Every woman likes jewels

For the crowning ceremony, nobles from all over Ethiro came to witness. Even foreign delegations arrived, and those that couldn't send an ambassador wrote letters.

There was even one from my Queen. She wished a prosperous new age for the Empire, willing to promote peace between our peoples.

There wasn't anyone from Polis since the city was still under siege, yet they managed to send a messenger.

The delegation from Asteria wasn't numerous, but it was acceptable given the tense relationship between the two empires. Among them, there was a person whose face tickled my memories.

I didn't know why, but I didn't like him.

«Your majesty,» the Ambassador said, «congratulations on your crowning. A new era is seeing its dawn. Hopefully, one without Asteria's and Ethiro's rivalry...»

As he talked, bending his torso forward by a few degrees and smiling with that fake grin, I remembered who he was.