Chapter 27 Attending the Banquet
Chapter 27 Attending the Banquet
A few days have passed since I rode a carriage with Mulia to inspect the parade course.
I climbed into the roofless wagon once more yesterday to make a final check. This companion was Flora.
The main purpose of this inspection was to make sure that her fence was in place as she moved with her.
But when we got off the carriage and took a break, some passers-by approached us. They were curious about when the Imperial Knights would return, so they came to ask us.
“I’m probably going back to Dellerson tomorrow or the day after tomorrow.”
Flora answered their doubts with her cheery tone.
“I hope the drivers come back soon. You risked your life to fight monsters to protect us, right?”
When one person spoke, the people next to him said yes and agreed.
Rumors about the monster subjugation in the northern region have already spread all over Delesson.
They also said this.
When the knights pass this place, they will definitely express their gratitude in a loud voice.
“That’s a good attitude. The knights will probably be very happy.”
Flora’s answer made people’s faces light up.
And today,
“Your Majesty. The chief of the Northern Gate Guard has sent a message that the Imperial Knights will pass through the gate within 30 minutes.”
The head of the imperial palace personally came to Cecilia to inform her of this.
It has been a month since the knights dispatched troops.
‘Time has already passed like this… ….’
It still takes a lot of time to pass before I can resign, but as I persevere, I wonder how time flies.
It feels like being in the military.
Of course, I didn’t spend a lot of time there.
“You’re back at last.”
Cecilia spoke in a calm voice.
But her expression was more elevated than usual.
How did you figure this out?
That’s what happens when you work face-to-face, saying that every day is far away. That I never did what I wanted.
Well, it was true that I could understand Cecilia’s feelings to some extent.
Even if she pretended to be okay on the outside, she must have been quite burned on the inside. When she dispatched troops, she could send only the minimum number of people requested by Baron Ringel.
If the Imperial Knights had been defeated here, Cecilia would have been held responsible for all that.
It must have been a bonus that not only my family, but also countless people of the empire suffered severe damage.
Anyway, it was fortunate that they came back confidently victorious.
“Your Majesty! Let’s get ready to welcome them!”
Motivation was burning in Flora’s eyes as she jumped up from her chair.
“That’s right.”
Cecilia nodded her head once and turned her gaze towards me.
“Is everything ready for the parade for the Imperial Knights?”
“Yes. Everything has been prepared, and some of the imperial guards have already been taken out as safety control personnel.”
“I see.”
After hearing my answer, Cecilia gave instructions to her boss.
“The butler. Place an orchestra at the entrance to the imperial palace. And those who scatter flowers in the streets are also placed. Instruct the safety control personnel to move to their respective positions.”
“I understand, Your Majesty.”
Her head of the house, who greeted her, immediately left her office. You’ll probably have to run until her feet are on fire to do all her instructions.
“We go to the parade ground in advance.”
“Yes, Your Majesty!”
Cecilia rose from her throne.
I grabbed a piece of paper with a congratulatory speech for Cecilia to read from the drawer, then stood up.
“Don’t move.”
With Cecilia at the head, Flora and Mulia followed suit.
* * *
From far away, the loud sound of the orchestra resonated.
“Looks like you finally entered the imperial palace.”
Flora muttered a word and turned her head in the direction of the sound. I also became curious of her and followed her and turned her gaze in the same direction as her.
The distance from the entrance of the imperial palace to the parade ground here was rather far, and the knights were invisible because of the structures placed in the middle.
“… ….”
Cecilia was sitting on the throne prepared in advance, waiting for them. The expression on her face was nothing short of calm. The same was true of Mullia, who was standing right next to her.
After a while, the Imperial Knights entered the parade ground. After they all lined up toward the podium, Cecilia rose from the throne.
“Your Majesty. Here, congratulations.”
I handed the paper with the congratulatory message I had brought to Cecilia. As soon as she received the congratulatory message, she checked the contents on the spot.
“Hmm. All right.”
She rolled up her toast and held it in her hand.
“Come back.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Toward Cecilia, the three of us bowed in unison. When he stood up again, Cecilia was already on the podium.
As she stood in the middle of the podium, the knight commander shouted.
“Salute to Her Majesty, Empress Cecilia, mother of the Empire!”
The knights saluted with a moderate movement without any disturbance. He did not show signs of being tired even though he must have completed the difficult journey, as well as subjugating monsters.
How many times do you usually roll at the parade ground…….
“I always think it’s cool to see knights saluting.”
Flora’s emerald eyes were shining brightly.
