RLQ - Chapter 21
Chapter 21: God Save the Queen
The protagonist who had Prince Arthur "utterly captivated" was currently receiving cheers from the crowd.
"Your Majesty!"
"Your Majesty!"
"..."
Amidst the surging waves of shouts, the Queen's coronation ceremony arrived as scheduled on August 23rd.
As soon as dawn broke, people gathered early in the square of the Summer Palace. This area, in front of the main palace building, featured a curved balcony where important members of the royal family would appear before the public during festive celebrations.
When Queen Adele Roland made her appearance, the cheers reached a crescendo.
The young ruler of the Empire wore a taffeta gown with jacquard embroidery woven with silver and gold threads. A snow-white short cape draped over her shoulders, its pearl-inlaid edges soft and round in the sunlight. Her long hair was half-pinned up by Madam Kelly, gathered at the back of her head, and secured with twelve sparkling diamond hairpins along with a light, thin silver veil. The translucent veil was studded with tiny diamonds—a gift left by her mother.
Under the sunlight, her face was illuminated by a star-like radiance, and the corners of her eyes were touched with divine light, like an angel's.
—Undoubtedly, God had sent her to the human world.
Regardless of their previous attitudes towards the Queen, at this moment, they firmly believed this. When the Queen waved at them, they willingly cheered loudly:
"God Save the Queen!"
"God Save the Queen!"
...
The Queen only stayed on the balcony for a short while, but the people's regret wouldn't last long, as she would soon appear on the steps of the Summer Palace gate, from where the highly anticipated celebratory procession would begin.
Adele walked down the corridor, accompanied by her retinue.
Thousands of dignitaries waited outside the East Gate of the Summer Palace, all dressed in luxurious attire. It was subtly apparent that these individuals were divided into several factions, large and small.
Heinrich stood before the assembly of officials, wearing a bronze double-headed snake emblem on his left shoulder. The snake's eyes were inlaid with emeralds, reflecting a faint light in the sunlight. Dalton stood on the other side, dressed as he was when the Queen knighted him that day, but with a striking golden rose pinned to his shoulder.
Dalton nodded slightly towards the Queen.
Since that day, he had disappeared from the Queen's presence for a while, only reappearing when summoned. Nevertheless, he had done his part quite well—the Queen's gaze swept through the crowd, and she could only identify the disguised musketeers by intuition.
As the Empire's Archbishop, Rhodri had to be present today. He stood at the exit of the steps, and as the Queen brushed past him, his lips moved quickly and softly, uttering, "Be careful."
Adele smiled, but the smile didn't reach her eyes.
Of course, she would be careful.
The distant church bells echoed over the city. Thousands of white doves were released simultaneously, and in the shadow of their flapping wings, she saw the shadow of crows.
This was her coronation anniversary, and also the day of her trial in her previous life.
"Article One: The National Assembly declares that Adele Roland shamefully usurped power that did not belong to her, and as a heretic, brought disaster upon the Empire."
The voice of the clerk announcing the verdict echoed in her ears. They had chosen the day of her coronation as the day of her trial.
Adele descended the steps one by one, her skirt brushing against the rough stone.
"Article Two: The National Assembly declares that Adele Roland is sentenced to death."
Her gaze swept over the familiar faces. They stood like crows in black, like ghosts. They stripped her of her crown, stripped her of her glory, and imposed shame and baseless crimes upon her.
Adele reached the bottom step. The towering shadow of the palace ended here.
"My original sin is being a woman wearing a crown."
No, it wasn't her original sin, it was theirs.
Adele stepped forward, breaking free from that long darkness.
The noisy crowd suddenly fell silent at this moment. They craned their necks, widened their eyes, awestruck by an inexplicable force.
—Behind the Queen was the Summer Palace shrouded in shadow, its window frames, slender columns, and spires rising vertically like iron spears, piercing the sky. The jagged walls stretched out like an unfolding Great Wall of beacons. In front of the Queen stood nearly a thousand solemn officials, monks, and guards. Hundreds of fine horses draped in white and gold silk waited with lowered heads.
She took a step, crossing the boundary between light and darkness.
The wind lifted the Queen's veil, and the last white dove flapped its wings across the sky. The organ, trumpets, and bells played together, a majestic sound like the world approaching its end.
After a brief, strange silence, the crowd, as if summoned by a divine manifestation, erupted in cheers louder than ever before: "God Save the Queen!" "Long Live the Queen!" "God Save the Queen!"... Amidst the overwhelming waves of sound, the Queen raised her arm high and responded with the same voice:
"God Save My People!"
God Save My People!
"...Her beauty remained forever in the hearts of everyone present. Whether they hated her or revered her, whether they were her enemies or her friends, they were all conquered by her beauty at that moment. It was a beauty that was breathtaking, terrifying, incomparable, impossible to look at directly, only to submit to... It felt like a premonition."
Years later, a historian who had witnessed this scene firsthand wrote in his memoirs.
Prince Arthur didn't know how many letters, biographies, and documents future historians would trace to reconstruct this scene. He only knew that at this moment, he had lost language, lost thought, lost his senses.
