Coronation Of Ian

As soon as Prince Alexei entered the royal palace of the Polia Kingdom, he burst into laughter upon seeing Prince Ian there to welcome him.

“Pahaha! It’s truly been a long time.”

“Why the sudden formality?”

“You are now about to become the king of a nation. How could I speak informally to such a person? And you must stop using honorifics with me. Every action you take now represents the dignity of your nation.”

“Since you put it that way, I understand.”

At any rate, we shook hands. Seeing this, even the attendants nearby bore satisfied expressions. Every move the two of us made carried the pride of our respective nations. Since Prince Alexei took the initiative to be friendly, the atmosphere naturally lightened.

Come to think of it, it had been nearly half a year since we last saw each other. Both of us had returned to our respective nations with great acclaim following the Kraken hunt.

“Shall we go inside first?”

“Let’s do that.”

Agreeing to Ian’s words, Prince Alexei entered the palace together with him. As a state guest, he was welcomed by rows of royal guards. Amidst this grand scene, upon entering the palace, Prince Alexei looked around in admiration.

“The palace is quite splendid, isn’t it?”

“The former king had a fondness for decorating the palace. Honestly, I have no intention of adding more. I don’t like wasting money on unnecessary things.”

“I heard you’ve decided to reduce taxes and root out corruption. Is that true?”

“I believed that was the only way for this country to truly grow and sustain itself.”

“Ho, if that’s the case, I suppose it will ease many burdens. But wouldn’t funds be lacking?”

“It’s fine. I have ways to handle it.”

Ian smiled lightly, signaling that he would say no more on the matter. In truth, Ian had already been receiving complaints from the navy regarding the cost of battleship construction under the reduced tax policy.

To address this, Ian had spent the last month intensifying the crackdown on corruption. Through Viscount Rubingston, head of the secret police (Mauter), he obtained evidence and ordered the mass arrest of officials who had accumulated slush funds.

As the coronation approached, a major wave of arrests shook the nation. When the newspapers exposed the truth, the people of Polia erupted in outrage, cursing the captured officials.

Truly, an overwhelming amount of slush funds had been recovered.

‘We’ve secured enough funds to run the country for three years. It proves that the real issue wasn’t a lack of money, but too many thieves within.’

Though some might argue the statement didn’t fit a wealthy nation like Polia, the implication was clear — the amount of illicit funds was massive, enough to resolve the battleship funding crisis.

Additionally, reparations from the Nubea Kingdom were still coming in. For now, money was no longer an issue.

‘The current number of completed battleships is sufficient. Of course, with improved technology, one or two more may be built, but now it’s time to focus on developing aircraft carriers. We also need to concentrate more on anti-air cruisers for escorting.’

Battleships were massive financial and maintenance burdens, draining the national treasury. Ian planned to invest heavily in more cost-effective cruisers and aircraft carriers, as well as aircraft development.

After walking for a while, Ian and Prince Alexei entered a reception room within the palace. It was, unsurprisingly, lavish. They soon sat face-to-face and began conversing.

“It seems our positions have changed a great deal.”

“I’ve heard about the Noma Empire. They say you’re a strong contender for the throne?”

“I’ve gotten closer, perhaps. But many hurdles remain, so the outcome is unclear. Still, I never expected to ascend the throne so soon.”

“Frankly, neither did I. But the circumstances demanded it.”

As he gathered intelligence, Prince Alexei realized that Prince Ian had been preparing many things even before they met. He had always thought Ian was impressive, but now it was clear just how meticulous and capable he was as a ruler.

“Before offering congratulations on your coronation, I bring a message from the Emperor of the Noma Empire. Will you hear it?”

“Of course. What is it?”

“He hopes our two nations can build a closer relationship — economically and politically. He believes that finding common ground would benefit both sides.”

“Economically, I see no problem cooperating. But politically… I’ll need to give it more thought.”

“Well, it’s not a decision to be made lightly. Take your time, and let me know later.”

‘So they want an alliance to keep the Doicheun Empire in check, huh?’

It seemed to be a strategy to encircle the Doicheun Empire by including the Polia Kingdom in the defensive line being formed by the Noma and Moria Empires. Likely, they aimed to block Doicheun’s ambitions toward the Leman Federation through overwhelming pressure.

‘Sorry, Prince Alexei. But we intend to remain strictly neutral.’

Actively joining the war would only lead to enormous military expenditures and casualties. Given modern technology, any trench warfare could escalate into a catastrophic war with millions dead. Knowing that, there was no reason to forge volatile alliances.

‘Unless the Doicheun Empire openly targets us, we’ll only cooperate economically.’

If a war broke out between the continental empires, it would be a golden opportunity for Polia. We could sell massive amounts of arms and provisions, and the resulting profit would directly bolster the nation’s strength.

‘I don’t know what the future holds, but for now, I need to grow the country’s power.’

Fortunately, they had already shown the world that they could credibly claim neutrality. Having fought in two wars already and proven their capabilities, others would think twice before challenging them.

‘And the Magnia Empire still hasn’t taken any action.’

While the Doicheun and Noma Empires glared at each other, the Magnia Empire remained silent, choosing no side. This suggested that the direction of the future war could hinge on Magnia’s decision.

‘If they side with Doicheun, it’ll be a 2-on-2 conflict, and war will break out. But if they side with the other two empires, Doicheun will be forced to back down and bide their time.’

