Side Story 1: Crown Prince Rui (1)

Larié’s coronation as Empress had concluded without a hitch.

Grand in scale and showcasing the dignity of the Imperial Family, the coronation was recorded in historical texts and would be referenced for generations.

Nobles unanimously praised the day. In many ways, it also served to relieve their long-held tension.

Terian had prioritized governance over balls and social gatherings ever since his ascension. Considering the turbulent international affairs at the time, the past few years had essentially been a dark age for high society.

But that had now changed. The Empress, as the figurehead of the aristocracy, had ascended the throne with greater legitimacy than anyone before her. The grim public executions of foolish nobles had concluded.

With the discovery of the blue coal vein, the Laxtreen Empire’s prestige had reached new heights.

Welcoming a hopeful spring, nobles emerged from their shells and became active again.

The capital’s citizens celebrated for over two weeks. They loudly rejoiced that the daughter of a hero had returned and resolved the long-plaguing blue coal issue.

Spring faded in a flurry of excitement. And just before summer arrived, another joyous event came to the Empire.

The Emperor declared that the coronation of the Crown Prince would also proceed.

“Darling, how is Rui?”

On the day of the Crown Prince’s coronation, Terian turned to Larié, who held Rui’s hand, and asked.

Though they had prepared for this day for several weeks, it was only natural to worry about such a small child.

And his concern wasn’t only for Rui.

The coronation was to be held in the Hall of Glory—a place tied to difficult memories for Larié. He was particularly mindful of that.

He paid close attention, hoping her expression wouldn’t darken upon arriving. Fortunately, it seemed Larié was too focused on Rui to notice much else.

“He seems a little bewildered.”

As she said, Rui was blinking curiously, gazing up at the surrounding adults with his round eyes.

The child’s expression was a little stiffer than usual. He clutched his beloved stuffed toy tightly, revealing just how nervous he was. Dressed in formal attire unlike his usual clothes, he was clearly uncomfortable.

Even so, the boy marched in proudly on his own two feet. Watching the child’s silver hair—so much like his mother’s—Terian smiled gently.

He slowly approached and lifted the child into his arms in one smooth motion, hoping to ease Rui’s anxiety, even a little.

“You were so brave, Rui. Not a single tear.”

“Papa…”

Once safely nestled in his father’s arms, Rui’s tense face began to relax. Terian gently smoothed the boy’s neatly combed hair. The overwhelming sense of fulfillment he felt from this child who resembled him so deeply was beyond words.

Indeed, this was the perfect time to name Rui as Crown Prince.

With Larié officially crowned as Empress, their son was naturally acknowledged as the rightful heir. Though this meant Rui’s position was now secure, Terian still felt something was missing.

So, he resolved to proceed with the coronation immediately. Some had suggested waiting, given Rui’s young age, but Terian dismissed them. Why delay something inevitable? There was no need to postpone.

“Shall we go, darling?”

“Yes, Your Majesty. Rui, it’s nothing scary, so don’t worry, love.”

“Mm…”

Terian set Rui back on the ground. Though he longed to carry him the whole way, he held himself back. Today marked Rui’s first official appearance—it was important he stood on his own.

Though he might have whined under normal circumstances, Rui gripped Larié’s hand firmly and stood straight.

“His Majesty the Emperor and Her Majesty the Empress arrive!”

At Terian’s signal, the attendant’s voice rang out loud and clear. A massive door opened before them—one that connected the royal waiting chamber to the Hall of Glory.

The three of them began to walk slowly down the corridor flanked by neatly lined-up attendants.

Inside the Hall of Glory, nobles had already gathered, waiting for their entrance.

“We greet the master of the radiant lake.”

“We greet the Forest of the Empire.”

The Crown Prince’s investiture ceremony was held in a small chamber, limited in space. Therefore, unlike the Empress’s investiture, only a few influential nobles could attend.

The main purpose of the ceremony was to prove the bloodline using the Proof of Divinity before them. Although the number of attendees was small, it was considered the most important ritual. As it was the crown prince’s first official appearance, nobles considered attending it a great honor.

However, the nobles’ sentiments meant little to Terian. His gaze was fixed solely on Larié beside him, carefully watching her expression with concern.

It was in this very Hall of Glory that Larié had discovered she was not Tromperie’s biological child.

Terian vividly remembered the green eyes that had lost their light that day.

“Your Majesty.”

Perhaps sensing his worried gaze, Larié’s slender hand lightly took his arm and let go.

“I’m all right.”

Their eyes met, her green gaze unwavering.

Only then did Terian feel truly at ease—knowing she had overcome that moment of despair.

The three of them stood together at the head of the Hall of Glory. Beside them stood a small table, about the height of Rui.

“We shall now commence the Crown Prince’s investiture. Chamberlain, the Proof of Divinity.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

The chamberlain signaled behind him. From a different corridor than the one they had entered, a servant walked in slowly, holding the Proof of Divinity.

At the sight of the divine artifact, Larié’s body stiffened slightly. The room and the artifact brought back old memories.

But she soon straightened her posture with composure. She even had the presence of mind to gaze calmly at the approaching artifact.

The small warmth of the child’s hand in hers gave her strength to stand tall.

“……”

And the gaze of Terian, watching her with concern, healed her.

Their eyes met once more. This time, smiles spread on both faces without anyone prompting. Larié gave a slight glance that said she was fine, then forced herself to fix her gaze on the Proof of Divinity.

