Book 8: Chapter 20
‘Something today made me relatively happy. And that was my Moms’ arrival at the Royal Capital.’
‘Elizabeth and Vyvyan arrived in the Royal Capital today. I think it’s Vyvyan’s first time here in humanity’s Hilles City, so I did everything I could to ensure that the city could give Mommy Vyvyan a good impression. Well, I didn’t make any detailed preparations. since I don’t think Vyvyan is very keen on resplendent things. She just needed to see humanity’s prosperity.’
‘I only realised how unnecessary my preparations were when I was making the preparations. I was going to get people to gather on their route to welcome them, but when I said the Empress was returning to the Royal Capital tomorrow. The people excitedly began preparing things to welcome her without me telling them what to do. The hotels on both sides of the streets with rooms with windows raised their prices up as high as the cost of a small house.’
‘Some even made camp on both sides of the streets, so that they would be in the front row to see Her Majesty tomorrow. In reality, they weren’t going to get to see her because she was hidden by the black curtains on both sides of her horse carriage. But despite that, the people were literally going to fight for a spot as madmen would.’
‘Some of them got dressed in their most luxurious clothes to await the Empress’s arrival.’
‘A team of Valkyries patrolled the streets every hour in order to ensure that there were no congestions. I went once, as well, and saw the streets filled with denizens there to welcome the Empress. I felt a little sour and envious. I know how much mom did for this empire and how much she gave up for it, but not every Emperor is valued and respected this way. The people are the monarch’s asset. However, the monarch also needs to have the trust of the people to exist. The Empress hadn’t set out to war in a decade, but the Empress was still the noble and great Empress they knew in their hearts.’
“What’s wrong, Onii-sama? Your expression looks a little weird.”
I smiled helplessly then looked at the people sleeping on both sides of the street and softly replied, “Perhaps it’s because I mind Her Majesty’s monarch status. I’m wondering if I’ll be able to be treated by the people the same way one day. If not, then Her Majesty abdicating the throne will bring me endless troubles. My ability to lead is still far inferior compared to Her Majesty’s. What must I do to be able to be as good as Mom?”
Freya chuckled, and then answered, “You need to understand that Her Majesty is comparable to the messiah of the world in the eyes of the people of Rosvenor Empire. She alone held up Rosvenor City when it was on its last legs and on the brink of destruction. She virtually never lost a battle with foreign nations and transformed Rosvenor City, an agriculture focused city barely getting by into an empire that expands half of the continent. Everyone naturally admires and respects such power. You are not different. If Her Majesty was the messiah, then it is very difficult for you to have another opportunity to accomplish more than Her Majesty. As long as you can maintain the empire she established and rejuvenate the internal politics and economy, then you will be considered a great Emperor.”