I glanced at Mulia’s expression just in case. There was a strangeness in her amethyst eyes as well.
The dignified and disciplined appearances of the knights seemed to have captured the hearts of the two ladies.
‘As soon as I came back, I couldn’t even rest and lined up. Poor things…….’
This was my impression of them.
This is all because of the experience of being in the military as a great soldier.
“How does Luke look?”
“Yes?”
I flinched at Flora’s sudden attack of questions.
“Aren’t the knights really cool?”
Flora asked again. Then Mullia, who had been still, also turned her head in my direction.
What is it? Are you doing that because you’re curious about what I’ll answer?
Recently, it seems that Mullia’s attitude towards me has softened a bit compared to her past.
But she didn’t care what kind of attitude Mullia took. I don’t really have any intention of trying to improve the relationship on my side.
“Awesome. I’m envious because it’s rat poison when it comes to body work.”
Actually, as soon as I rolled over and saw her lined up in front of the empress, I could only think of her suffering.
Still, Flora probably didn’t expect such an answer, so she decided to give it a proper answer.
While we chatted, Cecilia spoke in a booming yet dignified voice.
“First of all, I am very happy that you returned safely. Not only I, but all the people of the empire will be delighted that you have wonderfully protected the Eckhart Empire and the people of the empire from the ferocious monsters.”
Even while Cecilia’s congratulatory speech continued, the knights maintained their alert posture without any disturbance.
Of course, the ladies-in-waiting and I also stood up straight like them.
The reading of Cecilia’s congratulatory message continued. Perhaps because she wrote it herself, her gratitude to the Knights and joy at the victory came out in every sentence.
“Lastly, we plan to give a separate reward to those who made a special record in this monster subjugation. Knight Commander.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“In a few days, make a list of them and report them to me.”
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“I will keep this in mind!”
The congratulatory speech ended with the knight commander’s strong reply. Cecilia came down from the podium only after receiving the knights’ salute.
But, as if there were more instructions, I called the knight commander in front of me.
We were close to her just in time, so we could hear her instructions clearly.
“How many casualties?”
“15 Dead and 32 wounded.”
“Please make a list of all of them and submit them. The treatment of the injured should be left to the imperial physician, and the family of the fallen should be paid a separate amount of consolation money along with the funeral.”
After hearing her story of her casualties, she calmly carried on with her work.
“I will make a list and post it by tomorrow, Your Majesty.”
“Yes. It was a lot of trouble.”
After the knight commander left, Cecilia approached us. I checked her complexion just in case.
A calm expression as usual.
When I saw him like this, I doubted if he was really my age.
As expected, I could feel that reigning as the emperor of an empire is not an ordinary thing.
“Flora, Mulia. And Luke.”
Cecilia called us in turn.
“You must remember that there is a banquet at 7:00 tonight, right?”
In response to her question, the three of us answered that we remembered at the same time.
“I’ll finish off the rest of my work and leave early today. You will need to prepare for the banquet.”
Having said that, Cecilia moved on to her carriage back to her imperial palace. The three of us quickly followed her.
* * *
All the paperwork was finished in time for lunch. There was a banquet today, so we, as well as other departments, were given time off from work or free time in the afternoon.
“I can’t believe there is a day that ends so early. I am so happy!”
Flora expressed her joy by raising her arms from her seat.
“Flora. You don’t have too much hair.”
Mullia pointed out in a low voice, but it didn’t look like she was going to be eaten by Flora.
Cecilia was watching her two ladies-in-waiting with her hands resting on her chin. A faint smile appeared on her lips.
“I can’t wait to see what dresses you guys will wear.”
“Whoops. You can look forward to it, Your Majesty.”
“It is difficult to expect too much, Your Majesty.”
How could the two of them have such conflicting reactions?
It’s a really fun combination to look at.
But Cecilia didn’t stop there. This time, she pointed at me.
“Luke. I look forward to seeing you in your tailcoat.”
“Yes? Me, you mean?”
Cecilia nodded her head once.
“Wow! I’m curious too! I just wanted to see a different side of me because I only see him in uniform every day.”
“… ….”
Flora gave me an ardent gaze. How her emerald eyes sparkled…….
Suddenly, I felt a lot of pressure.
At least it was fortunate that Mullia didn’t respond.
“Luke. Don’t worry too much As soon as lunch is over, I’ll send people to your room to help you dress up.”
“Thank you for your consideration, Your Majesty.”
I quickly bowed my head and saluted.
But at this time, I didn’t know.
That dressing up would be more difficult than I thought…….
-Continued