"Don't underestimate the Imperial people, they're just whistling, checking out your lady," Laine laughed. "They're all clever. Su Liya's attire makes it obvious she's a Great Noble, they wouldn't dare offend her."

"What if I dress a bit more 'plainly'?" Today, Su Liya was wearing standard Brittania female noble clothing, with a fox fur coat, having only swapped the floor-length dress for a more easily walkable knee-length skirt and high-heeled boots. The lady knight's appearance was absolutely stunning, full of heroic spirit, and with a Great Noble outfit, and Laine with a Holy Grail Knight Badge hanging on his chest, everyone knew they were not to be messed with.

"Then they'd probably come over to chat," Laine chuckled. "Imperial people don't care about that."

Su Liya did not say more; she'd heard from her father about how the Empire was different.

After the Great Holy War ended a hundred and sixty years ago, Savior Ludwig publicly announced: "Everyone has the right to be compensated for their labor."

The Savior's decree ushered in a new era for the Empire. In the southern part of the Empire, especially in the three richest provinces: Rick Territory, Weisen Territory, and Avey Territory, the peasants farmed their own lands. They only needed to pay taxes to the Emperor or Prince-Elector. The remaining products could be sold, earning them substantial profits and accumulating wealth. The local Lords could only tax their transactions. When the Emperor or Prince-Elector needed new soldiers, these farmers were the best source of manpower, eager for war—only thus could they take their first steps toward nobility.

However, in the northern part of the Empire, things were not much different from Brittania. Farmers were forced to yield most of their harvest, thus they too longed for war, as only then could they fill their bellies.

But regardless, a nation, a people, a faith, all Imperial people took pride in their country.

The streets were filled with quite a number of beggars and wanderers, pleading everywhere: "Sir, please have mercy, I haven't eaten for three days, I just need a few copper coins, just a few, even one will do... There's a bakery across the street clearing out old stock, a copper coin from you could fill my stomach, Lady Shalya will bless you."

Seeing this, Su Liya felt a bit of pity; she had never seen so many beggars. In Brittania, serfs were the property of the Lord, so beggars were nonexistent. But in the Empire, it was not the same.

Freedom comes at a price.

Laine stopped Su Liya from having Sylvia hand out a copper coin: "My wife, you can't help everyone."

"But..." The kindhearted lady knight still felt a bit uneasy.

"Lord Macado was right, Lady Marchioness, you needn't sympathize with these people." At this point, a mature male voice came from the side. Emperor Carl Franz, in plain clothes, approached with a smile, flanked by about a dozen Rick Guards. The Emperor's Standard Bearer, Ludwig-Schwarzhammer, followed behind him. The Emperor's face showed a passionate and sincere smile: "There are job opportunities everywhere in town. Even the lowest-paid gutter cleaners, bone collectors, and scavengers earn enough to fill their stomachs. Do not encourage them to receive something for nothing."

"Greetings, Your Majesty Franz." Laine straightened and extended his hand to the Emperor.

The Rick Guards, fully armed, were a bit unhappy with Laine's somewhat disrespectful gesture. However, thinking of the great achievements of the person before them, they said nothing, only surrounding the Emperor calmly.

Kalkat had Imperial Knights and Great Swordsmen patrolling everywhere, so safety wasn't a concern, Laine thought. Perhaps Emperor Carl Franz felt the same way and decided to walk around.

The strength of an average Imperial Knight was slightly greater than Brittania's Ranger Knights but considerably weaker than the Kingdom Knights. Rick Territory, due to its wealth and large population, hosted over a dozen Knight Corps within a single territory, with several thousand knights.

"Greetings, Lord Laine, Lady Surya. Haha~ Are you, like me, just walking the streets?" Indeed, the Emperor extended his hand to shake with Laine, always smiling: "Welcome to Rick Territory, the most powerful, historic, and wealthy province of the Empire, my hometown."

Laine thought that the most historic status should belong to Midland Territory and Talabeck Territory, but he had no intention of correcting it.

"Such a rich and beautiful land," Su Liya too extended her hand to shake hands with Emperor Carl Franz. The Emperor raised the lady knight's hand about two centimeters, thus performing a kisshand greeting: "Welcome, welcome, I wish you a happy marriage."

"Your Majesty is so free?" Laine, now a Brittania noble, had deep ties to the Empire. After some thought, he decided to show respect to the Emperor.

After paying his respects, the Rick Guards' expressions improved significantly.

"Matters are handled by my subordinates, so even though my Standard Bearer Ludwig slightly disagrees, I still decided to come out and walk around," the Emperor laughed, patting Laine's arm: "Just right, does the Divine Chosen Champion of the Lady of the Lake have any interest in strolling about the streets with me?"

The Emperor's Standard Bearer Ludwig let out a displeased "hum," seemingly very unhappy with the Emperor's rash actions.

"Of course." It was a difficult invitation to refuse, so Laine had to agree.

Thus, three people became a group, with the Emperor inspecting market prices, discussing with Laine the price fluctuations of grain and iron goods, and how those damned Marinburg merchants affected prices, and also what had happened recently.