In the Name of Empress-Chapter 386 - 270: Are You a Ringer? What a Coincidence, So Am I

Chapter 386: Chapter 270: Are You a Ringer? What a Coincidence, So Am I

Magic New Calendar, June 22, 1793.

The coming-of-age ceremony for the new Emperor Sylph of the Sussex Empire, also her coronation ceremony.

With the Sussex Empire’s power and status, the coronation ceremony should have been grandly held in the Imperial Capital, lavishly depleting the national treasury.

However, Sif did not do this.

Her ceremony was quite simple, and the location wasn’t in the Imperial Capital.

The biggest expense wasn’t even the coronation ceremony itself, but the hospitality for guests from home and abroad.

A coronation destined to be filled with controversy.

Due to the Cabinet’s vote of two in favor, one abstention, all others opposed, the Heraldry Institute did not come to Hansa to complete her coronation and grant the Golden Staff.

Because the Divine Court of Light is allowed to preach within the Four Overseas Provinces, the Divine Court of Fengrao also had opinions on her and didn’t send the Pope for her coronation, only dispatched a few priests to observe.

Moreover, several major nations did not send their Supreme Leaders to attend the ceremony in person, only sent diplomatic envoys to politely, yet distantly, make an appearance.

Among the major nations, only Alina was willing to support her.

Everyone seemed to have agreed to watch her make a fool of herself.

If it were two years ago, she would surely be panicking with no idea what to do, but now she won’t.

She has Roland.

Sif confidently handed over the coronation ceremony to Roland to manage.

When Roland takes care of things, she always feels at ease.

She believes Roland will certainly produce the best show with the most cost-effective method.

She has money but doesn’t want to waste it on the coronation ceremony.

As the Sixth Return Day approaches, she must use all resources on worthy endeavors; she even hesitated to spend money on adornments or buying a few new clothes.

The reason is simple: even without makeup, is there a girl prettier than her?

The Magic Mirror remarked: There really isn’t.

There’s not much money, yet the event must be well done. An average person would surely feel overwhelmed, but this doesn’t trouble Roland at all.

The coronation ceremony requires a custom-made gown, crown, and scepter symbolizing authority—all of which are expensive and are rendered useless after one use, characterized as standard extravagance.

Sif’s budget for Roland is eleven thousand pounds, while Edward’s coronation total cost was one hundred fifteen thousand pounds.

A significant amount was spent on guest receptions, leaving Roland to save on the three main items.

He rented the coronation gown from the Jin Yuan Kingdom Museum.

It was the coronation gown of a certain Empress from the Jin Yuan Second Empire over five hundred years ago.

Since this gown was sealed after a single use, even after centuries, it remains as fresh as new.

This gown is inherently incredibly elegant, filled with a refined artistic aura, and due to long-term storage, no one recognizes it or knows its origin.

Just by looking at the dazzling gemstones, this gown is worth ten thousand pounds.

Since it will only be used once and then returned to slumber, renting it poses no issue.

Gown cost: 300 Livre, approximately 293 pounds.

The crown’s price is several times more than the gown; for an Emperor of the Sussex Empire, a crown should cost at least thirty thousand pounds.

Anything less would be a decline in status.

This doesn’t faze Roland at all and he didn’t commission top jewelers and artists to create the crown; he found Norton instead.

Using alchemy, he counterfeited the gemstones.

Alchemy counterfeits are more dazzling, more splendid than the real ones.

No one dares to doubt they’re fake.

After all, who would expect the distinguished Empress to use a fake crown at her coronation?

Even if someone suspects, who would dare to step forward and accuse?

Crown cost: 15 pounds.

The Golden Staff cannot be faked; fortunately, gold is much cheaper than gemstones—one pound of gold can be melted into 7.75 grams of gold, which is the basic cost.

The greatest cost of the Golden Staff comes from artistic design.

To showcase achievements and ambition, most monarchs invite renowned artists to design unique shapes for their coronation.

Most importantly, it must include these artists’ signatures.

Artists’ value is inflated by themselves, and their fame continued to rise with the artists’ egotistic praise.

Stepping on each other’s feet, everyone is happy.

Top sculptors are very valuable and never work for commoners to maintain this sense of superiority.

They may not have business for three years but wouldn’t mind making enough to last nine years when they do.

As Sylph’s coronation approaches, quite a few artists’ travel routes coincidentally lead towards Hansa City.

They won’t actively seek work but will certainly give the Imperial Steward opportunities to see them.

Unfortunately, this time, they miscalculated.

This time the Imperial Steward is Roland.

A natural miser.

Roland doesn’t even plan to use gold for the scepter.

He’s resourceful, but he has prepared a Longsword as the symbolic object of authority for Sylph.

