Chapter 111: Long live the Empress!(14/14)
As soon as Morrigan entered the Cathedral, she saw people eagerly taking their seats. The Cathedral was large, capable of holding at least 300 people.
The podium of the Cathedral was elevated. Below it was a large, round, empty but ornate space. At the very front stood Genesis.
The holy book glowed as if emitting a sacred aura. Morrigan felt a sense of awe and satisfaction. It wasn't just Morrigan; everyone else was also excited by this sight.
"Empress, you've finally arrived," Seth said calmly. His voice echoed throughout the space. Morrigan couldn't see Seth's figure and frowned.
People wondered where the voice had come from. Thomas's gaze shifted to the gathering flocks of crows. The crows began to gather slowly with a chirping sound. The holy hum in the Cathedral grew louder.
The light streaming through the Cathedral's windows shone upon Morrigan, further enhancing the sense of sacredness.
"Today, I will lead this ceremony," the crows suddenly gathered, forming a wave of light that revealed the silhouette of a man.
When Morrigan saw Seth's figure, she froze for a moment in surprise. Seth was wearing better clothes than before.
He wore an ornate yet noble black and gold tunic, which was cinched at the waist with a belt. Over the tunic, there was a cloak, embroidered with golden patterns.
The black tunic reached the floor, creating a simple yet striking stance. The fabric shimmered slightly, and fine patterns embroidered with golden thread stood out. These patterns consisted of simple geometric shapes and wavy lines.
It was an almost unique style of clothing. It was as if everyone fell silent for a moment. No one took the first step to speak until Seth began.
He looked at Morrigan seriously and continued. "Come forward, Your Majesty. The God of Creation is watching everything, and today, He will judge whether you are fit for the position of Empress."
Morrigan sensed a slight mockery in Seth's voice, but she didn't mind. It seemed like Seth found it a bit amusing, yet to an outsider, he looked serious.
"Is this the divine envoy you mentioned?" Richard turned to Rachel and whispered. Rachel nodded and kept her eyes on Seth.
"Yes," Rachel replied calmly. Although she didn't know exactly who Seth was or how strong he was, she could sense that he was not a simple man. "Yes, Morrigan trusts him deeply. She would almost sacrifice her life for him."
Richard, curious about who this man was, looked at Seth with intrigue. He couldn't sense Seth's power, which was unusual.
Even though Richard wasn't the strongest, he was still powerful, and yet he couldn't sense Seth. This meant that Seth's power was so great that Richard couldn't even perceive it.
"I am ready, Envoy," Morrigan said quietly, following her role. Seth opened Genesis and smiled. "Good, then please step forward."
Morrigan took a few light steps forward. With each step, a heavy feeling settled within her. It was a sensation she couldn't quite understand.
"God knows everything, and He will decide if you are fit for this important position," Seth said without breaking his serious tone. When Morrigan approached, he smiled. "So, relax. You are the most suitable person for this position."
Morrigan wasn't sure if that was true, but she had faith. There would be many problems as Empress, but she felt ready now.
"I trust in God's judgment, and I now request that we begin."
"I understand," Seth didn't wait any longer. He then raised his hand slightly. "I now declare that the ceremony has officially begun!"
As Seth's voice resonated, the bells of the Cathedral began to toll. The sound echoed throughout Berlen, heard by everyone.
Even the sky seemed to shine more brightly on this day, creating a holy atmosphere in Berlen. Seth's hands began to glow. The light grew at an incredible speed, causing everyone, including Morrigan, to squint their eyes.
"God has approved you, He trusts in your power and your loyalty to Him," as the light in Seth's hands slowly faded, a crown appeared in his hands.
At the center of the crown was a glowing red pearl, perfectly sized for Morrigan's head. It was adorned with fine runes and elegant golden lines.
Anyone who saw the crown instinctively felt a desire to obey, and those with weaker wills unknowingly knelt.
Thomas's eyes lit up as he stared in amazement at the crown. It seemed to weaken people's wills, forcing them to submit.
Even Richard was surprised by the impulse to kneel. Rachel struck her head and hated the ringing sound in her mind, like a symphony. "Damn, my head is pounding."
"I have the same feeling," Richard said calmly. Unlike Rachel, he seemed to endure it. Meanwhile, Wilfried and Simon both knelt freely of their own accord.
The reason the crown had this effect was because it contained a piece of Seth within it. Yes, it would not be wrong to say that the crown was Seth himself.
Thus, the crown possessed Mana. It could channel Mana to Morrigan, suppress people with the God's aura, and could even offer Morrigan support at times when she needed it the most.
It was almost a unique item; no, it would be more accurate to call it a divine artifact.
"This crown is the Dragon Crown, symbolizing Drachenreich. Whoever wears this crown can claim dominion over these lands and consider them as their own," Seth said calmly. He then slowly placed the crown on Morrigan's head.
