Demon King of the Royal Class-Chapter 686

The Emperor stepped out of the audience chamber and made his way down the corridor of the central palace. The major issues had been addressed, and Charlotte would take care of the remaining state affairs. Charlotte would give him a summary later, they would discuss it, and that would wrap up all the significant tasks for the day.

As always, Scarlett walked beside him. In truth, Scarlett spent more time with him than anyone else.

“There’s only the evening event left, right?” he asked.

“Yes, Your Majesty. As I mentioned earlier, the banquet for the honorees is set for tonight at the Spring Palace.”

“I see...”

“It’s been a while since all five empresses have gathered together.”

“Indeed.”

The Emperor had five wives, all of equal rank. All five were empresses. There were concerns that this arrangement might lead to internal confusion, but the Emperor decided to proceed nonetheless.

Naturally, there were differences in influence among the five empresses.

The most influential was Charlotte, who managed the overall state affairs. However, this didn’t mean the other empresses lacked power.

Airi, for example, governed not only humans but also commanded all demons, controlling the massive demon forces that had become a significant pillar of the Empire.

Louise continued to rule over Kernstadt, the second-largest power after the Empire. Although Heinrich von Schwartz was the king, Louise was assisting him until he became accustomed to handling state affairs, which effectively made her the de facto ruler.

In fact, Kernstadt’s territory had already grown larger than the lands the Empire directly controlled. Even the Edina Archipelago, which had served as a base after the Demon King’s Gate Incident, had become part of Kernstadt.

Because of the overcrowding in the capital, the Empire found it nearly impossible to undertake any restoration or expansionary projects. Instead, their focus was on downsizing the capital, which had ballooned into an unwieldy city-state, and relocating its residents.

“Her Holiness is already in the palace.”

“Oh... is she?”

Olivia Lanche, who had transformed the Church of the Five Great Gods into a new entity and was head of another vast empire, wielded immense power.

Yet, some individuals had gained fame that surpassed even their considerable abilities.

One such person was Harriet de Saint-Ouen, the most powerful mage in history, an extraordinary being capable of wielding infinite mana. Her uniqueness demanded a new title, as a being of her caliber required a position that matched her unparalleled class.

The head of the Magic Council, the highest authority in all magical matters, was known simply as “The Archmage”, and Harriet’s name was synonymous with it.

“The Archmage is also heading there,” someone mentioned.

***

There would be a big crowd at the evening banquet, and the Emperor decided to head to the Spring Palace early. Although the banquet hadn’t officially begun, preparations were well underway.

The Spring Palace, where Charlotte had once lived as a princess, was still as vibrant as ever. Now that she was handling the state affairs, though, she had moved to the Autumn Palace, where the government institutions were located.

Two figures stood in the courtyard of the Spring Palace. One was a woman with long platinum blonde hair in an elegant braid.

Her Holiness Olivia stood tall and graceful, her presence commanding yet serene.

Beside her was a woman with striking black hair—Adriana.

“It’s been a while, Your Majesty,” Adriana greeted warmly.

“Greetings, Your Majesty,” Olivia echoed, her voice soft and welcoming.

Adriana had taken on the role of the Holy Empress’s bodyguard, standing loyally by Olivia’s side.

Olivia Lanche, who once harbored a fierce and untamed spirit, now smiled warmly, covering her mouth with a delicate hand as she regarded the visiting Emperor. The transformation in her demeanor was unmistakable.

Of all those who had changed after marriage, Olivia was the one who had transformed the most. She had once vowed to be a relentless nag, yet marriage had softened her, as if the need to protect what she viewed as her own had simply faded away.

The reason for this change was simple. Her Holiness Olivia was incredibly busy with the establishment of the Holy Empire, and as a result, she rarely saw the Emperor. Therefore, when they finally did meet after a long absence, she treasured every moment too much to let her own irritability spoil it.

Their time together was so precious that she spoke only sweet words and treated him with kindness.

“When did you arrive?” he asked.

“Just now. Not long ago,” she replied, using honorifics.

It was as if she had reverted to her past demeanor during the time when she had been known as the Saintess. Those who knew her well found this change in Olivia somewhat unsettling.

“It’s like realizing she’s genuinely too kind, but it’s a bit tough to admit,” Charlotte had once remarked about the now-gentle Olivia. “At least she’s not causing any trouble.”

There were countless days when Olivia cried alone, mourning the fact that she now saw Reinhart even less after their marriage.

“Why don’t you stay for a few days since you’re here?”

“I’d love to, but I’m busy. It’s the same for you, Your Majesty,” Olivia replied.

The Emperor frowned. “That’s unfortunate.”

Olivia smiled brightly, as if she couldn’t wish for anything more.

“Oh, Reinhart is here too,” a voice called from afar, prompting everyone to turn their heads.

There, just stepping into the palace, was Archmage Harriet, still dressed in her everyday attire.

Olivia’s expression hardened. “Why can’t a ghost just whisk her away? She always shows up at the worst times. Does she do it on purpose?”

Despite all the changes over the years, Olivia’s intense dislike for Harriet remained as strong as ever.

