The Cold-Hearted Grand Duke Obsesses Over Me After My Death - Chapter 107

Chapter 107. Becoming the Crown Princess (1)

That day, the person who danced with Louid the longest was herself. Yet she was unharmed while the other young ladies were injured.

It felt too unsettling to simply dismiss it as a coincidence.

***

“How did it go?”

In the living room of the marquess’s residence, Lina and Jack were talking.

“It’s been taken care of as you ordered.”

“Good. You did well.”

A satisfied smile appeared on Lina’s face.

“Spread the rumor quietly that it was the Grand Duchess’s doing.”

“Yes, understood.”

‘I don’t leave alone anyone who covets my man.’

Since she wasn’t directly touching Emilia, Prince Ian wouldn’t say anything.

At first, she had thought of bribing the Grand Duke’s head chef and putting poison in a cake Emilia liked, but she gave up that plan because of Ian. She also wasn’t sure whether Jack could even bribe the chef.

‘If I become a lady-in-waiting, I’ll be able to see Louid often.’

Soon, she was set to become Emilia’s lady-in-waiting. She was overjoyed that everything seemed to be proceeding exactly as she planned.

***

Fifteen days later, the investiture ceremony was held at the Grand Temple of the Richert Empire. Since the schedule was tight, only the nobles of the Richert Empire and envoys from nearby kingdoms attended. In the audience were Asher, Ian, and Lina as well.

On the morning of the ceremony, Emilia was busy putting on her dress and getting ready. The maids dressed her in an elegant pearl-colored gown, twisted her long blonde hair up into a single coil, and adorned her with a diamond necklace and earrings that had been passed down through the imperial family.

As it was almost time to leave for the imperial palace after finishing her preparations, Louid came to Emilia’s room. His black hair was neatly brushed back, and he wore the uniform of the Richert Imperial Army.

“Emilia, are you ready?”

Louid, who had been standing at the door and staring at her for a while, spoke.

“Yes.”

“Let’s go.”

Louid strode over and held out his hand to her. It was large and, for some reason, gave her a sense of stability. Emilia took his hand and slowly walked down the stairs.

In front of the main building, a carriage decorated with jewels was waiting. It was a carriage sent from the imperial palace.

“Your Highness the Crown Prince, Your Highness the Crown Princess. Congratulations.”

The head butler Kevin, the head chef, the head maid, and all the servants came out to congratulate the two as they headed to the ceremony. The knights, along with Eddie and Helen, were to accompany them to the Grand Temple.

After waving to the servants, the two boarded the carriage. After the ceremony, they would be staying at the Crown Prince’s palace, so they wouldn’t be able to return to the manor often.

As the carriage set off, Emilia took in the sight of the manor growing distant.

‘Goodbye. I’ll miss you.’

She would miss the fields and the river behind the manor, the grand garden, the greenhouse she loved, and even the frog that lived there. Though she had lived there only for a few months, she had grown deeply attached to the manor and its people.

It’s already the second farewell.

Just like when she left the grand ducal castle, leaving the manor also made her heart ache as if she were parting with an old friend.

‘Why does she look so sad?’

Louid was carefully watching Emilia’s expression from across from her. It was a happy day, and there was no reason for her to be sad, yet her face looked very dark.

“Emilia, even if we live in the imperial palace, you can come to the manor whenever you want. You can come with me,” he said. Being at the imperial palace didn’t mean they couldn’t go out. As long as security was strict, they could go anywhere they wanted.

“Yes, I know.”

For the first time that day, Emilia smiled. But to him, it looked like a forced smile, which left him uneasy.

“It’s autumn now.”

Emilia changed the subject as she looked out the carriage window.

“It is.”

Louid’s gaze remained fixed on Emilia.

In the Richert Empire, while not as grand as the Emperor’s coronation, the investiture ceremony for the Crown Prince or Imperial Prince was still held in splendid fashion. The carriage they rode was pulled by six horses, and mounted guards followed both in front and behind.

“I’m nervous. What if I make a mistake?”

Emilia turned her head toward him and spoke with a worried expression.

“Don’t worry. You’ll do well.”

Louid reached out and firmly held her hand. Emilia did not refuse his touch.

As they neared the imperial palace, the citizens of the empire who had been waiting along the road for the carriage carrying the Crown Prince couple cheered and waved their hands. Louid and Emilia also waved back at them.

After a while, the carriage arrived in front of a grand and magnificent stone building. It was the Grand Temple of the Richert Empire.

“We’ve arrived. Let’s get down.”

“Yes.”

After stepping out of the carriage, Emilia looked up at the Grand Temple. It was a magnificent and splendid structure, as if every architectural technique of the continent had been poured into it.

‘I held my wedding here.’

She and Louid had held their wedding ceremony at the Grand Temple. But at the time, she had been so out of it that she didn’t even remember what the building looked like. Yet now she was here again. It was hard to believe that she had held her wedding and was now attending the investiture ceremony for the Crown Prince in such a grand and magnificent place.

