“Um, what’s the matter with you? I doubt it, but I don’t believe you are going to retract what you have proposed. Unless you intend to make a mockery of me and the imperial family, you can’t retract, right?”

“… ”

“Your Majesty, may I present my opinion?”

“Yes, go ahead, Duke Jena.”

Asking to speak on behalf of Earl Hamel who was at a loss about what to do, Duke Jena said, “We are deeply moved by your willingness to donate the imperial wealth, but how can we sit still when you are donating the imperial wealth? So, I think we can adjust the national budget to make up for the deficits. ”

“Where can you cut the budget? The current budget plan has been drawn after the prime minister and other high-ranking officials worked on it.”

“Isn’t it possible that even a small increase in the tax rates can make up for the deficits?”

“You must know that raising tax rates is not possible. Get to the point, Duke Jena!”

Unlike the emperor who asked with a relaxed expression, Duke Jena said with a gloomy expression after pausing for a moment, “…As your loyal vassals, we’re going to dole out our own wealth to make up for the deficits.”

“Really? I didn’t know that your loyalty to me was so deep. Are you all of the same mind?”

“How can I say that it is my own wish? Everyone here will be of the same mind, I think. ”

“Hmm. Well, that sounds good. Let me accept your proposal then.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty.”

“However, as the ruler of the empire, I can’t immediately retract what I said. So, let me make up for half the budget deficits. Instead, I will cut down the number of the titles to be awarded to the nobles. As for the titles, let me create lifetime-only titles instead of hereditary titles. If you disagree, express your opinion now.”

Moaning was heard here and there among the noble faction members. I looked at the young man on the platform in surprise.

‘Oh, this is the plan he originally had in mind.’

If the emperor bestows lifetime-only noble titles, he doesn’t need to give them any estate. He can earn their loyalty by giving them noble titles, gain the people’s support by freezing tax rates and reduce the burden of the imperial family by having the nobles donate their wealth.

Did he try to gain all these benefits by expanding the knights divisions?

When Duke Lars declared the passage of the agenda, Duke Jenna, who was staring at Earl Hamel fiercely, said, “By the way, what are you going to do with the National Founding Day festival? With only one month to go before the festival, you have not selected who is going to organize the event?”

“That’s right, Your Majesty. Even if we plan and prepare for it from now on, it seems like time is running out. Moreover, aren’t the delegations from many countries attending this festival?”

“I made the request to you the other day, so please make the conclusion today.

Isn’t it a big shame to the empire if our preparations are not up to the standards?”

‘The National Founding Day festival?’

I tilted my head. I thought it was Duke Lars who would be responsible for organizing the festival. Is he not this time?

The emperor, who had been staring at the nobles including Duke Jena, said, “As for the festival, I already told you I would think about it because I still had some time.”

“If you don’t mind, how about this method?”

“What is it?”

“I heard that the Fourth Root of Vita, our Lord, visited Sanktus Vita a few days ago. If you think about the just born High Priest baby and High Priest Secundus who was left behind to take care of the baby, there are three High Priests in the empire now. It is very unusual that three of the six High Priests in the whole continent are gathered in one place in the empire. I don’t think you should use this great opportunity. ”

Looking around as if to seek consent, Duke Jena, said, “Your Majesty, how about hosting the festival in cooperation with the temple? By doing so, we can show the people that the Lord protects the empire. In other words, if we can hold a large festival by promoting the three High Priests and some top priests, not only the people but also the foreign delegations will be greatly moved.”

“I agree. This is a once-in-a-lifetime event as well as the first festival after your coronation. I think it’s a good opportunity for you to show the dignity of the imperial family. ”

Marquis Mirwa agreed with the duke’s opinion after sweeping up his hair.

“I think you can catch the two goals of gaining public support and foreign policy by holding the festival. Besides, you can also solve the pending issue this time. I don’t know why you’re putting off the decision, but if you join hands with the temple…”

The emperor cut him off by raising his right hand and said, rubbing his temple with one hand, “I’m a little tired. Let’s take a break before continuing the meeting.”

Looking at him for a moment, Duke Lars responded noddingly, “Yes, Your Majesty. I will resume the meeting in half an hour. ”

“Okay.”

When the emperor left the meeting hall, my father immediately left, saying he had something to talk with Duke Lars. Perhaps he was trying to come up with a response to Duke Jena’s proposal. Left alone for a moment, I asked Marquis Enesil after agonizing a bit, “Well, may I ask for your explanation? I don’t understand their claim that the person in charge of the festival has not been decided.”

“Don’t you know it yet? There have been discussions about it for the past few weeks, but the emperor stopped the discussion. So, the agenda is still pending.”

“Why did they bring up this issue? Duchess Lars can do the job.”

“Well, she rejected the proposal, citing that she was not feeling well. Her daughter-in-law, Princess Lua, is receiving postnatal care right now, and the Verita family is not in a position to take on that role, as you know.”

“Oh, I see…”

If so, is the situation going to be the same as last year? If the wives of Duke Lars and Duke Veritas could not host the festival, it was our family’s turn. In other words, our family would have to take on this job according to the custom.

Only then did I realize why my father hesitated in the morning and why the emperor never mentioned it to me. My father and the emperor knew how I would react if I heard about this. That’s why they did not have the heart to mention it to me.

Normally, I would have accepted it, thinking it was inevitable, but this time the situation was different. It was the first festival since the emperor’s coronation ceremony. Besides, the foreign dignitaries would be attending it. If I hosted the festival, they would certainly regard me as the next empress. In other words, I would move one step closer to the fate of the empress that I wanted to avoid so much.

However, if I refused, things would work out as Duke Jenna wished. His claim that we should hold the festival in cooperation with the temple seemed reasonable at first, but the emperor could not accept his proposal recklessly because it was impossible to find out his intention. Besides, even if the emperor rejected his proposal, it was certain that Jiun would take on this job.

What should I do?

When I was agonizing about it, suddenly I recalled somebody whispering among themselves, which I missed while chatting with Marquis Enesil.

“… I don’t know why the emperor is so hesitant.”

“You bet. Besides, the noble faction has asked the emperor to have Lady Monique as the empress, right?”

“But isn’t it rather burdensome to the emperor? No matter how much he loves her so much, she is…”

I bit my lips at his last words, which made me surge with anger.

“… Are you okay? ”

“Let me get out for some fresh air.”

I stood up, ignoring the blonde young man’s gaze, who looked at me sadly. I didn’t want to speak with anybody right now.

I walked here and there outside the Central Palace. One thing that I had forgotten for a while because I was so absent-minded came to my mind, breaking my heart.