Youngest on Top - Chapter 294

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 294

Saelika stared at the Emperor with an incredulous expression.
Yet the Emperor remained resolute.

“From the beginning, I marked her as my daughter-in-law, not as that fool’s match.”
“….”
“If he makes my daughter shed tears, I’ll make him weep blood.”
“….”

What was all that lengthy speech just now?
It was absurd, yet in a way, utterly befitting an Emperor.

Pat, pat.
The Emperor tapped the hand he held as if to say trust only him, then turned his gaze back to the painting.

“I believe I can paint now.”

His face bore a light, unburdened smile.
It was a statement laden with profound meaning.
Words that someone would desperately oppose.

Saelika simply nodded.

“I shall gift Your Majesty with fine brushes.”

The Emperor smiled broadly.
Upon receiving the brushes, he already knew what he wished to paint first.

* * *

The entire Empire was in turmoil.
No—nations beyond the Empire were thrown into chaos as well.
And for good reason—

“A new Emperor ascends the throne?!”

The Emperor had declared his abdication.

“Isn’t the Crown Prince still too young?”
“The current Emperor is in good health, so why?”
“Could he be suffering from some illness? Or perhaps… was he cursed during the last catastrophe—.”

All manner of rumors erupted.
For the Crown Prince, barely past his twenties, to suddenly have abdication declared was unprecedented.
The Empire, which controlled more than half the continent, wielded immense influence.
The ascension of a new Emperor was a monumental event that would shake not just the Empire’s internal affairs but the entire international order.

Yet to proclaim such a momentous decision without any warning!

“Your Majesty, abdication?”

The most bewildered were the Empire’s nobles and officials.

“What do you mean by this!”
“Please reconsider your words…!”

Yet the Emperor remained unmoved.

“Do as I command.”
“…”

The nobles faltered.
The Emperor was speaking so bluntly.

‘This is serious!’

The nobles and officials grew deeply troubled.
Especially those seated in the places of honor nearest the Emperor.

When a new Emperor ascends, organizational restructuring and power shifts inevitably follow.
For those currently at the center of power, this was hardly welcome news.
Above all else.

‘I honestly thought the Crown Prince would be deposed when the time came.’
‘I thought Grizelda Princess would become the next Emperor, but it seems not.’

I had failed to establish a connection with Kaishurit beforehand.
If anything, I had made an enemy of him.
It was all because I had thought Kaishurit was nothing but a figurehead Crown Prince.

‘I had sensed the atmosphere in the imperial palace had shifted in recent years, but…’

The nobles exchanged meaningful glances.
Given their experience, they decided to pursue a different strategy rather than outright opposition.

“Your Majesty, is abdication not premature?”
“You remain in such vigorous health, and the Crown Prince is still quite young in years.”
“Yes, if you must abdicate, would it not be wise to wait a bit longer?”
“Premature?”

The Emperor tilted his head.

“It has been a long time since Kaishurit was invested as Crown Prince. He has served as Crown Prince longer than I did.”
“That is only because he was appointed at such a young age…”
“Duke Makandor, tell me what the Crown Prince has accomplished during this time.”

Duke Makandor, who had been doodling in the margins of documents, immediately raised his head.

“The Crown Prince has traveled throughout the empire for years, slaying monsters and bringing stability to the realm.”

Duke Makandor’s explanation continued at length.
The Emperor listened thoughtfully.

‘So he was cleaning up nuisances while searching for Saelika in disguise, was he?’

“Furthermore, he aided the Temple of Artemia early on and countered the suspicious Parmanase…”

‘That was all to seduce Saelika.’

“And he stood against the Demon King who appeared suddenly—”

‘The Demon King was harassing Saelika, or so I heard.’

“Now he tracks and eliminates the remnants of heretical cults to ensure the empire faces no further calamities.”

‘He must have eliminated Parmanase’s remnants before they could harm Saelika.’

The Emperor, who had been nodding, suddenly paused.
When I organized it this way, something felt off.

‘…He’s practically obsessed with Saelika, isn’t he?!’

He doesn’t actually care about the empire’s stability at all, does he?
Everything revolves around Saelika alone.

‘This filial son!’

His entire life is centered around Saelika.
I was worried whether I could truly entrust the throne to someone like this.

