Raised in Dungeon
Chapter 145 The Coronation

"Eldritch's future wife?"

"I thought the Queen would choose one of the princesses from outside the kingdom."

"What is the benefit of marrying the other-worlder?

As Eldritch gracefully entered the chamber with Jihye by his side, the low murmurs of the courtiers gradually transformed into a deafening buzz. The room had fallen silent as all eyes gazed upon the striking couple standing before them. The other princes were now speechless at the sight of it.

Since the future empress he had chosen was an other-worlder, they could not fathom what benefits Eldritch could have by marrying that woman.

And just as all the princes began to think so, Alice replied,

"Love... isn't it?"

Alicia's words at that time disgusted all the princes. Everyone knows Eldritch was the strongest figure who didn't care about women; even his fiancée broke off the relationship because of it. He is cold and heartless.

"You're kidding..." Harald said.

Alicia then explained

"I've heard a little about Jihye. She was rescued by brother Eldritch when she arrived in this world, and then they spent a month together. There could be a seed of love growing between them, right?"

'Yes, whether it's love or not. Surely this sudden announcement about Jihye shocked our mother-'

As soon as Alicia looked at queen Regina...

Alicia smiled widely, unable to contain her laughter.

The queen was visibly in shock. Her eyes widened in surprise; she also slightly gaped her mouth and began sweating.

"Fufu... geez mom, you just made the funniest face I've ever seen. Looks like what brother Eldritch did had to shock you," Alicia muttered.

Aware of Alicia's gaze, the queen put on another poker face, maintaining her elegance.

'So that's it, this is just my speculation, but it seems that brother Eldritch also knows the possibility that mother will choose an empress for him. By announcing his future wife here, all of mother's plans will be ruined.

Her first plan was to make Harald or Leofric become the king, but it failed because of brother Eldritch's arrival. Since her plan failed, she decided to use her puppet to become the new empress, but Eldritch instead brought his future wife and announced that she would be the future empress. Next, you might put your doll as the second queen, but you should know that the power of the second queen is much lower than that of the empress.'

Once again, Alicia covered her mouth with a grin, stifling her laughter as she bent over.

"What's wrong?" asked the person standing behind her, Alicia's personal knight, Akuto.

"No, nothing. Sorry to worry you."

'Brother Eldritch, what kind of surprise will you give us?' Alicia thought, looking at Eldritch and Jihye, who passed in front of her.

The king's coronation, this event began with the singing of the foster priests of the orphans, whom several priests guided. Their singing accompanied the coronation. Each chant is a way of praying to God.

After Eldritch and Jihye finally reach the bottom of the stairs to the throne, they sing faster, and their voices become rounder. Accompanied by the chant, a man from the knight's row came out, walked straight and stood beside the queen's row on the left, and then yelled,

"The Arcbishop and the Council, will enter the chamber!"

The council entered from the upper left and upper right doors, walking straight to their seats, but the seats were not filled. The Archbishops walked to the front of Eldritch. Because the position of the wind archbishop had not been determined since Cornelius' death, only three archbishops came to Eldritch's coronation.

"That one archbishop has black hair," Jihye whispered.

"Doumer Chaundeler, he's the archbishop of water church, he's an other-worlder," Eldritch replied.

Eldritch and Jihye turned to face the entrance.

The entrance opened, and then a line of the four churches entered, each carrying a staff with its elemental spirit symbol. Representatives of each church would stand in front of the knights and noble ranks. Then the last line was the line of foster priest children wearing white clothes, consisting of thirteen people, three of them carrying the book, the royal crown, and the king's scepter. They were accompanied again by the aristocratic knights.

As soon as the line arrived in front of Eldritch, the child holding the holy book came forward, then said

"Your majesty, as children of the kingdom of God, we welcome you in the name of the king of the kings."

Eldritch replied, "In his name, I come not to be served but to serve."

The boy came forward and gave the book to Archbishop Benedict Spelman.

"The grace of our lord, the love of god and the fellowship of the Holy spirit..." he mentions the oath intended for knights and nobles, which everyone will answer simultaneously.

After that, he will lead a prayer to God to bless the king who will be inaugurated. Once the prayer is over, the children below will lead the song, followed by the children above.

After the singing, the promise to serve the king is made by the council.

The time comes for the coronation of the king.

The three children holding the royal symbols—the crown, holy book, and scepter—knelt in front of Eldritch.

"Our new king, Prince Eldritch Odelina Wildenhall. It is with great humility and pride that I stand before you to remind you of the importance of remaining ever mindful of the law and the book of the God.

As our rulers, Prince Eldritch will dedicate their entire lives to upholding the principles outlined in this sacred book. This is the most valuable thing this world has to offer. Within its pages lies the very wisdom necessary to guide our actions and decisions, and so we must heed its teachings and respect its authority.

Let us take heart in the knowledge that these are the lively articles of God and the royal law by which our new king will govern."

Eldritch held the holy book, and then Archbishop Benedict Spelman opened the book and read the oath to Eldritch.

"Your majesty, the church established by law whose settlement you will swear to maintain is committed to the true profession of the holy book. In so doing, we'll seek to foster an environment where people may live freely. The coronation oath has stood for hundreds of years and is enshrined in law..."

Archbishop continued,

"Are you willing to take the oath?"

"I am willing," was how Eldritch should have answered.

But...

Eldritch was silent at that moment.

He didn't answer the oath.

Eldritch stood before the council, his eyes fixed on the book that was offered by the church in front of him.

Arcbishop Benedict's voice echoed in the chamber as he repeated the question that had been posed to Eldritch moments before.

"Your majesty, are you willing to take the oath?"

But Eldritch remained silent, as though lost in thought.

Whispering voices began to rise as people began to glance at each other in confusion. What was the reason for Eldritch's prolonged silence? Was he unsure of his willingness to take the oath, or was there another reason for his hesitation? The longer he remained silent, the more suspicion grew in the hearts and minds of the gathered council members.

"What happened?"

"What is he doing?"

"Why is he silent?"

Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, Eldritch finally let out a voice.

"Haaah... I've followed the coronation ceremony according to my oath to my mother." Eldritch said.

Eldritch turned his gaze to the crown and released his hand from the holy book.

"Now, I don't want to add any more to my oath to god."

Starting to feel strange about Eldritch, Benedict said,

"Your majesty, what are you talking about-"

Eldritch approached the magnificent crown at a steady pace, his eyes fixed on the glimmering jewels that adorned it. With a graceful hand, he reached out and lifted the crown. As he did so, a shimmering energy surrounded him, filling the room with an otherworldly glow that left all those present breathless.

'So this is all over brother Eldritch's mana,' Harald thought,

'Again acting on his own, does he have no respect for the kingdom?!' Mathilda thought.

'Brother... What exactly are you planning?' thought Alicia.

The princes stood in rapt attention, mesmerized by the sheer brilliance of Eldritch's aura. They watched in shock and confusion as he held the crown aloft.

Then suddenly…

Eldritch released the crown from his grip…

Letting it drop to the ground with a resounding clunk. The room fell silent as he spoke, his voice clear and unwavering,

"I will not be king," he declared, his gaze sweeping over the crowd with a sense of finality.

The crown lay abandoned on the floor, glistening as it rolled haphazardly toward the middle line of princes.

Eldritch looked at all the princes and said,

"With my resignation as crown prince, competition for the throne will begin."

At that time, most of the princes knew that this throne war would shed a lot of blood.

[ILLUSTRATION]