A teeth-grinding sound rang out, and the tightly closed door finally opened slowly.
Everyone held their breath, and a figure of unparalleled beauty walked out from within the door.
The figure wore a golden laurel wreath on her head, draped in white silk, with a red and gold-trimmed pibo behind her. Every step she took seemed so noble and elegant.
On her beautiful face, her emerald green eyes were like the most exquisite gems, deep and calm like a clear lake, possessing the power to instantly calm people.
The figure who walked out of the golden palace was like a goddess from a painting. The scene was frozen, and from any angle, it was a work of art.
If she hadn't spoken… "Mwahahaha! What do you think? Are you stunned by my perfect beauty?"
Nero looked at the stunned crowd, and their reaction made her raise her head and laugh loudly, very pleased.
Instantly, that elegant demeanor was utterly destroyed, and the beautiful goddess instantly transformed into a mischievous girl.
She was still beautiful, as her appearance hadn't changed at all, but the initial sense of awe was gone. The ministers also found their familiar feelings returning.
"Ah~ Your Majesty's beauty is truly unparalleled in the world! This attire perfectly accentuates Your Majesty's charm. It is truly my good fortune to witness this, I, Holio, am thrice blessed!"
Holio was the first to recover. The Nicuss noble skill activated, and a string of praises naturally flowed from his mouth.
The last time he saw Nero in a dress, it seemed to be at the Emperor's coronation ceremony, right?
He truly wished His Majesty would change her dressing habits. All day long, she only thought about wearing neutral clothes, acting as wild and unruly as a tomboy.
The others also gradually reacted, showering her with flattery.
"Elegant! Truly elegant! Your Majesty's beauty shines like a luminous pearl!"
"Nonsense! Your Majesty is clearly a star in the heavens! Her brilliant radiance makes even the sun and moon dim in comparison!"
"Even the Goddess of Beauty is no more than this!"
...Thirty minutes later!
"Ah~ Like the bright moon in the mountains, the flowers caressed by the spring breeze, Your Majesty's charm…"
...One hour later!
"Your Majesty! How can you be so beautiful?"
"How can one capture your beauty? Even the most skilled painter cannot…"
Satan Saint's cane was almost snapped in his grip. Is this the mysterious Nicuss? Is this what they call nobility? A bunch of treacherous and fawning sycophants!!
His face was dark, making his expression unreadable. The ceremony, originally planned to end in about two hours, had now exceeded three hours.
Even Morgans's reporters had stopped taking pictures by now. He had initially thought it was a show of force, but… Satan Saint looked at Nero, who was reveling in the praise, and now he was somewhat unsure.
Previous reports on Nero also mentioned her fondness for praise and her extravagant habits, but who could have imagined this form of expression?
Seeing that these sycophantic officials intended to continue, Satan Saint truly couldn't sit still. He grabbed Spandine by the collar beside him.
The force was so great that it almost crushed his collar. His thick beard obscured the movement of his mouth.
But Spandine could clearly feel the murderous impulse in Satan Saint's eyes.
"Whatever method you use! Make these damned fellows stop! The Celestial Dragons' coronation ceremony cannot be delayed any longer!!"
"Ah? Me… me? Yes! I'll go right away!!"
Spandine pointed to himself in disbelief, and after seeing the cold glint in Satan Saint's eyes, his answer immediately became firm.
But after agreeing, he felt as if he was caught between a rock and a hard place.
There was no choice but to bite the bullet. After all, he still had to work in the World Government, so he could only go and persuade Nero.
As a participant in the Ohara incident, and someone who had once experienced Nero's power up close, Spandine looked at the figure on the high platform.
He felt it would be better to approach indirectly. He found Minister Holio, who was drinking water to clear his throat, in the back row of the crowd.
Spandine, with shifty eyes, tugged at Holio's sleeve and said with a lewd expression: "Uh, Minister Holio, don't you think it's about time?"
"Time?" Holio feigned a look at the sky, then slapped his head: "Is it already this late? Oh dear! I was so engrossed in Your Majesty's beauty, I thought it hadn't been long at all!"
Holio wasn't sure if Nero herself had intended a show of force, but he certainly did.
This was how interactions between two powers worked; leverage was gained little by little through such tactics.
"I apologize for making Satan Saint wait so long. My Your Majesty is just like this; when she gets emotional, she disregards everything. I often get headaches because of His Majesty's behavior!"
He spoke of being in a hurry, but Holio's movements were slow, and he started to ramble again.
Spandine dared not rush him and could only smile apologetically while agreeing with his words.
"Your Majesty's charm is indeed astonishing; anyone would be captivated by it. However, if this delay continues, it might interfere with Your Majesty's meal…"
Holio glanced at him, satisfied with his humble posture. Coupled with the fact that it was indeed getting late, he decided not to make things difficult for him any longer.
"That is true. Your Majesty is still growing, and lunch cannot be delayed. Very well, I will go and remind her now."
Spandine was almost in tears from these words. He didn't care about Holio's attitude; he only knew that Satan Saint's order had finally been carried out.
Holio also didn't go directly to remind Nero, but instead gave a look to Hathaway, the maid behind her.
Are you kidding? Nero was in high spirits right now! Wouldn't it be awkward if he couldn't persuade her?
The idiotic Emperor clearly didn't take this matter very seriously, and when she got willful, no one knew what she might do.
In such a situation, of course, it was better for the Head Maid, Hathaway, to personally step in; she had more experience!
Hathaway on the high platform also twitched at the corner of her eye, feeling speechless at the style of her own empire.
Other emperors were high and mighty, their word absolute, but their own Emperor becoming ruler was like a daughter finally reaching school age.
Usually, she neglected her duties. "Our daughter is so wonderful, she just needs to enjoy the world thoroughly, so she won't be tricked by bad boys in the future."
Occasionally, she would get a high score on a test, and all the nobles would become even more ecstatic, wishing they could praise her to the heavens.
"See? I told you that His Majesty's talent doesn't need to be like ordinary people; she has her own reasons!"
Even such a significant event as becoming a Celestial Dragon, after His Majesty expressed indifference, the attitudes of others visibly became nonchalant.
These people were entirely responsible for His Majesty developing her current temperament.
Hathaway, who was grumbling internally, was completely unaware that she herself was also one of the responsible parties.
---------------------------------
If you'd like to read the next 40 chapters in advance, you can support me on Patreon.
I regularly post chapter previews there, so you'll always be up-to-date and won't have to wait too long.
patreon.com/SolyuraMT
And if you enjoy the story, don't forget to give me a Power Stone. Your support really motivates me to continue translating!