“In the past I would have just enjoyed it, but now I am a knight like them, so I can’t enjoy it fully, when I think about their hard efforts to make this possible… Sorry, Your Majesty. ”

“I see. Like you said, they must have practiced a lot in the heat for this ceremony today, ”

he said with a faint smile, “Are you sorry that you didn’t join the parade?”

“No, Your Majesty. I’m still lacking in many ways, so if I had participated, I would have caused them trouble.”

“If so, just enjoy it. If you think about their hard work, you should enjoy it as much as possible. ”

He was right. I nodded, focusing on the spectacular scene before my eyes.

As the riders took their place, the knights in the rightmost row of the 1st Knights Division pulled out their swords all at once. Their ceremonial swords with all kinds of decorations shined in the sunlight.

When I admired their tranquil posture on horseback as if they were standing on the ground, they began to turn their swords, creating various mysterious shapes. Everybody held their breath at their dazzling skills. Shortly afterwards, the knights in the second row from the right pulled the swords to join them, followed by those in the third and fourth rows. Whenever the knights were added, the square was more and more shrouded with sparkling lights of their swords.

“Wow! ”

They exclaimed spontaneously.

Despite such a large number of knights, there was no error in their motion. Making geometric patterns with the beautiful silver rays beaming at the tip of their swords. they finally showed due manners by erecting their swords in the middle of their bodies.

The 2nd Knights’ sword skills were also spectacular. The swords of the 1st Knights shed silver and red rays, combined with the red tassels, while the 2nd Knights’ swords made a bunch of blue and silver rays in the sunlight.

When their display of splendid swordsmanship was over, the knights standing at the very end of both knights divisions turned behind those lined up and headed for the exits.

When those lined up on both sides of the exits pulled the reins, the horses cried, raising their paws all at once. There were again spontaneous exclamations of admiration from the crowds.

The knights who turned the swords once gorgeously passed through the aisles and approached the platform facing the head table and lined up. When they lifted the swords before the crown prince and went back to their place, the crowds broke out in applause.

When all the knights finished marching once, the riders crossed the aisle and stood up again in front of the crown prince to salute. They applauded again.

When the riders returned, the Royal Guards who lined up in front of the platform pulled out the swords from the left in order to salute the crown prince.

When they saluted by lifting the swords, this time, those on the right put the swords back into their sheaths first. When they turned the swords splendidly and put them back in order, the crowds applauded here and there. When the last knight sheathed the sword, everybody turned their eyes at the platform where the crown prince was seated.

Looking around once, the crown prince got up slowly and reached out to me. I looked at him for a moment, then put my hand on his hand gently.

When I was about to get up from my seat, I felt dizzy again.

Oh please, no!

I tried to keep my balance, but in the end my legs were wobbly.

The moment I staggered, he tightened his grip on my hand. I managed to stand upright, relying on his hand holding me tight.

Did I barely save my face?

With a sigh of relief, he smiled quickly. Then I stepped forward with him and waved to the crowds.

“Glory to the empire, loyalty to the lion!”

“Glory to the empire, loyalty to the lion!”

After the knights shouted loudly, the crowds packing the square also cheered.

While listening to their slogans and cheers for a long time, he raised his right hand silently, still holding my hand tightly with his left hand. The noisy square quickly became quiet.

“Glory to the great Castina Empire! Today is the 963th anniversary of the founding of the empire. On this auspicious day, I, Crown Prince Rublis Kamaludin Shana Castina, would like to issue an order. Every knight who participated in today’s ceremony will be given a month’s salary and ten days’ vacation leave. Glory to the empire! ”

“Wow!”

Resounding shouts broke out among the knights lined up at intervals. I smiled gently, watching them shouting for joy.

How wonderful! They must have felt tired all over as they had to practice the inspection parade, in addition to their tough training in the sweltering weather. As such, the crown prince’s special recognition of their hard work could not be the most welcome news to them.

After calming down their excitement by raising his right hand, he continued, “Also, during the festival days let me temporarily lower the tax rates for the commercial transactions in the capital to 1.5%.”

“Wow!”

” Long live the crown prince! ”

“Glory to the Empire!”

This time applause broke out among the crowds filling the square. I smiled again this time, but in a different sense than before.

His announcement a moment ago perfectly fit his personality. He wanted to win the people’s hearts by lowering the taxes, and maintain the national revenues by promoting consumption. From the perspective of the empire, it was a good policy because it didn’t reduce the revenues. From the point of view of the people, they welcomed the lower taxes. So, his actions cut both ways. Of course, he could not turn to this way often because of the very low tax rates in the empire all the time.

After looking at the cheering crowds, he turned around.

He continued to hold my hand while he went down the platform and stopped in front of the black horse.

“Please get on first.”

“Your Majesty.”

“Hurry up. They are watching us.”

“… Yes, Your Majesty.”

As I grabbed his hand and climbed onto the horse, numerous people focused their attention to me. While trying to look calm, I swallowed a sigh.

That’s why I tried to climb myself. I didn’t want their attention.

He already got on the horse and came next to my side.

As the riders took the lead, the 1st Knights Division first started to march out of the square.

After they went out, the Royal Guards drove the horses while escorting him and me. A large applause once again broke out among the crowds when the knight disappeared from the square.

When their cheers went down some time later, he looked back at me and asked with a small voice, “Are you really okay?”

“Yes, I’m, Your Majesty.”

“Your face is very pale. Besides, you almost lost balance a while ago. ”

“Sorry, Your Majesty. I worried you as I was careless at the moment.”

“I am not saying this to blame you, as you know,” he said with a sign as if he was frustrated, with his navy blue eyes staring at me, “Didn’t you overwork yourself to prepare for the festival banquet? The royal doctor clearly said you should take a good rest, right?”

“I’m fine, Your Majesty. I didn’t overdo it.”

“You’re always saying you’re okay when I ask you.”

“… I’m sorry. ”

“Wow!”

Surprised by the crowds’ shouting, I turned my head. As if his decision to lower the taxes already spread to the general public, people who lined up on the left and right shouted in praise of the imperial family, regardless of age or gender.

When he waved to them with a smile, they cheered more loudly. I was short of breath because of the sweltering sun. Besides, big shouts here and there a louder shout broke out. I was getting short of breath in the hot air. I suddenly had a headache because of their thundering applause.

‘I shouldn’t frown. I’ll be there at the Imperial Palace pretty soon. ‘

I pressed my chest with my hand holding the reins and drove the horse.

When I almost fell off the horse, feeling dizzy after arriving at the palace, he said with a firm voice, holding me tightly, “I’m afraid I can’t let you go like this. You had better not attend today’s banquet. ”

Is it okay if I don’t attend the banquet on the first day? Given that I should prepare for the banquet on the second day, I would like to take a break, but I felt somewhat sorry for my absence on the first day.