CHAPTER 109
Inside and outside the palace, preparations for the emperor’s wedding, now just five days away, were in full swing.
The entire empire buzzed with anticipation for the arrival of the new empress.
Carriages of the upper nobility from the provinces formed an endless procession on the road to the capital.
The capital’s gates were so congested with citizens from across the empire eager to catch even a distant glimpse of the imperial couple and with carriages carrying the finest local specialties that they caused traffic jams.
Ports and land borders were crowded with delegations from not only the continent but also kingdoms across the sea.
After the wedding at the palace, the imperial couple’s carriage would pass through the capital square, which was already packed with people in a festive mood, reveling in the celebrations.
The cold weather of early winter seemed to have fled in fear of the heated excitement. The usual gloomy and dreary weather of this time of year was replaced by an exceptionally bright and warm atmosphere, as if spring had returned, having lost its way.
***
“I have never seen flowers bloom in early winter in my life.”
“Indeed. It’s truly amazing. For hydrangeas to bloom so splendidly in such a short time must be a good omen, don’t you think?”
The chief florist and head gardener marveled as they walked through the flower garden the emperor had created for the empress.
Their prediction that the garden flowers would fully bloom next spring had been wonderfully disproven.
On rare occasions, unusual weather had caused flowers to bloom in early winter. However, they had never seen various flowers and flower trees in full bloom to the extent that their sweet fragrance filled the garden and beyond.
‘It seems the flower trees bloom more fully after Her Majesty visits in the morning.’
The head gardener had often chided the gardeners for being overly flattering when they made a fuss.
Even he, however, found himself entranced by the sight of rare birds and butterflies flocking to the garden where the empress strolled.
“Well then, please send these hydrangeas, peonies, and orchids. We need to decorate the VIP seats at the outdoor grand hall for this afternoon’s event, so make sure to choose the ones in full bloom.”
The chief florist and her assistant quickly left the garden to prepare for the event.
***
“It’s really strange. The birds we released from their cages are coming back. And exactly twice a day at training time, no less.”
William, the Royal Falconer who managed and trained the falcons for the imperial hunts and entertainment, looked up in wonder.
Twenty royal falcons were flying freely above William’s head.
“To be honest, I was quite upset when Her Majesty asked us to release the falcons from their cages. After all, we’ve trained them for so long.”
William’s young assistant extended his arms, and four falcons flew over, perching on each arm.
The falcons of the Helterde imperial family were one of the symbols representing the empire’s majesty.
They were so superior in every aspect that it would be insulting to compare them to the falcons of other kingdoms.
Their flawless hunting skills and the sight of them performing extraordinary feats in the sky left everyone in awe.
Yet, the new empress had asked the emperor to release the falcons.
A week ago, the emperor had arranged a show of the royal falcons’ skills to impress his wife.
The royal falconers proudly presented the falcons they had trained for years to the new empress.
They were confident that she, like other nobles, would clap and delight in the falcons’ feats.
However, after the dazzling show...
‘Do the falcons have to go back into their cages?’
The empress’s shy question echoed softly across the field.
Watching the falcons being returned to their cages, the empress had spoken.
‘Falcons’ lives are cut in half when confined in small spaces. For birds that fly all day except for a few hours of sleep, it must be extreme torture.’
The empress had initially seemed shy and reserved.
She appeared tiny and fragile beside the emperor, who was known as the ‘God of War.’
But as time passed, they realized she spoke her mind clearly and steadily.
What was most surprising was that the emperor allowed her to express her opinions, patiently waiting for her to do so.
The emperor was not known for his patience.
When the empress could not take her sorrowful gaze off the caged falcons, the emperor spoke.
‘As my first gift upon our marriage, I will grant you one wish. Is there anything you desire?’
After a brief hesitation, the empress met the emperor’s red eyes with her round ones and answered.
‘Could we release the royal falcons and pigeons? The pigeons we saw just now are also very weary from life in cages. More than half will die before winter ends.’
The falconers were left speechless.
Here is the translation of the provided text to English:
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Letting go of the well-fed and well-cared-for royal birds from their clean cages?
Moreover, the royal falcons were highly valued for hunting, and the emperor cherished them.
Naturally, he expected the emperor to refuse. However, the emperor, who had just tucked the empress's hair behind her ear, said...
“Since it is the empress’s wish, so be it.”
He granted permission so easily.
“Your Majesty, the royal birds... they are a very important symbol of the empire's prestige. If you release them, we might have to cancel the hunting competition scheduled for the day after tomorrow. The loss would be tremendous...”
William, risking his life, voiced his objection to the emperor.
The emperor pondered for a moment and then turned his gaze to the empress.