He watched the Queen walk towards him, bathed in radiance, his heart pounding like thunder.
Every nerve, every blood vessel, every living signal seemed to leave him.
The moment the Queen extended her hand to him, he knelt on one knee without hesitation and devoutly kissed the back of her hand.
Strictly speaking, he represented the Emperor of the Rute Empire and was equal in status to the Queen of Roland. Taking such an action first in public was a loss of dignity. But no one criticized him, no one mocked him, not even the Rute envoys who should have been displeased.
Wherever the Queen passed, all accompanying officials bowed deeply.
"Let's go."
Adele, supported by Prince Arthur, sat in the open carriage with deep red leather secured by gilded nails. Prince Arthur sat beside her, replacing her fiancé, Orsis.
The procession began to move forward.
The celebration procession started from the East Gate of the Summer Palace and ended at St. Mary's Cathedral, following the famous Royal Avenue. Heinrich could not change the Queen's decision to hold a procession, so he could only minimize the distance from the palace to the cathedral, choosing the straightest and widest route possible.
Dalton, as the Knight Commander, rode a fine horse closely beside the Queen.
Under the black cape outside his deep red short coat, a flintlock pistol was pressed against his waist. Except for that brief moment in front of the palace gate, he tried his best to avoid letting his gaze fall on the Queen and Prince Arthur... This is what you deserve... The Queen's voice, the Queen's face standing before the Summer Palace, flashed through his mind.
He suppressed those thoughts with astonishing willpower.
Now was not the time to think about such things.
Dalton's gaze swept over the crowds on both sides of the procession avenue like a hawk, occasionally giving one or two quick, concealed gestures. And with each of his gestures, one or two people would secretly disappear from the Queen's large retinue. Subsequently, one or two figures in the crowd along the street would be gagged and silently dragged away.
Those who resisted would have their throats slit without hesitation.
Every section, every street was a battlefield.
Neither Heinrich nor Dalton could be certain whether a crossbow was quietly set up behind a certain window, waiting for the Queen to pass by for a fatal shot. Therefore, the Heinrich family's spies controlled all windows facing the street. And they were equally uncertain whether some fanatical Old God Sect follower might carry a sawed-off shotgun, disguised as a joyful citizen, and approach for a close-range shot.
The Viper and the Wolf acted in concert. While the Queen smiled and responded to the people's cheers, blood and death simultaneously threatened her life in the shadows.
This procession was, in fact, a war hidden beneath the sunlight.
A war between the Queen, the Empire, them, and the stubborn elements of the Old God Sect, and all enemies seeking to fish in troubled waters.
Among those taken away from behind windows by the Heinrich family, one-third were Old God Sect followers who had dealings with Yage Kingdom spies, one-third had knelt and kissed wax-sealed letters from the Papal State, and only one-third were genuine religious fanatics.
This was why the Queen was determined to carry out this purge with the most ruthless methods.
The Roland Empire was too close to the Papal State. So close that when it declined, those wearing crowns and robes, just like the Yage Kingdom, cast covetous eyes on this ancient Empire, attempting to make it a vassal city like the "Free Commercial Cities." And the Old God Sect had existed in the Empire for far too long, so long that it had become utterly corrupt, sinking into the mire day by day.
"...This portion of the Old God Sect followers is like the rotten flesh of the Empire's wound. Applying ointment cannot heal it; it must be completely cut away, and then good medicine applied to help it recover."
—These were the Queen's exact words.
When she said this, she was sitting on the throne, closing the scriptures revered by the Old God Sect, her face veiled in blood-red light from the setting sun.
That was the first time he had seen her since their argument that day.
Years of battlefield experience allowed him to hear the bugle call hidden within the Queen's gentle words—a signal of war. At that moment, the Queen, like all kings, was not only a ruler handling state affairs but also a general sweeping across the battlefield.
"Robert Dalton."
The Queen slowly spoke his name, her hands resting on the sides of the throne.
"In the name of the Queen of the Empire, I ask you, are you willing to fight for me with your sword? Are you willing to defend me with your shield?"
Their gazes met in the air. She did not mention the words spoken that day. The letter of appointment as Marshal of the Empire, signed on July 15th, was still in his pocket.
This was the last chance.
Dalton understood her meaning.
The blood-red sun sank below the western horizon. He slowly knelt on one knee and raised his hand to strike his heart.
—My sword is your sword, my shield is your shield.
The Queen touched his shoulder with her hand.
There was no priest, no sword, no witnesses, but that was the true knighting.
The sunlight was dazzling. Dalton tightly pursed his lips, following expressionlessly beside the Queen's carriage, his gaze constantly scanning, like a hunting falcon circling in the sky.
The Queen had already used her extraordinary courage to place herself as bait in the most dangerous position. The remaining battlefield was for her subjects and generals to fight upon.
If they couldn't even do this much, what right did they have to call themselves—
Knights.
When the spire of St. Mary's Cathedral appeared in sight, Dalton had lost count of how many gestures he had made, but... Gods above, this was the first time he had felt such genuine gratitude upon seeing a church. This meant that the Queen's first battle was about to achieve victory.