“What did you say?” Harriet asked coldly as she approached them, fully aware of Olivia’s disdain.

“What? Do you have a problem?” Olivia shot back.

“When you finally meet someone after a long time, shouldn’t you at least pretend to be polite?” Harriet countered.

“When I’m having a rare chat with His Majesty. Shouldn’t you have the courtesy to step aside?” Olivia retorted.

“I haven’t seen him in a long time either,” Harriet replied.

“I’ve seen him even less,” Olivia insisted.

The Emperor, knowing that stepping between the two would only lead to him being the first to get scolded, could only stand there, sweating nervously, without uttering a word.

***

As usual, Harriet had a brief argument with Olivia before retreating into the Spring Palace, claiming she was tired. Despite her words, Harriet was mindful, aware that Olivia didn’t have much time to spare. Olivia was helping to establish a new nation, a responsibility that, in many ways, was even more demanding than the Emperor’s duties.

She was also spearheading religious reform across the continent, a challenge bound to meet fierce resistance, putting her in constant danger and keeping her perpetually busy.

“How have you been?” the Emperor asked.

Olivia sighed. “The same as always. There’s still a long way to go.”

Given the nature of religion, the influence of the Holy Empire extended beyond the Empire’s physical borders.

The Holy Order’s temples, monasteries, and shrines were spread across the globe, and she was responsible for overseeing them all. Her duties spanned the entire continent, since people and territories were spread out all across it.

The conception that there were Demon Gods was a myth, yet convincing others of this truth proved to be an arduous task. Most people clung stubbornly to their beliefs, unwilling to accept the idea that the Demon Gods didn’t actually exist. Changing such deeply ingrained common sense was no easy feat.

“Still, it’s somewhat easier these days with the demon priests around,” she mused.

The Demon God was considered the deity of the demons. If the Great Gods truly rejected the demons, then the demons should not have been able to wield the Divine Power of the Great Gods. Yet, recently, several demon priests had emerged, and their ability to channel Divine Power normally associated only with humanity was slowly shifting people’s perspectives.

“Considering I’m the master of Tiamata, you’d think they’d believe it, but perhaps sheer numbers matter more,” she reflected.

“Indeed. Numbers are quite important.”

After finishing her conversation with Olivia, the Emperor turned his attention to the person standing beside her: Adriana, the Holy Empress’s guardian knight.

Adriana had been appointed to this role by the Holy Empress herself, much like Scarlett had been chosen to protect the Emperor. Initially, Adriana had resisted, insisting she wasn’t up to the task, but Olivia had been insistent, almost to the point of coercion.

As the saying goes, the role shapes the person. Adriana, already a formidable holy knight, had grown into a worthy guardian for the Holy Empress.

“Why are you wearing a dress today?” the Emperor asked.

.I was ordered to dress appropriately for the occasion...” Adriana replied, her expression reflecting her reluctance.

Her dress was even more splendid than that of Her Holiness Olivia. It was obvious that Olivia had dressed Adriana up intentionally.

Olivia laughed, covering her mouth as she glanced at Adriana. “Now that the rule forbidding priests or holy knights of Ouen from marrying has been abolished, there’s no need to hide your charm, is there?”

“...”

Adriana remained silent, still looking rather forlorn as she fiddled with the uncomfortable hem of her dress. Once the Holy Empress had wed, it essentially voided all past rules that governed the clergy.

The Holy Empire’s territory wasn’t vast, but its ruler was still responsible for overseeing all the lands where people lived. The Holy Order was a deeply rooted religion, and had a presence wherever there were believers. As a result, the Holy Empire functioned both as a nation and as the Empire’s intelligence agency, gathering information from across the continent. This had not been planned in advance, but it was an inevitable occurrence.

The Holy Order’s temples and shrines were scattered across the continent, and so therefore, news about the events happening throughout the land was easy to come by.

“How is the Autonomous Territory? Since there’s no news, I assume things are still okay.”

Even in the Autonomous Territory, where no officials of the Demon King’s Empire were stationed, there was a temple dedicated to the Five Great Gods, though small in scale. Even in a place dominated by the Hero Cult, there were still those who held faith in the Great Gods.

“Hmm... According to Rowen, it seems they’ve completely lost the will to resist after the last war. But who really knows? It’s not like they ever had the power to overthrow us. They shouldn’t cause us any significant problems for at least the next five years or so.”

After the war, Rowen returned to her rightful place—living out a shadowy existence. Her role had shifted from inquisitor to intelligence gatherer. She led the Empire’s intelligence agency, tasked with piecing together information gathered from across the continent to identify any threats to the Empire.

Her primary focus was monitoring the Autonomous Territory. Ironically it was Louise, who had initially wanted Rowen purged, who recommended this role for her, and Rowen embraced the suggestion with open arms.

She did not want to stay in a position she hadn’t earned for too long. She preferred to focus on what she excelled at, and did not hesitate to step back into the shadows once her tasks were complete.

The reinstatement of Illeion Volten, the former Commander of the Order of the Holy Knights, and his pledge of allegiance to the Holy Empire was also a favorable outcome. Naturally, the Order of the Holy Knights had become a subordinate organization entirely under the Holy Empire’s control.

