Published: January 4, 2026
The honorary knight system was something I devised when I was a child—around the time I was about to receive the title of prince wise.
The background to creating this system lies in the fact that for several decades, the empire’s finances have been plagued by chronic deficits.
There were suggestions that the empire should reduce its expenditures to cut the deficit, and for a while, such measures were implemented. However, it ended up being a huge failure.
The empire’s spending doesn’t mean money simply vanishes into thin air.
The money the empire spends flows into the private sector, circulating within it and enriching the people.
The moment expenditures were cut, the flow of money circulating in the private sector visibly decreased.
As a result, tax revenues visibly declined, public security deteriorated across various regions, and rebellions erupted one after another.
This was also influenced by the fact that the empire is known as a “nation of warriors.”
The reduction in spending was seen as a sign of the empire’s weakening, sparking rebellions here and there.
Ironically, by suppressing these frequent uprisings, capturing the ringleaders, and confiscating their assets, the empire temporarily restored its finances.
That said, the crisis remains gradual but persistent.
In such a situation, a member of the royal family voluntarily offered to pay a fine.
The reason was that their son had committed murder, and officially, the penalty was a fine due to inadequate supervision.
By voluntarily offering to pay a large fine, they aimed to gain favor from the late emperor and avoid the worst-case scenario of their family being ruined.
Your Majesty was inclined to accept this, but I vehemently opposed it, though it was decided I did not object.
My reasoning was that if a precedent were set where breaking the law could be mitigated by voluntarily paying a fine, it would eliminate the deterrent effect of the law.
Therefore, I strongly opposed it, and the late emperor understood and ultimately accepted my stance.
Instead, I proposed an alternative related to “honor” fundraising.
While escaping punishment through fines was out of the question, buying honor through donations was acceptable.
However, if positions could be bought with donations, it would breed corruption and malpractice.
Thus, the system was designed so that “no real power or position would be granted” but “the emperor himself would conduct formal commendations,” creating a donation system focused purely on honor—no, a fundraising system.
Later, this was deliberated by the late emperor and the prime minister, and it became a proper honorary knight system.
After establishing this system, I was praised by the late emperor as “amazing” repeatedly, over the course of a month, on every occasion.
☆
I looked at the woman before me.
She was probably in her early twenties, still youthful, with a certain innocence lingering in her face.
She identified herself as an honorary knight.
Meaning she was someone who had previously made a donation and was formally commended by the emperor.
“At that time (…)”
“Hm?”
“At that time (…) was it me?”
“Yes! Directly.”
“I see.”
I nodded thoughtfully.
To me, she was just one among the many honored donors, but to her, I was the one and only emperor.
It was only natural she remembered me clearly.
“You shouldn’t have approached me, but I couldn’t help myself.”
“That’s fine. More importantly, speak a little more casually.”
“Ah, yes! Um… I understand…?”
“Ha ha.”
I chuckled softly.
Etona’s confusion was clearly visible, which I found somewhat amusing.
“By the way, since you did that (…), is your family involved in commerce or something?”
“Yes—well, my family has been sericulture farmers for generations.”
“I see.”
I nodded in understanding.
Nearly nine-tenths of honorary knights are merchants.
Given the system of buying honor with money, it tends to be that way.
“Has your family business changed since then?”