"By His Majesty's command, we shall now conduct the merit assessment for the heroes who defended the Empire."
In the heavy air of the audience chamber, the chamberlain's voice rang out sonorously.
"Captain Seraphina von Reinhardt, commander of the 2nd Company, 1st Battalion, 7th Regiment. Step forward!"
Seraphina took a short, deep breath and strode toward the podium with measured steps.
"Oho…."
"Is that woman the Ice Witch?"
"She is far more beautiful than the rumors."
Soon, Seraphina knelt on one knee before the podium.
"You personally executed the enemy chieftain Gromnar, and your timely command and excellent magical abilities greatly minimized allied casualties."
The chamberlain continued.
"Thus, you are promoted to Major and awarded the Imperial Eagle Cross."
"I thank Your Majesty for your grace. I merely fight for the glory of the Empire."
From Captain to Major. It was an exceedingly swift promotion. Normally, it would have taken several more years… but considering her achievements, it was a treatment that naturally commanded acceptance.
It was the next turn.
"Lieutenant Erika von Stalberg, leader of the 2nd Platoon, 2nd Company, 1st Battalion, 7th Regiment. Step forward!"
When her name was called, Erika flinched. She walked up to the podium with a stiff expression.
"In this operation, you have…"
Each time the chamberlain recited her achievements, Erika's expression soured. Trivial deeds were being exaggerated.
"…blocked the enemy's retreat, and splendidly defended against a surprise rear attack…"
The background of being the daughter of the Imperial Army's Supreme Commander, and the nominal achievement of securing the retreat route. For the prideful Erika, it must have been difficult to accept.
[Emotion: Shame at the fact that the promotion was gained through family power.]
"…Thus, you are promoted to Captain in the Imperial Army."
"……It is an honor, Your Majesty."
Erika bowed her head.
And finally, my turn came.
"Lieutenant Max Jaeger, leader of the 3rd Platoon, 2nd Company, 1st Battalion, 7th Regiment. Step forward!"
When my name was called, the audience chamber fell silent in an instant. I walked up to the podium.
"Your achievements are too numerous to list individually."
Every kind of gaze fixed upon me. Envy and jealousy, admiration and longing, and interest… and greed.
[Name: Aylit von Lohengart]
[Status: Has discovered a toy that seems more useful than expected.]
[Emotion: Amusement, anticipation for a new toy.]
"Infiltrating enemy lines and destroying their supply route, rescuing allies, devising deceptive tactics, and even your decisive contribution in the engagement with the enemy chieftain. Lieutenant Jaeger, without your stratagems, the success of this Gray Forest operation would have been impossible."
Chamberlains and ladies-in-waiting approached me. In their hands were luxurious wooden cases.
"Thus, you are specially promoted from Lieutenant to Captain, and awarded the Imperial Cross, one grade above the Iron Cross, so that you may continue to contribute to the glory of the Empire."
"Your grace… is immeasurable."
One of the chamberlains pinned the Imperial Cross on my chest. Beside the ruggedly charming Iron Cross, the Imperial Cross adorned with silver decorations was attached.
Then they removed my rank insignia and shoulder boards, attaching those of a Captain. The heavy weight of three diamonds. Captain. I had finally done it.
Finally, the regimental commander was called.
"Colonel Karl von Dietrich, commander of the 7th Regiment. Step forward!"
His steps were light, as if walking on clouds. His eyes gleamed, and the corners of his mouth stretched to his ears.
"As regimental commander, you annihilated the enemy with outstanding military command and led your subordinates excellently."
This time, the Emperor himself descended from the podium. He unfastened a command baton from his waist and handed it to the regimental commander.
"Thus, We promote you to Brigadier General of the Imperial Army and elevate the 7th Regiment to the 7th Brigade!"
"Oh, Your Majesty!!! This old man cannot stop his tears of emotion!"
The regimental commander—no, the newly appointed brigade commander—Brigadier General Dietrich, prostrated himself on the floor and wailed.
Brigadier General. A star.
It was the moment his lifelong wish was granted.
[Name: Karl von Dietrich]
[Rank: Brigadier General]
[Emotion: Exultation, narcissism, satisfaction of lust for power]
The Emperor spread his arms, looking satisfied.
"Tonight, a celebration shall be held in the palace banquet hall in your honor! Enjoy yourselves to your hearts' content, heroes of the Empire!"
Waaaah—!
Applause and cheers from the assembly filled the audience chamber.
*
The imperial palace's grand banquet hall was incomparably splendid.
Upon the long tables, every conceivable delicacy was piled like mountains, and from the fountains, the finest wine gushed forth instead of water.
"Oho, so you are Captain Jaeger?"
"You are far more dashing in person! I've heard the rumors. You blew up the powder magazine and sent the orcs flying, yes?"
And various dignitaries flocked to me as well.
I appropriately activated [Captivating Eloquence] and dealt with them mechanically.
"You flatter me, Count. All of it is thanks to the blood and sweat of the soldiers."
"The honor is mine, Madam. Compared to your beauty, my merits are but piles of dirt."
When I showed appropriate humility and flattered them, they retreated with satisfied expressions.
'…What a bother.'
Taking the opportunity, I slipped away toward a secluded terrace. I was sick to death of people's sycophancy.
