The sky was crystal clear, without a single cloud, and the morning sunlight shone brightly.

On this rare occasion, the square in front of the Imperial Palace, which was only opened a few times a year, was accessible to the public.

Those who had been waiting since dawn began entering the square one by one, greeting the knights and soldiers stationed around them with bright smiles.

The knights, who usually only nodded solemnly, and even the soldiers, who sometimes intentionally wore stern expressions, responded with faint smiles.

“Mom, will we be able to see His Majesty the Emperor today?”

“Yes. Now that the coronation is over, he’ll be coming out soon.”

The mother answered with the same eager expression as her child. Just as she said, a simple coronation ceremony was concluding within the palace.

Historically, each emperor’s coronation varied slightly in form, but it always took at least two hours.

However, Aiger’s coronation lasted only twenty minutes.

“Is this really okay…?”

The aide—now promoted to chamberlain—muttered, still unable to let go of his lingering doubts.

“It was His Majesty’s wish, and all the necessary procedures were followed. There’s no issue.”

Theron patted the chamberlain’s shoulder reassuringly and added,

“And we can’t exactly hold the coronation twice.”

“Aha! We could hold it twice! I should start researching if there are any precedents—”

Theron, momentarily speechless at his overreaction, was further taken aback when the head of the noble faction, who had been listening nearby, burst into laughter.

“That’s not a bad idea. Alright, I’ll lend a hand too.”

“Even if this is a joyous occasion, holding the ceremony twice would be excessive. Let’s drop the idea.”

The marquis, no longer part of a “faction” now that Aiger had become emperor, spoke in his usual strict tone, attempting to put an end to the discussion.

Yet, the topic of the coronation continued to be the subject of lively conversation among those gathered.

Meanwhile, the man of the hour, Aiger, made no effort to hide how badly he wanted to strip off his ceremonial coronation robes. He fidgeted with the heavy cloak’s clasp, clearly annoyed by its cumbersome weight.

At that moment, pale, slender fingers tapped lightly on the back of his hand.

“Just bear with it a little longer. Once the speech is over, you can take it off.”

“Aren’t you uncomfortable?”

“Of course, I am. But clothes like these hold symbolic meaning.”

Raylin glanced down at her own breathtakingly ornate dress and smiled faintly.

“And besides, I like seeing you dressed so properly in formal attire. You look handsome.”

No sooner had she finished speaking than Aiger turned to a waiting attendant and ordered,

“Make more outfits like this. I don’t care how many, just as many as possible.”

Raylin, blinking at his sudden urgency, couldn’t help but burst into laughter.

“Do you want to look good in my eyes that much?”

Aiger responded by lowering his lips to the back of her hand.

“Far more desperately than you think.”

At his low, flowing voice, Raylin could no longer maintain her shameless composure and let out a sigh, her cheeks flushing red. Aiger chuckled softly and left light kisses from her forehead to the corner of her eye and then to her cheek.

Knock, knock.

“It is time for you to depart.”

At the chamberlain’s call, the two exchanged a light kiss, then held hands and stepped forward together.

“His Majesty the Emperor and Her Majesty the Empress are emerging!”

At the booming announcement that echoed through the square, the gathered crowd craned their necks, eyes fixed on the palace balcony.

A child, seated on their father’s shoulders to be pacified, was the first to catch sight of the emperor and empress, and gasped in awe.

“Wow.”

Soon after, countless others joined in admiration, cheering and clapping for the new emperor and empress.

Standing on the balcony, Aiger waved to the crowd, and at his signal, trumpets blared.

At the cue, those who had been whistling and cheering fell silent, applause fading away. Even the faint murmurs and occasional coughs ceased, and a profound hush settled over the square.

Aiger slowly scanned the faces turned solely toward him. He saw parents holding their child’s hands, children accompanying their elderly parents, lovers standing shoulder to shoulder, and groups of friends gathered with similar expressions.

So many people, connected in different ways, standing together.

Turning his gaze, Aiger looked at Raylin, who stood beside him, facing the same direction. Feeling his gaze, she met his eyes with a soft smile.

At last, Aiger shifted his attention back to the crowd gathered in front of the palace.

In the front row, he spotted Theron and Roir, Arian and Kertan, as well as his advisors and subordinates—those who had risked everything to support him on this journey.

