Hana had never been more determined in her life. The moment she confirmed that the shrine was real, she threw off her blankets and attempted to storm out of her recovery chambers—only to be immediately blocked by a group of palace attendants and guards.

  “Your Highness, you are still recovering—”

  “I AM GOING TO COMMIT ARSON!”

  Hime sighed, sipping her tea. “I expected this reaction.”

  Haruka, still dying of laughter, patted Hana on the back. “C’mon, it’s just a little shrine dedicated to your holy wisdom.”

  Hana whipped around. “I. AM. NOT. HOLY!”

  Uriel, who had been watching from the corner, finally spoke. "And yet, your influence grows with each passing day."

  Hana pointed an accusing finger. “YOU are NOT helping!”

  a certain morning in The Aikyo Capital at The Shrine That Should Not Exist. It took two days of heated arguing before Hime finally permitted Hana to leave the palace—under heavy supervision—so she could see the shrine for herself.

  And when she arrived— Hana felt her soul leave her body. The shrine was massive. It was constructed from pristine white stone, decorated with golden banners and intricate carvings of celestial symbols. At the very center stood a towering statue of Hana, arms outstretched in a divine pose that absolutely did not reflect her personality at all.

  There were crowds of people gathered around the entrance, including pilgrims, nobles, and scholars, all kneeling in reverence. A monk was reciting passages from what appeared to be…

  Hana felt lightheaded. “…Is that a scripture?”

  Haruka squinted. “Oh yeah, that’s definitely ‘The Doctrine of Eternal Balance.’”

  A nearby noble, overhearing them, turned bright-eyed and reverent. “Ah! Your Majesty! We have been awaiting your divine presence!”

  Hana snapped. “WHO WROTE THIS?! WHY DID YOU WRITE THIS?!”

  The noble, completely unfazed by her outrage, bowed deeply. “The Doctrine of Eternal Balance is a collection of your greatest teachings and revelations, compiled by scholars who have studied your wisdom over the past few months.”

  Hana stared. Haruka leaned toward Hime, whispering, “She’s about to explode.”

  Hime simply continued watching in amusement.

  “I—WHAT TEACHINGS?!” Hana cried.

  The noble was confused but he titled his head and smiled. “Why are you confusing your Highness? It is the sacred wisdom you have shared with the people.”

  Hana looked like she was about to die on the spot.

  —

  The "Holy Mission"

  Just as Hana was about to make good on her arson threat, another messenger arrived from the imperial court—an urgent summons from the northern kingdoms. Hime took the scroll and scanned it briefly. “It seems the nations of our Alliance have formally requested your presence.”

  Hana, still fuming, crossed her arms. “Oh, let me guess. Another ‘divine duty’? What now? Blessing crops? Curing plagues? Hosting a sacred banquet?”

  Haruka grinned. “Actually, I’d go to that last one.”

  Hime continued, ignoring both of them. “It seems they wish to send you on a sacred pilgrimage across the continent.”

  Hana froze. “…A what?”

  Hime set the scroll down. “The allied nations believe that your presence and ‘miracles’ will bring divine favor to their lands. They have arranged a journey where you will visit each kingdom, offering your ‘wisdom and blessings’ to their people.”

  Hana blinked.

  Then blinked again.

  And then—

  “NO.”

  Haruka, laughing, leaned back. “You are so screwed.”

  Hime, ever composed, simply sipped her tea. “You leave in one week.”

  Hana let out a long, suffering scream.

  Hana had never felt more exhausted in her life. It had been two weeks since her so-called divine pilgrimage began, and she was already on the verge of collapse.

  Everywhere she went, crowds gathered in droves—commoners, nobles, monks, and warriors alike, all bowing, praying, and offering tributes. Every major city, every province, every kingdom in the Eastern Continent had welcomed her with grand ceremonies, parades, and feasts, all in her honor.

  And she hated every second of it.

  “Why. Is. This. Still. Happening,” Hana gritted out through a strained smile, waving as yet another noble family presented her with an ornate golden scepter "blessed in her name."

  Haruka, walking beside her with way too much enjoyment, grinned. “Because you’re a saint now.”

  “I AM NOT A SAINT!”

  A group of priests kneeling nearby overheard her. One of them sighed wistfully and nodded. “Even in her humility, Her Highness refuses to acknowledge her divinity. Truly a sign of her greatness.”

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  Hana visibly twitched.

  Hime, watching everything unfold with unreadable amusement, elegantly sipped her tea. “They’re not wrong.”

  Hana slumped.

  —

  A Forced Expedition Across the Continent

  The pilgrimage continued. For the next three months, Hana was paraded across the continent, blessing crops, healing ailments, and "bestowing divine guidance" upon the people.

  In Vintergard, the northern warriors knelt before her as their "Sacred Guardian of Balance" while King Aldric Frostbane personally requested a "divine council" with her.

  In Solmaria, the high priests welcomed her as the "Sun's Chosen One" and forced her to lead a grand festival. Queen Seraphina Dawnlight, ruler of the Solmarian Dominion, formally requested Hana’s blessing for an ancient temple renewal.

  In Eldoria, the scholars examined her presence as a "miraculous phenomenon," documenting every word she spoke as part of their "Sacred Doctrine of the Eternal Balance." Grand Magister Lucius, the leader of Eldoria’s Mage Council, presented Hana with an enchanted staff, claiming it was imbued with her ‘divine wisdom.’

  Everywhere she went, a new title was added to her name. And every day, Hana died a little inside.

  On the final stop of the pilgrimage, as Hana stood in front of thousands of cheering citizens, something inside her snapped.

