[Translator – Angel Dust]
[Proofreader – Prototype]
Chapter 151
More than half of the imperial officials are graduates of the Academy. And every single one of them knows all too well about the Academy’s Autumn Festival.
The largest, most extravagant, and above all, most important student-led event.
The influence gained from that day can make one the talk of the social circles, while others rise as candidates for the next student council president.
Simply put, it makes them the stars of the Academy, monopolizing the admiration of seniors, juniors, and peers alike. The fame, however, is fleeting, lasting only about a week.
Anyway, the point is that the Academy’s Autumn Festival is, as the name suggests, a festival exclusive to the Academy. It’s a day for the students to enjoy themselves.
The faculty is included, but it’s still limited to the Academy. It’s not a regional event, and certainly not a day celebrated throughout the empire.
Meaning, there’s no reason for other countries to show interest, nor for church officials to try and sneak in under the pretense of giving a congratulatory speech.
But then, what is the meaning of this?
[Cardinal Nicolaos of the 1st Diocese, wishes to attend the Academy’s Autumn Festival]
[Manon Louisvire of Hyzens, ‘coincidentally’ enters the Empire for a vacation and wishes to attend the Academy’s Autumn Festival as an ‘unofficial’ visitor]
[TL/N: Coincidentally my ass]
[The Kingdom of Lasker expresses interest in visiting the Imperial Academy]
“….”
“…Am I seeing things?”
Officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, without exception, grabbed their heads in frustration at the news.
It’s the Academy Festival. It’s not an Empire-wide event. It’s just a day for students to have fun!
Why are you coming? Why are you trying to get involved? Don’t come! Don’t come! If you all come, we’ll really be worked to death!
In this already crazy situation, Avileshti sent this insensitive message—
[In the spirit of continental harmony, our country can also arrange participants to attend.]
What are you guys doing without us? You’re leaving us out like that! You’re trying to ostracize us, aren’t you? I can’t stand that. Let me join in too!
…It was enough to be interpreted that way.
So to summarize, three nations and the church all want to attend the Academy’s festival.
Whether it’s for a simple visit, a congratulatory speech, or just to look around!
“Did these bastards all take drugs or something?”
“Why is the Cardinal doing this? Did you hear anything from the Holy See?”
“I don’t know about the others, but the elves are a bit unsettling…”
Meetings, meetings, and more meetings. And finally, they came to one conclusion.
“They’re using Young Lord Karl Adelheit as an excuse.”
The church is now openly showing favoritism, certain that Karl is a saint.
Hyzens is trying to show with all their might that ‘Elves are safe!’ since the atmosphere in the empire could change depending on the Young Lord’s words, and especially considering the incident that happened last year.
Lasker, while having acknowledged the empire’s dominance, doesn’t intend to fully submit. They’re attempting to establish a connection with Karl, who can be seen as a potential ally, while also gauging the empire’s internal situation.
And finally, Avileshti… Well, as I said before, they’re just throwing a tantrum because everyone else is gathering except them, and they want to go too.
‘I hate you… Young Lord Karl Adelheit… This time, I really hate you…!’
[TL/N: ??]
‘This means I won’t be able to leave work for at least two months. Help me. Help me! Please!’
Karl may not know it, but the number of officials in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs crying out his name was increasing by the moment.
* * *
Meanwhile, Karl was crying out for the Emperor.
< Highest Order of Merit – Ministry of Internal Affairs, Golden Crown Cultural Medal – Ministry of Education, Parliamentary Honorary Golden Medal – Imperial Parliament, Imperial Freedom Medal – Imperial Household Ministry >
The Emperor had finally declared that he would bestow four medals.
Each one was generously chosen, if received even once, would etch one’s name into the history of the Empire.
The Highest Order of Merit was already awarded once through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, so that was a pass.
The Golden Crown Cultural Medal was awarded because it would be a good educational opportunity to inform future talents of the empire about such an outstanding figure and emphasize the more excellent and outstanding aspects of the empire.
The Parliamentary Honorary Golden Medal can be seen as the civilian version of the Imperial Medal of Honor, awarded to those who have made significant achievements and contributions to the history and culture of the empire.
For reference, it boasts an incredibly high difficulty of being awarded, requiring the approval of 2/3 of the members of parliament.
And finally, the Imperial Freedom Medal is awarded only by the Imperial Household Ministry, and since the Ministry exists solely for the Imperial Family, it is the same as the Imperial Family personally awarding the medal.
