Axel

Chapter 431: You Are Forever My Little Princess

Added 2025-05-09 15:01:06 +0000 UTC

The Temple of the Serpent of Fate in the Lukavaro District!

Recently crowned Emperor Maclaine Bretagne of the Fars Empire knelt before his wife's grave, his hands pressed against his knees as he murmured softly.

"Nannie, I’ve come to see you."

"I wonder… are you doing well now?"

"I never thought of becoming the Emperor of Fars, but that day..."

"Charlot knelt before me, saying, 'Hail, Your Majesty of Bretagne!' He even urged me to rebel. At that moment, I broke down completely. All I wanted was to avenge you."

"If I hadn’t rebelled and let Prince Redmir Axel become the Emperor of Fars, I would never have had the chance to bring you justice."

"If the True Gods would allow it, I would trade the throne of Fars for your return."

"Today, I saw that young man invite Annie to dance."

"You must have seen it too. I saw Annie glowing—radiantly."

"I know Annie is adorable and beautiful; after all, she inherited your looks. But this was the first time I’ve seen a girl shine so brilliantly while holding the hand of her beloved."

"The Rose of Strasbourg, Aurora Soumet, is an unmatched beauty—something even I must admit. The capital’s pride, Sophia Gallanord, has a name celebrated by countless youths."

"They aren’t merely astonishingly beautiful; they also possess peerless grace."

"Today, they attended my coronation and the royal banquet afterward!"

"Normally, they would be the center of attention for all the young men."

"Neither your father, Emperor Julius Axel VI, nor I, your Bretagne Emperor, could claim to overshadow them."

"I never imagined that my precious Annie, simply standing there without needing to do anything, could make them pale in comparison."

"She became the undeniable center of everyone’s attention."

"In one of that young man's books, he wrote a line: 'Common men pursue the best woman in the world, but noble men strive to make their woman the best in the world.'"

"When I first read that, I cursed him for spouting nonsense."

"Nannie, you probably never thought, just like me, that such a man could exist. That someone could truly achieve this. How could anyone manage such a feat? Yet, he made our darling Annie shine like a goddess, reigning over the entire ball, where beauty was her least remarkable trait!"

"Charlot truly is an absolute scoundrel."

"But even I can’t find a single flaw in him."

"When I was younger…"

"When I was younger, I should have fought for you, won glory for you…"

"After all, you too were always my princess."

"Nannie!"

"I swear to protect our two children."

As he spoke his final words, the elderly emperor broke down in tears, choking on his sobs, pouring out his sorrow before the grave of his departed wife.

All of Strasbourg celebrated through the night.

For the first time, Charlot did not escort Annie home. No. 58 on Elysée Avenue was no longer her residence. He could only send her back to the royal palace.

Soon, Annie would move into her new duchy estate.

Yes, Annie was not just the Princess of Fars but also the Grand Duchess of Moldova.

He, too, might soon own a count’s manor.

Perhaps, after the war ended, he would marry Annie...

After escorting Annie back, Charlot didn’t linger in the palace, nor did he return to Baker Street No. 221B. Instead, he went back to No. 58 on Elysée Avenue.

This residence held a unique significance for him. It was the first property Charlot personally owned. It was where Mrs. Nancy and Madam Umeboshi resided, along with his three clever cats and his secondhand carriage.

It was where he and Annie had shared countless dates, strolling hand in hand down Elysée Avenue, exploring its restaurants, and visiting nearly every shop.

In a way, No. 58 on Elysée Avenue was Charlot’s only place in this world that truly felt like home.

By the time he returned, it was already late. Soon after, the first light of dawn crept over the horizon, and the divine radiance faded from the skies. The nine True Gods’ temples returned to their original forms.

Charlot was about to ask Madam Umeboshi to prepare breakfast when a knock came at the door.

Mrs. Nancy opened it to reveal the Golden Ram Herolf and a robust young man. Charlot blinked in surprise before the young man introduced himself: "I am Argon!"

Charlot, puzzled, asked, "Why have you come to Strasbourg to find me?"

The elephantman Argon took a deep breath, knelt on one knee, and declared, "I arrived in Strasbourg several days ago. I visited Cappadocia and silently observed what you did at the Red Dragon Strait. Over the past few days, I’ve had long, in-depth conversations with the Black Dragon."

"I am convinced that you are the future of the orcs, the one who can lift us from poverty and survival crises to a peaceful, prosperous life."

"Hence, as the chieftain of the elephantman tribe, I, Argon, pledge my allegiance to you."

"Until the end of my life."

Charlot joyfully helped him up, exclaiming, "I feared you would never join us. With you now, I have seven..."

The old ram interrupted coldly, "Eight. Have you forgotten about your dear Gareth Mecklenburg?"

Charlot stammered, "Oh, oh, oh! I truly forgot about him."

"Now we have eight Saint ranks."

Argon suddenly felt a pang of frustration.

Had he pledged allegiance months earlier, he might have been Charlot’s foremost general.

But now, he was only the eighth. And even in terms of combat strength, Charlot’s forces included those who had driven back Amisfida the Lion King and the former Royal Knights’ Commander, Cresto, known as the Light of the Holy Mountain. Argon wasn’t near the top.

Faced with Argon’s sudden allegiance, Charlot felt an urgent sense of inadequacy. He thought to himself, "If I don’t ascend to Saint rank soon, I fear I’ll become the laughingstock of the continent."

"If life is a novel, I must ascend in the next volume..."

"Or, at the very latest, the one after that. I can’t delay any longer, or readers will start picking faults."

"They might even threaten the author with vote penalties."

"Provoking readers has never ended well for anyone."

Charlot was about to invite the Golden Ram Herolf and Argon to share breakfast when a eunuch’s voice called from outside the door: "Count Mecklenburg, His Majesty summons you to the palace."

For reasons unknown, Charlot suddenly felt an inexplicable urge to stomp a toad to death.