This year's Border Town is particularly different from previous years. (Reads#……Net)
In previous years, after the Months of Demons ended, one had to wait another month in the slums of Longsong Stronghold for the accumulated snow to completely melt before embarking on the journey home. And upon returning to the town, one would mostly see a scene of devastation. Houses left unattended for months were dilapidated, some flimsy wooden houses had long been crushed by the heavy snow, and some townspeople even found demonic beasts hiding in their homes, gnawing on cabinets and tables until they were in pieces, and dragging grass and rags to fill the corners, clearly using this place as their nest to shelter from the wind and snow. They often had to spend a week repairing houses, replacing waterlogged and moldy furniture, and the residents here were accustomed to the lingering smell of decay.
But this year, Border Town has been completely renewed. The snow was quickly swept away, and colorful paper flags distributed by His Highness the Prince were hung at the doors of homes. From afar, the monotonous and dilapidated town has become colorful, with various flags mixed together, like an ocean of flowers. Everyone spread the word that on the first day after the Months of Demons ended, His Highness would hold a grand celebration dance party in the square! Anyone can go, not only without paying money, but also with free food distributed!
What is a dance party? That is a social occasion that only the upper nobility can attend. Everyone has only heard about it from well-informed merchants in big cities, but even they cannot participate in it. According to the merchants, it is not an event that can be invited to with just money. His Highness the Prince actually allows everyone to participate?
"Your Highness, is it really okay for you to do this?" The Chief Knight advised, "There is no band here, no dance leader, who will control the rhythm of the dance party? Besides, even nobles may not dance in this remote place. Your people will only mess everything up."
Carter had only been to a dance party once when he was in the royal capital, which was held by a Marquis to celebrate his daughter's birthday. Elegant string music and impassioned drumbeats echoed each other, ladies danced gracefully to the melodious music, and gentlemen showed their quick and powerful dance steps after the drums sounded, either spinning or tap-dancing, integrating the movements with the drumbeats. During the breaks, servants carried drinks and snacks through the crowd, and the gentlemen looked for their favorite ladies. When the last piece of music was played, they mustered up the courage to ask for a dance. The successful ones would have a romantic time after the dance party ended.
Carter sighed. Although the young self at the time failed to invite his favorite girl, the elegant and romantic atmosphere still lingered in his memory. Replace the outstanding nobles with these villagers who deal with stones and beasts every day? God, he simply couldn't imagine such a scene.
"Dance leader? Yes," Roland instructed the militia to remove all the stone sculptures and gallows in the square, "Iron Axe and the militia are."
"That Sand race?" Carter was stunned. As the captain of the musketeer team, Iron Axe's performance in the Months of Demons finally won the Chief Knight's approval, and the title of alien race was no longer mentioned, but the other party is, after all, a Mojin, how could he know the etiquette of the mainland kingdom!
Roland smiled mysteriously: "Because what I want to hold is not a dance party in the usual sense, you will know then."
The preparations to be made are not too many, mainly to remove the obstacles in the square and build a woodpile in the center. A table was built with bricks next to the woodpile for barbecuing food. That's right, this is the celebration dance party that Roland came up with on a whim - a mixture of bonfire party and outdoor barbecue.
What to use to increase the people's sense of belonging to the place of residence has always been a question that the Prince has seriously considered. Nationalism and patriotism are too profound for these villagers who have worked for the lord all their lives and cannot read a single word, and only their family property and relatives are worth caring about. The more backward, the more short-sighted. This is the law of civilizational development. "Civilization will eventually become as great as its ideas," Roland deeply agreed with this.
But this does not mean that spiritual construction can be ignored. The victory celebration is one of the transformation methods he came up with. In fact, he found it difficult to understand that there was no celebration after the Months of Demons in this world. The annual demonic beast invasion is simply like a natural disaster, and it is natural to reward a great deal for defeating such evil spirits.
So he decided to name the first day after the end of each Demonic Month as Victory Day. All territories belonging to him, on this day are not only public holidays, but also hold various celebrations. As long as it lasts for three or four years, it will become a tradition and spread throughout the territory. And the people will gradually feel that they are indeed different from the people governed by other lords.
Before noon, the square was crowded with people, and militiamen formed a circle to block everyone outside the woodpile.
It seems that the free distribution of food is still quite attractive, at least half of the entire town has come, Roland thought. The only drawback is that the square is too small after all. Except for a circle of open space around the woodpile, more than a thousand people are almost shoulder to shoulder, and it is difficult to have room for activities. He also saw some children climbing onto the nearest roof to look at the middle of the square.
The first celebration, there are bound to be regrets. Roland estimated that the time was almost up and took the stage to speak.
This was his second public speech in the square, and he was much calmer than the last time.
"My people, good afternoon. I am the Fourth Prince of the Kingdom of Graycastle, Roland Wimbledon." He still used the same opening as last time, but this time the effect was completely different. Before the words fell, there was already a burst of warm cheers from the crowd, "Long live His Highness the Prince!" "Long live His Highness!"
Roland immediately felt a heat in his chest. This time he didn't arrange any plants. Seeing the spontaneous cheers of the militia and the masses, a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction filled his heart.
When the cheers subsided slightly, he pressed his hands down, "The Months of Demons is over. Thanks to the heroic fighting of the militia, the demonic beasts have never crossed the city walls. Border Town defeated the terrible enemy at a very small price. This proves that as long as everyone unites, even without relying on the charity of Longsong Stronghold, we can gain a foothold here! They want to use food to threaten the town, and want to use hunger and cold to force us to submit, but today's victory tells them that all this is in vain!"
"That's right, I never want to go back to that place again!"
"Following His Highness the Prince, there is not a single day of hunger in winter!"
"Finally, we don't have to be blackmailed by them anymore, His Highness is benevolent!"
Roland took advantage of the increasingly high emotions of the crowd and continued to say loudly: "Let us celebrate this glorious and honorable victory, this is a day worth remembering! I announce that from now on, the first day after the end of the Months of Demons will be called Victory Day! The celebration dance party is designed for this purpose! My people, enjoy this day! Now, let the dance party begin!"
Torches were thrown into the woodpile smeared with grease, and the flames rose with a bang, instantly igniting the atmosphere of the entire square.
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