Since the Order of the Holy Knights had originally been created by unifying the military elements of the Church of the Five Great Gods, it made sense that it would be subsumed under the Holy Empire, the central authority of religion in this new era.

“People are starting to arrive,” Olivia remarked with a smile as she noticed two figures approaching the Spring Palace.

The Emperor stood up abruptly, as if startled.

Adriana and Olivia exchanged amused smiles at his reaction.

“Adriana, isn’t it always funny to see this?” Olivia teased.

“B-be, be quiet...” Adriana replied, trying to suppress her laughter.

“Uh... Um... Yeah... No comment.”

Two individuals were walking toward the Spring palace. A man who always wore a sour expression whenever he saw the Emperor, and a woman with a perpetually cold expression.

The Emperor could adopt a chilly demeanor when needed, and Olivia could match that as well.

Emperor Reinhart ruled the Empire, but the true power lay with Charlotte de Gradias. Yet, the most respected figure in the imperial family was someone else entirely.

The Regent of Kernstadt, Empress Louise.

Empress Louise wasn’t particularly close to the Emperor. Those in the know understood why, while others remained oblivious. But even those unaware of the details sensed that Empress Louise was the one person the Emperor found most challenging to deal with. Because the Emperor found her the most challenging and intimidating of his brides, she commanded the greatest respect within the imperial family.

The Emperor greeted her with a deep, respectful bow. “Oh, you have arrived. W-welcome, ma’am.”

“I still don’t understand why you call me ma’am. But yes, it’s been a while, Your Majesty,” Louise replied, clicking her tongue at the Emperor’s nervous demeanor.

In her presence, the Emperor transformed from a lion into a mouse, and everyone had their own speculations about what it was about Louise that could instill such fear in the formidable Emperor Reinhart. As a consequence, they feared her as well.

Louise von Schwartz was a master swordswoman and a formidable warrior, a war hero in her own right, and people had every reason to fear her. But for those who understood the situation, it was all rather absurd.

Even from Olivia’s perspective, despite her lingering jealousy, Reinhart’s behavior around Louise was just plain entertaining.

“... I’ll get going first, sister.”

The current king of Kernstadt, Heinrich von Schwartz, fled into the Spring Palace.

Ever since the Empire’s founding, Olivia knew that Reinhart and Heinrich avoided private meetings. In public, if their eyes met, they would both look away as if they’d seen something forbidden.

Just like that.

“Uh, um... Would you like some tea...?” 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝐰𝚎𝕓𝐧𝚘𝘃𝗲𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝕞

“I had some on the way.”

“Oh, I see. Then, um, how about a meal...?”

“There’s going to be a banquet soon, so there’s no need to eat beforehand, is there?”

“Oh, I s-see. I wasn’t thinking properly...”

The Emperor shifted restlessly, like a puppy in desperate need of a walk.

Empress Louise usually stayed in Kernstadt for her duties, but occasionally, she’d return to the imperial palace for a few months. During those times, the Emperor would be a bundle of nerves, unable to sit still, trembling with unease every day.

Even when Louise wasn’t around, he acted the same way whenever she was mentioned. He genuinely wanted to do right by her, but from the outside, it seemed less like devotion and more like anxious fumbling.

“... Your Majesty.”

“Uh... Y-yes, ma’am?”

“How many times have I told you to stop acting like a late-blooming son desperately trying to be filial to his eighty-year-old mother?”

That oddly specific description perfectly captured how the Emperor was acting around Empress Louise.

It didn’t seem like he was trying to be a good husband; it felt more like he was trying to be a dutiful son. While the Emperor might forget to give gifts to the other empresses, he never missed Louise’s birthday. No matter where she was, he always sent gifts and greetings every quarter.

The Emperor bowed his head deeply. “I, uh... My apologies.”

He wanted to do right by her, but he was at a loss for how to do it.

“When you put it like that, I feel more like the Empress Dowager, or even the Grand Empress Dowager.”

It wasn’t just the Emperor. Both Olivia and Charlotte held a certain respect for her.

And there was someone else besides the Emperor who was just as taken aback by the new arrivals. Another empress, who had gone into the palace earlier on, but rushed out upon hearing of Louise’s arrival.

“Oh, oh, ohhh, uhh, I s-see... Y-you, you, you have arrived, Louise, ma’am?”

It was the Archmage.

Harriet seemed even more flustered than the Emperor.

“Yes, Archmage. Have you been well?” Louise asked.

“O-of course. Of course! Would you like some tea...?”

“I’ve already had some.”

“Then perhaps a meal....?”

“Isn’t there a banquet soon?”

“R-right? Right. That’s what I thought... I wasn’t thinking properly...” She echoed the Emperor’s words exactly.

Sending gifts and greetings for every birthday and season was something she did as well.

Louise let out a loud sigh. She hadn’t expected much from the marriage, since she knew it was a political necessity. In fact, she anticipated there might be difficult times ahead. She had prepared herself for the possibility of being ignored or even treated as inferior due to her lack of status and brief connection with the Emperor.

But this marriage had turned out to be chaotic in ways she had never imagined.