Chapter 43…
Before she became queen, Princess Ellia had never been allowed to attend the adults’ parties. So, on the first day of her coronation, it was the very first party of her life.
Dazzling decorations, joyful songs, warm gazes and endless compliments whenever her eyes met someone’s, and even rare delicacies that were impossible to see on ordinary days—
Princess Ellia was instantly enchanted by the party.
“Let’s have another party tomorrow!”
And so, the celebrations continued for an entire week.
But Ellie firmly refused.
“Children have to sleep at night!”
A perfectly reasonable excuse.
Instead, she decided that everyone would gather for dinner together, and then go home to sleep afterward.
For a king’s first event, it was rather modest—but since she handed out chocolate to her people with great generosity, no one would dare call her stingy.
“Let’s go!”
Ellie marched energetically toward the banquet hall.
Parties were about standing, eating, dancing, and having fun, but a banquet meant everyone had to sit down and dine properly.
Today was coronation day. Every noble of Nerendis and even envoys from other nations had gathered together. The usual banquet hall was too small, so they decorated the largest garden in the royal palace for the occasion.
“Will it be all right?”
Madam Laval had been worried about the banquet from the start.
When Ellie wore the crown or waved from the balcony, or during the parade—those were all brief moments with movement, making assassination difficult.
But during a banquet, the king had to sit still the entire time, receiving greetings and eating—a perfect target. Madam Laval’s concern was natural.
“We will protect Her Majesty with our lives.”
Even Rilcia’s face had hardened.
No matter what happened, she was ready to throw herself in the way of any threat.
Yet the attack might come so suddenly that there would be no time to react—tension was at its peak.
An open space like this was dangerous for that very reason.
“It’s fine! The weather’s nice today!”
The one whose life was at risk—Ellie herself—was the calmest of them all.
The adults couldn’t help but feel anxious and pained at her innocence.
Children do not sense danger directed toward them. At that age, the world still feels kind.
But now that she was queen, she would soon begin to learn that the world wasn’t always so kind. That thought made the adults’ hearts ache.
How many wounds would she suffer along the way?
Yet contrary to their worries, Ellie was already fully prepared.
“Good thing defensive magic doesn’t use much mana!”
The very first magic her older brother had taught her was defensive magic.
Other spells she learned by mimicking him or through natural talent, but this one he taught her carefully himself.
“The world is full of dangers. Think of it as something you should always have active.”
As natural as breathing.
When she’d lost all her mana once, it didn’t work for a short while—but once even a speck of mana returned, the spell came naturally to her again.
The forest was full of dangers—
Poisonous insects and beasts, stinging plants.
Sometimes she tripped and scraped her knees or palms, or got bruises.
When Ellie was too young to even speak properly, her brother had cast defensive magic on her himself. But once she was old enough to play outside, he taught her to cast it on her own.
“I’m fine because I’ve got my shield spell!”
The defensive spell protected Ellie from most external harm.
When she fell, her knees didn’t scrape.
When a branch flew at her and brushed her cheek, it left no cut.
…Though it still hurt a little.
Even so, unlike the adults feared, there was no way Ellie would die from an assassin’s attack.
And more importantly—
At Princess Ellia’s coronation, no assassination attempts occurred at all.
“Who in their right mind would dare harm Her Majesty! I’ll crush them myself!”
Marquis Simon glared fiercely at invisible enemies nearby, barking threats.
Even without her magic, surrounded by such loyal people, it seemed impossible for an assassin to even think of attacking.
Ellie giggled.
“His Majesty the King enters!”
At the herald’s loud cry, everyone who had already taken their seats at the banquet hall rose to their feet at once.
Ellie walked along the carpet stretching from the entrance of the building to the raised platform at the far end where her table awaited.
Rilcia and the guards were tense, alert for any possible attack.
But Ellie was focused on the most nerve-wracking thing of all—walking without letting the crown on her head slip.