  She turned to Hime. “…How long has this tour been going on?”

  Hime sipped her tea. “Three months.”

  Hana’s eye twitched. “THREE. MONTHS?!”

  Haruka snorted. “Time flies when you’re a living deity.”

  Hana was on the verge of screaming. She had spent three entire months being dragged across the continent, forced to act as a divine icon, enduring endless speeches, ceremonies, and people throwing themselves at her feet.

  Enough.

  “I QUIT.”

  Hime raised an eyebrow. “You can’t quit being a divine figure.”

  “I CAN AND I WILL.”

  Ignoring the horrified gasps of the priests nearby, Hana spun on her heel and marched toward her carriage, announcing to the entire empire:

  “I am going home, I am locking my door, and I am NEVER coming out again!”

  The entire continent watched in stunned silence as their "sacred divine princess" stormed off.

  —

  The Imperial Conspiracy

  For the next several weeks, Hana locked herself in the palace, refusing to deal with the outside world. She had officially reached her limit. But while she was hiding away, something dangerous was happening.

  The leaders of the Eastern Continent Alliance had convened.

  King Aldric Frostbane of Vintergard, Queen Seraphina Dawnlight of Solmaria, Grand Magister Lucius of Eldoria, and the rulers of every major kingdom in the alliance had gathered in a secret summit.

  And they had come to a singular decision. The Eastern Continent needed an empire. One ruler to unite all nations, to stabilize the alliance, and to ensure prosperity. And there was only one candidate.

  Hana.

  But she couldn’t rule alone. The empire needed a structure, a ruling system that allowed for stability and balance. Thus, they created the Aetherion Empire, a new imperial force forged from the unification of Aikyo, Vintergard, Solmaria, Eldoria, and the smaller allied states.

  Aikyo itself would serve as the empire’s capital, and the governance would be divided:

  Hana would be crowned Empress of Aetherion, serving as the supreme head of state.

  Hime would rule as the Prime Minister, overseeing imperial administration and governance.

  Haruka would be appointed as the Supreme General, commanding the Imperial Aetherion Army.

  King Aldric Frostbane of Vintergard would remain High Lord of the North, governing his territories while serving on the Imperial Council.

  Queen Seraphina Dawnlight of Solmaria would serve as High Priestess of the Empire, overseeing religious and cultural affairs.

  Grand Magister Lucius Altharion of Eldoria would serve as Imperial Scholar, managing education, magic research, and arcane knowledge.

  —

  The Coronation – The Empress Rises (Without Hana Knowing)

  Hana had barely stepped out of her chambers when she was summoned to an “urgent royal council meeting.” Still half-asleep and mildly offended at the concept of mornings, she trudged into the throne room—only to freeze.

  The grand hall was packed. Rulers, nobles, and ambassadors from every major kingdom stood in reverent silence. Sapphire and gold banners hung proudly from every arch, symbols of something new. But one banner—unfamiliar and foreign—drew her eyes instantly.

  It billowed above the dais, crimson silk edged in gold, glowing like fire beneath the sunlight. At its heart, a deep red lotus bloomed—sharp, resolute. A golden dragon coiled tightly around it, protective and fierce. And through it all, a silver sword pierced upward, its blade gleaming like judgment forged from war.

  Hana stared.

  She didn’t know this flag. She didn’t know what nation it belonged to. She didn’t know it would one day fly over every city in the continent.

  But somehow…

  it felt like it was waiting for her.

  Her gaze shifted. A ceremonial carpet stretched from her feet to the foot of a throne she had never seen before. Larger, grander, more terrifying than any seat of power she'd ever encountered.

  “…What is going on?” she muttered.

  Lord Aldric, standing proudly in ceremonial armor, grinned like a man about to start chaos. “We’ve agreed to unify the Eastern Continent Alliance under one banner.”

  Hana blinked.

  Hime, seated with elegance beside the larger imperial throne, added calmly, “Aikyo, Vintergard, Solmaria, Eldoria, and the allied states now stand as one. The Aetherion Empire is born.”

  “…And who’s the ruler?” Hana asked, already regretting the question.

  Lord Aldric’s grin widened. Hime didn’t even need to answer.

  Because the entire room was already bowing.

  “Long live Her Imperial Majesty, Empress Hana of Aetherion.”

  Silence.

  A long, painful silence.

  Then Hana whispered, almost like a prayer: “…I am going to scream.”

  Haruka, clapping far too enthusiastically, added fuel to the fire. “ALL HAIL THE EMPRESS!”

  And scream she did—a soul-crushed, betrayed howl of disbelief that echoed through the palace like a divine curse.

  “ALL HAIL THE EMPRESS! EMPRESS HANA OF AETHERION”

  Without ever signing a paper, without saying yes, Hana had become the ruler of the youngest empire in the continent.

  And as if the universe wasn’t done mocking her…

  The first war of her reign was already on its way.

  —

  [END OF SEASON 1]

  Hi Kryssa Here! if you enjoy the story or have any suggestion, question, theories, and favorite moments please let me know in the comment section!

  The update will be every tuesday, thursday and saturday. please follow if you wanted to know the latest update of Crimson Lotus!

  I Hope you enjoy the story!

  Season 1 officially ends here, but don’t worry—Season 2 begins right away!That said, I’ll be switching to one chapter per update moving forward. Season 2 will be packed with action, emotion, and absurd chaos, so I want to give each chapter the quality it deserves.

  Stay tuned for the next epic—and sometimes ridiculous—chapter of Crimson Lotus! Thank you so much for reading!

  — Kryssa