‘But it should be fine. Our little one is so capable, wise, clever, intelligent, brilliant, strong, adorable, and lovable….’

The Emperor’s face broke into a grin.
The nobles looked at him with expressions of mild unease.

‘Is he pleased hearing of his son’s accomplishments?’
‘When did he ever care for his son like this….’

It was absurd to see the Emperor himself displaying such favoritism toward anyone.

“Did you hear? Is there another emperor who saved the empire before even ascending to the throne?”
“None except the founding Emperor, Your Majesty.”

Duke Makandor responded to the Emperor’s words.
But the nobles did not back down easily.

“…Of course, the Crown Prince is remarkable. However, one cannot govern the empire through individual strength alone, can they?”
“Indeed. Forgive us, but does the Crown Prince not possess an excess of… that is, charisma?”

In short, that was it.
He’s far too terrifying!

Yet it was a point worth considering.
A being that instinctively provoked rejection could never command authority.
Kaishurit didn’t merely inspire fear—he evoked revulsion itself.

“Hmm, so the Nobles oppose you this fiercely. I’ve done what I could. Now it’s your turn.”

As the Emperor spoke, the inner door swung open.

“Are you truly passing this burden to me? I have no objection to delaying the succession.”
“…!”

The Nobles opposing the succession paled in shock.
Could the Crown Prince have been listening to their words all along?!

‘If we’re not careful, we might bleed from every orifice and perish….’

The Nobles trembled with dread, bowing their heads.
The Nobles who had turned away, their faces drained of color by revulsion.
All the Nobles, displaying their varied reactions, flinched.

‘…?!’
‘What, what is this?!’

Their gazes fixed upon Kaishurit as though enchanted.

Kaishurit had been ominous and eerie since childhood.
Merely facing him awakened instinctive revulsion, terror, and profound unease.

Of course, at some point that dreadful aura had diminished.
Yet it had not vanished.
It felt contained within, no longer seeping outward.

That made it even more repugnant.
Like something inhuman wearing a human mask, performing humanity with perfect precision—an uncanny dissonance.

The common people, rarely afforded a close view of Kaishurit, remained entirely oblivious to this quality.
Each time the masses cheered for him, it only deepened the unease.

‘Yet now….’

“W-we greet the Crown Prince!”
“We greet the Crown Prince!”

The nobles, who had been staring blankly at Kaishurit, bowed their heads.
It was the first time they had bowed to Kaishurit with such genuine sincerity.

‘Is he… truly the Crown Prince?’
‘He was like this all along…?’

The nobles stole glances at Kaishurit.

An overwhelming aura that defied mortal approach radiated from Kaishurit.
It felt as though they were witnessing a being that transcended humanity—sacred yet otherworldly.
Reverence welled up naturally from the depths of their hearts.

It was because of Kaishurit’s divinity.
When Saelika lifted the curse, the divinity that Kaishurit had carried returned to its original master.
Along with the memories of past lives contained within that divinity.

The memories of being the master of mythology deepened Kaishurit’s soul alongside his divinity.
And with the curse that had clouded people’s minds now gone, the nobles’ reaction was hardly surprising.

All the emotions one could only feel when facing a god.
They were swayed by Kaishurit in an instant, experiencing those emotions in their entirety.

“To think we failed to recognize such a being and dared harbor disrespectful thoughts…”
“Yet Your Highness struggled alone for the Empire without even informing us.”

The nobles’ eyes grew moist as they recalled the matters Duke Makandor had briefed them on.

‘That was only because he’s a filial bastard.’

It wasn’t as though he had truly acted for the Empire’s sake.
The Emperor, knowing the truth, regarded the nobles with a somewhat exasperated expression.

‘They’re supposed to be leading the Empire, yet they’re far too gullible.’

No, perhaps it’s not about hearing—maybe he’s weak to what he sees.
Or perhaps his instincts are sharp enough that he senses both the aura of curses and divine power, which could be the problem.
Maybe it’s both.

The Emperor, lost in thought, shrugged his shoulders.

‘Well, what’s good is good.’

“Please punish me, Your Majesty! I failed to recognize you and have committed nothing but foolish acts all this time.”
“Please, Your Majesty, guide us wretched servants onto the righteous path…!”

The ministers looked ready to kneel before Kaishurit entirely.
With a single word from Kaishurit, they seemed prepared to confess all the corruption they had committed thus far.

