I Kidnapped the Hero's Women-Chapter 271: Coronation Ceremony (3)
Late at Night
Reinhardt entered the conference room and quietly looked around.
A room filled with the most powerful members of the imperial family.
This was the first royal meeting since Vanessa had taken the throne.
Soon, the doors opened, and Emperor Vanessa entered.
The royal family members all stood up in formal greeting.
Despite being the youngest here, excluding Reinhardt, there was no one in the room who did not respect Vanessa.
"What is the reason for gathering all of the imperial family today, Your Majesty?"
"It is to hear your opinions regarding my marriage."
"...Excuse me?"
"To be more specific, my marriage to Count Aslan Vermonte. Speak your thoughts freely."
"...!?"
The light vanished from Reinhardt’s eyes.
The conference room instantly descended into chaos.
Vanessa, who had seemed destined to never pursue romance and to wed the empire itself, was suddenly speaking of marriage?
Had there been any signs of this?
No one had heard a single thing about it.
The only person who remained unfazed in the noisy chamber was the Grand Duke of the North.
"I object! I strongly oppose this, Sister!"
At that moment, Reinhardt slammed the table.
"The very idea of you getting married is unacceptable, but Aslan Vermonte of all people is out of the question!"
"Oh? And why is that?"
"First of all, he's ugly! He looks fierce, his eyes are sharp, and his face just gives off a bad omen!"
"Why? Isn’t he cute? Though he may appear rough at first glance, if you look closely, he has quite a pleasing face."
"...!?"
Reinhardt’s ✪ Nоvеlіgһt ✪ (Official version) expression twisted in utter shock.
To call that face ‘pleasing’?!
Had his sister finally lost her mind?
"Moreover, he has a terrible reputation with women! He has two girls he's practically raising to marry, another one he's already engaged to, and on top of that, his relationship with his knight and even his own sister is highly suspicious!"
"Ah. The last part is a misunderstanding. After observing Aslan Vermonte for quite some time, I’ve noticed that his soul is different from the people of this world. He must be a soul that crossed over from another world. So, while he and Irene Vermonte may share blood in name, they are not actually true siblings."
"Why are you so desperately defending him, Sister...?"
Silence.
Vanessa turned her head away without a word.
His sister—defending that scoundrel.
Wasn’t this basically the same as declaring her decision?
Reinhardt felt as though he might faint from sheer shock.
"Uncle! Please, say something! How can you stand by while my sister marries a weirdo like him?!"
"Aslan Vermonte isn’t a bad choice. In fact, I believe there is no better candidate."
"U-Uncle...!"
The Grand Duke of the North unexpectedly voiced his support.
Reinhardt’s face quickly crumpled as he looked on the verge of tears.
"Aslan Vermonte is absolutely unacceptable!"
"He is the only count not entangled with any noble faction. That makes him a rather good choice, wouldn’t you say...?"
"TATATATAK!"
With that, a flurry of voices erupted as the conference room was thrown into loud, heated debate.
The room split evenly into those who supported the marriage and those who opposed it, each side raising their voices in growing intensity.
As if she had grown tired of it, Vanessa waved her hand lightly.
And instantly, the room fell silent once more.
"I have heard all of your opinions. After thoroughly considering them, I have decided to proceed with my marriage to Count Vermonte."
"Sister!?"
"Your Majesty...!"
Regardless of the outcry, Vanessa showed no interest.
She rose from her seat and leisurely left the room.
Of course, this had been nothing more than a formal meeting.
The decision had already been made long before.
Not knowing this, Reinhardt could only stare at Vanessa’s retreating figure and let out a desperate cry.
"With this, everything that needed to be done is finished."
This was the marriage of the Emperor.
It wasn’t a matter that could be decided on a whim.
That was why she had gone through the motions of a democratic process.
There was no need to consider anyone else's feelings anymore.
"Tomorrow. It will be decided."
Tomorrow was the coronation.
In other words.
It was her nineteenth birthday.
Later That Night
"Is something wrong? Are you uncomfortable being alone with me?"
"T-That could never be the case, Your Majesty...!"
His pupils trembled.
Cold sweat dripped down his back.
Just a moment ago, Charlotte, Yulia, and Sylvia had all been with him.
But before he knew it, they had disappeared without a trace.
Now, he was alone with Vanessa.
It felt as if he were an abandoned pet—one that had happily gone out for a walk, only to turn around and realize that its leash-holder had vanished.
Wait.
Wasn’t this... the Emperor’s bedroom?
How had he ended up here?
His memories were blank.
'Ah, right. She lured me in by saying she’d show me her childhood album...'
Only now did he recall how he had been trapped.
