-in-waiting exchanging flustered glances behind her, and it made her slightly embarrassed.

Still, Larié quietly walked out to the garden with him.

To give the emperor and empress space to walk together, the ladies-in-waiting followed from a short distance behind.

“There’s something I’d like to ask of you, my lady.”

“A request?”

As they neared the forest, Terian quietly opened his mouth.

At the word “request,” Larié’s expression filled with curiosity.

“From now on, when it’s just the two of us… please call me by my name.”

“But…”

It was a simple request, but also a rather difficult one.

The emperor’s name was not something to be spoken lightly. Though she had unconsciously called him by it a few times before, to officially decide on it was another matter.

But then Terian stopped walking and spoke again.

“Please do. Larié.”

The earnestness in his voice stirred Larié’s heart.

She liked the way her name flowed from his graceful lips. Because of that, she understood why Terian made such a request.

After a brief hesitation, she quietly nodded.

If it’s just the two of us, then it should be all right.

“I will.”

Even after she answered, Terian simply gazed at Larié.

Wondering what more he might be hoping for, she subtly glanced over her shoulder. Only then did she confirm that they were well out of earshot from the others. She added in a soft whisper,

“Terian.”

At that, spring bloomed across his face.

“I love you. Always, with all that I am.”

Her heart fluttered once again—different from the nervousness from before.

It was a ticklish yet somehow desperate feeling, a flustered emotion that made her restless.

So Larié spoke as if in a trance, not even caring about the heat rising to her cheeks.

It felt like the only way to calm the storm of emotion filling her heart.

“I… I do too.”

A peaceful smile settled on both their faces.

Standing so close that their foreheads nearly touched, the two quietly traced one another’s gaze.

By now, they would surely be able to paint each other’s faces in dreams.

Larié slowly closed her eyes.

And as if it were the most natural thing in the world, Terian gently leaned in and kissed her.

Their soft breaths intertwined, slowly warming each other’s soul.

A spring breeze swept across the lake, as if blessing the road ahead of them.