“I’m kidding. Are you really okay?”

“Yes, I’m okay now. Let’s go.”

Catching my breath, I smiled at him casually. But I felt complicated deep down. What’s wrong with me? I feel like my condition is worse than before.

I’m not going to make a big fuss over this now.

Thinking I would have to see the doctor after the banquet, I walked with Carsein.

The first day of the National Founding Day festival I was trotting on a horse in the streets of the capital. As I had to go to the central square on horseback, I was wearing a riding jacket. Was it because I am not yet familiar with the side saddle? My body unwittingly shook often.

Although it was already into the tenth month of the year, the sun was still blazing down in the afternoon. It was extremely hot in the streets of the capital, with the sun beating down. My body was hot even though I wore elbow-length gloves and a hat to prevent sunburn.

I took a deep breath to slow down by pulling the reins of Sylvia trotting with her silver mane fluttering away. I was jammed up inside due to the hot air.

The crown prince, who was riding a white horse beside me, said, looking back at me, “Hey, you really look pale. Are you still sick?”

“No, Your Majesty. I felt a bit awkward as I haven’t sat side saddle for a long time …”

“Hmm.”

“By the way, is it okay for you to leave Lady Jena alone?”

“It hasn’t been solved by the emperor. So, don’t worry. ”

As Jiun’s proposal was accepted at the last conference, the three regular knights of the capital held a parade on the first day of the festival. They agreed to march from the front gate of the Imperial Palace to the capital square, then hold an inspection ceremony in front of the crown prince who would attend on behalf of the emperor.

Except for a handful of personnel, most of the Royal Guards and all of the 1st and 2nd Knights Divisions were supposed to participate in the ceremony. Originally, only the crown prince was expected to attend it, but the emperor, who suddenly convened a political meeting yesterday, ordered me to participate in the ceremony, ignoring Jiun.

What else could strengthen my status as the prince’s bride better than appearing with him in front of the people in the capital? That’s why the nobles who heard his order strongly resisted, but he rejected them for three logical reasons.

First, in the present situation where the people were confused by Jiun’s appearance, it was necessary to calm them down by putting a stop to the rumors. Second, they should not forget the fact that Lady Monique was still the crown prince’s fiancee. Lastly, if Jiun’s qualifications were verified and she was finally chosen as his bride, they could correct the process then.

When the emperor presented these reasons, the disgruntled noble faction remained silent.

Although I didn’t know the reason exactly, Duke Jena and Jiun didn’t object as I expected, which was surprising to me. That’s why I was riding side by side with the crown prince in the middle of the knights marching to the capital square after leaving the Imperial Palace.

‘Anyway, this is really a spectacular parade!’

Although my head was spinning like a top when I thought about the troubles, the scene before me was so nice that I could put aside any anxiety for a while.

At the front of the procession the riders were marching with the flags of the 1st Knights with a red border on a black background, embroidered with the emblem of a roaring lion symbolizing the imperial family. Following the riders, the members of the 1st Knights, who were dressed in uniforms with red swords with red tassels on their waists, rode horses in exact intervals.

Behind the 1st Knights, the riders carrying the flags of the Royal Guards with a golden border on a white background, marched in line, followed by the guards dressed in white uniforms with ceremonial swords with golden tassels. Under their escort, the crown prince and I were riding side by side.

Behind him and me, the riders holding the flags of the 2nd Knights with silver borders on the navy blue background and the 2nd Knights wearing uniforms and ritual swords with navy blue and silvery tassels were marching in columns.

The spectators shouted with exclamations, amazed by the riders and knights marching at the exact intervals and disciplined posture like one.

“Glory to the Empire!”

“Loyalty to the Lion!”

“May the Castina Empire last eternally!’

There were numerous crowds on the streets of the capital to see the parade of the regular knights’ march as well as the imperial family’s march that they could hardly experience in a lifetime.

Among them were peddlers selling drinks and food, little children on their fathers’ shoulders waving their hands, young women looking at the knights with envy, lovers with their arms folded tenderly, senior people rubbing their bleak eyes to see the next ruler of the empire, crowds pushing and pulling each other tightly, and the security police knocking themselves out controlling them.

Cheers from the crowds resonating through all the streets right after those who shouted the slogans first

Although my head was spinning like a top, I smiled with a gentle smile and waved my hands towards them because it was the purpose of my mission to follow the crown prince.

“…Lady Monique?”

“Yes, Your Majesty?”

“Aren’t the marching guys really beautiful?”

“Yes, Your Majesty. That’s right.”

“I was worried that the damage would be severe because of the continuing disaster, but I am so glad to see them full of hope and vitality. Of course, what they are showing now may not be necessarily true.”

Of course, they are not. If there is light, there is a shadow.

Even if they were overflowing with joy on the surface, they might be sad and gloomy deep down. Given their happy and optimistic expressions, the people apparently survived the harsh summer this year.

Although I felt dizzy and breathless because of the blazing sunlight, I smiled softly as I felt gratified for some reason. Then, with a brighter expression, I waved my hands toward the cheering crowds.

The larger of the two central plazas in the capital was in the noble district. Because they needed as much space as possible for the knights’ parade, the government opened the noble district to the commoners only today. Therefore, the central square in the noble district was already crowded with commoners.

When the procession arrived finally, shouts of exclamations broke out among the packed crowds. If the security police had not controlled them to a separate space, there would have been no place for the knights to enter.

The 1st Knights, centered around the riders holding the flags, gathered in half and spaced apart on the left and right. The knights drew the ceremonial swords with red tassels flying and put them in front of them with the swords pointing up.

Escorted by the Royal Guards, I and the crown prince passed through the 1st Knights saluted by raising the swords.

Holding his hand, I got off the horse and climbed onto the platform. When I saw the two chairs placed side by side in the shade installed to hide the intense sunlight, I unwittingly let out a sigh.

I knew this would happen, but I couldn’t help it anyway.

When he was seated in the left seat, the Royal Guards, divided into several columns, surrounding the head tables in several layers turned toward the crowds.

Shortly afterwards, the 2nd Knights in blue uniforms on the left side and the 1st Knights in black uniforms on the left side lined up in columns, leaving a large space between them.

With the great fanfare, the riders holding the colorful flags stepped forward. The riders holding the flags of the 1st Knights, mixed with black and red, riders holding the flags of the Royal Guards, mixed with white and gold-colored, and riders holding the navy blue flags of the 2nd Knights marched, intersecting their flags.

Although I felt sorry for their sweat and toil during their hard practices, I was fascinated by the feast of beautiful colors created by the colorful flags.

Triangular and square flags drew colorful patterns as the riders moved along. The awnings on the head table fluttered by the wind caused by the moving flags. Lastly, the riders who turned toward the head table raised their flags toward the prince to show due mananers and returned to their respective places.

“All hail!”

There was tremendous cheering from the crowds around them.

“What a spectacular scene!”

“It really is, Your Majesty.”

“Why do you look gloomy?”