This, along with the Parliamentary Honorary Golden Medal, can be seen as the civilian version 2 of the Imperial Medal of Honor.
In summary, he was to receive four medals equivalent to the Medal of Honor, even if he didn’t receive the Medal of Honor itself.
Moreover, the person awarding all these medals was the final boss of the empire.
< The awarding of the above four medals will be personally bestowed by His Majesty the Emperor of the Empire. Long live His Majesty the Emperor! >
“…….”
Karl checked all the messages and let out a groan.
‘You said there wouldn’t be any medals, Your Highness…’
Feeling wronged, he looked into it himself and found that the Crown Prince was only referring to the ‘miracle’ and ‘canonization’.
Since the Holy See had already hyped him up, the empire would remain silent on that matter.
Instead, they would naturally award him for all the benefits the empire had gained in relation to him.
Karl wanted to shout, ‘I’ve been tricked!’, but when he thought about it, it would be strange if he didn’t receive any medals at all.
Even from his own perspective, the events related to him had greatly improved the empire’s external image, positively influenced education, inspired various fields, and above all, raised the pride of the imperial citizens as citizens of the empire to its peak.
‘This must be what they call maximum national pride!’
Even in his past life, Karl had seen a few similar cases. Monarchy, republic, militarism, totalitarianism, democracy, socialism. Even communism and whatnot.
Wasn’t national pride the one thing that couldn’t be overcome, even when combining all political systems?
And the source of that national pride was right in front of him.
If one couldn’t savor it, then whoever they were, they shouldn’t be in politics. That’s the right thing to do.
Excessive national pride is harmful, but a moderate amount can raise a nation’s unity to its peak, right?
“Ugh.”
Holding his forehead, Karl turned to the next message.
There, just as burdensome as the medals, was another shocking piece of news.
< Empire - Holy See Commemorative Coin to be Issued Simultaneously >
It didn’t specify what or who the coin was commemorating. But anyone who wasn’t a fool would know why and for whom it was being made.
Not long ago, someone from the Ministry of Internal Affairs had visited Karl, saying, ‘I’d like to sketch your profile,’ and before he could say anything, they had already done it!
‘Surely they won’t ask me to wear this coin on my chest too.’
A commemorative coin. And one with his face on it, issued simultaneously by the empire and the Holy See.
Curious, he asked the Ministry of Finance, and they said they were setting a separate budget for the silver to be used in the coin.
He wondered if the Ministry of Finance would be annoyed by the sudden budget allocation, but according to his sources, they were already reaping the benefits of the Karl trickle-down effect.
As an additional piece of news, the commemorative coin was to be distributed only to key figures in the church, nobles of the rank of count or higher in the empire, and high-ranking officials.
It was meant to encourage them to do their best with a righteous and faithful heart, befitting their important positions.
What is happening? Medals, commemorative coins…
As Karl continued to laugh in a daze, a new piece of information reached his ears.
“Young Lord, we just received a call from the Imperial Household Ministry.”
It was none other than the Imperial Household Ministry. The very department in charge of the Imperial Family’s affairs had reached out.
Upon hearing this, Karl instinctively shuddered.
Something, something ominous is about to happen!
“His Majesty has expressed his intention to personally bestow all of the medals upon you, Young Lord, at the Academy festival… Young Lord? Young Lord?!”
Enough… please stop… To what extent do you intend to immortalize me… Stop it, please…!
Karl clutched the back of his neck and collapsed into his chair.
The Emperor was coming in person? This had never happened in the history of the empire. What kind of crazy emperor would leave the Imperial Palace to bestow medals upon a subject at the Academy?
Later, it was revealed that there was a reason behind the Emperor’s decision.
All the dignitaries from other countries were gathering at the Academy, each with their own reasons or excuses.
So, the Emperor decided to show them right there. This proud young noble of the empire. The greatest treasure they could never even dream of having, no matter how much they desired it.
And that the empire, with the Emperor himself taking the lead, would bestow upon this figure the highest honors of the empire.
Later, upon hearing this news, Karl is said to have exclaimed—
‘So, Your Majesty, in a nutshell, this is a kind of teabagging, isn’t it…?!’
You don’t have a young prodigy like our Karl in your ranks, do you?! Our nobles are the true elite! Blessed with miracles and showered with medals. Eh?!”
This was the Emperor’s boasting on a scale of a different dimension.
[Translator – Angel Dust]
[Proofreader – Prototype]
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