That might sound ideal, but it would only delay the inevitable. Once stronger, Doicheun would return, more powerful and dangerous than ever. In the end, a catastrophic war seemed unavoidable.

Considering each nation’s ambitions and their overstocked militaries, it was only a matter of time before that pressure exploded.

“Ah, more importantly, would it be possible to see the Kraken’s main body again during this visit?”

“Go ahead. In fact, the Kraken exhibit just opened, so you should be able to see it easily.”

“Oh, that makes it much more convenient.”

Seeing Prince Alexei speak with such anticipation, Ian could tell he was deliberately trying to lighten the mood. He must’ve realized Ian wasn’t very interested in forming an alliance and was trying to ease the tension.

‘From Prince Alexei’s perspective, this must be hard to understand.’

After all, Polia had just fought a war with the Doicheun Empire, and now, despite its growing influence, Ian appeared unwilling to cooperate. No wonder it seemed strange. Nevertheless, their conversation ended amicably with a handshake.

They parted with the promise to meet again on the day of the coronation. Still, Ian couldn’t shake the feeling that things had become awkward.

‘But there’s no choice. For now, neutrality is the only option.’

Even if remaining neutral might not completely prevent attacks, Ian was convinced that with firm resolve as king, Polia could avoid getting dragged into any major wars.

A few days later.

World Era 1910, July 1st.

At last, the long-awaited day of the coronation had arrived. The capital, Pullea, was in full celebration mode. Everywhere, the citizens’ expressions were bright. The recently enacted tax relief policy had already lifted many burdens, bringing a sense of relief and hope.

Though the policy hadn’t been fully implemented yet, people still found joy in the promise of a better future. Across the city, large banners and tents were strung up on buildings, filled with messages praising Ian.

“On this day, the Great King ascends the throne!”

“Lord of the Sea, rise to lead the kingdom!”

“Long live His Majesty, the shining light of the kingdom!”

“The great hero now becomes the kingdom’s master!”

Had Ian seen them, he would’ve felt extremely embarrassed. But these were made voluntarily by the people. It might seem excessive to celebrate merely a tax cut this way, but it made sense from the citizens’ perspective.

After all, they had endured years of heavy taxation and exploitation. The kingdom’s wealth had been built on their sacrifices.

So calling it “just a tax cut” was wrong. No previous king had ever done such a thing. And with corrupt officials already arrested, people could truly believe this king was different.

Many pinned their final hopes on this moment. Foreign dignitaries visiting Polia were deeply impressed by the atmosphere. They all concluded that Ian must be a radical reformist.

Concerns began to surface.

“Is this really okay? It sounds like things are moving too quickly.”

“Exactly. Normally, the nobility wouldn’t tolerate such drastic changes.”

“Well, he’s tightened control over the military, so they can’t act rashly. But still, things could get bad in time.”

“I wonder if those close to Prince Ian will eventually abandon him.”

“I probably would too. He’s pushing the nobles too far.”

“Clicking tongues… this kind of policy usually ends in rebellion. Why rush like this? Reform can be done gradually.”

“Well, we’ll see. If things don’t end well, he’ll go down as a short-lived king.”

Such blunt exchanges among foreign diplomats filled the air quietly. They had gathered alongside many nobles in the King’s Hall, where King Hugo’s funeral had once been held.

The tall ceilings and long hall were richly adorned—decorated for the coronation, but mostly using items taken from storage. Magical candelabras gave off a soft glow, and the chandeliers with crystal fixtures lit up the space brilliantly.

Nearly everyone of significance in Polia was present—from nobles to business leaders and senior officials. Even representatives from civil groups attended, including labor and farming leaders, marveling at the hall’s splendor.

Some frowned at their presence, but since Ian had invited them personally, no one dared object. Amid all this, a grand orchestral performance began, signaling the official start of the coronation.

Soon, the doors opened, and brilliant light spilled in. From it, a figure emerged—Prince Ian. Applause broke out all around.

Ian’s coronation attire was simpler than expected. Though the hall was opulent, he himself wore modest clothing, as if to show restraint. As he walked forward, the applause never ceased.

Clap clap clap clap–!

Even the diplomatic representatives of the empires were watching closely. As Polia crowned a new king, they had to reevaluate everything they thought they knew about Prince Ian.

While already a famous figure, they had once seen him as nothing more than a charismatic hero—ambitious, vain, a regular at high society events.

But now, it was clear he was a meticulous and strategic thinker. From the empires’ perspectives, aligning with Polia could yield major benefits.

Even the Doicheun Empire, once at war with Polia, shared this view. The past was the past; now they looked to improve future relations with Polia.

Meanwhile, Ian’s hair, trimmed and styled personally by the palace hairdresser, shimmered as it caught the light. Grown to his neck, it was neatly tied. Ian’s looks were striking to begin with, and in this setting, he looked radiant.

All present couldn’t help but admire their new king. Standing before the altar, Ian saw his mother, his younger sister Charlotte, and Leni—recently appointed as head maid. He gave them a glance, then turned his eyes to the crowd that filled the King’s Hall.

‘I’ve really become king now. This is only the beginning.’

Though crowned, he knew this was not an end, but a beginning. Many challenges lay ahead.

‘Since I’ve come this far, I’ll do it right.’

Ian’s face brimmed with confidence. And so, on that day, Ian officially ascended the throne as King of the Polia Kingdom. After the ceremony, he began meeting with imperial delegates one by one. Unlike before, he now had to act and decide on everything—as king.