Ludwig took out a ring. The seal of House Stahlberg gleamed with unusual clarity.
“Get under my line. I’ll make sure you can bark when you need to bark, and bite when you need to bite. Those bastards who look down on you because of your low birth? …I don’t care how you deal with them. I’ll handle the consequences.”
From my perspective, it was an offer beyond compare. Of course, there was no such thing as a free lunch.
“How much interest will I have to pay?”
“Interest… I see we understand each other.”
Ludwig smiled faintly.
“Very well. For now, take good care of my daughter. That girl has talent, but her temper is as fiery as they come. Someone as cold-blooded as you needs to keep her reins in hand.”
He paused for a moment, then shot me a meaningful look.
“Of course, if you have what it takes… I don’t mind you climbing onto that wild horse. House Stahlberg values ability over bloodline.”
…Pardon?
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
“Good. You may go. Erika must be pacing outside by now.”
I rose from my seat and gave him a crisp salute.
“Loyalty.”
I was about to pocket the ring and leave when Ludwig’s voice suddenly came from behind me.
“Lieutenant Jaeger.”
“Yes, Your Excellency.”
I stopped short and turned around. Ludwig had risen from his seat and was standing before the enormous map of the Empire hanging on the wall. His massive shadow covered the entire map.
“It isn’t those idiotic royals who keep this rotten Empire standing. It’s us soldiers. In the end, the one holding the sword is the one who decides everything.”
What filled his voice was more than a mere soldier’s pride. How should I put it? It was a kind of…霸氣, the domineering aura of a true overlord.
“That goal of yours, ‘survival.’ How about aiming a little higher?”
[Name: Ludwig von Stahlberg]
[Emotion: Ambition, conviction, and satisfaction with his new long-term piece.]
[Hidden Desire: To rise to the most exalted position in the Empire.]
*
Creeeak—.
As I closed the heavy office door behind me, Erika sprang out from where she had been leaning against the wall across the corridor. She came dashing toward me and demanded, looking ready to seize me by the collar,
“Max Jaeger! You… what did you talk about in there…? Don’t tell me you said something to Father…”
I grinned and pulled out the ring I had just received, flicking it with my thumb.
“Well, your father told me to give serious consideration to the relationship between us.”
“What…? O-our relationship…?”
Erika froze.
But only for a moment. Soon, her face flushed as red as a ripe tomato. It looked as though steam might burst from the top of her head.
“…A-are you insane?!”
Erika shrieked. Passing servants glanced over, but she paid them no attention as she reached for my collar.
“I’m joking. He just told me… to get along with you from now on.”
“You’re lying! I know better than anyone that Father isn’t the sort of person to offer such pleasantries!”
“Have you lived your whole life being deceived? I’m telling the truth. Oh, and… he also told me to make sure you received a proper education.”
“…What?”
“He told me to take hold of your reins. Very tightly.”
My gaze began at her crimson twin tails, traced the curves of her body downward, skimmed over her generously swelling breasts, passed her slender waist, and rose to her prominent hips.
“W-what are you…!”
Erika reacted sensitively to my gaze. Both her hands hurriedly covered her chest.
‘Status Analysis.’
[Name: Erika von Stahlberg]
[Emotion: Extreme confusion and shame, inexplicable relief even to herself, and a strange feeling blooming at the realization that Max Jaeger had truly been acknowledged by her father.]
I left Erika standing there and began walking toward the end of the corridor.
“Y-you pervert…!”
Erika’s shrill cry rang out behind me, but instead of answering, I calmly slipped the ring into my pocket.
My private audience with the Commander-in-Chief had been a success. I had secured a new line—a sturdy one, utterly incomparable to some mere regimental commander.
‘Is it time to meet His Majesty the Emperor next?’
My steps felt light.
*
For the next few days, the 7th Regiment was so busy preparing for the parade that they had no time to tell day from night.
And today, the parade finally began.
The central avenue of the capital, Eisenburg, was packed with people. From the rooftops of the buildings to the branches of the roadside trees, citizens filled every available space, and their deafening cheers shook the air.
“Waaaaah—!”
“Long live the Imperial Army! Long live the 7th Regiment!”
“There’s the Ice Witch! She really is as beautiful as they say!”
“Is that Lieutenant Jaeger? I heard he came up with that brilliant strategy!”
Multicolored flower petals drifted down from the sky, while the grand march of the military band rang out majestically.
Dressed in a crisply pressed uniform, I waved from atop a white horse.
“Smile, Captain. The citizens want to see your smile.”
I whispered to Seraphina, who was riding the white horse beside me. Her expression had stiffened as though she were exhausted by the torrent of cheers.
“…I’m not used to this. I’d rather face a horde of orcs.”
“Orcs don’t pay, but those citizens pay taxes. Make yourself as expensive as possible.”