The founding Emperor Sussex ascended the throne holding a Longsword.

Golden Staff? That’s for ordinary emperors inheriting ancestral businesses.

As the Empress who opens up vast new worlds, the scepter isn’t quite fitting.

The sword is more fitting.

The sword is already available.

Marco’s hundred forged steel Longsword [Morning Star] was taken by Roland as a trophy.

Using this longsword as the weapon to hold during the coronation.

According to tradition, the left hand also needs to hold something.

There’s no need to think hard; anything that appears at the coronation, even as a decoration, must be incredibly expensive.

Fortunately, it was Roland temporarily acting as the Imperial Steward, and he came up with an exceptionally good idea.

Magic Mirror.

Right hand Morning Star, left hand Magic Mirror.

The longsword shatters darkness, the magic mirror clarifies one’s true heart. A perfect metaphor.

More importantly, the Magic Mirror is a Divine Artifact. What decoration could be more prestigious than a Divine Artifact?

At least Roland couldn’t think of any.

After arranging all the props, the budget given by Sif still had plenty left. Roland could even buy himself a few barrels of Red Beard Black Beer and take a hearty swig.

Under everyone’s gaze, the coronation ceremony began.

Many did not attend but sent people to observe closely, aiming to gather intelligence as quickly as possible.

The coronation ceremony is a perfect opportunity for a new monarch to showcase themselves to the nation’s people and even the world; it cannot be taken lightly.

Even if it’s just to demonstrate the Empire’s wealth, the coronation ceremony should be grand.

However, Sif’s coronation ceremony left the whole world somewhat bewildered.

The ceremony was very simple, yet her attire was lavish.

Sif’s carriage and the accompanying cavalry did not stop at the Divine Hall, nor did they pause at the Governor’s Mansion and the Palace; instead, they went straight out of the city.

People were very surprised.

There is no reason to hold a coronation outside the city.

Sif didn’t mind; since Roland arranged it this way, there must be a reason.

The onlookers followed Sif’s entourage out of the city to finally see their destination.

Outside the city, a brand new Warrior Cemetery laid the warriors who had perished in past wars to rest.

Before the cemetery was a newly erected high platform.

Tens of thousands of soldiers stood in neat ranks, quietly standing there.

Even after standing for at least several tens of minutes, the formation was still orderly, without a bit of noise.

The delegates from various countries who had followed finally understood what Sif was doing.

She was indeed demonstrating her ambition to everyone.

The ambition to revere power and conquer all with strength.

The delegates from various countries finally recalled her actions over the past year or so.

Annexing parts of Val City State’s territory, taking half a province from the Oden Kingdom, intervening militarily to change the political landscape of the Jin Yuan Kingdom, using a flagship as bait to eliminate General Nephropidae.

Although many accomplishments were achieved by Roland, in the eyes of outsiders, Roland and Sif were like staying in the same bed, so there’s no need to differentiate too finely.

When Sif walked towards the high platform, even the most obtuse individuals understood.

She held white flowers and first offered them to the newly erected Warrior Memorial, bowing three times, before turning around.

Those with good memories finally recalled the dusty events of hundreds of years ago.

The first Emperor Sussex crowned himself in front of a cemetery, grasped a longsword dripping with enemies’ blood, and proclaimed the Empire’s founding.

Sif was walking the path of the first progenitor.

When she raised the longsword, the blood of the Sussex people boiled.

The onlookers’ eyes welled with tears.

They were overseas citizens; theoretically enjoying Imperial citizenship rights, but in reality, looked down upon by the supposedly noble old Imperial citizens back in the homeland.

The Empress had arrived, and they finally saw an opportunity.

The opportunity for promotion and wealth.

The opportunity to fight bravely.

The chance to be remembered in history even if they died in battle.

"I am willing to join you to rebuild the Empire’s glory."

Sif’s voice was gentle and soft, yet it carried an undeniable power.

"Long live!"

"Long live Her Majesty the Empress!"

The soldiers began shouting in unison.

The sound echoed above the forest, across the mountains and fields, with reverberations bouncing back, amplifying the sound, making it deafening.

Roland did not place anyone within the army to lead the cheers.

There was no need.

The new overseas army was entirely loyal to the Empress, no need to arrange.

They were all plants.

So was I.

Roland thought silently.

His lips curved slightly upwards, watching Sif raise the longsword, listening to her melodious voice singing the song of Empress Tianyou.

In a nearby pool, Miss Siren also joined in the singing.

The elderly Mr. Wald sang along with a radiant face.

Mr. William, though absent-minded and at his wit’s end, couldn’t help but join in.

Everyone was singing.

The song spread from outside the city to inside, growing further and louder, resonating across the entire continent.