The Obsessive Male Lead Is Obsessed With Me! - Chapter 163

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Episode 163

The nobles who had been seated in their respective places rose to their feet and bowed toward the red carpet that crossed the center of the Grand Chapel.

A moment later, the firmly closed doors began to open with a heavy resonance.

“His Majesty the Emperor and Her Majesty the Empress enter!”

The Emperor and Empress, dressed in coronation robes of luxurious pure white fabric embroidered with splendid golden thread, walked side by side into the chapel.

From shoulders to feet, they possessed the dignity and elegance befitting their positions, yet both their heads remained empty.

It was only natural.

The crowns that would rest upon their heads were shining brilliantly in front of the dais where the Pope stood, receiving multicolored light through the stained glass.

“His Majesty the Emperor and Her Majesty the Empress shall pay reverence to God.”

Led by the Emperor and Empress, all the nobles seated in the Grand Chapel bowed toward the giant statue of God.

Only the Pope, standing as God’s sole representative, placed the crown upon Lionel’s bowed head.

“In the name of God, I recognize you as Emperor of this Empire.”

The moment the crown was placed upon Lionel’s head, the stone tablet that had been shining in front of the giant statue crumbled and scattered.

“Ah…! The oracle!”

Lionel had ascended to the supreme position as God had arranged.

In the end, once again God’s ordained destiny had been fulfilled, and the nobles inwardly gasped in admiration.

Meanwhile, a crown was also placed upon Cecilia’s head.

“In the name of God, I recognize you as Empress of this Empire.”

Cecilia’s stone tablet did not exist here in this place. But even if it had been here, that tablet would not have shattered. It was not yet time.

“God will watch over the Empire’s future that Your Majesties will lead. Please prove that God’s choice was not wrong by prioritizing responsibility over power, duty over privilege, and protection over dominance.”

“I will prove it.”

“I will keep it in mind.”

The Emperor and Empress rose from their positions after completing their oath, and the Pope offered a blessing prayer for them both.

The moment that prayer ended, the giant statue of God began to emit light. Just like on the day those two had held their wedding ceremony.

-Dong.

At the same time, the sound of blessing bells rang out. The cheers of people who learned that the Emperor and Empress’s coronation had ended safely could be heard from outside the Grand Chapel.

“Congratulations on His Majesty the Emperor and Her Majesty the Empress’s ascension!”

“Congratulations!”

Countless nobles once again bowed respectfully before the newly enthroned Emperor and Empress.

Walking among them and emerging outside, the Emperor and Empress immediately boarded a carriage drawn by six horses and began their procession.

Riding in the open-topped carriage, the Emperor and Empress waved to the people who had gathered to celebrate their enthronement.

“Long live His Majesty the Emperor! Long live Her Majesty the Empress!”

Colorful flower petals and paper confetti flew through the air, and cheerful marching music echoed throughout the entire capital.

In a festival-like atmosphere, receiving congratulations from countless people, the carriage carrying the Emperor and Empress entered the Imperial Palace.

Not someone who had forged the Former Emperor’s will, not someone who had stolen another’s oracle.

Since those with proper qualifications had become Emperor and Empress, the Empire’s future would become even brighter.

Holding such expectations, the people laughed and rejoiced for days on end.

The only ones who could not rejoice were the nobles.

The nobles who had guessed the future that would befall them, that is.

* * *

The first government meeting held after the new Emperor’s enthronement.

Looking at the Emperor who had once stood by the Former Emperor’s side, then had his position usurped, and now proudly occupied the highest seat, everyone could not help but feel tense.

‘His Majesty is surely a fair and just person…’

‘He wouldn’t harbor resentment over past events and seek private revenge, would he?’

Count Keller and others who had strutted around during the Former Empress’s time were absent. They had fled early, sensing that Lionel would ascend to the throne.

