The day of the Coronation Ceremony had arrived.
I had been in a foul mood since morning as I changed into my formal attire at our rented townhouse in the royal capital.
My seven-day vacation was supposed to be a sanctuary. Instead, the final day had been spent doing nothing but being jolted around in a carriage on the long road from the Razgrim domain to the capital. I wasn’t working, but I certainly wasn’t resting. My lower back throbbed from the hard seat, and the sun had already dipped below the horizon by the time we reached the inn.
"I want someone to give me back that day of my vacation."
"And who exactly do you expect to give it back? Complaining about the distance between your domain and the capital won't change a thing."
Clarice looked at me with pure exasperation as she adjusted my collar. Beside her, Lydia had already finished her own preparations for the ceremony, her silver hair tied back with severe precision.
"The royal family was the one that demanded I travel to the capital during my time off. Therefore, the royal family should be the ones to reimburse me."
"Would it not be better to consider that day as being included in the reward you are to receive today?" Lydia suggested.
I stopped mid-motion, halfway through sliding my arm into my jacket sleeve.
That was right! Today was the day I would finally be rewarded!
The thirty gold coins I had received in advance were already a small fortune. If that was just the down payment, the main prize might be a hundred... no, it wouldn't be unreasonable to expect two hundred. I could expand the wine cellar, buy the finest mattress money could buy, and still have enough left over to invest in the domain.
"I see... If one day of vacation translates into two hundred gold coins, that’s a trade I can live with!"
"Where did all that grumpiness go...?" Clarice muttered.
"Today is the day I get a return on my investment! It's better to receive a prize in a good mood; the person giving it will feel much better about the exchange."
"It is truly rare to see a man who can show his greed quite so blatantly..."
Even if the two of them were appalled, pretending I didn't want the money wasn't going to make the pile of gold coins any taller.
When we stepped outside, Serena was waiting by the carriage. Only Clarice, Lydia, and I were permitted to enter the Great Hall. Serena would stay behind to guard our return route.
"If anything feels off, be ready to move the carriage immediately. I don't trust that every one of Regnard's lackeys has learned their lesson."
"Understood. I will secure the path of retreat. I shall not leave this post until you return, Master."
"I'm only here to pick up a check today. I doubt we'll need to make a run for it."
As I chuckled, Clarice furrowed her brows in distaste.
"...Please don't. When you say things like that, it feels like you're inviting disaster."
◇
Inside the Great Hall of the royal palace, nobles from every corner of the kingdom stood in ordered ranks.
Among them, Galvas Eldran watched Vain standing next to his daughter, a faint smirk tugging at his lips beneath his thick beard.
He had left Lydia in the Razgrim domain to sharpen her eye for character. That wasn't a lie. While his daughter was peerless in martial arts and strategy, she was far too easily swayed by formality and social standing. There was no man better suited to shattering those rigid preconceptions than Vain Razgrim.
But there was a second reason.
The young man had overturned the Royal Selection, protected the next monarch, and even swayed the lords of the West. A man who had achieved such feats would not remain a count for long. A promotion to marquis was a certainty, and if Alecia was feeling particularly bold, he might even rise to the rank of duke.
If that was the case, it was better to establish a firm connection before the boy realized his own worth. By placing his daughter there as a guest officer, the link between their two houses would remain for at least six months. Whatever happened after that would be up to the two of them.
"If I stake my claim early, I'll have a seat at the table later," he murmured.
A veteran retainer at his side lowered his voice. "Your Grace... please, whatever you do, refrain from saying that in front of Lady Lydia."
"I know... that is why I said it now."
Furthermore, Galvas had genuinely taken a liking to the insolent brat. Vain didn't flatter, and if he thought something was wrong, he would say it to your face. His manners were non-existent, but he was far easier to deal with than those who cultivated poison behind polite smiles.
"The boy still has mountains to learn. Keeping Lydia there gives me the perfect excuse to meddle in his affairs."
"Is that not your primary reason, then?"
"Do not say unnecessary things. This is what we call the wisdom of a long-lived noble."
Galvas stroked his beard, perfectly content. At this moment, he didn't doubt for a second that he had the upper hand.
◇
As the Coronation Ceremony began, a heavy silence fell over the Great Hall.
The Former King appeared first. He looked thinner than when I had last seen him, but he walked to the front of the throne without assistance. Following in his wake was Alecia, draped in the heavy, ornate mantle of the royal house.
"Alecia..."
"...Yes, Father King."
"From this day forth, I entrust this kingdom and its people to you... Never forget the weight of the crown you wear."
"I shall protect this kingdom, without fail...!"
As Alecia bowed her head, the Father King handed the crown to the Old Prime Minister. After the oath was sworn, the crown was placed upon Alecia's head, and she took her seat upon the throne as the new Queen.
Following the lead of the other nobles, I dropped to one knee and bowed to the new monarch.
What followed was the formal reading of the sentences regarding the succession struggle.
The princes, including Regnard, had officially renounced their rights to the throne. While they were not stripped of their status or private fortunes, they were to be confined to detached palaces for the time being and were strictly prohibited from participating in government affairs. The aides who had attempted to coerce the lords were relieved of their duties and slapped with heavy fines.
No blood would be shed, but they would never be allowed to reach for the throne again.
Regnard accepted the sentence with a mask of cold indifference. The Father King, standing by the side of the throne, did not interject. His eyes only narrowed slightly when his son bowed his head in submission.
