But if it were truly reckless and dangerous, I wouldn’t have considered it.

My life is precious, after all.

‘I’ve filled up my lifespan, now I need physical strength.’

I’m different from the past when just a breeze could knock me down.

High-purity Yang energy had revived my dying body to move.

‘Rehabilitation training is enough. It’ll be tough as hell, but that’s all.’

If the knights think of drinking even after seeing the frail Empress leading them, they truly deserve to be expelled from the knight order.

But if they were despairing due to a perceived lack of a future…

‘I’ll create a future for them.’

I need them.

Looking around at the knights lined up, I smiled.

“Gentlemen.”

“Yes!”

“Good. You haven’t been drinking, it seems.”

On the way here, Derek had been holding my wooden sword. I extended my hand to him, and he reluctantly handed it to me.

‘Ugh, my wrist hurts.’

Though not to the point of dropping it, holding the sword made my weakened wrist muscles tremble.

I planted the sword in the ground like yesterday and continued.

“Look at what I’m wearing.”

“It’s beautiful!”

“I know that.”

One of the knights complimented loudly, but when I sharply cut him off, laughter erupted from various places.

The atmosphere was quite pleasant.

“If you lose weight and build your bodies, I’ll provide you with this uniform. It’s not an official uniform, but I guarantee it’s comfortable. I’ll also gift you these top-quality boots.”

“Thank you!”

“The summit is not far away. Will you let the Imperial Guard take all the glory that day?”

“No!!!”

Their response was refreshingly straightforward.

I could see their desires clearly.

The Royal Knight Order wanted to be recognized.

For their abilities, for their worth.

And as always, I cared for what was mine.

“Honestly, this upcoming summit is very important to me. It’s the first banquet I’m hosting as Empress.”

Behind a ‘public image’ must always be a ‘personal touch’.

This creates a sense of closeness and makes the subordinates feel that their superior has opened up, leading to greater loyalty.

I changed my tone slightly to seem more approachable.

“But the Imperial Guard doesn’t want to lend me a hand. We can’t call the Crusade, who are dealing with monsters across the nation.”

“…….”

“So, I need your help.”

Not a command, but a request. Not coercion, but an appeal.

Aren’t knights supposed to protect the weak and be loyal to their lord?

Then how would they react to a frail, needy sovereign?

“I don’t want to lose what’s mine anymore.”

A wave of empathy spread through the silence.

They felt the same as me.
I learned that compared to the other two knight orders, they were receiving disproportionately poor treatment.

“If you join me, I will advocate for you to receive the best treatment possible. I can’t give a definite answer due to my unstable position, but I will try my best.”

“We are… we are content with just those words.”

The one who said this was the leader of the Valkyrie, who seemed half-lost in a drunken stupor the day before. The deputy leader next to him also nodded vigorously.

Before training, this much emotional connection was enough.

I exclaimed with a satisfied face.

“Training begins!”

On the first day of training, I fainted after running and walking three laps around the training ground.

But I returned to the training ground the next day, and the day after that.

My legs gave out, my throat tasted strange, and I felt dizzy, but I stubbornly endured.

Physical strength doesn’t increase without this effort.

The knights muttered that I was a tough cookie.

Derek silently protected me as I moved at a snail’s pace, his one step equaling my three.

“Pant, gasp.”

More than two weeks passed, and I received news that the desert emperor’s procession would arrive at the Nick’s Palace tomorrow.

Yet, I had already announced that I would not stop the dawn training.

Even though I was panting, I could clearly feel my fitness improving after just about two weeks of exercise.

“Keep it up, Your Highness!”

“You can do it! Aja aja!”

“Let’s take one more step!”

The knights, who initially had beer bellies, achieved a greater transformation than me.

Rumors circulated that the Royal Knight Order had suddenly come to their senses, spending all day in the training ground, and within just two weeks, they regained their former fitness and physique.

I chuckled at the sight of knights cheering as they whisked by my side.

It was truly tough. My whole body was drenched in sweat, and my thighs trembled.

While they ran 30 laps, I managed only three.

‘I wish I could quickly handle a wooden sword for sword training… but I must not be too anxious.’

Eventually, I stopped and did some stretching.

Lately, both Enrique and Helene have not been picking fights, so it’s been very peaceful.

The war will start again tomorrow.

‘But it’s okay, I’m not alone.’

I have become much friendlier with the courtiers. When passing by, I memorized and called out the names of the children I saw, and they really appreciated it.

And I made sure to compliment them on even the smallest things.

No one in the court would feel bad about receiving compliments from the Empress.

‘I’ve also become close with the Royal Knight Order.’

With this, I’m ready to face Helene.

“Gather around, everyone.”

“Assembly!!!”

At my word, the knights gathered orderly.

I looked around at each one and uttered just one phrase.

“A tailor will be sent today, so get fitted for new clothes.”

“Wow!”

Wearing the same clothes creates a sense of belonging.

Those with the high-quality clothes and boots I provided will feel a stronger sense of belonging to me.

‘I have something that Helene doesn’t.’

There are just two things.

‘One is abundant wealth, and the other is the legitimacy of being the true Empress.’

First… let’s see how it goes with money. Helene.