Unlike them, half of the nobles who remained were those who hadn’t committed capital crimes but felt somewhat uneasy, while the other half were those who had no need to worry about Lionel’s mood.

Needless to say, the leader of the latter group was none other than Duke Roheim.

“Ahem, ahem. Hmm.”

Of course, Duke Roheim wasn’t so crude as to boast about being the Emperor’s father-in-law and swagger around demanding others curry favor with him. If anything, he was closer to someone who knew to be even more careful and considerate in his words and actions.

However, his son-in-law had become Emperor and his daughter had become Empress, moving from the cold, distant north to the nearby capital.

He could see his daughter and son-in-law’s faces whenever he wished, and next year a grandchild precious enough to not hurt even if placed in his eye would be born. How could he possibly hide such joy?

“Ahem, hmm.”

“Duke Roheim, congratulations.”

“Hm? What for? You don’t think you can gain something by flattering me just because my son-in-law became Emperor and my daughter became Empress, do you?”

“What absurd words! What I’m congratulating you on is, well… Right, I heard that the comprehensive investigation of Roheim recently concluded. That’s what I was referring to.”

“Ah, that? That’s hardly something to celebrate. Living without breaking the law so as not to shame my family is perfectly natural, isn’t it? Don’t you think so?”

“Of course, that’s right. You speak truly.”

Oh, how annoying. Really annoying.

Though he said otherwise with his mouth, anyone could see he was clearly excited about becoming the Emperor’s father-in-law.

But what could they do? Since Duke Roheim’s path ahead was clearly smooth sailing, they had no choice but to laugh heartily on the surface.

‘Hmph, let’s see how far that influence goes.’

‘You think things are good between you now? Think again! Just wait a little. I’ll definitely sow discord between you!’

No, perhaps there was no need to even wait. The current Emperor surely knew how great the wealth of the Roheim Ducal House was, and how much of a threat the people’s sentiment toward them could be to the Imperial Family.

‘Perhaps at today’s government meeting, he’ll implement policies to break the Roheim Family’s power…’

While several harbored such faint expectations, the government meeting finally began.

There were more than just one or two agenda items that had been ruined by the Former Empress and Former Emperor, or had piled up because they hadn’t been touched at all.

Thus, the government meeting that began in the morning continued until the sun rose high in the sky.

“We’ve also decided on the new lord to appoint to the Frost Duchy… Now for the final agenda item.”

The final one! At last!

Delighted that they could finally go home and rest once this was over, the nobles checked what Lionel’s final agenda item was.

“…Huh? Comprehensive investigation?”

“Excuse me, Your Majesty, who is the target of this comprehensive investigation?”

The Emperor looked over all the nobles seated in the meeting hall before speaking.

“All nobles, both those present here and those who are not.”

“Yes, yes?”

“Wh-wh-why do you speak such frightening words?”

“Do you have a reason? I mean, do you have evidence? Evidence that we committed embezzlement or such things.”

Whether such evidence existed or not, a comprehensive investigation was essentially an act of thoroughly shaking down nobles for the Emperor to find their weaknesses. As a kind of intimidation or example.

The kind of example where you single out one specific noble, shake them down thoroughly, then intimidate the others by saying, “You could end up like this too if you step out of line, so behave yourselves.”

But to conduct comprehensive investigations of all nobles, all territories. This was tantamount to saying that upon ascending the throne, he would start by grasping the weaknesses of everyone beneath him.

“Moreover, Your Majesty, comprehensive investigations require a lot of money and manpower. The Ministry of Justice and Treasury have just been newly staffed with people who haven’t even finished adapting yet, so how on earth could they handle so many nobles…”

“I will cooperate!”

Huh?

“As you all know! Wasn’t a comprehensive investigation conducted on the Roheim Duchy not long ago? And there wasn’t a single piece of evidence of crime committed in Roheim!”

Duke Roheim, who had survived with a spotlessly clean record, taunted the other nobles with an extremely excited expression.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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