Episode 152 side story: The Resolute King ascends the throne - The Saga of Lioncourt

The character Emma, ranked seventh in popularity, makes her appearance. The news that Simon the Conqueror had been assassinated in the far west caused a great deal of turmoil. In particular, the information took time to reach Lioncourt, which was a considerable distance from where Simon was rumored to have died. As a result, only extremely uncertain information arrived at Aimee Castle in the northeastern Amoros region, where Emma resided. "It's said that Simon has died." "No, he's been achieving victory after victory in the west." Completely contradictory information circulated, leaving rumors as the only basis for judgment. Witnessing the chaos firsthand, Varian's eldest daughter Emma let out a deep sigh. Her great father, known as the Mighty King... His sons quarreled among themselves, leaving none behind. Emma was resigned to this fact. It was a time of turmoil; for men to compete for dominance and fight was the norm. However, Emma, a woman, possessed an extremely high right to the throne. If Simon truly was dead, she had to fulfill her duty as the King of Lioncourt. Determined, she resolved to take up the Lioncourt inheritance. "This is a ploy to slow us down by spreading false news. We must immediately raise an army and march into Lioncourt." When Emma declared this, Aimee Castle was shaken. Raising an army and marching into another domain was certainly rebellious. If by any chance Simon were still alive, there would be grave consequences. "Let's watch a bit longer." "We can't make a decision with this." Benuro Castle, receiving multiple reports, was in utter confusion. The dominance of cautious opinions was understandable. But Emma firmly argued that "it would be too late" with such hesitations. "Why are you in such a hurry? We are at the eastern extremity and cannot reach the center," her husband Albert tried to dissuade her. But his words did not reach Emma. "We don't need to reach the center. I will succeed the throne of Lioncourt. I will enter the Lioncourt capital, secure Portue, soothe the populace, and prevent invaders. Disregard the west." To her, anything west of the mess Simon left in Portue was of no interest. She couldn't tolerate the land her father, the Mighty Varian, loved—the territory soaked with the blood of her ancestors and grandfather Count Rudolph—being ravaged by Simon's followers and various other rabble. "Haste is needed, delay only puts us at a disadvantage." Emma saw her husband Albert as well-intentioned but somewhat unreliable as a commander in times of crises. The same was true for her sons. However, it was wrong to compare them to Varian the Mighty or Simon the Conqueror. They were unparalleled giants in history, and Emma understood that. Thus, leaving the responsibility to others was not an option. She had to take the lead to overcome this difficult situation. In the presence of her family and vassals, Emma, dressed in men's clothing and wielding an axe, strode forward and smashed the chair of the Viscountess of Benuro. It was a sudden barbaric act, and nobody was left unshocked. "From now on, I will not sit in this seat! From this moment, I head to the land of Lioncourt, and I shall rise as king!! Know that anyone who hinders me shall end up like this chair!!" Fixing her gaze upon the silent assembly, Emma briskly headed for the stables, throwing the castle into disarray. Some knights gathered the courage to stop her, but they were severely struck down by Emma, and realizing that, the vassals could not even attempt to restrain her. With a simple and savage method—through sheer 'violence'—Emma completely suppressed opposing voices. Emma, having inherited the formidable physique of her father the Mighty King, wielded extraordinary physical abilities. Having familiarized herself with swordsmanship and horsemanship alongside her brothers from a young age, she was unmatched by anyone. ―――――― Emma rode along the bridal path alone while the Benuro army followed her. The Benuro Viscounty, being closely related to the royal line, had been regarded warily by Simon's faction and had not participated in expeditions. Their forces remained intact, benefitting Emma's plans. Her strategy succeeded. The fortress of Cocase and the trading city of Basons both open-armed welcomed her, and her army rapidly swelled. Everyone, weary from long-standing conflict, welcomed the legitimate heir to the kingdom, the child of Varian the Mighty King. Simon had strained relations with the Eastern Holy Church, which quickly declared its support for Emma, acting as a favorable wind. Incidentally, the Patriarch was a monk who had been a disciple of Caron and had known Emma since childhood, contributing to a sense of familiarity. With this momentum, Emma entered the Lioncourt capital and, under the Eastern Holy Church Patriarch's supervision, became the fourth monarch. She declared the dominion of the Lioncourt Kingdom as the Lioncourt Basin and east of the Elbow River in the northeast, ignoring any other conflicts. She then dispatched her gathered troops within the Lioncourt domain and the northeast, swiftly pacifying the country. Forces aligned with Simon had no choice but to fall silent in the face of Emma's swift and decisive actions. Due to these bold moves, the Lioncourt Kingdom, while narrowing its domain, achieved stability and endured for a long time. Through these actions, Emma earned the epithet 'Emma the Resolute' and gained overwhelming support in Lioncourt. Although opinions on her policies varied in later generations, she is generally revered as a wise ruler referred to as 'Emma the Resolute King.'