The Honorary Knight is a system that I devised when I was a child - whether to get the title of Prince Smart or not.

Against the background of devising it, it can be said that for the past few decades, the Empire's finances have been plagued by chronic deficits.

There was a rhetoric that spending with the Empire should be reduced in order to reduce the deficit, for a time, but it ended up being a huge failure.

Empire spending doesn't mean money disappears into the void.

The money spent by the Empire becomes civilian, and the money circulates around the civilian population to feed the people.

As soon as we reduced it, the gold circulating in the private sector was visibly reduced.

As a result, tax revenues became visible, and security in various places deteriorated, and the rebellion continued.

This also affects the Empire as a “warrior nation.”

Decreasing spending is seen as weakening the Empire, and a revolt has broken out from this side.

Ironically, he crushed the outbreak of this rebellion, captured the main mastermind, and temporarily restored his finances by confiscating his property.

That said, it is not different that it is loosely crisis.

Under such circumstances, one of the royal family offered to pay a fine.

The reason is that my son committed the murder, which in the name of the law is a fine for poor supervision.

By offering and paying a large amount of fines themselves, you're trying to make the Emperor's memory better and avoid the worst kind of house demolition.

His Majesty is eager to do that, but he decided that I wasn't against it.

The reason is that even if you violate the law, if you offer a fine yourself, the sin will become lighter. If you create a precedent, the deterrent effect of the law will disappear.

That's why I fiercely opposed it, and the Emperor understood it and finally accepted it.

Instead, I offered to raise money for honor.

Fines are out of the question, but donations are honorable.

However, if you buy a position with a donation, it will be a hotbed of fraud and corruption.

Therefore, "I will not give you any real authority or status", "instead, the emperor will directly award", a donation specializing in honor -- no, it is a "collection" system.

After that, it was consulted by the emperor and the prime ministers, and became a proper honorary knight system.

For some time after the establishment of this system, I have been praised by His Majesty the Emperor as "amazing" for a month.



I saw the woman in front of me.

In his early twenties, he is still young and somehow still naive on his face.

This woman called herself the "Honorary Knight".

This means that he was once a man who made a donation and was honored by the Emperor.

"At that time (,,,)"

Huh?

Was it me then?

"Yes! Directly!"

I see.

I see, "I nodded.

For me, it was one of the many honorary donations I've received, but from the other side, I'm the only emperor.

It's only natural to remember it well.

"I shouldn't have spoken out, but I couldn't hold back, so I followed."

I don't care, just tell Frank a little more than that.

"Ah, yes! Um... I see...?"

Haha.

I wiped it down small.

It was a little interesting to see Etna's confusion clearly.

"More than that, tomorrow... is your house a merchant or something?"

"Yes - yes, the house has been raising silkworms for generations."

I see.

I nodded like that.

Nearly 90% of the honorary knights were merchants.

It is easy to do so in terms of the system of buying honor with money.

"Has there been a change in the family business since then?"

“Now you can make even more money.”

Huh?

I look at Etna with the meaning of "what do you mean?"

"I would like to see that you can give such a large amount of money to things that do not bring real benefits." Because it's important whether a merchant is profitable or not. ”

"Hahaha, that's right. Unprofitable merchants are too risky to want to make a deal."

"Yes, and not your father, but me--" His Majesty the Emperor, who invented this system, is truly amazing! "

"I see. That's right - why are you doing this?"

Yes, I watched her gaze in the direction she came, as her servants prepared the cookouts.

I mean, why are you cooking it out?

Isn't that the kind of behavior that makes you feel like a merchant?

"Your Majesty has come to this place to get information."

Etna answered instantly without hesitation.

I didn't point out that "His Majesty the Emperor is coming" is not a word addressed to me, it means that I got it as information.

"Why would His Majesty do such a thing when he comes?"

"Your Majesty's kinship, I will definitely win."

Do you want to win?

Yes, absolutely.

Etna said without hesitation.

Why?

"Your Majesty."

"... um"

I nodded tinyly.

I stared into Etna's eyes.

Then I understood.

What Etna calls "His Majesty the Emperor" is what I, Noah I, mean.

It seemed to me that it meant more because I was the Emperor than because I was the Noah.

And there was no reason there.

It was just me, that's why she did it.

I'm sure the Emperor will win.

Hmm?

"His Majesty will definitely order us to save the people when he sees this situation." A man whose heart is shattered by his people. Your Majesty's hands must not be troubled by such an eventuality. I would like His Majesty to devote himself to the battle, and I am doing it wholeheartedly. "

While I was talking, my feelings were getting higher and higher.

Etna's tone returned to the humble salutation of her time.

I see.

I didn't point out the use of words.

More than that, I was a little surprised at the strength of her thoughts.

The villagers who came out to cook were looking at me a little bit, wondering if I was struck by the strength of her tone.

It's not good to keep being seen like this.

I wanted to hear more about it, so I thought I'd take her and change the place.

"Let's talk about it somewhere less popular."

Yes!

I turned around and walked out.

She followed behind me, but I stopped when I noticed something uncomfortable.

She didn't just follow me.

Round and round, I changed my standing position quite a lot and followed.

Why did you go there?

Her movements also seemed strange to Luke's eyes.

Luke asked her curiously.

"This is--"

"It's an old practice."

Old ways?

I nodded and explained to Luke instead of Etna.

"Whenever you stand near the person above you, you always stand on the north side."

Why?

"Don't step on the shadows." There's no real harm in stepping on the shadows, but there used to be. "

Oh, that's right.

……

I turned my gaze from Luke to Etna.

I stared at her.

What's the matter?

"...... Were you dressing up as a man with your throat cut open?"

"-Oh! Yes!!"

Surprise and joy.

Two emotions came and went on Etna's face.