Chapter 148: The Woman with Strong Eyes
While looking at Etna’s face, I recalled the time I met her—about six months after I ascended to the throne.
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In the palace, in the rest area.
After returning from outside, I took off the crown, the most cumbersome and exhausting part of my formal attire, and handed it to a nearby maid before sitting on the sofa.
I exhaled the air that had built up in my lungs and loosened my shoulders.
Then I asked Don, who entered the room behind me.
“How much more do we need to go through?”
“I report that we have completed about 30% of the total, with nearly 700 people left.”
“Hmm, it seems we won’t finish today.”
“Wouldn’t it be wise to simplify things even now? Your Majesty tends to show too much compassion to each individual.”
I smiled but didn’t respond.
After the Emperor ascends to the throne, it is customary to distribute various favors throughout the realm.
The selection of knights is more extensive than in previous years, with many more slots.
Knights chosen during the “favor examinations” when the Emperor ascends are viewed as more honorable than regular knights.
In other words, it is like distributing “commemorative honors” everywhere.
As part of this commemorative effort, I gathered donations from across the nation.
During my time as a prince, I advised His Majesty the Emperor—and, no, the previous Emperor—to establish the honorary knight system.
While it is unacceptable to erase sins with money, the idea that one can buy honor with money is one that should be allowed. Thus, individuals who made a certain level of donations to the state were awarded the title of honorary knight directly from the emperor.
I further expanded that system, limiting it to a thousand places as part of the commemorative event, soliciting donations from the top thousand contributors.
Given that the commemorative events, which are heavily focused on honor, matched the honorary knight system’s emphasis on prestige, I branded the event as the “Banquet of the Thousand Heroes” to enhance its dignity.
There were some complaints about this, but it was forcefully pushed through under the pretext of it being a celebratory gathering.
Now, I had completed the awards for about 300 people and was taking a break.
The “too much compassion” Don referred to meant that I was taking the time to speak to each person and listen to their stories.
“It’s only this time. Additionally, doing it this way adds prestige to the entire system.”
“That is true, but…”
“Those who have received my—mine words of encouragement will boast about it when they return to their hometowns, and the following year, there will be individuals willing to donate again.”
“Then, it’s just a little out of the way plac—no, never mind.”
Don swallowed his words.
And I understood what he was about to say, realizing it was out of concern for my well-being, so I decided not to dig deeper into the conversation.
As Don and I were bickering, Zoe brought over a cold drink.
Almost immediately, two young maids approached me from either side and began wiping the sweat from my forehead and neck.
Zoe and the other maids had been brought straight from the mansion when I ascended, and having served me for many years, they were exceptionally skilled in addressing my fatigue with the right finesse.
“Thank you for your hard work, this is quite helpful.”
“Thank you very much!”
“…Understood. I won’t stop you anymore.”
“Huh?”
“Instead, I will intervene at a certain point. Your Majesty may proceed as you wish.”
“Playing the role of the villain, are we?”
“Your Majesty always does remarkable things, but you are too careless about presentation. If you hold that thought, it would be a waste not to add any theatrical flair.”
“I see, I’ll leave it to you.”
I nodded and took a sip of cold tea. Since Don had a valid point, I decided to hand it over to him as per his words.
After resting a little while the maids helped massage my shoulders, I stood up straight when I felt somewhat rejuvenated.
“Let’s continue.”
“By your will.”
Leaving the maids behind, I took Don and left the room.
We headed straight for the audience chamber.
Upon entering the audience chamber, I sat on the throne and nodded at Don.
He returned my nod and then called out loudly to resume the proceedings.
Soon, a man entered.
He was an elderly gentleman, clearly clad in an unfamiliar formal outfit.
Following the prescribed etiquette given to him beforehand, he kneeled and bowed, but his movements appeared stiff and awkward due to his inexperience.
This type was commonly seen.
He was a notable figure from the local area but had no experience in the glamorous central court and was clearly nervous.
I offered words of encouragement and engaged him in casual conversation.
The man replied nervously, trying to extend the conversation.
At this point, Don stepped in, saying, “Time’s up,” and I, waving my hand to signal stop, exchanged a few more words with the man.
This made the man’s face look even more moved.
Then, when Don intervened again, I finished the exchange by saying, “Thank you for your efforts; please continue working for the country,” after which the man exited the audience chamber.
The tension he had when he entered was gone, replaced by an expression as if he were venerating a deity.
I understood his feelings as if I could grasp them in my hands.
For many citizens, the Emperor is someone akin to a lord—no, a heavenly being.
The Emperor, who is of such exalted stature, had taken the time to speak more than was usual despite the minister’s restraint.
This was a moment that could only be met with deep gratitude, a once-in-a-lifetime memory.
