To the Love Born in the Lowest Place-Chapter 179

When everyone turned their heads to the night sky, the first thing they heard was a loud sound like something bursting. Emmett reflexively recalled the sounds from when Liv died and this world collapsed, but what appeared before his eyes was beautiful fireworks filling the night sky.

"Wow!"

Cheers erupted from all around. Liv’s hand, which was holding Emmett’s, tightened.

After a large red firework announced the start of the festival, yellow and white fireworks rose simultaneously. Seeing this, Emmett whispered to Liv with a gentle smile.

"Liv, those are the symbols of House Gracia."

Only after saying this and looking at Liv’s profile did Emmett smile again, seeing her dreamy expression. What was clearly contained in her face was happiness.

"Goodness, I feel a bit cheated..."

Liv muttered in a dazed voice.

"That I couldn’t see such a beautiful sight until now..."

"It’s meaningful that it resumes with your ascension."

"If I’d known it would be like this, I should have become Emperor sooner!"

To be joking like that, Liv seemed genuinely impressed by the fireworks.

Following the gold and white fireworks symbolizing the imperial family, green, red, and yellow fireworks burst representing the country’s flag. Then white and blue fireworks symbolizing the temple burst.

"Doesn’t that remind you of someone?"

When white and pink fireworks burst, Emmett whispered this in Liv’s ear. At those words, Liv practically pulled Emmett’s arm as she embraced him deeply. Thinking about how much attention he must have paid to these fireworks, she couldn’t help but embrace him.

"You’ve worked so hard until now. Good job. It was worth the effort."

"If you’re happy, I’m willing to work even more."

"No, then you won’t have time to be with me."

Since many couples had already settled on the hill, their whispers of love looked completely natural. Even if they occasionally exchanged kisses, no one would pay attention to them. Among them, they were no different from any other couple, not Emperor and Prime Minister.

The time Liv had gone through to reach this place flashed through her mind. The night when Laga lost her life in Liv’s place and House Hamelsvoort was framed for treason, when she fled on horseback with Emmett.

Usually she would have complained about keeping balance on the bumpy horse, but that night she couldn’t clearly feel any sensation and only tears fell helplessly as sadness and pain consumed her.

The days in the Merna Empire when her body was comfortable but she was always lonely, separated from Emmett, and that feeling of despair when she was alone in the Kingdom of Ashur.

But now Liv was the rightful owner of the Holy Hilysid Empire, and nothing could obstruct her path forward.

This is how she would live from now on. Grumbling about too much work in the palace, sneaking out with Emmett, hearing social news from Hildegard.

Some days suddenly tensing up when enemy countries show signs of invasion, having meetings with ministers worrying about the people during droughts. Crises would come, but Liv knew there would always be breakthroughs too. Just as she had always found her way until now.

When the final multicolored fireworks burst, Liv and Emmett’s eyes met under the night sky. Seeing so clearly the happiness dwelling in each other’s eyes, they wore matching smiles. Soon, their lips drew closer.

* * *

The loud sound of bursting fireworks echoed all the way to the imperial palace.

Bang, bang!

Liv’s maids were collectively watching the fireworks with their heads out on the terrace. Since there were no taller buildings near the palace, it was the best place to watch fireworks. Though officials had been looking for Liv until just before, they too had fallen quiet after the fireworks began, perhaps captivated by the night sky.

"Oh Her Majesty, this would have been the best view here."

When Maria said this, thinking of the Emperor who secretly went to the streets with Grand Duke Lartman, Olivia answered with amusement in her voice.

"Well, but wouldn’t she have wanted to have a secret date outside? Knowing what kind of people Her Majesty and the Grand Duke are."

"That’s true. They’re so obviously sweet on each other."

Elena picked up on Olivia’s words.

