As soon as he entered the hall, Arthur rushed to Elias:
"Well, well, welcome back! Come on, tell me, how did it go, Mr. Romeo?"
But Elias's mind was elsewhere. He didn't catch Arthur's joke:
"What do you mean?"
Arthur dropped the joke and asked the question that was bothering him more:
"Why are you talking like that?"
"How am I talking?"
Arthur pointed at him with his finger:
"Like this! Exactly like this! I'm sure two days ago when I saw you, you answered with things like 'What are you saying?' or 'What's wrong with it?' Now you talk like old people."
Elias couldn't tell him: "If you spend four years only in formal gatherings, you'll end up like this too!"
He was searching for a proper answer when Arthur spoke again:
"See! That's another thing. You never used to think this much…"
His answer came in the form of a punch to the side.
"The Empress Mother is entering."
Elias left Arthur as he was and went to greet his mother.
When Elias's father died, he was sixteen. According to the law, the minimum age for an emperor must be eighteen. That's why, for those two years, his mother took care of the affairs of the empire.
The Empress, upon seeing Elias, bowed:
"Congratulations, Your Majesty."
Elias stepped forward and embraced his mother, something he had longed for:
"Thank you for everything, Mother."
She raised her arms and embraced her son:
"I wish your father were alive to see this day."
To keep the atmosphere from becoming sorrowful, she quickly changed the subject:
"Now I can finally rest with peace of mind."
The Empress Mother intended to spend the rest of her life in the city where she was born. Elias—both then and now—agreed with this decision. He didn't want his mother to be entangled any further in foolish politics.
After accompanying his mother to her seat, Elias turned back and faced the crowd. He waited until everyone's attention was drawn to him. Gradually, the hall fell silent, and all awaited the beginning of his speech.
From the corner of his eye, Elias saw Daisy staring at him like the rest.
Elias took a deep breath and began in a loud, firm voice:
"Allow me once again to thank you for being present at this gathering. Now that I have become Emperor, there is one vacant position in this palace—the Empress. And as you know, I have no fiancée… but you have heard some rumors."
The murmurs of the people grew louder.
"The position of Empress is not ordinary. Its importance is equal to that of the Emperor. For this reason, I intend to entrust this position to someone worthy. According to tradition, she must be chosen from among noblewomen with great power and influence…"
He could feel the rising excitement in the hall.
"But I do not intend to follow that tradition."
Short cries and murmurs of astonishment filled the hall. Elias continued, unfazed:
"My parents wanted me to choose my wife myself. Therefore, I will hold a competition—whoever wins will become the Empress."
This time the cries of surprise were even louder. The Empress Mother rose from her seat and said angrily:
"Elias, we need to talk."
Elias turned and nodded in agreement. Then he faced the crowd again:
"Details will be announced later. I hope you enjoy the celebration."
He followed his mother. They entered one of the rooms. She immediately dismissed the servant and asked very seriously:
"Explain."
Elias gave a gentle smile:
"Believe me, this is the best decision I've made…"
His mother interrupted:
"Why didn't you tell me anything?"
Even if he had wanted to, he couldn't have said it earlier, since that very morning he had returned from death.
"Because I decided only a few minutes ago."
His mother said sharply:
"What? You want to choose the Empress through a competition? What exactly are you thinking, son?"
"Mother, do you remember my prophecy?"
His mother was startled by the sudden change of subject:
"Prophecy?… Well, not exactly, but something about…"
Her eyes widened as she recalled:
"Don't tell me…"
Elias nodded:
"That's right. It was about my wife. I must be more careful than anyone else."
His mother was convinced, but it did not lessen her worry:
"But how do you know the one who wins will be that person?"
Elias smiled:
"Don't worry. I have already found her."
"Then why cause such a commotion?"
The answer she heard was not convincing at all:
"Because she likes commotion!"