Chapter 4 Tough Decisions

"What are you saying? How could you dump everything on me?"

Elodie did not expect her return to Arandel to be such a disaster. She had indeed learned about the politics of the empire, but it was solely to find out about the current state of the empire. It was not because she wanted to become a successor in the future. Since childhood, she had thought that her brother would succeed her father.

"You know how I am, right? I beg you to understand my position, Elodie."

Yes, Elodie knew. Very much so. Her brother had a very rare condition. She couldn't trust herself in public, making the imperial family worried.

"I just want to be an ordinary noble who lives quietly."

"Then what about me? Do you want to see me become a human being who is uneasy in the face of all the empire's problems? I am not yet capable of holding the position of crown princess."

"Do you know why Father and Mother agreed to have you practice swordplay? The reason Father continued to teach you politics? Because he knew that this day would come. He knew I can not hold the position of crown prince and become the next emperor. You knew my shortcomings from a young age, Elodie. If you were gone, who would take up the position? Do you want one of the concubine princesses to take your place?"

"How could that possibly happen? Princess Elina is still only eighteen, Princess Edith is just entering her teens, Princess Latil and Princess Amesi are still very young."

"Yes, you know no one can take my place but you."

"Do the nobles know about you wanting to step down from your position as crown prince?"

"Father will announce it at the meeting tomorrow."

Elodie let out a long sigh. She had longed to sleep in her bed after returning from Higala, but it looked like that would have to wait. She had to discuss this with her father. Elodie was not ready to take on the position of crown princess. The woman was still only twenty years old, and she still wanted to have fun before earning the title of crown princess. Wasn't her father still young? He could still lead the empire, at least for the next ten or twenty years.

She sat slumped in the chair as she stared at Kaelus shrinking back. The news Kaelus gave her was quite sudden and made her unable to think rationally. God didn't seem to want Elodie to enjoy the anxiety of being left behind by her lover, because she had to think of a way to refuse Kaelus request.

If her father agreed to Kaelus request, she could not sway. The people would demand that she immediately ascend the throne as crown princess. Who would take Kaelus place if not her? Her other siblings clearly had no potential to succeed in the throne. There was no one better than her. She was the only legitimate princess consort. Elodie was the only princess who had learned about imperial politics, mastered swordsmanship, and was good at strategizing.

'Aren't Kaelus words true? You've trained since childhood to be your father's successor?'

However, she was still very young. If she could choose. Elodie chose to be an ordinary noble who did not have to think about the fate of the common people. She knew that being an emperor had many burdens. The problems in the empire were not just one or two, but there were dozens, or even hundreds, every day.

***

"Did you really agree to Kaelus' wish? I'm not ready to take the throne, Dad? I'm still so young."

Elodie went to see her father immediately after hearing the news that the nobles had agreed to Kaelus request. Elen said that the formalization of Kaelus resignation would take place in two days. Isn't that too soon?

"You know yourself that Kaelus has a mental illness? He cannot handle a single problem. I'm giving you the chance to become the successor to the throne, Elodie."

"Don't say that, Dad. If Kaelus hears it, he might think that you wanted to make me the successor from the start."

"Even Kaelus knows that. I have been training you to be my successor since childhood. Is it natural for a princess to learn swordsmanship at such a young age? You have been destined to be the next emperor since you were a child. Kaelus illness is a blessing for you. If he wasn't sick, you would have a hard time occupying this position."

"Dad! Don't say that? What if Kaelus hears about it? He will get hurt."

Elodie really did not expect that her father had prepared everything from the beginning. What Kaelus said was true. When did Kaelus learn that fact? He must have felt disappointed in himself for not being able to become the leader of Arandel when he was the emperor's only son.

"What did you expect, Elodie? In the past, I let Kaelus take the position of crown prince, because you insisted on becoming empress in the land of Higala. However, now everything has changed. You can't be the queen consort of Higala. Show Rhydian that you too can stand strong without him. You no longer have a chance to be together."

"I never thought of going back to him, Dad. I was only worried about Kaelus."

"Why are you so worried about him? He has already chosen to become a commoner noble. Kaelus will settle in Weila."

"Weila? Isn't that area near the northern border? Why did you let him stay away from the capital?"

"It was not I who wanted him. He himself wanted him to be away from the hustle and bustle of the capital."

Did she have to accept the facts now? Elodie had no intention of refusing, she just wasn't ready. She still had more to learn.

"You wouldn't allow your other siblings to take over, would you?"

"Definitely not, Dad!" Her voice rose. "If Mom were still around, she wouldn't agree with that."

"Then do it. There's no reason to refuse." He hugged Elodie. "I'm not asking you to replace me immediately. I just want you to take the position of crown princess so that you can prepare yourself to be the next emperor."

"Very well, Dad." Reluctantly, she had to accept her fate.