The Martial Unity

Chapter 3839: Discomforted Grooming

”Hey, did you hear the announcement?! Apparently, Prince Rui is going to become Emperor! That too today!”

”Wha—! So quickly!”

”It’s only been a little over a week since the Emperor of Harmony passed away...”

”The Kandrian Empire will be safe forever in his hands!”

”They’re throwing a celebration across the entire nation, it seems!”

The announcement of Rui’s coronation spread through the Kandrian Empire’s citizens like wildfire as the entire Empire began to enter into a festive mood despite the recent string of tragedies. The Kandrian coat of arms and flags were hung up on nearly every building that morning of the day of the coronation ceremony, waving vigorously in the Kandrian winds.

The bright, warm light of the morning sun illuminated the empire in a fresh atmosphere of hopeful optimism, dispelling the darkness that had set over the Kandrian Empire for a year since the war had started. Even if the citizens of the Kandrian Empire were confident in their forces, it hadn’t been easy being the target of multiple different civilizations.

Even the refugees stuck in the shelter found it in themselves to be hopeful for the future upon learning of the news of Rui’s coronation, having been fed well with food from the Britannian Empire. They remembered Rui’s promise to restore their lives, and could only hope that he would live up to it.

In the Capital City of Vargard, the entire city entered into a state of positivity for the first time since the war began. The destruction of the east coast of the Kandrian Empire had a cast shadow that drowned the Kandrian Empire in darkness, while the throne war had brought about uncertainty in the hearts of many. The debacle after the royal funeral ceremony also made it difficult for many to feel optimistic about the future.

It had gotten to the point where several citizens of the Empire had contemplated simply leaving the Kandrian Empire out of fear of civil strife.

But no, the throne war ended quickly, and Rui’s coronation was declared swiftly. In the blink of an eye, the political storm that once threatened to consume the empire and continent was gone.

”My... you look so pretty, Madam Amare!”

”Truly, you look like an empress to match the emperor-to-be, Sage Amare!”

”You have such natural beauty, it doesn’t take much to make you shine!”

Amare found herself seated in a chair as a team of court ladies assigned to her began combing her hair and applying makeup. Her expression became one of discomfort as she found herself experiencing something that she hadn’t ever experienced before.

External beauty was shunned as superficial in the Gen Temple ,while she had led the life of a wandering warrior and teacher as Esil during the Age of War. Never before had she gone to such an extent to enhance her beauty.

”Sit still, madam, we will shine your beautiful bronze skin until it glistens!” A maid held her shoulders, trying to keep her in place and stop her from moving away from the strange creams and other substances that they applied to her face.

”Y-Yes...” Amare stiffened, trying to keep still and suppress her discomfort, before shifting her attention to her clothes.

It was different from the humble attire of the Gen Temple that she was accustomed to wearing. The clothes she wore were woven from the highest-quality of esoteric fabric, shining light in an ineffable manner.

Her long brown hair, normally tied up in a bun, was let to flow smoothly, straightened until it was akin to fine strands of silk.

By the time they were done, she didn’t even recognize herself.

”You look absolutely beautiful, my lady!”

”His Highness is bound to be absolutely lovestruck when he sees you today!”

”You are truly worthy of accompanying His Highness to his coronation ceremony, Your Sagehood.”

”Y-Yes...” Amare murmured with an uncertain, nervous tone as she stared at her own reflection in the mirror.

Of course, the angst she felt wasn’t just about the radically alien experience of being treated like actual royalty, but also about what the future entailed.

A lot had changed in a very short span of time. By the time she had woken up after her battle with Ieyasu, the Emperor of Harmony was dead, and Rui had decided to ascend the throne.

That alone represented an enormous change in her life, for she would eventually be the wife of the Emperor of Kandria, which came with a whole slew of burdens and responsibilities. She had resolved herself to take them head-on if that was what was required of her to stay with Rui, even if she knew it wouldn’t be easy.

But the biggest change came last night when, in a moment of deep passion, the two of them decided to start a family. A decision that, now that she was sober and fully awake, she couldn’t help but second-guess. She had absolutely no problem with the idea of creating her own family with Rui, but she had envisioned doing so after their lives had stabilized, not when it was at its most unstable transition.

If not for Rui’s firm and determined commitment and assurances, she would have definitely been much more anxious than she allowed herself to feel at the moment. It didn’t help that, from the moment she got pregnant, she couldn’t use her Martial Heart. It made her feel unsafe in a way that she hadn’t felt in a long, long time.

”Amitabha, don’t worry, my dear child.” Bodhisattva Maitreyi placed a hand on her granddaughter’s shoulder. ”I am here with you; everything will be just fine.”

The moment the leader of the Gen Temple had heard that her precious granddaughter was pregnant, she had rushed to the Kandrian Empire with her Heavenly Step of Boundless Light and had refused to leave Amare’s side, no matter what.

A warm smile emerged on her face as she gazed at her grandmother’s reflection in the mirror. ”Grandma...”

”Come now, it is soon about time,” Bodhisattva Maitreyi informed her gently.