[Elena's PoV]
After discussing the betrothal, I informed Father about Brian successfully awakening the Codex of Pendragon, which marks him as the Chosen One—the Hero. However, Father said it is best for this to remain a secret for now. He also intends to discuss security measures and what steps to take regarding this development, as Brian is still entirely unable to summon the legendary sword, Excalibur. Only a true hero can summon that blade, and that true hero is the Chosen One.
In the evening, the Emperor's birthday celebration began. However, I was in no mood to enjoy it.
"Princess Elena, would you care to dance with me?"
I am currently in the main hall. The guests began to dance as the music started to play throughout the room. Several children of high-ranking nobles offered to dance with me; there was a literal line of men in front of me waiting to ask.
"I'm sorry, I'm not in the mood."
Leaving the main hall, I walked around the outer area of the Palace. I wanted to be alone to clear my head regarding the betrothal, and I knew just the place to go where I wouldn't be disturbed.
Several nobles and knights on duty greeted me as we crossed paths. Seeing them, I couldn't help but think about what will happen once I become the Emperor. My freedom will be further diminished; my days will be consumed by state affairs, and I won't be able to choose what I want regarding the direction this nation develops. There will be many voices influencing me, just as they influence Father.
Even as an Imperial Princess, I have to sacrifice much of my freedom. One such sacrifice is the choice of a life partner. Previously, I hadn't thought about this at all. I thought fulfilling my duties as a Princess was simply about upholding truth and justice in this land. I didn't realize that doing so would be this complicated and far from simple.
Before long, I reached my destination. Two knights were guarding the area.
"Good evening, Princess Elena," the knights greeted me with a bow. "Is there anything we can help you with?"
"Yes... open the gates to this place."
They both nodded and opened the large, closed gates. Entering the gates, I saw lamps illuminating the quiet grounds. Surely no one would visit at a time like this, right? The place I was visiting was the cemetery of the Empire's heroes.
I came here to perform a self-introspection by looking at the heroes who had fallen to defend this nation. They were people who sacrificed their entire lives for the survival of this country, sacrificing their freedom for their love of this land, and always prioritizing their duty to the nation over everything else.
"Can I do it as selflessly as they did?"
By the way, where is that man? When I need his advice as a supporter like this, he is so hard to find. However, as I was walking and enjoying the silence of the cemetery, I saw a black-haired man standing before a grave.
Raul? So this is where you were? What is he doing in a place like this?
I approached him. Up close, I could clearly see a different face from the one he usually shows. His expression was incredibly melancholic; I felt an immense sense of regret, longing, and loneliness from his gaze as he stared at that headstone.
"I didn't expect to find you in a place like this," I said to him, walking up to his side.
"I just wanted to get some fresh air and get away from the noise," he replied, without taking his eyes off the headstone.
I looked at the grave out of curiosity. The name written there was...
...Liana de Grantz...
"The hero who sacrificed herself to save the City of Wisperia from a demon attack."
I had heard of her; she was the youngest Grand Espada and the first woman in the history of the Empire to hold the title. She was touted to become the strongest Grand Espada to ever exist. However, she passed away far too soon at the age of 25 after fighting a powerful Vampire who appeared out of nowhere. She sacrificed her soul and her glory as the strongest knight just to save the citizens of the city.
I... want to be like her. To not hesitate to sacrifice everything for the sake of service to this nation.
"What about you, Elena? What are you doing here?" Raul asked me in return.
Hah... how do I even describe my feelings to him right now? About my inner conflict regarding the betrothal and the Imperial succession.
"I think... I am... faltering, Raul..." I answered while looking at his face.
For some reason, my voice trembled as I spoke. This was the first time I had expressed my true feelings to anyone other than Uncle Raymond. I rarely even speak frankly to Father and Mother about my emotions.
After hearing my words, Raul finally turned his head and looked directly into my eyes.
"Father plans to betroth me to a Prince from another country," I revealed to him. "Previously, I thought I was ready to sacrifice everything for this nation when I ran as a candidate for the throne."
