14. The Girl Who Loved Humans
"Come to think of it, tomorrow is the Foundation Festival."
This was what Hildegard said in an excited voice during mealtime at House Hamelsvoort. As if anticipating the Festival, both her cheeks were flushed red, and her voice carried excitement.
"Come to think of it, you've never been to a proper Foundation Festival."
"Yes, since I was born after August ascended to the throne..."
Realizing Hildegard was younger than he thought, Walter looked at her with unfamiliar eyes. Then, recalling his old memories, he slowly opened his mouth.
"I remember seeing the Foundation Festival when I was very young. I remember the capital being decorated splendidly, and there being lots of food in the streets. Of course, our parents didn't let us eat it, saying it was poor quality food that only commoners ate."
"Wow..."
"And in some lives, I became Emperor, but time reversed again before I could welcome the Foundation Festival."
Walter raised the corner of his mouth crookedly as if telling an amusing story.
"There were several lives where someone other than August took the throne, but my life ended before holding the Foundation Festival in all of them. Even for me, seeing a proper Foundation Festival was long ago. Perhaps more than a hundred years?"
Because he spoke including the time he experienced due to divine punishment, Hildegard's face became slightly pale. It was a story that felt eerie to her no matter how many times she heard it.
"Th-then do you know what nobles do during the Foundation Festival? I know about the banquet held at the imperial palace at least."
"Well, it's too long ago so I don't remember that properly either. For both you and me, this Foundation Festival will be a novel experience."
"What will Her Majesty, I mean Sister Liv, do at the Foundation Festival?"
"Well, probably just a simple congratulatory speech? Liv won't be too busy at this Foundation Festival."
"Then maybe I can meet Sister at the imperial palace."
At Hildegard's words, spoken because she hadn't seen Liv for a long time, Walter smiled with an unpleasant expression as if recalling something.
"Well, won't our Emperor naturally spend time with Grand Duke Lartman?"
"Ah, I suppose that's true..."
"Yes, they seem to be getting along particularly well lately."
Although he already knew how much she and Emmett loved each other, recently whenever Walter visited the imperial palace on business, Liv would hold onto him and chatter about how Emmett personally picked out this dress for her. For Walter, who didn't like Emmett, it wasn't exactly a pleasant sight.
"So we should just enjoy the Festival on our own... wait, somehow I feel there will be more noble ladies than usual at the Festival."
"I suppose so? Won't even young ladies who don't usually participate actively in social activities attend the imperial palace banquet starting tomorrow? I heard from Lady Rose that in her parents' generation, the Foundation Festival was the time when most noble sons and daughters fell in love."
"Oh dear..."
"Are you worried about the noble ladies?"
At Hildegard's voice that somehow seemed prepared to tease him, Walter felt uneasy. He half-anticipated what Hildegard would say next.
"Your adjutant was recording everything, so what's the problem?"
"Hilda!"
Although he had denied it in front of Liv and Hayden recently, Walter was actually recording the noble ladies he spent time with to avoid rumors. More precisely, Walter's adjutant was doing the recording. Anyway, Hildegard had discovered that Walter was trying to speak with various noble ladies without overlap through him.
"Haah, everyone goes on about how kind and caring Brother is, it really makes my mouth itch..."
"Hi-Hilda!"
He called Hildegard's name with a pale face. Just then, he thought of a way to silence Hildegard.
"I-I won't go to the imperial palace banquet!"
"What? Really?"
"There's no rule saying we have to enjoy the Foundation Festival as nobles. Hilda, you seem very proficient in that area."
Understanding what he meant, Hildegard smiled brightly. It seemed this Foundation Festival would be much more fun than she expected.
* * *
"Commemorating the birth of the great Holy Hilysid Empire, Liv Gracia."
As Liv spoke the final sentence, people cheered and applauded. Words of blessing for the Empire and Liv burst from their mouths. Liv gave them a light greeting before leaving the terrace.
As she had just read the Festival's congratulatory speech in front of people, the Foundation Festival had now begun. As if proving this, the sound of large bells rang out from somewhere.
Now the street stalls would begin their business, and children in the towns would excitedly roam the streets. At night, banquets would be held at the imperial palace, and nobles would enjoy the banquets according to changing themes each day. On masquerade ball nights, they would pretend not to know what was behind the masks while knowing full well.
Of course, Liv didn't need to attend all these banquets. While it would be good to show her face on the first day, after that, the time could be left for unmarried nobles.
"Your Majesty, Grand Duke Lartman is waiting."
"Ah, yes."
Liv walked following Elena's guidance, and soon brightened upon seeing Emmett.
"Emmett, I love everything about the Foundation Festival! The streets visible from the windows are so beautiful."
"Is that so?"
Since Emmett was in charge of this Festival, Liv deliberately exaggerated her praise. With a gentle smile, Emmett let Liv take his arm.
"Though we'll have to go work now."
"Ah... But isn't that meaningful in its own way?"
To commemorate the country's founding and Gracia's return, they had invited knights who were considered heroes in the previous Gracia era to the imperial palace. It was meant to announce once again that Steinberg had completely withdrawn and Gracia had taken power. There, Liv would converse with and entertain the elderly knights.
Shortly after, Liv and Emmett arrived at the imperial palace garden where the knights were invited. A huge table was placed in the garden, covered with elaborate foods. Some officials and nobles who had come to meet the knights were also present.
Not long after Liv and Emmett arrived at the garden, a servant came to announce the knights' arrival.
"The knights are arriving!"
With those words, large men who, despite their age, didn't look frail at all began walking into the garden. The scars scattered across their faces seemed to testify to their heroic tales from their youth.
"We greet Your Majesty, the Sun of the Empire."
"I too am glad to meet the heroes who protected our country."
After exchanging greetings, Liv spoke first to ease the atmosphere.
"I'm glad to be able to host the knights again. I've read many books about your heroic deeds."
"Hoho, it's an honor that you've even read about us in books!"
"Come to think of it, Your Majesty looks exactly like the previous Emperor and Empress."
"Really?"
As Liv's eyes widened at the unexpected comment, the elderly man sitting closest to Liv chuckled. Liv could immediately recognize who he was upon seeing his face.
"You're the former Captain of the Knights."
"Yes, that's right."
He had helped when Lartman invaded the imperial palace, and despite Liv's offer of rewards, he had returned to seclusion saying it was enough that the world had been set right. Then he decided to attend this gathering of old knights. Liv smiled at seeing the familiar face.
"Do I have features similar to my parents? Actually, I don't resemble them in hair color or eye color..."
"Haha, those who haven't looked closely at the previous Emperor and Empress might not notice. But Your Majesty's eyes resemble the previous Empress, and other features resemble the previous Emperor."
"My goodness, I had no idea..."
"But more than that, Your Majesty resembles them in having a strong heart."
As question filled Liv's face, he continued his explanation with a smiling face.
"They were truly upright people. Despite opposition from nobles, they expanded various welfare policies and truly worked hard to create a good country to live in. While I dare not evaluate them, I think everyone would agree that they were strong people."
The other knights nodded in agreement at those words.
"And it's a known fact that the current Emperor is also strong. Despite persecution from the traitor, you managed to eliminate him."
"It was just what had to be done..."
"Doing what had to be done wasn't an easy task."
Liv clenched and unclenched her hands under the table, trying to contain her embarrassment at receiving praise. Ah, why did it feel so good to hear she resembled her parents? More than hearing about physical resemblance, she was happier to hear she was "strong."
After all, she wanted to become an upright Emperor.