When she reached the platform safely, she stood before her chair and looked down at the people below.
“We greet Your Majesty!”
Everyone bowed deeply in unison.
Ellie nodded with composure.
“Be seated.”
She succeeded in saying it just as she had practiced.
Proud of herself, Ellie clenched her tiny fist under her sleeve.
She hadn’t stuttered or mumbled her words even in front of this huge crowd!
At her short command, everyone sat neatly and in perfect order.
Now there was nothing left for Ellie to worry about.
All she had to do was wait for the prearranged schedule to proceed.
The prepared dishes were brought out one by one.
“You may receive the guests while dining, Your Majesty.”
“Okay!”
The steward quietly reminded her of the order of proceedings.
On the platform, Ellie sat alone at the king’s seat.
Rilcia stood directly behind her as a guard, and Madam Laval sat nearby so Ellie could turn and meet her eyes whenever she wished.
Yet after taking her seat, Ellie never once turned to look back.
“Envoys from the Kingdom of Bartucia.”
As dinner began, the envoys stepped forward.
There was a space before the platform for them to approach and offer their greetings.
At first Ellie thought it was too wide for a single person—but it turned out there was a reason.
“Greetings to the King of Nerendis. Bartucia congratulates Your Majesty and wishes everlasting glory upon Nerendis. This is a gift from His Majesty of Bartucia.”
The envoy pointed to the mountain of gifts behind him and bowed deeply.
Servants removed the cloth covering the presents.
“Ohh!”
“How magnificent!”
Gasps and cheers rose as the treasures were revealed.
The gift from Bartucia was a life-sized bouquet carved from pink stone.
“It was made from Lurunite, a gem that resembles Your Majesty’s hair color. Bartucia is renowned for its Lurunite mines, and we also export high-quality stones to Nerendis.”
“It’s pretty.”
Ellie gave a short comment and a bright smile.
She was trying her best to keep her words brief and regal.
Honestly, she didn’t find it that amazing—
It was interesting, but not as beautiful as real flowers.
Still, she smiled, appreciating the thoughtfulness behind the gift.
“I’ll have it placed in the palace gardens among the flowers for everyone to see.”
“We would be most honored if it adorned the royal gardens of Nerendis.”
The envoy stepped back, satisfied.
The next countries’ gifts were much the same.
Each presented their specialties combined with something representing Nerendis or Ellie herself, accompanied by grand speeches about friendship and alliance.
Ellie would then offer a short compliment and thanks—then it was done.
This scene had been described in the book.
By Princess Ellia’s side had stood Madam Laval, Duke Wheaton, and Duke Notman.
‘Please tell them our relationship with Bartucia will remain strong.’
‘Please say we’ll expand trade between our nations.’
Princess Ellia would simply repeat whatever they whispered to her.
That was why Ellie had refused to let anyone sit beside her.
Back then, people had whispered things like “She’s still so young.” or “Thank goodness Duke Wheaton is there to guide her.”
And Princess Ellia had agreed with them—“Yes, it’s a good thing Duke Wheaton is here!”
“That won’t do!”
If Ellie did the same, all her efforts to reject the regency would be wasted.
So she stubbornly insisted on handling everything herself.
In truth, to deal properly with envoys, one needed some knowledge of their countries.
Princess Ellia, who had done no studying, didn’t even know which nations bordered hers or what their names were.
But Ellie was different.
She had already learned most of the country names and basic facts through books, so she needed no adult’s help.
“When did Her Majesty learn all that?”
“Could she have studied in such a short time?”
“But they said her memory isn’t even whole yet…”
People whispered among themselves—but this time, the tone was entirely different.
Ellie smiled with quiet satisfaction at the murmurs reaching her ears.
“Good. No one’s saying I need a regent anymore!”
That alone was already a victory.
And she had one more goal left for today.
“Envoys from the Kingdom of Woodlock!”
Woodlock—
the very nation that had started the war which led to Princess Ellia’s downfall.