The corners of her mouth relaxed slightly at my joke.
When I looked behind me, the members of the 3rd Platoon were a sight to behold. The huge Gunter was sniffling with an expression of deep emotion, while Kurt was too busy blowing kisses to the women to pay attention to anything else.
“Sergeant Gunter, wipe your nose. You’re ruining our dignity.”
“Sniff… Lieutenant! I never thought I’d see a day like this in my lifetime… Mother should have been here to see it!”
Before long, our procession passed through the triumphal arch and entered the massive main gate of the Imperial Palace.
The air inside the palace itself was different. We soon arrived before the audience chamber.
“Colonel Karl von Dietrich, commander of the 7th Regiment, and the distinguished soldiers who served with him, enter!”
At the chamberlain’s booming announcement, the doors to the audience chamber opened.
What unfolded before us was a crimson carpet that seemed to stretch without end. Guards stood in formation along both sides, while the enormous chandelier and gilded decorations on the walls glittered so brightly they nearly dazzled the eyes.
We slowly advanced across the red carpet.
And I surveyed the hall from the corners of my eyes.
The first person to catch my attention was, naturally, Ludwig von Stahlberg. He stood on the right side of the red carpet, with a line of military officials in black dress uniforms arrayed behind him. Their insignia were covered in stars, and their chests were laden with medals.
On the left, by contrast, stood members of the parliament in splendid tailcoats, facing the military officials. At their head was a sharp-featured man.
The Imperial Chancellor, Leopold von Kallenberg.
If Ludwig represented the military—the martial power of the Empire—then Leopold was a formidable figure who held a firm grip over the parliament and the administration: the civil power.
‘Status Analysis.’
[Name: Leopold von Kallenberg]
[Affiliation: Imperial Parliament]
[Position: Imperial Chancellor]
[Status: Wary, calculating]
[Emotion: Instinctive aversion to the military’s growing influence.]
‘As expected.’
The rumors that Leopold and Ludwig were sworn enemies were true. He was applauding only as a matter of formality. He clearly disliked this victory celebration itself, with its heavy military influence.
I withdrew my gaze from them. Then I raised it slightly higher.
The second-floor balcony of the audience chamber came into view.
The swaying hems of elegant dresses and fluttering fans. The noblewomen and young ladies who dominated high society in the Empire had gathered there. Leaning against the railing, they looked down at us with curious eyes.
Two women stood out most of all. With radiant golden hair that seemed spun from molten gold and eyes as vivid as blood, they resembled each other—but the Empress and the First Princess gave off completely opposite impressions.
‘Status Analysis.’
[Name: Beatrice von Lichtenheim]
[Affiliation: Imperial Family]
[Position: Empress]
[Name: Aylit von Lohengardt]
[Affiliation: Imperial Family]
[Position: First Princess (Heir to the Throne)]
[Status: Assessing whether there are any piglets worth using as toys.]
[Emotion: Boredom]
‘Piglets, huh…’
Aylit looked down at us with her chin raised. There was not the slightest hint of welcome in her gaze.
At last, my eyes turned toward the figure seated on the golden throne at the highest point of the dais.
The Emperor, Ferdinand IV.
He leaned against the throne at an angle, looking down at us with an artificially dignified expression.
‘Status Analysis.’
[Name: Ferdinand von Lohengardt]
[Race: Human]
[Affiliation: Empire]
[Position: Emperor]
[Status: Euphoria, narcissism]
[Emotion: Joy at the fact that his army had won a victory.]
“We greet the sun of the Empire!”
We stopped below the dais and knelt with crisp precision.
“Raise your heads, my brave lions!”
The Emperor sprang to his feet. His cape fluttered behind him.
“You cannot imagine how refreshing the news of your victory made my morning! You slaughtered those orcs in the Ashen Forest, did you not? Excellent! That is precisely the indomitable spirit I wished to see!”
He spread his arms in an exaggerated gesture.
“Now, tell me! What would you have me bestow upon you? Gold? Lands? Or perhaps honor?”
The regimental commander trembled with emotion.
“Your Majesty! There is no greater reward for a soldier of the Empire than annihilating the enemy and protecting Your Majesty’s safety! We desire only that Your Majesty’s radiance resound across the entire continent!”
“Haha! As I had heard, you are a loyal subject indeed! Colonel, your loyalty shall serve as an example to the entire Empire!”
The Emperor laughed with satisfaction.
“But I am not a miserly master. It is the Emperor’s duty and obligation to reward those who render great service with treatment befitting their accomplishments.”
The moment the Emperor finished speaking, the chamberlain waiting beside him unfurled a scroll.
“By His Majesty’s command, we shall now confer fitting rewards upon the heroes who defended the Empire.”
As the air in the audience chamber grew still, the chamberlain’s voice rang out like thunder.
At last, it was time for my promotion.