Escape from the evil lady

The coronation of the new Crown Princess took place today.

The celebration ceremony turned out to be even more grandiose and magnificent than could have been expected.

The nobles who could no longer fit in the hall stood in the living room, and the servants working in the palace froze watching.

The whole world seemed to be looking at her alone. At the moment when the second princess was officially declared the heir to the Empire.

— The next ruler of the Empire will be Princess Jerica Lant de Ronan, her title will be promoted to Crown Princess, and all those involved will also be given a rank…

The Prime Minister read the decree aloud.

— …To mark the inauguration of the new Crown Princess, today His Majesty grants clemency to imprisoned criminals and presents a gold medal to newborn children.

The Emperor and Empress looked really happy.

The emperor looked proudly at his daughter and patted her on the shoulder. Countless people stared at the girl without taking their eyes off her.

— The Empire has acquired a successor with amazing virtues and outstanding talents, isn't this a blessing?

The aristocrats were talking loudly.

— This is undoubtedly a day of universal joy!

Everyone who saw the second princess at this moment could say with confidence that the position of ruler was very suitable for her. She was graceful and unsurpassed. The elaborate design of the outfit was decorated with sparkling gold threads and jewels so that it was impossible to look away.

The inauguration ceremony was coming to an end. Usually, the successor of the imperial family, as a sign of official acceptance of the title, drank a glass of wine handed over by the emperor.

Jerica Lant de Ronan accepted the cup with an expression of complete grace.

— Congratulations to you, my daughter!

The emperor, like a small child, was pleased and overjoyed, stroking his beard.

— Thank you, Your Majesty.

Countless nobles bowed their heads in front of Jericho, chanting congratulations. Words praising the Empire.

— Congratulations, Your Royal Highness the Crown Princess.

— The whole country is proud of you!

There was applause from everywhere.

The girl became the second most noble and worthy person in the entire empire after the emperor. The realization made her feel a little strange.

«Has this day really come?»

Jerica came to her senses belatedly.

While everyone was congratulating her, Jerica, although she accepted these congratulations with a polite smile, was as if she were not here. In fact, she never even thought that she would become a crown princess. However, if everyone around her is happy, then she should be happy too.

— My dear daughter, congratulations on the ceremony!

The Empress's radiant smile did not leave her face. Just looking at the sincere joy of her mother, the girl could not help but feel warm feelings.

The ceremony took longer than planned. The main hall was full of people. The emperor gave his daughter instructions on how to behave and communicate with aristocrats and people as a crown princess.

Jerica obediently accepted his instructions. It happened then.

Bang!

The front door of the main hall of the Imperial Palace was famous for its uniqueness, which was associated with the Ronan family tree.

However, the door, the pride of the imperial family and the symbol of the empire, disappeared without a trace. Gracefully trampling over the debris, the man strode down the red carpet.

— It's been a long time, Father, Mother.

From this voice, a herd of goosebumps ran through the body of many people.

On the threshold of the throne room stood a person whom no one expected to see here. Looking around, the nobles, who were shocked at first, seemed unable to even believe their eyes.

«What the…» the Empress clutched the armrests of her throne, trying to figure out if it was real or if she was just imagining it.

Someone even screamed about a ghost. But no. For a spirit, the monstrous Crown princess looked too good. Chuckling, Kaena Gessen de Ronan took one step forward.

«......»

The banquet hall, where it was supposed to be fun, was filled with an ominous atmosphere, as if the sun had risen.

Of course, the imperial family was the most shocked. The Empress, who had been cheering the loudest not so long ago, stared at the uninvited guest with distraught eyes. The emperor turned pale abruptly, and seemed to be barely standing on his feet.

Despite the fact that their daughter had unexpectedly returned alive, none of them looked particularly happy.

Jerica, who was standing next to the others, also couldn't believe her eyes and stared at her. Her older sister really turned out to be alive! Despite the fact that she wanted to say something to her, Kaena did not even deign to look at her.

Instead, she looked entirely at her father and stepmother.

— Just think. I just took a little vacation, and you've already made such a fuss.

The Emperor swallowed dry saliva.

— You… H-are you really alive…?

The Crown Princess, who heard his words, burst out laughing extremely merrily.

Refreshing laughter, which still seemed ominous, filled the banquet hall.

— Oh, it's true. It's really me. Are you glad to see me, Your Majesty the Emperor?

There was no response. Fear was clearly visible on the faces of the nobles, as well as on the face of the emperor himself.

People even tried not to breathe loudly, so that their breathing would not resonate in this silent banquet hall and inadvertently attract the attention of the princess.

Meanwhile, Kaena continued to walk forward. With every step she took on the red carpet, the blood in the emperor's veins froze more and more.

Although he personally declared his eldest daughter a posthumous criminal, but at the moment he seemed to have completely forgotten about it. He had not expected her to return in any way. Even if the emperor had intended to call the guards, the lump in his throat would not allow him to do so.

The Crown Princess, who had been speaking in a casual voice before, gradually raised her voice.

«Your Majesty, I regret to inform you that there was a complete attempt on my life during my vacation.»

— …

— Fortunately, I managed to avoid serious consequences and remain unharmed. However, you do realize that this is a big problem, right? The Crown Princess sighed in mock annoyance.

Knock, knock.

The sound of the emperor's heart was too loud.

«To be precise, someone dared to lay hands on the imperial granddaughter, especially the one who will become empress,» Kaena summed up her words laconically.

Everyone present understood what was being said. It was both an insult to the royal family and a crime of high treason, and it was a serious crime, which could not be more serious, no matter what crime was assigned.

The emperor's mind was empty. He froze and couldn't react in any way.

— Your Majesty the Emperor.

Polite honorific treatment can't be that creepy.

Kaena laughed.

— I am more than sure that the culprit of this incident is here. Therefore, for the benefit of all, I suggest that he come forward and confess everything honestly.

«......»

An even more silent silence reigned in the hall. Of course, no one did that. And even more so, the Empress, who was the instigator of this incident, did not budge. Despite the fact that the Crown Princess knew perfectly well who it was, she wanted to put on a show.

«Well, since no one wants to confess of their own free will, I'll have to do the interrogation right here,» she said.

There was a smile on her face, as cold as winter when the north wind blows and it snows cold.

Kaena clapped her hands lightly. At her call, the knights of the Dark Host flocked here.

The Imperial Palace was completely occupied by the soldiers of the Crown Princess. The ominous atmosphere had thickened to its limit.

— Aaaaaah! Help!

The screams of people trapped could be heard from everywhere. Kaena Gessen de Ronan watched with excitement, as if she had caught rats in a jar.

Her smile widened at the screams she heard. The princess drew her sword.

And right after that…

The real chaos began in the Imperial Palace.