The Abandoned Empress

It was the first day of the ninth month of 964 by the imperial calendar.

Finally, the official ceremony for the new knights, which I had been longing for so much, took place. Those due to be appointed as the full-fledged knights were ranked within the 200th of those who scored more than 280 out of 400 points on the test.

Although there were fewer people selected than everybody thought, those who took the test seemed to understand the situation after hearing that the government could not select those who didn’t meet the minimum standards. Nonetheless, those selected numbered a lot more compared to the past when a dozen people were chosen at most.

When I soaked in warm water, I felt relaxed after a long time. Before attending the ceremony, the prospective knights were supposed to wash themselves to reflect on their lives. They were not allowed to be helped by anybody while washing, so I had no choice but to wash my body alone.

When I washed my hair clumsily and wrapped it with a towel, there was a steady drip of water from my hair.

Oops, is this not the right way to do it?

Although I rubbed my hair with a towel for a long time, water drops kept falling from my hair that was full of moisture. As I didn’t know what to do, I put on clothes and came out of the bathroom.

Inside a small room was a young man dressed in a uniform. His red hair, which was always a little dishevelled, was neat and tidy today. His uniform, which always seemed sloppy, was in flawless condition.

When I hesitated for a moment because I was kind of awkward, he looked back at me and said with a smile.

“Hi, Tia.”

“…Hi, Sein. It’s been a while. Are you my guide today?”

I asked hesitantly.

Why has he been selected as my guide? He is not in the same knights division as mine.

A guide was traditionally assigned to anyone to be appointed as a full-fledged knight. It was customary for an immediate supervisor or someone who was close to the new knight to be his or her guide, so he could help him or her prepare for the inauguration ceremony and attend it together. So, I thought someone from the 2nd Knights Division would be my guide because my father couldn’t come because he was busy.

Carsein smiled at me when I looked at him with a puzzled expression and said, “Your father has asked to be your guide.”

“…Really?”

“Yes, Tia.”

“I see.”

Come to think of it, my father and Carsein were on good terms. I forgot it because Carsein rarely came to my home recently.

When I nodded lightly, he said, turning his mouth up slightly, “Congratulations, Tia. Now you are a full-fledged knight.”

“… Thanks.”

“Hmm, even though you are now a full-fledged knight, don’t forget I’m your senior, okay? Whew! It was a close call, man. I almost lost my record as the youngest knight to you.”

In fact, I was worried about him since I argued with him over his father’s betrayal, but I felt relieved to know he was cracking jokes about me as usual. I felt heavy when I thought I hurt my precious friend, although I acted like that because I didn’t want him to become a scapegoat.

“Hey, you seemed to be indifferent to me, but you actually cared for me, right?”

When I said that mischievously, Carsein clenched his fist and pretended to hit my head.

“Little girl, are you kidding me? Are you going to challenge me already because you’ve become a full-fledged knight?”

“What the heck are you talking about?”

“Oh, that’s good. Come here and sit down. You have to hurry up.”

He pulled me and sat me in front of the mirror. He took a dry towel and covered my head.

Then he said, pressing my shoulder lightly, “Oh my… It’s all wet here. That’s why I can’t leave you alone.”

With the towel wrapped around my head, he began to gently brush my wet hair.

When I was trying to stop him because I was embarrassed, I suddenly saw him in the mirror. His subdued eyes and tightly closed lips. It seemed to be my first time seeing him so seriously focused on something except when he held a sword.

I felt like I shouldn’t be disturbing him for some reason, so I quietly put down my hand when I was about to stop him.

How much time passed?

He grabbed my dried hair and tied it into a knot. He said, dusting off my jacket, “You know how the ceremony is being held, right?”

“Huh. I heard something about it from my father. ”

“Okay, then. Do you know that the higher your position is, the later you pledge? Your turn is the last. So, if you don’t remember anything you can ask the person right in front of you. ”

“Got it. Thanks.”

“Now, let’s go. ”

When I arrived at the inauguration site, I saw some knights standing in line. Given that they already gathered there even though there was some time left for the ceremony, it was evident that all of them were filled with high expectations.

But the emperor did not appear, no matter how long we waited. Duke Lars and my father, and even Marquis Mirwa whose title succession should be duly recognized by the emperor didn’t appear.

What happened? Did something urgent happen?

People who noticed something strange began to whisper. When the deputy captain of the knights command turned to check the situation in detail, I saw Marquis Mirwa walking from a distance. In no time, my father and Duke Lars appeared, and the protocol officer announced the arrival of the emperor. I couldn’t figure out what it was, but I felt relieved.

When the emperor was seated on the platform, the royal knights dressed in white uniforms surrounded him.

I bowed slightly to Marquis Mirwa who already approached me to say hello. He seemed to know why he was late, but I couldn’t ask because the ceremony started immediately.

Everyone knelt down before the platform, starting with the first one to step forward for a pledge. Unlike they did at the inauguration ceremony for Carsein and his fellows last time, this time the guides, not the attendant maids, approached their assigned knights. Carsein, who carefully attached the shoulder straps on my shoulders, wrapped me with a cloak embroidered with a golden lion.

The emperor rose from his seat, confirming that the guides stepped back after they were done. The knight kneeling down in front of him who descended from the platform said, pulling out the sword and erecting it before him, “It is our Lord Vita who gave us life, but it is His Excellency the Emperor who we have to devote our lives to. We give you the blood that flows through our body and the flesh that makes up our body, so take us as you wish. Loyalty to the Lion!”

“Glory to the empire, and honor to you!”

The emperor who was holding a ceremonial sword made of rubies, symbolizing the blood to be given to the empire, patted the knight’s shoulders three times. When the knight who finished the pledge lifted his hem and kissed it lightly, then moved back three steps, the second knight came forward. And next, then next.

After they were done pledging one by one, it was my turn finally.

When I saw him standing a few steps in front of me, I suddenly became nervous. I felt my heart beating fast and my fingers and toes became cold.

Only

After taking a big breath, I approached him by moving my stiff legs. Then, I knelt slowly and bowed to him. He seemed to frown his straight eyebrows slightly, but I wasn’t sure.

“Loyalty to the Lion! It is our Lord Vita who gave us life, but it is His Excellency the Emperor who we have to devote our lives to. We give you the blood that flows through our body and the flesh that makes up our body, so take us as you wish.”

I saw the tip of my sword slightly shaking.

I couldn’t look around because I lowered my head, but I could feel people around me were turning their eyes at me and the emperor. Definitely they must have felt it very strange that the emperor’s ex-fiancee pledged allegiance as his vassal.

“… Glory to the empire and honor to you!”

Replying with a calm voice, he slowly lifted the ceremonial sword and tapped my shoulder.

I was supposed to do a kiss of the pledge next, but he pulled me up, lifting the hem of his robe instead of allowing me to kiss it. I put my hand on my heart beating fast and opened my mouth with the calmest expression possible, “Your Majesty.”

“… ”