“We will now demolish the building.”

 

When Dahlia nodded, Hovan raised his arm high. 

 

At once, the explosives installed throughout the imperial palace detonated.

 

Ruuuuumble…!

 

Watching the imperial palace collapse with a massive roar, Dahlia quietly held her breath. 

 

The emperor’s palace, the various princes’ palaces, and even the princess’s palace that had imprisoned her for so long all disappeared into a cloud of dust at once.

 

The thick yellow cloud covering the sky looked like Baran’s cruel and shameful past history. 

 

As it slowly scattered, Dahlia felt as if the dark clouds that had loomed over her own heart were gradually lifting as well.

 

With the collapse of the old imperial palace, the reconstruction of the new imperial palace began immediately. 

 

Not only the citizens of the Baran Kingdom, but also the Mohron people who had migrated with Hissin, all pitched in to help with the reconstruction without exception.

 

The Mohron and Baran people, who had already coordinated well during the construction of the migration passage, began working hard to build the imperial palace for the new history of Baran they would create together.

 

Research on the treasures, relics, and cultural artifacts recovered from the emperor’s secret archive also began.

 

“Ancient Baran language…”

 

Hovan nodded slightly while looking at Hinna’s records from the sealed room in the secret archive.

 

“I recall that among the priests, Assistant High Priest Arnan was skilled in ancient language studies. Since we need to gather the scattered priests again one by one, I should find him.”

 

“I will not spare any support for the temple reconstruction as well, so I’ll leave it to you, Hovan.”

 

“Do not worry. This must be why you brought me here.”

 

Hovan’s amber eyes turned toward Hissin. Hissin had been dumping all administrative work onto Hovan. 

 

Seeing him shamelessly shrug his shoulders as if he knew nothing, Hovan wrinkled his nose slightly.

 

The imperial palace reconstruction actually proceeded more smoothly than the migration passage construction. 

 

This was because a renowned Baran architect of the time was close to Mudhat. 

 

Mudhat Osahar personally stepped forward and had the architect help with the palace reconstruction.

 

The new imperial palace fully incorporated Dahlia’s opinions, maintaining the solidity of imperial authority while removing all the previous luxury and ostentatious elements.

 

In their place, additional administrative departments necessary for state affairs were built. 

 

In particular, health, military, and talent development would be directly managed under the leadership of the imperial palace.

 

This meant drawing the nation’s strength from within rather than from the outside. 

 

The citizens could not help but be even more enthusiastic about Dahlia’s actions, which were completely different from the previous emperors, who only worried about making the palace more grand and magnificent.

 

Along with the imperial palace reconstruction, the temple reconstruction also gained momentum. 

 

Due to the “Gift of God” incident, the High Priest had died in prison, no successor had been appointed, and the country had fallen, leaving the temple almost in ruins.

 

Even when Dahlia and Hissin returned to the Baran Kingdom, the only ones left in the temple were poor assistant priests with nowhere else to go.

 

Hovan began tracking down and gathering the priests and assistant priests who had scattered after the country’s fall. 

 

Even without Dahlia’s request, he still felt a sense of responsibility as someone who had once served as a priest here. He searched for his old colleagues as if it were his remaining duty.

 

He even personally traveled to remote countryside villages.

 

“Assistant Priest Arnan.”

 

At Hovan’s call, Arnan, who had been idly tapping the ground with a long stick while herding sheep, flinched and turned around. 

 

Gone was his appearance as an assistant priest; he now looked like a proper shepherd boy.

 

“Ho… Hovan, Priest…?”

 

Surprised by Hovan’s unexpected appearance, Arnan couldn’t close his gaping mouth. 

 

He blinked several times, wondering if he was seeing things wrong, then belatedly jumped in shock and fell on his backside.

 

There was no priest who didn’t know that Hovan had been a Mohron spy after the country’s destruction. His face showed he had no idea why the terrifying traitor who had brought down Baran had come looking for him.

 

“Your slow news-gathering habits haven’t changed, whether in the past or now.”

 

“Hiiic…!”

 

When Hovan clicked his tongue and extended his hand, Arnan covered his face with both arms and curled up. Hovan couldn’t hold back a hollow laugh at the pathetic sight.

 

“Stand up, Assistant Priest Arnan.”

 

“I-I am no longer an assistant priest… I already told the temple I would quit being a clergyman, and there are hardly any people left in the temple now…”

 

Arnan, babbling incoherently, looked up at Hovan with a deathly pale face.

 

“S-Surely you’re not trying to take me to Mohron…! Oh no, you can’t! No matter how much the country has fallen, I don’t want to leave this land!”

 

“Ha…”

 

Watching Arnan flail his arms as if the sky were splitting in two, Hovan rubbed his face with a dry hand. 

 

No wonder I was always scolded in the temple. 

 

Letting out a deep sigh, he spoke to Arnan in a slightly irritated voice.

 

“The Emperor is looking for you.”

 

“I only care about Baran…! …Huh? The Emperor?”

 

“Yes. Baran’s new emperor, Emperor Baran Hinna Dahlia, is looking for you.”

 

Arnan blinked his small eyes. The new emperor’s enthronement ceremony had not yet been held. 

 

Moreover, Arnan’s hometown was in the most remote part of the Baran Kingdom, a rural village with almost no interaction with other villages. 

 

It was understandable that he knew nothing of what was happening in the capital.

 

Some villagers still didn’t even know the previous emperor had died. In that sense, it was natural that Arnan didn’t know about Dahlia’s return.