Next came the distribution of rewards for those who had supported the Queen. Promotions and gold coins for the Royal Guard. Certificates of merit for the civil officials. House Calden, House Norden, and House Raudel were granted gold coins and preferential trade agreements.
Twenty gold coins. Thirty. Fifty for the heavy hitters.
As I clapped along with the crowd, I was busy running the numbers in my head. I’d already been given thirty in advance. If I was the MVP of this selection, then surely, I could expect around two hundred.
"Count Vain Razgrim. Step forward."
Finally, my name was called.
I walked to the front of the throne, dropped to one knee, and placed a hand over my chest. Even if the person on the throne was Alecia, for now, I had to play the part of the loyal servant and take my prize.
The Old Prime Minister unfurled a scroll.
"In recognition of his immense contributions during the Royal Selection, Count Vain Razgrim is hereby awarded one thousand gold coins."
One thousand...?!
I nearly snapped my head up in shock.
I didn't mishear that, did I? The nobles in the hall immediately broke into a frantic whispering.
This was far beyond a wine cellar renovation! I could repair every road and bridge in the domain, build new barracks, and even construct a private, soundproof villa just for myself!
Ah... I'm so glad I worked for this...!
For the first time in both this life and the last, I felt that sentiment from the bottom of my heart.
"I... humbly accept," I managed to choke out. I tried to maintain my composure, but the fingers of my right hand were twitching as if they were already counting the coins.
The Old Prime Minister waited for the noise to subside before looking back at the document.
"Furthermore, in recognition of these achievements and in anticipation of his future service, House Razgrim is hereby elevated to the rank of Dukedom. Henceforth, Vain Razgrim shall be known as Duke Razgrim."
The euphoria from the thousand gold coins evaporated instantly.
A Duke. That was a position that required being deeply involved in the governance of the entire kingdom. Parliamentary meetings, petitions from other domains, endless social obligations in the capital—the workload tripled just by thinking about it.
"...I humbly accept the appointment."
I managed to offer my thanks and retreated to my seat.
Duke Eldran, standing nearby, lowered his voice with a smug grin while keeping his eyes fixed forward.
"A celebration is in order, brat! Now you are a Duke just like me. From this day on, you have a duty to oversee the entire kingdom. First, we must discuss your conduct as a duke and how you are to handle the subordinate lords—"
The lecturing started before the ceremony was even over.
However, as I prepared to tune him out, one particular thought snagged in my mind.
Wait. Just like him, a Duke...?
"...Hm?"
If I were a Duke, it meant I didn't have to bow more than necessary to anyone of Marquis rank or below. Wouldn't it be easier to shut down annoying banquet invitations than it was when I was a mere Count? Wouldn't the list of people who could lecture me on "etiquette" decrease significantly...?
"If I'm a Duke, doesn't that mean I can ignore most of the tedious formalities?" I whispered back.
"As if! You haven't listened to a single word I've said!"
The work would increase—that was a given.
But having fewer people to answer to wasn't a bad trade. If that privilege came along with a thousand gold coins, then the title of Duke wasn't quite the disaster I'd feared.
As a small smirk played on my lips, Duke Eldran snorted, appearing exasperated yet strangely satisfied.
"Good grief... as I thought, I'll have to keep a close eye on you."
The Old Prime Minister closed the scroll and prepared to step back.
I assumed that was the end of it.
But just as I relaxed, Alecia raised a hand from the throne.
"Prime Minister, wait a moment."
The Old Prime Minister paused and turned back to her. "Your Majesty... the rewards for Duke Razgrim were the two I have just announced, were they not?"
"Yes... but there is one more reward I have decided upon as your Queen."
What? There’s more?
I started to feel a surge of excitement, but the moment I caught Alecia's expression, a cold stone sank into my stomach. She was smiling gently—but it wasn't the smile she’d given me when she handed over the gold. It was the face she made when she’d backed me into a corner to make sure I couldn't run away.
Alecia looked out over the gathered nobles.
"The reason I am able to sit upon this throne today is because many of you lent me your strength. I have just granted rewards for those efforts."
Her gaze shifted, locking onto me with terrifying focus.
"Among you, Vain Razgrim did not yield to the pressure of the First Prince. He supported me until the very end. He is the greatest contributor, the one who moved the lords and secured my place as your Queen."
The gold and the title—I’d already taken those.
—What more could you possibly want to give me...?
"Therefore, in the name of Queen Alecia Valsein, I shall grant one final reward of the highest order to the man who served me best."
Of the highest order...?
Despite the words, I felt a mounting sense of dread.
Alecia's smile deepened by a fraction.
"I shall welcome Duke Vain Razgrim as the husband of Queen Alecia Valsein."
The sound died in the Great Hall. I stood there, staring up at the throne, unable to move.
—What did she just say?
...Husband? Who? To whom?
I had heard the words, but the meaning refused to settle in my mind.
"...Huh?"
That was the only sound that escaped me.
Clarice pressed a hand to her mouth in shock, and Lydia’s eyes were wide with a rare look of total disbelief. Even Duke Eldran's smirk had frozen into a mask of stone.
Beside him, only the Father King looked between his daughter and me before letting out a small, resigned sigh. It seemed he had been in on this third "reward" from the start.
Duke Eldran looked back and forth between Alecia and his daughter, his previous composure shattered.
Beneath her crown, Alecia beamed with profound satisfaction.
One thousand gold coins... and the rank of Duke.
I could have accepted those. I could have reframed them as a victory. But this third one—no matter how I looked at it—was not a reward. My dream of a quiet life as a lord had breathed its last before the Coronation Ceremony had even finished.