The idea of seeing Vanessa’s childhood photos had completely clouded his judgment.
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By the time he came to his senses, he had already walked right into her den.
'Damn it! I stepped into the trap!'
He shivered in terror.
Had he just fallen for Vanessa’s cunning scheme?
His spine tingled as an ominous chill spread through his body.
'What’s going to happen to me now?'
Would she drug him with an aphrodisiac and pounce?
Would she overpower him with sheer strength?
Would she silence him before he could call for help?
As anxiety paralyzed his body, Vanessa leaned in even closer.
"Here. Look. This is my album."
"Ah..."
She placed the album before him.
A collection of hyper-realistic portraits, painstakingly drawn.
He recognized that face.
It was the same child he had met when he traveled to the past.
"So that child really was you, Your Majesty..."
"Did you doubt me?"
"Not exactly... but I did have my suspicions."
"Hmm. Then I must erase those doubts."
"...?"
Rustle.
At that moment, the sound of shifting fabric reached his ears.
Suddenly, Vanessa’s silhouette shrank.
"H-huh...?"
He turned his head sharply—
And froze.
Before him stood Vanessa from eight years ago.
She had reverted to her younger self.
Panic gripped him as he instinctively reached out, fearing that her clothes would slip off.
Fortunately, they remained just barely secured, though it was dangerously close.
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Her height had changed, but her body had not.
She quickly turned her head away, clearly embarrassed.
Then, with a soft sigh, she gathered her energy and returned to normal.
"I couldn’t see it clearly... Could you release your aura again...?"
"Don’t lie. You were staring in a daze. I will not do it again!"
"Why are you so embarrassed?"
"It was an unsightly time in my life. Back then, I was an arrogant child who thought all humans were shallow and foolish."
"You were plenty adorable, Your Majesty. You have nothing to be ashamed of."
"Nonsense..."
Vanessa’s face flushed deep red.
Aslan watched her carefully.
And he knew.
Vanessa had never undone her aura for anyone before.
At least, not in front of him.
'Charlotte, Yulia, Yuri... And now Sylvia and Vanessa, too?'
Good lord.
The sheer adorableness was reaching critical mass.
"...Why do you look so scheming?"
"It's your imagination. More importantly, there is something I must say."
"...?"
He turned fully to face her, locking eyes.
This was long overdue.
He reached out—
And gently placed his hand on her head.
Aslan's voice was calm as he lightly stroked her head.
"If I had at least left a message saying that I wouldn’t return for another eight years, you wouldn’t have wasted time searching for me."
Vanessa didn’t respond.
"Still, thank you for remembering me. Seeing you grow into such a fine empress and an even more beautiful woman fills me with pride."
Still, she remained silent.
As he continued to stroke her head, she lowered her face, her golden eyes hidden beneath her bangs.
When Aslan moved to pull his hand away, Vanessa grabbed his wrist, pressing his palm firmly against her head.
Back when he had traveled to the past, he had only helped her and Irene out of a passing sense of responsibility.
It never occurred to him that those brief moments would leave such a deep mark on her heart.
He hadn’t realized how much she had suffered, waiting for someone who didn’t exist in this world.
"...You’re wrong."
Slowly, Vanessa lifted her head and met his gaze.
"The eight years I spent searching for you were not wasted. It was because I held onto the hope of finding you that I became the ruler I am today."
"Knowing you might be watching from somewhere, I had no choice but to become an empress worthy of your eyes."
"I see. You worked hard, then. Well done."
[The Evil God, 'Kali', urges you to hug our beloved empress immediately.]
The moment he registered the notification—
Vanessa lunged forward.
She threw her arms around him, burying her face into his chest.
The Iron-blooded Empress did not shed tears.
So Aslan closed his eyes, allowing her to silently tremble against him.
Just as he was about to relax, something on the bedside table caught his eye.
"Wait... What the hell is that?"
His pupils dilated.
His breathing stopped.
Something on the table had made him freeze in place.
Later...
Aslan left the emperor’s bedroom.
Vanessa, now alone, finished adjusting her makeup in the mirror.
A small, satisfied smile curled her lips.
"Strange."
She had thought she had long since matured—physically, mentally, and in terms of power.
But only after Aslan’s words of encouragement did she finally feel like a true adult.
Somewhere deep in her heart, an unknown weight had lifted.
With a refreshed spirit, she rose from her seat, ready to leave for the coronation.
Just as she reached for the door—
She froze.
Her eyes landed on something by the bedside.
A single small bottle.
An aphrodisiac.
Silence.
Her expression stiffened.
"Ah."
She had forgotten why she had invited him in the first place.
