Chapter 22: Dreams and Thrones

“Good morning, my lord husband!”

“Good morning, Bisus.”

Stepping out of his room, Bisus was greeted by two women.

“Good morning, Master.”

And there was Naber, waiting nearby.

“I’ll carry your bag.”

Naber had already picked up Bisus’s bag.

“If you have any tasks, just say the word. I’ll handle everything.”

…I wanted Naber as an ally, but I didn’t expect this level of devotion.

Murmur murmur

“Making Naber Schreig carry his bag?”

“That guy’s known for his pride!”

“What kind of trick did he use?”

“Does he have some legendary hypnosis magic or something?”

Naber’s fame drew the academy students’ attention.

The presence of the saintess and the republic’s princess only amplified their scrutiny.

This is too much attention.

Let’s get out of here.

“Let’s go,” Bisus urged, leading the group toward the lecture hall.

“It was a completely different dream?”

“Yeah. I’m not even sure it happened on this continent.”

…Or maybe not.

The dream of being an angel fighting demons and the one of being a hero defeating the Demon King’s army felt even more alien.

Both of those didn’t seem like they happened here either.

“…This won’t do.”

Artoria, anxious, bit her nails.

“Who’s this Bel girl?”

“Uh, Artoria?”

“That barbaric woman is annoying enough, and now some random girl is trying to butt in? Why am I the only one not in your dreams?”

“Artoria.”

“Why me, why me…shouted.”

“Artoria!”

Bisus shouted her name, snapping her out of her muttering.

“Huh? Yes?”

“What’s wrong with you?”

“Your fingers!”

Artoria looked down at her hand.

Her once pretty fingers were now bloody from excessive biting.

“Oh. Hahaha… I accidentally chewed my nails too hard. Hehe, it’s a bad habit of mine.”

“Give me your hand.”

“Huh?”

Bisus grabbed her hand, making her cheeks flush.

Hum

He channeled holy power, bathing her hand in light.

New skin formed, and her hand healed completely.

“My lord husband…♡!”

See! There’s no way he’d abandon me! Healing me with his holy power proves he loves me more than that barbarian!

Artoria didn’t consider that Bisus was merely testing his holy power.

He could’ve let me heal it myself, but he used his own power. That means something, right? Hehe.

She brought the hand he’d touched to her lips.

Slurp… smack.

His warmth is still there♡.

Tch.

Sofia, watching, clicked her tongue.

This is annoying.

He’s dreaming weird dreams and giving attention to that crazy girl.

If he remembered our adventures, he’d ditch her and come to me.

And now this unknown rival, Bel.

Everything’s annoying.

…Come to think of it, there’s her too.

Princess Claudia.

She’d backed off, but it didn’t seem like she’d given up.

She might come back for Bisus later.

I need to secure him before then.

Imperial Capital, Imperial Palace

Thud

The doors burst open, and imperial knights poured in.

The emperor, discussing matters with his vassals, was startled.

“What is this outrage?! This is before His Majesty!”

A court noble stood, shouting, but—

Boom!

“Urgh…!”

A powerful gravity spell pinned him to the floor.

“Magic?!”

The vassals fell silent, stunned by the terrifying scene.

Click clack click clack

Amid the shock, Claudia entered slowly, escorted by the knights.

“…Claudia?”

The emperor stared at her in disbelief.

“Yes, Father. It’s me.”

Claudia smiled faintly, her alluring charm melting hearts.

“Is this treason?!”

“Treason… perhaps.”

She glanced around.

“If I’d failed, it would’ve been treason. But since I succeeded, wouldn’t ‘succession’ be more fitting?”

Boom

Her tone shifted, and a sudden wave of charisma overwhelmed everyone present.

The aura of the iron-blooded empress she once was captivated them all.

“…Why? I promised the throne to the child who won fairly! If you’d won the competition, the throne would’ve been yours!”

Claudia chuckled at the emperor’s desperate cry.

“A fair competition? Even though I knew you were secretly backing him?”

“…!”

“If we’d kept competing, the throne would’ve been mine anyway.”

But I’m in a hurry.

The emperor scanned the knights.

“When did you sway the imperial knights?”

“Hah. When, indeed?”

“Did you use some filthy trick?”

Most imperial knights were men, easily swayed by beauty.

Emperors had long rewarded them with women, so he assumed Claudia used her looks to win them over.

“Proud knights of the empire! Restore your loyalty, and I’ll overlook this once! It’s natural to waver. You wouldn’t betray the empire like this! Prove your loyalty now, and I’ll grant you as many beauties as you desire!”

The emperor pleaded, but the knights stood firm, unmoved.

“Really? You think they joined me for such a petty reason?”

Claudia sneered at his futile appeal.

“…What?”

Thud

The knight commander stepped forward, planting his sword into the ground.

“We, the imperial knights, have judged the current incompetent emperor to be ruining the empire. We’ve chosen to follow Her Highness, who has proven her exceptional ability and strength. This is the decision of all the imperial knights.”

Hum

Eight circles of mana rose behind Claudia, a testament to her status as a grand mage.

“…Incompetent emperor, you say.”

The emperor collapsed into his seat.

Eighth Circle.

The level of Beatrice, the academy’s chancellor, the greatest mage on the continent.

A realm so rare even a once in a century genius might not reach it, achieved at such a young age.

No wonder the knights sided with her.

I have no chance.

He didn’t suspect that Claudia was hiding one of her circles, showing only eight.

The knights dragged the defeated emperor away.

“What shall we do with the remaining vassals?” the knight commander asked Claudia.

The vassals paled at the question.

After a moment’s thought, she replied, “Leave them be.”

“Leave them, Your Highness?”

“Yes.”

They were all incompetent, sycophantic nobles who rose through flattery, just like her father.

She wanted to purge them and replace them with new blood.

But I have no right to say that, having banished him due to scheming vassals.

The empire can wait. Bisus comes first.

I’ll deal with them when he becomes chancellor.

Phew

The vassals, unaware of her thoughts, sighed in relief.

“Congratulations on ascending the throne!”

A duke, favored by the emperor for his flattery, stepped forward.

“Congratulations!”

“Long live Her Majesty Claudia!”

The vassals followed, praising her.

Their actions only solidified her resolve.

“Hasten the preparations for the coronation.”

“Yes, Your Highness!”

She had no interest in ceremonial nonsense.

But if she met him without a proper coronation, he’d surely scold her.

“Your Majesty! Even if you dislike formalities, they’re tied to the emperor’s dignity! The nation functions only when that dignity is upheld!”

Claudia recalled Bisus lecturing her in her past life.

If I’d listened to him more back then…

Would the outcome have been different?

…No.

That’s meaningless now.

Bisus had lost his memories of her.

Even if she wronged him, he didn’t remember.

I can atone.

Once the coronation was complete and she held full imperial power, she’d go to him.

My precious Bisus.