"Now, you are the ruler of this land, the protector of the people, the nightmare of enemies, and the representative of the Holy Blood," Morrigan accepted the crown as Seth finished his speech.
As people cheered, Morrigan rose and looked at Seth. "Thank you."
Morrigan whispered so that no one else could hear. Seth didn't say anything and simply nodded. "The ceremony is not over yet."
As Morrigan wondered what was happening, suddenly the entire sky thundered. Everyone was shaken as Seth's face wore a knowing smile. "Now that the land has been united with its rightful owner, the ceremony can truly begin!"
Suddenly, a stream of light poured from the sky, flowing through all of Drachenreich. Seth had used all of his miracle points. Everywhere in Drachenreich, the lands healed, the sick and the elderly were restored.
The farmlands became fertile. Rivers were cleansed, and everything was restored. People didn't quite understand what was happening, but almost the entire land felt a second shock.
The holy power in the sky suddenly materialized and exploded, and a great feast began throughout Drachenreich. Food was distributed, and help was offered.
In every city, Morvos products were distributed, and feasts were prepared for the people to celebrate. This all happened in an instant. Morrigan had only prepared the feast, but such a grand blessing was beyond expectation.
"Now, I invite everyone to the feast!" Seth smiled widely. People cheered once more, and the feast began.
The people who left Kadetral were taken to the feasts one by one, and only the ministers remained in Kadetral.
"I didn't expect this," Thomas said with a smile. He adjusted his glasses and looked at Seth with admiration. Seth accepted the compliment and looked at Morringan.
"Would you like to attend the ceremony, Your Majesty?"
"I have things to do," Morringan recalled the mountain of papers in her office and sighed. Rachel furrowed her brows. "Today is your special day! You should dedicate it entirely to yourself!"
"Although we disagree on many things, Rachel is right." Surprisingly, Richard also agreed with Rachel. "This is harmful to your health."
Morringan stood uncertainly. Wilfried calmly looked at Morringan. "The duties can wait. What matters is your health."
"My father is right!" Veronica said cheerfully. "I've made delicious sweets! We can try them together!"
Morringan sighed but eventually agreed. She was curious about Veronica's sweets. Unconsciously, she licked her lips and felt the craving.
"Alright, I'll take the day off then..."
"If there's nothing else, I'll be leaving," Seth said with a smile. Morringan nodded. Seth then winked and, in an instant, turned into a shadow and left.
With Seth's departure, the group decided to move on to the feast. Normally, Morringan wanted to make it a special occasion, but then she thought it would be better to share it with her people.
This was better, because she enjoyed the cheerful attitudes of the people. With Morringan's arrival, it seemed like the people's admiration had increased.
Wines were served, and music played. The music, wine, and food delighted everyone. Even the Morvos Knights were chatting with the people today.
Lois was flirting with a woman around his age. Morringan found it strange that this old man was involved in such things, but she didn't mind.
Rachel seemed to be having fun. Despite Richard's stern looks, she occasionally chatted and danced with some men.
Veronica and Wilfried, on the other hand, looked like a father and daughter. It was surprising, but beautiful to see this man appear so gentle and kind.
George and Emily were sitting at the feast table. George was telling stories to his friends, and they were all laughing. It was odd that Edmund acted like a father to George.
Apart from that, the most noticeable thing for Morringan was Simon sitting alone and quietly watching the families enjoying themselves.
Morringan furrowed her brows and looked at him gently. She then went over to him. Simon stood up when Morringan approached and looked at her respectfully.
"Did you need something, Your Majesty?"
"No, I just wanted to ask you something." Morringan continued, "Do you have a family?"
"W-what?" Simon was surprised by Morringan's sudden question and paused for a moment before answering. "I have two daughters and a wife. They're in New Camelot."
Morringan frowned. She was disturbed by the fact that Simon's family was near the Church. They could threaten Simon if they targeted his family, and Morringan didn't want to allow that to happen.
"Alright, I'll see if I can do something to bring your family here tomorrow," Morringan said calmly. Simon was surprised and then looked at Morringan with gratitude. "Thank you, Your Majesty. I will never forget this kindness."
"It's nothing."
Time passed quickly, and it got late. Even though it was 9 PM, the revelry didn't stop and continued at a slow pace.
Meanwhile, Morringan and the others were chatting in a corner. It was getting close to the time to leave. George and Rachel were drunk. Thomas was calmly standing next to Morringan.
Wilfried and Veronica were talking to Simon. Emily was taking care of the drunk George.
"Mom," Bernard came up to the group and said. Everyone was curious about Bernard's mother until Bernard approached Morringan and hugged her.
"Did I make you proud, Mom?" Bernard smiled and said. Morringan nodded as she ruffled the short young man's hair. "Yes, you did a great job there."
"Morringan, why does Bernard call you mom?" Rachel said in surprise. Morringan only looked at her emotionlessly. "Bernard is my son."
"What?!"