Even now, whenever their eyes met, her ears still tingled.

Still, even the lingering tension vanished completely because of it.

“To prove the legitimacy granted by the divine to the two of you, we ask your permission.”

“Permission granted.”

The attendant, tense with nerves, spoke according to the procedure. Terian stepped forward and responded.

“Our Rui, don’t be scared. Let’s stand right here.”

“Mm.”

Larié placed Rui beside Terian. Though it would have been understandable for the child to feel intimidated by the countless eyes on him, Rui stood composed.

“First, we offer His Majesty’s sacred blood to the divine.”

When the golden needle was presented, Terian held out his hand.

A drop of blood from his fingertip was placed into one side of the divine artifact.

“Now we offer the sacred bloodline to be proven before the divine.”

The attendant approached Rui, lifting the needle. Though Rui had stood calmly, the moment he saw the needle, he clutched his stuffed toy tightly in fear.

Then Terian stepped in.

“I’ll do it.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

The attendant hesitated briefly, then bowed and handed over the needle.

It was rare for a child this young to be appointed crown prince. Considering that, the attendant accepted the procedural change without issue.

“Rui.”

“Mm…”

Terian carefully moved in front of the child and knelt to meet his eyes.

As the Emperor lowered his body, the nobles urgently dropped to one knee as well.

“It’ll just sting a little.”

He didn’t feel at ease placing the needle to such a delicate, mimosa-like hand. Even though he moved quickly and caused almost no pain, it still weighed on him.

He stared solemnly at the drop of blood forming on Rui’s fingertip. It felt as though he were drawing blood from his own heart.

“This should be enough, right?”

“Yes, Your Majesty. This way, please…”

Rui climbed the steps beside the table and firmly pressed his fingertip to the opposite side of the Proof of Divinity. They had explained the process to him several times in advance, but his composed behavior was still quite admirable.

As the nobles stood once more, following the emperor’s lead, they watched the little crown prince’s confident actions with curious wonder.

“Papa…”

Perhaps believing his task was done, Rui whimpered a little and grabbed Terian’s robes with the hand that hadn’t been pricked.

Larié was just about to step in to tend to him when Terian, who had been focused entirely on Rui ever since the boy tugged his robes, lifted him into his arms.

“Well done.”

Once nestled in his father’s broad embrace, Rui visibly relaxed.

Resting his cheek happily against Terian’s neck, the child then stretched out his little index finger as if deliberately showing it off.

“It huwted.”

At his adorable pout, Terian broke into a bright smile. So did Larié, watching fondly from behind.

Ever since his speech had begun to develop, Rui had spared no effort in showing just how lovable he could be.

Normally, Terian would have set him back down, but this time he disregarded protocol. The boy’s well-being was far more important.

“Oh no, it hurt? Let me see.”

Beside them, the Proof of Divinity began to emit a radiant light. The pure white glow, like a roaring flame, steadily grew in size.

Usually, all eyes would be on that sacred light. But neither Larié nor Terian paid it any mind.

“Bring a potion.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“I have a handkerchief here.”

“Thank you, my lady.”

Everyone—except the nobles—bustled about, concerned over the small wound on the child’s finger.

The nobles, who had been anxiously fixated on the Proof of Divinity, turned to the emperor in confusion.

“Daddy will make it all better.”

“Mhm!”

Terian’s face, usually so cold and stern, now glowed with a warmth like spring sunlight as he gently wiped his son’s finger with potion.

The nobles, drawn by that unfamiliar gentleness, found their eyes naturally following his to the boy in his arms.

“I hereby declare that the two before us are a rightful bloodline, recognized by the Divine!”

The chamber rang with the clear proclamation of the attendant in charge of the Proof. The nobles snapped out of their daze and hastily turned their attention back to the sacred object.

The Proof of Divinity shone brighter than ever—its glow a brilliant, unwavering blue.

“It’s done.”

Terian’s calm murmur settled into the hall with a renewed gravity. The nobles straightened their posture, watching the emperor—still cradling the child—closely.

The resemblance between the two was unmistakable. Some nobles thought to themselves that even without the divine proof, there would have been no room for doubt.

A child who had inherited Larié’s mystical silver hair and Terian’s striking features.

More than the blood of an emperor and a hero—he was a sacred prince, blessed by divine land and lake.

Most nobles here were seeing Rui for the first time. But even so, they could feel it, instinctively.

This child would grow to hold the greatest power since the founding monarch.

“We greet His Highness, the Crown Prince!”

And so, the divine verification concluded without a single challenge.

— ❖ ❖ ❖ —

After the Proof of Divinity was returned to the royal treasury, the palace held a banquet in celebration of the crown prince’s investiture.

The guest of honor, however, had grown tired during the ceremony and promptly dozed off.

“Are you sure Rui doesn’t need to come out?”

The banquet was already underway. Seated beside Terian near the imperial throne, Larié turned to him and asked gently.

At her question, Terian met her eyes with gentle warmth.

“It’s alright. The banquet will go on for several days—Rui can make an appearance when he’s feeling up to it.”

Larié, too, had been surprised. Despite the Crown Prince’s absence, none of the nobles seemed to mind. Instead, they were all caught up in recounting the details of the divine verification, reliving the moment and subtly jockeying for influence by describing their presence at the event.

Likely, several factors contributed to this calm. For one, Rui was still very young.