‘…But why do they seem more loyal to him than to me?’

Honestly, as Emperor, I couldn’t help but feel slighted.
These were ministers I’d worked alongside for decades!

‘And didn’t they just call him Your Majesty?’

No matter what I said about abdication, I was still the Emperor, Your Majesty.
The attendant whispered to the Emperor, who was glaring at the ministers with a displeased expression.

“How wonderful, Your Majesty.”
“…Wonderful? Those treacherous bastards!”

Yet a smile played across the Emperor’s face as he spoke.
If Kaishurit could overwhelm the high officials so completely, he would do well as Emperor.
Above all—.

‘That man doesn’t prioritize the empire above all else.’

Being selfish, he might actually be more suited to the throne.
Saelika’s words were right.

‘You won’t live like me.’

Of course, among all the nobles kneeling, there were those who glared at Kaishurit with displeasure.
Perardin Noishurael Duke, Admiral Ekellan, and their sons.

‘…It seems like he’ll end up living under his wife’s family’s thumb.’

Hang in there, you bastard!

* * *

Countless crowds gathered in front of the Imperial Palace.
It wasn’t just in front of the palace.
Large crystal display screens were installed in plazas throughout the city, and people packed them to capacity.

“My goodness, I never thought I’d witness a coronation ceremony in person…!”
“Ah, Crown Prince Kaishurit becoming Emperor. The future of this empire is bright!”
“As bright as the new Emperor’s face.”

The crowds gathered to witness the coronation chattered with joyful expressions.
The ascension of the new Emperor.
With calamity vanished and a new era dawning, could there be anything more certain than this turning point?

“…Everything’s fine, but why did I end up attending this?”

Ryubik, Crown Prince of the Dantalion Kingdom, muttered with a reluctant expression.
The three Princes of Muart and the Crown Prince of Decaren beside him responded.

“What can you do? It’s the coronation of an imperial emperor—we can’t just skip it.”
“But I understand the sentiment. A delegation would have been enough, so why do I have to attend personally….”
“Still, we’re staying in the empire rather than returning to our kingdoms, so we can’t very well skip the coronation….”

In fact, from a political and diplomatic standpoint, the situation couldn’t be better.
Kaishurit was a young emperor with many days of rule ahead and formidable imperial authority.
Even before his ascension, he had apparently already brought all the stiff-necked high officials to heel.

Attending such an emperor’s coronation in person was bound to influence future relations with the empire.
It would also help establish their positions in their respective kingdoms.

But the problem was—

“Why should I congratulate that bastard on his good fortune?”
“Hmm! We really should abduct her as soon as possible—.”
“In any case, we’ll be the ultimate victors. The Sacred Maiden will surely come to understand that the more husbands one has, the better.”

—Kaishurit was a rival.
But what truly unsettled them was something else entirely.

“Why did he assign us such a prestigious seat?”

Kaishurit genuinely despised them.
Yet he had granted them seats of honor—it was suspicious.
I expected him to shove us into some corner.

‘There’s definitely something scheming going on here….’

Ryubik tried to ponder further, but his thoughts were interrupted.
Saelika had appeared.

“…!”

Dressed in the ceremonial robes of the High Priestess, Saelika was breathtakingly beautiful.
With a gentle smile, she placed the Emperor’s crown upon Kaishurit’s head.
Words of blessing flowed from her lips.

The people were rendered speechless by the picturesque scene.
The complaining princes were no exception.
In this moment, they were almost grateful to Kaishurit for assigning them such excellent seats.

But then.

“…?!”

Was Kaishurit kneeling?

“What, what is this?”
“Why is he kneeling….”

Kaishurit was now the Emperor.
An Emperor bows his knee and bows his head to no one.

Yet Kaishurit knelt with such natural grace.
As if his knees were weightless before Saelika, without a moment’s hesitation.

“Saelika.”

A soft voice flowed from his lips.
Sunlight streaming through the expansive window painted his face in dazzling brilliance.

“Will you marry me?”
“…!”
“…!!”
“…?!”

Everyone in the coronation hall gasped.
Who in their right mind proposes while being crowned Emperor?!

The princes clutched the back of their necks.
Did he really arrange a prime viewing spot just for this?!

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