Especially for someone who sought affiliation with the honorary knight system, such a perspective would be even more pronounced.
In this manner, I took time and words for each individual even after the break.
Don occasionally showed a hint of dissatisfaction in his furrowed brows but made an effort to play the villain.
Then, another man entered.
He was a young man, possibly in his twenties, with the characteristic obesity of a wealthy person from the countryside.
He stepped forward and knelt in the designated spot, bowing in accordance with the customs.
I was slightly impressed.
Most of the overweight wealthy individuals I’ve encountered were spoiled and raised without proper manners, and many of them today struggled to even manage the basics or were too nervous to engage in conversation.
However, this young man before me not only had perfect manners but also maintained a dignified posture despite his nervousness, staring straight at me without averting his gaze.
His eyes were those of someone trying to discern something.
I became interested in this man.
“What is your name?”
“I am Tsurufu Aiwan. It is a great honor to meet you, Your Majesty—”
“Tsurufu?”
I tilted my head in confusion.
“Tsurufu was said to be forty-six years old, wasn’t he?”
I directed my inquiry at Don, who was standing beside me.
Don looked astonished and bewildered.
“How do you know that…?”
“What are you talking about? You were the one who handed me the list, weren’t you?”
“N-no. That’s not what I meant… Could it be that you remember…?”
Don asked me again with a probing look, surprised.
“Ah. Tsurufu Aiwan, forty-six years old. A grain merchant with one wife and one daughter. Although he has been entrusted with most of the family business, the representative is still his father, who is over seventy—am I wrong?”
“W-wait!”
Don looked momentarily dumbfounded, then hurriedly beckoned a secretary who was standing a bit further away.
The secretary rushed over with documents in hand, appearing flustered.
Don took the documents, glanced through them, and then met my gaze before responding.
“Y-yes, that’s correct. You actually remember?”
“If I look through it, it’s to some extent.”
“S-so impressive…”
Both Don and the secretary exclaimed in disbelief.
Meanwhile, Tsurufu, still kneeling, looked at me as if he was seeing something suspicious.
I ignored his gaze and continued to question him.
“You heard what I said. Tsurufu is forty-six years old. You certainly don’t look forty-six, do you?”
“W-well, that’s…”
The expression of the man who called himself Tsurufu changed dramatically, and he clearly began to show signs of distress.
After staring at the man for a moment, I said, “You… might you be the daughter?”
“Huh?”
The “huh?” came from Don.
The person in question was wide-eyed and gaping, unable to respond.
I thought, so it hit the mark.
“E-Emperor? How could you possibly know that?”
“By looking closely and realizing it’s a different person, various contradictions come to light. You’ve done well to disguise yourself with clothing, but there’s no Adams’ apple in sight, is there?”
“Eh? —Ah!”
Hearing my observation, Don suddenly turned to look at the self-proclaimed Tsurufu. The supposed Tsurufu hurriedly covered their throat with both hands in a panic.
Although Don probably couldn’t see clearly due to the speed of the reaction, that response alone was enough evidence.
“Someone! Capture this person!”
“Hold on.”
I stopped Don.
“So, you are the daughter Etna, then?”
“…”
“That aside… It seems you’ve stuffed your clothes, but how did you manage your voice? It sounded hoarse and only came off as a man’s voice?”
“Eh… ah…”
“Answer the Emperor’s question!”
Don stopped calling for the guards due to my intervention, but he was clearly still restless and shouted at the self-identified Tsurufu—Etna—in a loud voice, causing her to fumble even more.
“Is it charcoal?”
“—!”
Etna nodded repeatedly as she listened to my observation.
“I see.”
“Your Majesty, what about charcoal?”
“She ingested crushed charcoal. The charcoal powder sticks to the throat… roughly speaking, the voice becomes hoarse for about half a day.”
“I was not aware that such a loophole existed. Truly, Your Majesty.”
“Now, why is it that you, his daughter? Did something happen to your father?”
“Well, um…”
“Hmm?”
“I wanted to personally witness the divine face at least once… but since only men can become honorary knights, my grandfather told me to disguise himself and go.”
“Hmm? Don?”
“… It’s not explicitly stated, but perhaps the head of each rank has done so as a matter of custom.”
“I see.”
I nodded and turned to Etna.
“Thank you for coming. Starting next year, women will also be able to become honorary knights.”
“—!”
Etna was surprised and speechless.
☆
Nearly ten years had passed since that time, and I encountered Etna once again.
“Did you remember… me?”
“I didn’t make the connection since I hadn’t seen your true face, but I remembered your eyes.”
Etna looked astonished.
“My eyes?”
“They are rare eyes that sought to observe me.”
“Oh…”
Etna looked shocked, then lowered her gaze, appearing bashful with an expression that conveyed that emotion.
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