Chapter 7: The Weight of the Crown

Chapter 7: The Weight of the Crown

The moment was upon him. After Lord Hadrian's detailed lesson on the responsibilities of kingship, Edmund barely had time to catch his breath when a knock echoed through the office door.

"My prince, 'tis time for your coronation," came Bell's gentle voice from the other side. "Everyone has gathered."

Edmund's heart raced, his nerves building up as he stood, trying to steady his trembling hands. Bell had already dressed him in the ceremonial attire earlier that morning—a lavish, gold-embroidered tunic, regal and heavy with the weight of tradition. He followed her, the significance of what was about to happen overwhelming him.

As he walked through the corridors, Edmund recalled a video he had watched back in his past life. It had explained the king's ceremony—grand, with a procession through the streets, a display of power and pomp. But there was no such procession here. Instead, he was led to a grand carriage, drawn by horses and surrounded by knights.

The carriage's interior was ornate, velvet cushions lining the seats, the windows framed by curtains that obscured the outside world, but Edmund pulled them back slightly to gaze out. What he saw reaffirmed his thoughts: The kingdom was on the brink of crumbling. It looked worn, tired, as if barely holding together under the weight of its own decay. The streets were dusty, the buildings showing signs of neglect.

The reality of the situation weighed heavily on Edmund's shoulders, and his thoughts drifted back to the knowledge he had accumulated from his previous life. He remembered reading about the kingdom's religion—a faith in the Four Great Gods. He recalled a post he had seen on Reddit explaining that the Roble Holy Kingdom, a prominent nation in the northern lands, followed this same faith.

The Four Great Gods—the God of Fire, God of Water, God of Wind, and God of Earth—were central to their belief system. They were not only revered as gods but also had their own subordinate deities: the God of Business, marking all currency and trade; the God of Theft, linked to the God of Earth; and Buddha, a figure of central importance in a variant religion that many saw as a follower of the Four Great Gods.

Edmund's mind flickered to another post, one that explained the real truth behind these so-called gods. The post suggested that the Four Great Gods of the Roble Holy Kingdom, along with the Six Great Gods of the Slane Theocracy, were not divine beings at all. Rather, they were powerful players from the game called Yggdrasil, just like Ainz, who had somehow found their way into this world, bringing with them high-level items and equipment.

This realization struck Edmund like a cold wave. He had once been a devout Christian in his past life, and now here he was, preparing to kneel before these so-called "gods"—beings who were once players in a game, not divine beings worthy of worship. The guilt stirred in him, deepening as the thought of worshipping false gods filled him with sickness. How could he, in good conscience, participate in this?

Despite his personal turmoil, the ceremony proceeded. He arrived at the church, the imposing structure rising before him, and entered with Bell by his side. The large hall was filled with nobles, his new family, and priests, their faces solemn as they waited for the moment to unfold. Edmund's stomach churned as he stepped forward, his feet heavy as if weighed down by invisible chains.

He stood before the statues of the Four Great Gods and, following tradition, knelt. The priesthood, with their robes and ceremonial garb, stood nearby, awaiting the moment when Edmund would take the oath. The room fell silent.

"Swear to govern justly, protect the realm, and uphold the law," the grandpriest intoned. Edmund swallowed hard, his voice steady despite the storm within him.

"I swear it."

The oath echoed through the hall, marking the first step in his new life as king. Then came the Anointing, a holy act performed by the grandpriest. Edmund knelt again as the priest approached, anointing his head and hands with holy oil. The ritual was a divine act, signifying that he was chosen by the Four Great Gods to rule. As the oil touched his skin, Edmund could almost feel the weight of that choice—his new authority and the responsibilities that came with it.

Then came the most iconic moment of the ceremony: the Crowning. The grandpriest took the royal crown and placed it upon Edmund's head. The weight of the crown was a literal and symbolic burden, marking the transition from heir to king. The royal sword was handed to him next, a symbol of his power and authority to defend the realm. Edmund grasped the hilt, his fingers tight around the weapon as if to steady himself.

Finally, the nobles and important figures in the room rose, one by one, to pay Homage. They knelt before him, swearing fealty and pledging their loyalty to the new ruler. Their actions felt distant, mechanical even, as though they were performing a ritual rather than sincerely pledging their allegiance. But Edmund accepted it for what it was—another step in this strange new life.

The formalities over, the banquet began. The grand hall was transformed into a venue for feasting and merrymaking, as nobles and courtiers celebrated the ascension of the new king. Edmund sat through it all, smiling at the appropriate moments, nodding to those who came to offer their congratulations, but all the while his thoughts remained elsewhere.

After the banquet, Bell guided him back to the palace, and Edmund, overwhelmed by the weight of the ceremony and the responsibilities ahead, retired to his chambers.

The moment he lay down on the bed, exhaustion took over, and his mind shut off. He slept soundly, for the first time in days, unaware of what awaited him in the days to come.

End of chap