Contract Marriage: Rewritten - Chapter 29
Chapter 29
Translator: Yonnee
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03_The First Night
Before the funeral rites for the imperial princes could even be concluded, the emperor passed away. As a result, the emperor’s funeral proceeded swiftly.
Laniakea once again donned the mourning attire she had worn just two days prior and carefully stepped into the funeral hall. From the entrance, imperial knights stood in rigid formation, guarding the space with unwavering vigilance.
However, something about their appearance was different.
During the funeral of the imperial princes, the knights had been impeccably dressed in the ceremonial uniforms of the Imperial Knights.
But today, although they were still dressed formally, their attire bore noticeable creases and stains. Some even had armor marked with deep dents and traces of dirt.
More than anything, what set them apart from the knights at the last funeral was the sharp intensity in their gazes.
Previously, the knights had seemed more preoccupied with exchanging greetings with passing nobles than with maintaining security. But now, the knights stood tense, as if they might draw their swords at any moment.
The air crackled with a raw, battlefield-like tension. Nobles entering the hall found themselves unable to meet the knights’ eyes and hurried to their seats instead.
As Laniakea stepped further inside, the weight of numerous stares settled upon her.
She was grateful for the veil covering her face. Without it, people would surely be whispering about her expression right now.
When she reached the same place she had stood two days before, Signo approached her. He had rushed over the moment he noticed her glancing around with unease.
“There’s no need to be so on guard. They are all knights of His Highness Hyperion.”
“His Highness’s knights? You mean the border knights?”
“That’s right. The very ones who fought alongside him against the enemy. Though, rather than ‘alongside’, it might be more accurate to say they were put through hell together…”
“Weren’t the border knights forbidden from coming here?”
The borders were meant to be defended with unyielding security at all times. The empress had insisted on this, strictly forbidding Hyperion from bringing any knights back with him when he visited the capital.
That was why Hyperion always entered the imperial palace alone.
Even during the banquets where relief supplies were distributed, unlike other regions, the territory under Hyperion’s command had never sent more than a single knight.
Yet now, he had brought his knights here.
“Normally, they wouldn’t be allowed to enter. But this is an emergency—the emperor has passed away. According to regulations, border knights are permitted to enter the capital in such situations.”
“…Even so, is this really alright?”
“There’s no need to worry. The border defense won’t crumble just because this many knights have come to the capital. His Highness has spent years reinforcing its strength.”
Signo’s eyes gleamed with pride as he spoke. His gaze was filled with unwavering trust in Hyperion.
Glancing at the knights stationed around them with satisfaction, Signo guided Laniakea further inside.
“Your seat is this way, Your Highness.”
It was at the highest position in the funeral hall—the very spot where the Empress had stood two days ago.
“Where is Her Majesty the Empress?”
“She has collapsed from overwhelming grief, having lost both her children and her husband in such a short time. That will be the official statement.”
Then, lowering his voice so that only Laniakea could hear, he added,
“In reality, she is under arrest for threatening to kill His Highness Hyperion.”
Laniakea nodded in understanding.
Even at the previous funeral, the empress had behaved like a madwoman. And now, the emperor had passed away as well. There was no way she wouldn’t have lost her mind completely.
As Laniakea took in her surroundings once more, Hyperion entered the hall.
Though the space was filled with hundreds of people, the moment he stepped inside, all other sounds vanished.
Only the sound of his footsteps echoed through the silence.
His mourning attire must have been hastily prepared, yet the black garments that enveloped him were utterly flawless.
He exuded nothing but an overwhelming presence—like a god of death stepping into his own domain.
The nobles who had been watching quickly averted their gazes and bowed their heads as Hyperion passed by.
The knights, already rigid, lowered their heads even further, their tension sharpening.
At that moment, everyone in the hall came to a shared realization.
The old, frail emperor was dead.
And a new ruler’s era had begun.
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