But it turns out I was still very naive. I only saw the people who dedicated themselves to this country voluntarily from the outside and thought it was cool and commendable. I didn't see inside them—the internal conflict they experienced when sacrificing their freedom, their love, and their dreams for the interests of the state.
"Just having the freedom to live with the person I love taken away has already made me waver ..." I said weakly. "Let alone having to take actions that contradict my moral standards when I become the Emperor later?"
I suppose I always viewed Father wrongly because he always took actions that I deemed unfair and always lied to the people he led. But I know now, Father was only doing what was best for the nation.
"Love... is the death of duty..."
I heard Raul mutter something.
"What is the meaning of duty... compared to the love of a partner and our family?" he said, looking up at the night sky. "A father would certainly leave his work immediately if he knew his child was in danger."
I tried to ponder the words coming from Raul's mouth. It seemed he wanted to tell me something.
"What is the meaning of duty... compared to the dreams and goals we want to achieve?"
He then looked back at me; his black eyes were like the darkness of the night decorating the sky.
"An Emperor and a Knight are sworn to prioritize the interests of the citizens above all else when they are inaugurated," Raul said seriously. "Many of them trivialized this oath over time. However, those who record their history in this world are the ones who hold firm to the oath they have sworn."
Raul then looked at the headstone in front of us. Yes... like Knight Liana, she is remembered by the Aragon Nation not because of her strength, but because of her actions in saving tens of thousands of lives from a demon attack.
"I'm afraid... that I won't be able to decide when facing a difficult choice in the future during this succession," I said frankly to him while looking down. "There is still so much I don't know about life in this world."
I saw it myself—how Father always looked stressed when faced with difficult decisions. Perhaps this betrothal wasn't purely his heart's desire. He just wanted the best for the country, even if it meant sacrificing his family's happiness.
"Hold your head up, Elena."
Hearing his words, I raised my face again.
"Listen to me carefully," Raul said with a very serious face, unlike any I had seen before. "You will become the most amazing Empress in the history of this nation," Raul said firmly. I felt no lie at all from his expression or the look in his eyes. "I believe in that and have never doubted it for a second."
I was quite moved to hear his words. Even Uncle Raymond wasn't that certain in his support for me in this succession.
"But, I still have so many shortcomings... I can't even decide on something that goes against my moral standards," I said to him, feeling unworthy of the excessive trust he placed in me.
Hearing this, Raul smiled slightly.
"That is why I am here to support you," he said in a softer tone. "I will cover for your shortcomings; we will be like two sides of a coin, like day and night, light and shadow."
My vision began to blur as tears started to well in my eyes. My heart beat faster than usual. For some reason, a warmth felt as though it was enveloping my body on this cold night.
"I am willing to stain my hands to settle the problems you cannot solve. I will be your shield against various threats and I promise never to betray you, no matter how difficult the conditions."
After speaking his oath to me, Raul knelt on one knee before me, like a knight about to be sworn in by his liege.
"Elena de Aragon," he said, looking into my eyes. "I offer my loyalty to you, to be the knight who will always support, protect, and be by your side always until the end of my life..."
Hearing the oath he declared to me made me smile; a happiness I couldn't describe filled my previously clouded heart. Raul's oath of loyalty vanished the doubts I had before. For some reason, I felt I could do and overcome any problem as long as he was by my side.
"Raul de Garcia, I accept you as my Knight from this moment on," I said, answering his oath. "Don't you ever betray me, okay?"
I felt I could face everything now—be it the betrothal, the problems regarding the succession, or my duties as a Princess. As long as this man is by my side, I am sure I can face it all.
"Of course, my Princess. I will never betray you," he answered as he stood back up in front of me.
My body felt weak after facing the internal conflict I had experienced.
"Then... as your Princess, I will give you your first command as my chosen Knight," I said to him with a mischievous smile. "Please don't move for a few minutes, okay?"
Raul's face looked confused hearing the command that came out of my mouth. I took one step toward him and rested my head on Raul's shoulder.
"Hold my body; I want to be like this for a moment."
Hearing my command, Raul could only remain silent and then hugged my body tightly. The warmth he gave truly made me comfortable on this cold night. Having a Knight of my own isn't so bad after all.