Before, when Liv and the Grand Duke seemed to be fighting and showed a cold atmosphere, Elena felt like she was walking on thin ice. Though they clearly seemed unhappy, Liv didn’t express it at all, which made it worse. Then one day they were seen walking down the palace corridor both looking happy, and they were so cheerful that all the servants noticed they had reconciled.

That’s how much they couldn’t hide their feelings, and everyone knew how much they loved each other.

"They must be having fun outside now."

"Since this is my first time participating in such a grand Foundation Festival too, it must be the same for Her Majesty."

"Well, we’re all from a difficult generation, so it can’t be helped. It’s nice that we can enjoy such a wonderful Foundation Festival now at least."

Their conversation, now between close friends, continued naturally. Since they were talking about the love story of the Emperor and Grand Duke Lartman, their topic of conversation had naturally drifted to romance.

"By the way, Miss Olivia, are you seeing any young men lately?"

"Oh my, I need to keep working as Her Majesty’s maid..."

"How would that stop you? Rather, since Miss Olivia is Her Majesty’s maid and has the best family background among us, shouldn’t you be quite popular?"

"W-well Miss Elena seems to have many interested parties too! You’re the Head Maid after all!"

"Hmm, I’m not sure. Though it seems I might receive a proposal soon..."

At those words, the terrace instantly became noisy. The maids casually discussing romance looked exactly their age.

"Miss Anne, don’t you have anyone you’re interested in?"

"I’m not sure. Since my younger brother will inherit the family anyway, it doesn’t matter if I don’t marry."

"True, these days it’s fine to live alone."

"Hehe, but the young men in the capital do seem quite handsome. Well, the other day, someone picked up my handkerchief..."

After chatting for a while amid the bursting fireworks, Elena spoke as if remembering something.

"Oh right, since they went outside, they must have seen that too?"

"Seen what?"

"You know, that thing. If I were Grand Duke Lartman, I would have wanted to show that to Her Majesty."

"Ah, that! You’re right. Maybe that’s why they went out."

* * *

By the time their touching lips parted, the fireworks had ended. Some people got up regretfully, while others remained to enjoy the afterglow of the fireworks. Liv and Emmett were the latter.

Coming up to the high hill, they could see the entire view of the capital. Except for the imperial palace, of course... The Devil’s Forest that Liv had passed through, the slums undergoing renovation work since her ascension, the Hamelsvoort mansion. Seeing places that held great meaning for them so clearly visible, Liv gazed down the hill with a dazed expression.

"Sometimes it feels strange that all this is my country."

"Does it?"

"Yes, I never thought I’d come out into the world and have so much."

While Liv was muttering this, Emmett watched her with a gentle smile, then checked his pocket watch and held out his hand to her.

"Come, let’s get up. There’s somewhere we need to go."

"The palace?"

"No, the festival isn’t over yet."

Since Liv knew the fireworks were supposed to be the last event of the festival, she got up with a puzzled expression taking Emmett’s hand. Her dress was stained with grass, but paying no mind to that, she just brushed off her clothes.

"Where are we going?"

"Just below this hill."

They carefully descended the hill. Though going up hadn’t been too difficult, going down was actually harder due to the steep path. And when they finally reached the bottom of the hill, what caught Liv’s eye was a group of people gathered in one place.

"The festival really isn’t over yet? There are lots of people."

"Yes, the last part of the festival remains."

In the middle of where people were gathered were two hot air balloons. Liv’s eyes widened at seeing such things for the first time in her life.

"My goodness, so that’s... what was it called?"

"Hot air balloons." freewebnσvel.cѳm

"Ah, I’ve heard of them! I never thought I’d see them like this. So there was this event too?"

Though not large enough for people to ride in, the hot air balloons painted in brilliant multicolors seemed like they would be visible even from far away. However, not knowing what purpose these balloons served, Liv tilted her head.

"What do they do with these hot air balloons?"

"They’ll rise to the sky. Carrying everyone’s wishes."

Emmett answered while looking down at Liv with loving eyes.