Some couldn’t hide their joy, their lips twitching into smiles. Others, perhaps uncomfortable with such a formal occasion, struggled to maintain composure. A few bore solemn expressions, their lips pressed tightly together.

Aiger captured each and every one of them in his deep blue eyes.

And beyond them, he saw the people he must lead, support, and bear responsibility for.

They were all waiting, holding their breath, for him to speak.

The previous emperor had seized the throne by slaughtering his own siblings and eventually imprisoning and starving his predecessor to death.

Thus, the bloodstained throne had been drenched once again in the blood of a beast that could never be called a father.

As they awaited the new emperor’s first address, the onlookers speculated.

“His Majesty is renowned for his military prowess. Do you think he will declare an ambition to conquer the continent?”

“What nonsense! Haven’t you heard? His Majesty played a role in opening trade with nations that had severed ties with the empire, securing the fastest and largest trade ships in history. He will make our empire the wealthiest it has ever been!”

A strong and prosperous nation.

A goal any ruler would naturally pursue. Even those debating the emperor’s intentions turned their ears to hear his first words.

Finally, Aiger raised a hand and began to speak.

“Life is brilliant because we are destined to die.”

His opening words were entirely unexpected.

Unlike past emperors, who used their inaugural addresses to outline their vision for the empire or how they wished to be remembered in history, Aiger’s words took an entirely different path.

The chamberlain—who had spent two sleepless nights analyzing past coronation speeches and painstakingly drafting one for Aiger, only for it to be left behind—stared blankly, as if his world had ended. His assistant patted him on the arm in sympathy.

Aiger continued, addressing the crowd, who murmured in confusion and astonishment.

“Life is precious because we are destined to die.”

At those words, Theron instinctively sought out Julia among the gathered crowd, locking eyes with her. Others, too, turned their thoughts to the people beside them—or to those who were absent, yet forever held in their hearts.

“So live. Live fiercely until the very end.”

Kertan clenched his fist so tightly that the veins on the back of his hand bulged.

He could not claim to have lived more fiercely than anyone else here, but his life had been nothing if not relentless.

In the past, in the present, and in the future—he would live fiercely.

Aiger slowly, but with firm resolve, clenched his raised hand into a fist and struck it against his chest.

“Not for the empire! But for yourselves and for those you hold dear.”

With that final declaration, he fell silent. A brief moment of stillness followed.

Then, an explosion of cheers erupted, shaking the entire square and even trembling the ground beneath them.

Later, in the annals of the empire, this speech would be recorded as the most memorable coronation address in history—one that left the deepest resonance among its people.

***

The night sky was as clear and pristine as the bright sky of the day.

Raylin, gazing up at the starry expanse while embracing the cool night air, felt a familiar warmth envelop her from behind.

“Are you really going to hold the coronation a second time? Calling dignitaries from across the continent—it’s quite a grand affair.”

The chamberlain had relentlessly argued for a second coronation, citing numerous historical precedents and justifications.

Aiger, pressing his lips against the pale nape of her neck, which gleamed under the moonlight, chuckled.

“As if.”

“Oh dear, I suppose the chamberlain’s pillow will be soaked with tears again tonight.”

Feeling the vibrations of Aiger’s laughter against her throat, Raylin joined in, and Aiger offered no further reply.

The fact that the chamberlain would soon be busier collecting materials for what would be the largest wedding in history rather than a second coronation would only become known after today.

Holding her from behind, he stretched out his arm to close the window and draw the curtains.

In the dimly lit room, Aiger turned Raylin around, pressed his forehead against hers, and rubbed the tip of his nose against hers as he asked,

“Are you putting me to sleep again tonight?”

“You said you couldn’t sleep alone, so I have no choice.”

“Right. In that case…”

Even as her field of vision suddenly shifted upward, Raylin did not flinch. Wrapping her arms around his neck, she soon found herself lying down with Aiger, whispering,

“Have sweet dreams.”

“It will be a dream with you in it.”

“In that case, let’s meet in our dreams.”

Raylin chuckled, but at his next words, her laughter was cut short as her face turned red all the way down to her neck.

“If it’s a dream, then I can do other things with you in bed.”

“Just go to sleep!”

It was a clear night, as if the stars might spill over at any moment.

~The end of The Female Protagonist Killed the Male Protagonist.~