“Let’s go inside,” Louid said as he linked arms with her.

“Yes.”

The two walked up the stairs and entered the temple waiting room amid the enthusiastic cheers and applause of the citizens.

Dong, dong

As the bell rang to signal the start of the ceremony, the Emperor and the High Priest entered the temple with solemn expressions. As the Emperor entered, everyone in the audience stood up from their seats.

The Emperor walked down the aisle and sat on the chair prepared at the highest seat. Then the invited guests also sat back down.

“From this moment, the investiture ceremony of His Highness the Crown Prince and Her Highness the Crown Princess will begin.”

The High Priest standing on the platform announced the start of the ceremony in a solemn voice.

As sacred music filled the air, Louid walked down the long aisle of the Grand Temple. Shortly after, Emilia followed behind him with a tense expression. Priests with solemn faces walked together in front of and behind them.

When the two reached the end of the aisle, they bowed toward the altar and the Emperor. Then they stepped onto the platform prepared below where the Emperor sat and took their seats side by side on the elaborately decorated chairs.

Throughout the ceremony, the Emperor sat with a pleased expression, while Duke Berthe, seated at the very front of the distinguished guests, watched with a complicated look. On the other side, the Marquess of Carrion and Lina were glaring sharply at Emilia.

Ian was also seated among the invited guests as a representative of the Kingdom of Billiot. Until the ceremony ended, his gaze was fixed solely on Emilia.

“Louid Richert, Grand Duke of the Richert Empire, swears before the gods to become a subject of His Majesty the Emperor and to faithfully fulfill the duties of the Crown Prince.”

At the end of the ceremony, Louid knelt on one knee before the Emperor and made his oath of loyalty.

“I, following the will of the great goddess Herr, hereby appoint Louid Richert as the Crown Prince of the Richert Empire.”

As the Emperor placed his hand on Louid’s head and made the declaration, cheers and applause resounded throughout the Grand Temple.

When the Emperor’s declaration ended, the High Priest placed a splendid crown studded with jewels on Louid’s head. A magnificent crown, passed down through generations, was also placed on Emilia’s head.

The two had, in both name and reality, become the Crown Prince and Crown Princess of the Richert Empire.

After the investiture ceremony ended, when they stepped out to the entrance of the temple, nobles and representatives from various countries stood in line to offer their congratulations.

“Congratulations, Your Highness the Crown Prince, Your Highness the Crown Princess.”

“Thank you.”

As the attendees’ greetings continued endlessly, the two had to stand at the temple entrance for a long time.

“On behalf of the Kingdom of Billiot, I offer my congratulations to you both.”

Ian, who greeted them last among the representatives of the kingdoms, kissed the back of Emilia’s hand. When he didn’t let go for a long time, Emilia lightly pulled her hand away. Louid, who was watching from beside her, hardened his expression.

After that, once they finished exchanging greetings with each of the nobles of the Richert Empire, the two boarded a carriage and headed to the Crown Prince’s palace.

The citizens of the empire, who had been waiting outside the Grand Temple for the Crown Prince couple, welcomed them with cheers. The two also waved back at the citizens in response.

***

“Your Majesty, it is time for you to return to the imperial palace.”

Duke Berthe approached the Emperor, who had not yet left the Grand Temple.

“Isn’t it truly beautiful?”

The Emperor said with a pleased expression as he looked around at the altar and murals of the Grand Temple.

“…What do you mean?” The duke tilted his head, unable to understand the Emperor’s words. It wasn’t as if he had seen the Grand Temple for the first time, so there was no reason to call it particularly beautiful.

“I mean that I am pleased to think that my younger brother and Emilia will one day become the Emperor and Empress. I feel less sorry toward the late Dennis, and I have nothing more to wish for. The bloodline of mine, of which only two remain in this world, will continue, so I hope you will now stop hating Louid and support the two of them well.”

“Yes, I will do so, Your Majesty.”

Duke Berthe bowed his head and answered politely. But his expression was stiff, as if he were angry.

‘There was one more of Your Majesty’s nephew.’

He clenched his jaw so hard that his teeth ached as he suppressed the words that nearly slipped out.

***

The Crown Prince’s palace was far larger and more splendid than the imperial prince’s palace where Louid had lived as a child. After getting out of the carriage, Louid escorted Emilia to the bedroom on the third floor of the Crown Prince’s palace.

“You did well today, Emilia.”

“You too.”

“Then get some rest now.”

“Yes.”

After speaking, Louid hesitated instead of leaving the bedroom right away. It was the first time he had hesitated in front of her.

“It’ll be difficult since it’s your first time living in the palace, so I’ll try to come earlier. Your health isn’t good either.”

For the past fifteen days, Emilia had always gone to bed earlier than him, using the excuse that she wasn’t feeling well.

“I’m fine. Work comes first. Take your time.”

Emilia answered with a small shrug. At her response, Louid’s expression turned cold.