Emperor's Birthday - 1!

"How would my gift look if I went now? I'll be laughed off and compared to the second prince"

Almost every remaining prince and princess had the same thought running through their heads, making them nervous and unable to take the stage.

They wanted someone else to take the brunt of the ridicule and they could follow later.

If they went right now, they knew that their gift would be compared to both previous gifts and they'd be embarrassed.

And which royal child wanted to face that kind of treatment?

The grand minister also found the silence awkward.

Even after his announcement, no one had occupied the stage.

How would that reflect on the emperor's reputation?

He couldn't let that happen as he spoke: "Has none of the remaining prince or princess had brought a gift to present to the emperor?"

He directed all the attention to the royal children of the emperor, asking a question that would hit their reputation.