Chapter 119
Arendtert was covered in mud. Grizelle and the captain of his knight order standing beside him were also smeared from head to toe with foul smelling mud.
“What in the world…”
Sylaria couldn’t tear her eyes away from Arendtert. She had seen him in many states, but never such a completely wrecked appearance.
Arendtert had always been an elegant, flowerlike prince. He had always maintained the facade of nobility in his appearance, never allowing even a speck of dust to cling to him. He was excessively fastidious to the point of obsession.
‘What in the world happened?’
Sylaria furrowed her brows. From the moment Euclid had laughed while saying something had happened to him, she had sensed something unusual. But this was beyond anything she had imagined.
First, it was shocking enough that Arendtert was in such a filthy state. Second, it was even more shocking that he had come here without washing at all.
What could have happened for Arendtert to stand before people like this? And not just anyone, but in the audience chamber, before the Emperor?
“The Crown Prince has arrived.”
Sylaria, still bewildered, snapped back to her senses at the Emperor’s voice. She bowed with Euclid.
The Emperor looked at them with a pleased smile. The High Priest and members of the Noble Council gathered in the audience chamber also wore gentle expressions at the sight of the new Crown Prince and his consort.
Only Cressida, seated beside the Emperor, was different.
There was no color in her face. Even though Euclid and Sylaria had arrived, she did not look at them. She was glaring at Arendtert as if she might kill him.
Cressida, who adored her son to a frightening degree, was this furious. Sylaria’s curiosity grew even more.
“I, Euclid Balthazar, present myself before Your Majesty the Emperor.”
“Come closer.”
At the Emperor’s call, Euclid stepped toward the dais. When he knelt on one knee, the Emperor rose while holding the imperial sword. He lightly touched both of Euclid’s shoulders with the blade and spoke solemnly.
“I, Ronillo Balthazar the Third, hereby appoint Euclid Balthazar, the First Prince, as the new Crown Prince of the Davoud Empire.”
At the Emperor’s proclamation, everyone except Cressida and Arendtert’s people applauded. After the Emperor declared the new Crown Prince, a scribe approached and presented the edict. Following the Emperor, Euclid signed with reverent composure.
Once the procedure ended, the High Priest placed the crown upon his head.
“Congratulations, Your Highness the Crown Prince.”
“Thank you, Linder.”
Euclid gave the High Priest a brief reply, then stood beside the Emperor. Sylaria watched the newly crowned Crown Prince with a swelling heart.
When she had first vowed to support Euclid as Crown Prince, it had felt like a distant and difficult road.
Because she understood the greed and obsession of the Empress and Arendtert. They were the type who harmed others without hesitation in order to get what they wanted.
That was why Sylaria, too, had been prepared to become cruel like a demon in order to crush the demonic pair. But fortunately, they became each other’s downfall on their own.
Because of that, Sylaria was able to make Euclid the Crown Prince without staining herself with the same sins.
‘The future has finally changed completely.’
Sylaria clenched both hands tightly. In her previous life, the First Prince had wandered outside the palace. In this life, he became her chosen partner and rose to the position of Crown Prince.
Their beginning hadn’t been so different from her previous life, as it started with a union for purification. But Euclid was entirely different from Arendtert.
He was sincere. He did not deceive. Every moment of his life was desperate, and because of that, he understood the desperation of others. That was why he willingly took Sylaria’s hand.
“I love you, Sylaria.”
Euclid approached Sylaria and whispered sweetly. He kissed her cheek with tenderness, then placed the crown he had been wearing onto her head.
“This is your victory.”
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