However, his smile quickly faded, and he instinctively placed his hand on the pistol grip.
"Dalton."
The Queen was turned slightly, greeting the welcoming citizens on the left side of the street—Heinrich had always disapproved of her being too friendly with commoners, believing that rulers should always maintain dignity to instill fear in the people.
But the Queen cared more about winning the people's hearts.
At this moment, her peripheral vision caught Dalton's movement, and she immediately lowered her voice to stop him.
Dalton slowly removed his hand from the pistol grip.
Adele's smile vanished, and her gaze fixed straight ahead.
On the final stretch of cobblestone road leading to St. Mary's Cathedral, three figures stood quietly. —Three old, stooped priests. They were dressed similarly to Archbishop Rhodri, wearing dark hooded robes, rough hemp ropes tied around their waists, and straw sandals on their feet.
Their attire mimicked the legendary appearance of saints when questioning tyrants about the source of their authority.
Adele looked thoughtful.
"Your Majesty."
Heinrich rode up beside the Queen and asked in a low voice.
"I will have them removed."
Adele shook her head slightly.
The people of the Old God Sect were not entirely useless; at least their final move was precise and ruthless. Three old priests in front of the people were far more effective than three thousand brave Temple Knights.
"Continue forward, then stop."
She instructed.
The carriage approached the three priests and stopped in front of them. Dalton subtly moved forward. If they were priests trained by the Temple Knights, even if they appeared old and withered, they might still possess the ability to strike.
The clamor gradually subsided, and the crowd watched this scene in silence, watching the young Queen.
Not only did she not show anger, but she also extended her hand to the three priests according to etiquette, allowing them to bow: "Gentlemen, you have waited under the scorching sun. If there is anything you wish to say, I am willing to listen with my utmost sincerity."
The Queen's friendly and humble attitude brought smiles to the people's faces, but soon their smiles turned uneasy.
Because the leading priest did not bow.
At the same time, Heinrich recognized the two priests behind him.
They were known as the "John Brothers," the spiritual leaders of the ascetics in the North. It was said that they had received a divine calling at a place where a saint had manifested. Feeling that people constantly deceived each other with lies, and that the tongue evolved from a snake and was the root of sin, they had pulled out their own tongues and preached through action ever since.
People believed they had received divine grace and that their eyes could see omens others could not.
He hadn't expected them to also be members of the Temple Knights.
Heinrich's expression changed slightly, and he wanted to step forward to stop the leading priest from speaking.
But it was too late.
"God took a man's rib and made his wife. She is bone of his bone, flesh of his flesh, blood of his blood. Woman tempted man to commit original sin, and for the sake of washing away that sin, she should be submissive to the master of her spirit and flesh," the old priest said, his voice hoarse like a night owl. "And God bestowed authority upon His incarnation on earth, granting crowns to the kings He chose, for them to rule the world. This is the natural order, the will of God."
The Queen withdrew her hand, her gaze gradually turning cold: "God granted me the crown. This is the right and status I was born with."
"That is what you stole! A woman ruling violates the natural order and the will of God. This is written clearly in the scriptures! God's wrath has already descended because of this—the drought is because of you! This is God's judgment and punishment!"
The John Brothers behind him stood up in silence, taking a step forward. Amidst the people's gasps, two lines of bloody tears rolled down their faces.
"You heretic who inherited the eyes of a witch, you have blasphemed God's law! You are unworthy to be the King of Roland! You have defiled that throne! You have brought disaster upon the Empire! You have blasphemed God! What face do you have to continue wearing that crown? What reason do you have to continue sitting on that throne?"
The old priest shouted, spreading his arms.
"Don't you understand?! Aren't those eyes a symbol of hell and evil?! Hasn't God's wrath already descended upon us! As long as a heretic and the descendant of a witch occupy the throne, Roland will struggle in disaster! Are you still going to continue down the path of provoking God?"
He was old and withered, and when he roared hoarsely, it was piercingly sharp, striking at people's hearts.
Several Old God Sect followers hidden in the crowd followed suit, shouting—"Heretics are unworthy to rule Roland!" "Witch!" "Evil eyes!"—The shouts grew louder. Dalton gave a signal, and the guards on either side of the Queen simultaneously drew their flintlocks. The Heinrich family's assassins quickly seized the agitators in the crowd and dragged them towards the shadows.
The old priest was still roaring. Dalton drew his pistol without hesitation and aimed it at him.
A hand pressed down on his pistol.
The Queen had stood up at some point.
She stared coldly at the old priest. Amidst the chaos and accusations, her voice remained steady and powerful.
"You are mistaken," she said. "My mother was not a witch. She was the Queen of Kailailey, the Rose of Kailailey."
The old priest spat heavily on the ground. He stared intently at the Queen: "Witch!"
"I will judge you, but not for myself, but for insulting the honor of a respectable deceased person." It was as if an iron mask had fallen over the Queen's face; her voice contained unshakable majesty. "At the same time, I am determined to refute you. I will prove to you, and to all the people who support me—"
"God granted me the crown, and I am worthy of it!"
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