April 25, 834
— Are you serious right now? — Rinze was taken aback. — Can you repeat that? I think I might have misheard you.
Eugen was pale, and the dark circles under his eyes spoke of a lack of sleep. Rinze had told him time and time again that he should rest more and not devote himself entirely to work, but he never listened to her.
— I want to renounce the imperial title and the powers associated with it and transfer them to you.
His voice was as firm as steel, and she knew him too well to understand that this was not a joke. For a moment, her head spun, and only through superhuman willpower did she manage to maintain her composure.
— Why not Yuki? — Rinze asked with her usual playful tone, not showing a hint of the confusion that her mind had been in just moments ago.
— I've thought about this for a long time and decided that this is not what Yuki would want in life. Once, he already refused to inherit his father's throne, and I wouldn't want to burden him with this heavy responsibility.
— So you decided to burden me with it? — The girl gave her brother a teasing smile, but Eugen's face didn't change. It was clear that he was not in the mood for idle chatter or humor today.
— You are free to refuse; this is a request, not an order. In that case, I will be forced to ask Yuki, but if he refuses too, I will continue to bear this burden myself.
— I agree. — She replied without hesitation or doubt in her voice.
Eugen nodded. — We will announce this in early June, and in July, you will be crowned as my successor. You will have enough time to take over my powers, familiarize yourself with the duties, and prepare for everything that may await you on this difficult path. — The Emperor took a long pause and sighed heavily at the end. — Thank you, Rinze.