It was the moment I was about to inhale the cold night air.
Click, click.
Together with the regular sound of heels, the hem of a splendid dress came into view.
The First Imperial Princess, Aylit von Lohengart.
Having ordered the attendants to withdraw some distance away, she walked toward me alone. Her moonlit golden hair and red eyes were beautiful to the point of sanctity.
I reflexively straightened my posture and bowed my head.
"I greet Your Highness the Princess."
"It seems I have disturbed your rest, Sir Hero?"
She covered the corners of her mouth with a fan and smiled elegantly with her eyes narrowed. Her voice was clear, like jade beads rolling.
"Not at all. It is purely an honor."
"Hah, an honor…."
She took one step closer to me.
"Then, enjoy that honor a little longer."
Tap.
The ornate feathered fan she held fell limply to the ground at my military boots. It was clearly intentional.
"Oh my, my hand lost its strength."
She calmly pretended it was a mistake. She looked down at me without moving a muscle.
……What is this.
'Status Analysis.'
[Name: Aylit von Lohengart]
[Status: Anticipating the sight of Max flustered.]
[Emotion: Sadistic desire to see the Empire's hero groveling at her feet to pick up an object.]
'Huh.'
I swallowed a hollow laugh inwardly. A typical sadistic tendency—using one's authority to subdue an opponent and enjoying a sense of superiority at the sight.
An ordinary soldier would have panicked and scrambled to pick it up, or stiffened and flushed with pride. The more they did so, the more they would be caught up in the opponent's pace.
[Skill 'Indomitable Mind' is active.]
[Suppresses feelings of humiliation and confusion, and derives the optimal course of action.]
I put a relaxed smile on my lips. And then, very slowly, I knelt on one knee and picked up the feathered fan that had fallen to the floor.
[Name: Aylit von Lohengart]
[Status: Observing how the one called a hero will act.]
[Emotion: Interest at the unexpectedly docile behavior, slight disappointment that it was accomplished too easily.]
I raised my head and looked up at her. Red eyes looked down at me. Thanks to kneeling, my gaze naturally swept across her slender waist and the curves of her ample chest before rising upward.
"Your Highness."
Holding the fan in both hands, I whispered as if feigning regret.
'Captivating Eloquence.'
[Skill 'Captivating Eloquence (Lv.3)' is activated.]
"It grieves me to see the fan fall from Your Highness's touch and plummet to the ground."
"…What?"
Aylit's eyebrows twitched slightly. It must have been an unexpected remark.
"But thanks to that, a soldier of the Empire has gained the opportunity to gaze up at the most noble of persons from the lowest place. I suppose I must call this an honor as well."
Instead of handing her the fan, I carefully wrapped my hand around her pale, slender one. And as I placed the fan's handle into her palm, I very slowly brushed the back of her hand with my thumb.
Brush.
The faint friction transmitted through the glove. Her shoulder flinched.
[Skill 'Captivating Eloquence' affects 'Aylit von Lohengart'.]
['Aylit von Lohengart' is shaken by your brazenly sly counterattack.]
"……."
For a fleeting instant, confusion flickered across her face.
"Please accept it, Your Highness."
Aylit stared at me piercingly for a moment, then soon changed her expression. It was neither scorn nor derision, but joy. Like a predator that has discovered prey more delicious than expected, the corners of her mouth stretched to her ears.
[Name: Aylit von Lohengart]
[Status: Contemplating how to tame this shameless whelp of a wolf.]
[Emotion: Rapidly rising interest, competitive spirit toward the provocation.]
"…Ha."
A short laugh burst through her red lips. She snatched the fan away and lightly lifted my chin with its tip.
The sensation of its cold material touched the tip of my chin.
"You speak very well, Captain Jaeger. I thought you only fought on the battlefield, but you have quite the tongue on you as well?"
"They are but tricks of the trade learned to survive."
"To survive…."
She tapped my cheek lightly with her fan.
"Indeed. This capital is more dangerous than the battlefield. It is a place where a single word or action can cost you your head."
She bent her waist and brought her lips close to my ear. A sweet yet dangerous fragrance pricked my nose.
"Count Stalberg seems quite taken with you. I hear you've become the dog of my 'enemy'."
As expected, she already knew.
"But dogs change their collars depending on the food their master gives them, don't they?"
I whispered without averting my gaze.
"I am not a dog, but a soldier, Your Highness. A soldier simply follows the commander who guarantees victory."
"Oho?"
Aylit's eyes curved like crescent moons. She seemed quite pleased with my answer.
"Victory… Very well, I shall remember that."
She closed her fan and straightened her body.
"Be cautious when choosing your side next time, Captain. If you stand in the wrong line, it will be ruin, not victory, that awaits you."
She turned and walked gracefully. But after a few steps, she stopped again.
"Ah, and."
She looked back at me over her shoulder and grinned. A smile so seductive it sent shivers down one's spine.
"That gaze just now wasn't bad. That insolent look that dared to appraise the Imperial Princess."
"……!"
"Come to my bedchamber next time. I shall test… just how far that insolence goes."
Click, click, click.
She walked away into the distance.
"……Crazy bitch."
And I muttered under my breath. It was a soliloquy.