Chapter 100: Funeral

The Grand Cathedral in the imperial capital, Winds, was filled with more people than ever before.

Countless chandeliers hung from the high ceiling, casting soft light across the white marble floor. Portraits of successive emperors lined the walls, and at their center rested a coffin quietly draped in crimson cloth.

“We gather before the Lord.”

The man standing before the coffin was an archbishop.

Archbishop Raihart of the Kilt Church, who had been dispatched to the Austin Empire, offered a prayer before the coffin.

“As a ruler upon the earth, he guided his people, preserved order, and fulfilled his duty. Every step of that journey lay within the Lord’s will, and now his soul shall find rest.”

Dignitaries from countries around the world had gathered in the cathedral for the former emperor’s funeral.

“Offer your prayers…”

It was rare for so many rulers and nobles to gather at a funeral.

The many people offering prayers at the former emperor’s funeral testified to how greatly the path he had walked had influenced the world.

“…Though there’s something a little sad about it.”

As I attended the funeral, I murmured those quiet words.

“Hm?”

Not everyone here sincerely mourned the former emperor’s death.

They had all gathered to take part in a rare diplomatic occasion that brought important figures from around the world together during the Great War. To whom did this funeral belong? Not to the deceased, nor to the bereaved family left behind.

It was a funeral for the empire and for the world. Perhaps because I still carried the sensibilities of a Japanese person from my previous life, I found that a little sad.

Even in death, the emperor was still being used for the sake of the empire.

“…It’s over already?”

The funeral itself was brief.

Instead, much more time had been set aside for the diplomatic party that followed.

The venue shifted from the Grand Cathedral of Winds to a grand hall.

The memorial banquet after the funeral was held in the largest hall of the imperial palace.

“Well, I’m not the main attraction here.”

Naturally, Lunoa Kingdom and Friez Kingdom stood at the center of the memorial banquet.

Little attention was paid either to the Rosha Empire, which was already nearing defeat, or to the Austin Empire, which hadn’t achieved any major feat directly in the war.

“The magical bombardment your country carried out against Frankhalt was a clear violation of international law. How does your criminal nation intend to defend itself?”

“What nonsense. That city supplied your front lines. Its residents were hardly innocent civilians unrelated to the war, were they?”

“What absurd sophistry. Have the people of Friez Kingdom never read the articles of international law? Or can you understand only your own language?”

At the center of the grand hall, watched by many people, Second Princess Emma and the chancellor of Friez Kingdom exchanged fierce words.

There was no subtle probing, only a direct exchange of attacks.

I wasn’t part of it.

“…Now then.”

Separate from the Lunoa delegation led by Second Princess Emma, I wandered through the banquet alone.

“I suppose I should start with someone from the Rosha Empire.”

Several people here were like me: they hadn’t joined a major delegation, but attended as individuals who had been granted a certain amount of discretion.

I approached one of them, a representative of the Rosha Empire.