 

At the name of the princess who had been taken as a prisoner to Mohron and presumed dead, Arnan’s eyes gradually reddened.

 

“Then, Her Highness the Princess…”

 

“You will learn the details once we return to the capital. There is work you must do, so prepare quickly and follow me.”

 

“Y-Yes!”

 

Arnan hurriedly got up and ran toward his house. Watching him stumble and nearly fall on the way, Hovan shook his head slightly.

 

The shrine for the Hinna clan was completed even earlier than the imperial palace reconstruction. 

 

The Paidros Plains, located south of the capital, had the densest greenery among all the meadows near the Baran capital. 

 

A shrine for the Hinna clan was built here so that people could honor their sacrifice.

 

Even before the Hinna clan’s remains were enshrined, the citizens of Baran came to this place to pray for their souls.

 

And so, at the end of this smooth journey, the imperial palace where Dahlia would unfold her new vision was finally safely rebuilt.

 

🌙

 

From the crack of dawn, the entire empire began to stir. 

 

On the first day of the new year, when Maksru returned once more, it was the day the new imperial palace stood tall at the center of Baran. 

 

Dahlia, the new emperor, had decided to mark today as Year 0 of the Hinna Calendar and hold her enthronement ceremony.

 

Citizens came out into the streets even before sunrise to prepare to welcome the new emperor. 

 

Laurel branches were hung on doorsteps of every house, and Lewisia flowers designated as Baran’s new national flower were placed in front as a symbol of loyalty.

 

“Your Highness, everything is ready.”

 

Dahlia, who had finally finished all preparations, slowly opened her eyes. 

 

Beautifully adorned by Bertha’s hands, she looked at her reflection in the mirror.

 

She wore a long kalasiris that reached her ankles, with a gold triangular ornament symbolizing imperial authority added to her chest.

 

The high heels decorated with daimon mysteriously accentuated her slender yet sensual figure, while the gold ornaments on her arms combined with her restrained beauty to convey the dignity of an emperor.

 

“Thank you, Bertha. Will you hand me the staff?”

 

“Yes, Your Highness.”

 

Bertha handed Dahlia the emperor’s staff. 

 

This staff, modeled after the shape of the high-hanging moon, symbolized the fragment of night that Goddess Nuit had granted to the fifth girl in the beginning, and it also proved that she was the one and only descendant of Hinna.

 

“Your Highness, Lord Levitzenna has arrived.”

 

At the announcement of Hissin’s visit, Dahlia rose from her seat.

 

“Hissin.”

 

Hissin approached and gazed at Dahlia as if looking at the rarest thing in the world.

 

“You are beautiful, my love. Just looking at you is enough to enchant me.”

 

It was clear he wasn’t just saying empty words from the way he couldn’t take his eyes off her. Dahlia smiled shyly and took his hand.

 

“Shall we go together?”

 

“Yes.”

 

The two walked out together.

 

In front of the imperial palace was a huge crowd gathered to celebrate the new emperor’s enthronement. 

 

After exchanging glances with Hissin, Dahlia nodded slightly and stepped forward one step at a time. Cheers erupted from all around at Dahlia’s appearance.

 

With both the previous emperor and the High Priest absent, Mudhat Osahar, who had remained alone to protect the Baran Kingdom, volunteered as the representative of Goddess Nuit and bestowed the emperor’s crown upon Dahlia. 

 

The citizens engraved this historic moment deeply in their hearts and sincerely blessed the new emperor’s enthronement.

 

“My beloved people.”

 

Dahlia looked at the millions of imperial citizens gathered before her and spoke.

 

“In the shameful and heartbreaking history of the past, we had to lose this country, Baran.”

 

The events of the past year flashed through her mind once more. 

 

Controlling her surging emotions, Dahlia continued.

 

“But through the grace of Goddess Nuit, who loved Hinna, we have regained the true meaning of this land and can now stand proudly as citizens of Baran.”

 

Dahlia lifted the bottle placed before her. It was the very bottle containing Hinna’s blood. 

 

The people all shouted cheers or shed tears as they looked up at the living legend.

 

“Today, we deeply reflect on Baran’s past wrongs and wish to atone together for the sins of this land.”

 

Dahlia opened the mouth of the bottle. 

 

Looking deeply into Hissin’s eyes as he stood beside her, she poured Hinna’s blood onto the land of Baran in front of the imperial palace.

 

The blood of Hinna that soaked into the ground shone brightly, and soon fragrant flowers and grass began to grow lushly around the imperial palace. 

 

The people rejoiced in amazement at the sacred miracle unfolding before their eyes.

 

“I hereby declare that you all have become one under my name, Baran Hinna.”

 

“Long live Her Majesty the Emperor!”

 

“Long live Baran Hinna!”

 

Mohron people, Baran people, and countless others who chose to become citizens of Baran united as one to celebrate the new emperor’s enthronement and Baran’s new future.

 

Soon, workers carrying the Hinna clan’s remains began circling the newly built imperial palace of the Baran Kingdom. 

 

Dahlia felt a complex joy that could not be defined by a single word as she watched the procession of coffins heading to the shrine after circling the entire palace, wondering what her mother must be thinking while looking at the palace built in Hinna’s name from within the great coffin.

 

Dahlia gazed at the shrine containing Hinna for a long time before finally turning her head. 

 

Hissin, who had stayed by her side the entire time, looked at her with deep eyes.

 

‘I hope the day this man stands by my side comes soon.’

 

Having crossed the mountain for Baran, it was now time to climb the mountain for the two of them.