“That is not an incorrect statement.”
“If you give the royal birds their freedom, they will return when training or needed. I promise.”
Only one person there believed the empress’s words. But the problem was that the one person was the emperor.
That day, all the birds of the royal household flew high to find freedom.
“As the empress said, they appear without fail during their usual training time or when they are supposed to go to the hunting ground. It’s truly astonishing. It seems like they really understood the empress’s words. Though it makes no sense, ha, ha.”
“The remarkable thing is that they hunt better than before. It seems that falcons become more agile and strong when living in the wild.”
William nodded in agreement with the words of the young assistants.
The empress was right.
In fact, many falcons had died before. Even though they were given good food and the best care, falcons that couldn’t fly freely would gradually waste away and die.
But the falcons, which had been free for only a week, became noticeably more energetic and valiant.
Their feathers, touched by the night dew in the wild instead of a comfortable cage, shone healthily.
Like true symbols of the empire.
“Oh dear, look at the time. It’s time to present them to the distinguished guests. Are you ready?”
“Yes!”
William and the falcon trainers headed to the outdoor grandstand of the royal palace with twenty falcons.
***
The semi-circular outdoor grandstand atop the central roof of the royal palace.
Lord Chamberlain Ted Chamberlain, who was overseeing the emperor’s wedding and reception, welcomed the royal family, senior nobles, and foreign diplomats entering the outdoor grandstand.
Even Sebastian, the emperor’s chief chamberlain, came out to meticulously check the situation of the venue.
Today’s event marked the beginning of the five-day royal wedding period.
It was also an occasion for the attending royals, top noble families, and representatives of foreign kingdoms to present wedding gifts to the imperial couple.
However, the highlight everyone was waiting for was something else.
It was the moment to see the gift prepared by the empress for the emperor.
According to royal tradition, on the first day of the wedding period, the empress presented a handmade gift to her future husband.
The intention of the gift was to promise eternal love and respect for the emperor.
It was said that a future empress once conveyed her heart by making the emperor’s robe herself.
However, the meaning of the tradition, which had lasted for 1,500 years, had long since changed.
The families of the former empresses, who were allied through political marriages, were either the highest in the empire or royal families from continental kingdoms.
The gift presentation ceremony had now become an event to display the wealth and power of the empress’s family.
The empress’s gift was no longer a carefully embroidered robe.
Instead, it was a rare piece of jewelry prepared by the empress’s family, a grand tapestry to adorn the emperor’s bedroom wall or a plush rug to be laid on the marble floor of the study.
Of course, according to tradition, the future empress’s hands had to be involved, either by selecting the gemstone to be crafted or by embroidering the emperor’s initials with thread on a corner of the tapestry or rug.
In exact terms, the future empress, or rather her family, prepared gifts for the emperor that significantly influenced the wedding presents of both nobles and commoners.
Depending on the value of the gift, it was sometimes displayed in the royal museum or, at other times, became a long-lasting subject of ridicule.
“I’m really looking forward to it. What kind of gift has the future empress, no, the now-empress prepared?”
“What could a lady from a fallen family possibly prepare? At best, she might have hastily made a tapestry with the royal embroiderers.”
“It’s truly ironic. Isn’t it the Maxwell Emperor who has brought the empire to its greatest period of prosperity? But who could have imagined that the gift from his wife would be the most shabby and unimpressive in history?”
“The gifts prepared by the former empresses’ families have become fashionable items for weddings not only in the empire but across the continent. It will be quite the ridicule for such a precious gift to be a laughingstock.”
“The ‘shame’ that His Majesty always talks about is now ours. What will the kingdoms on the continent think of our empire? Tsk.”
Some royals and nobles whispered excitedly among themselves.
The conversation was led by Dowager Empress Natalia and Grand Duchess Caroline Lessa, with the anti-emperor faction mocking and agreeing.
Particularly, the families that had their daughters' place as empress taken by Arabelle and those that had suffered embarrassment during the recent competition were eagerly waiting to seize any weakness of the empress.
Outwardly, they worried that the royal family might be embarrassed in front of the foreign diplomats because of Arabelle’s gift.
But inwardly, they hoped that Arabelle’s gift would be poor and crude.
So they could gossip about the emperor and empress in social circles for a long time.
They would be able to say that the woman chosen by the emperor was an unqualified empress who degraded the empire’s economy and image.
They knew better than anyone that once public opinion was formed, it was hard to change.
At that moment,
“The Emperor and Empress are entering.”
The pleasant voice of the Chief Steward echoed through the outdoor theater.
Everyone stood up, and all eyes focused on the protagonists of the day.
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