Chapter 53
"In accordance with His Majesty's command, I shall bestow rewards and honors befitting the heroes who defended the Empire."
As the atmosphere in the audience chamber settled, the chamberlain's voice rang out thunderously.
"Captain Seraphina von Reinhardt, commander of 2nd Company, 1st Battalion, 7th Regiment. Step forward!"
Seraphina took a short, deep breath, then strode decisively toward the dais.
"Oh…."
"Is that woman the Ice Witch?"
"She's far more beautiful than the rumors say."
Soon, Seraphina knelt on one knee before the dais.
"You personally slew the enemy's great chieftain, Gromnar, and greatly reduced our casualties through your timely command and outstanding magical abilities."
The chamberlain continued.
"Accordingly, I hereby promote you to major and bestow upon you the Imperial Eagle Cross."
"I am grateful for Your Majesty's grace. I merely fight for the glory of the Empire."
From captain to major. It was an incredibly rapid promotion. Normally, the process would take several more years, but considering her achievements… it was treatment that naturally inspired a nod of approval.
It was the next person's turn.
"Lieutenant Erika von Stahlberg, platoon leader of 2nd Platoon, 2nd Company, 1st Battalion, 7th Regiment. Step forward!"
At the calling of her name, Erika flinched. She walked toward the dais with a stiff expression.
"In this operation, you…"
With each achievement the chamberlain recited, Erika's expression grew more and more sour. Her minor accomplishments were being exaggerated.
"…blocked the enemy's retreat and also superbly defended against a surprise attack from the rear…"
Her background as the daughter of the Imperial Army's Commander-in-Chief, along with the nominal credit for holding the enemy's retreat route. For the proud Erika, this must have been difficult to accept.
[Emotion: Shame over the fact that she earned a promotion through her family's influence.]
"…I hereby promote you to captain in the Imperial Army."
"……It is an honor, Your Majesty."
Erika lowered her head.
And at last, it was my turn.
"Lieutenant Max Jaeger, platoon leader of 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 onto the dais.
"Your achievements are too numerous to list individually."
Every gaze was fixed on me. Envy and jealousy, admiration and longing, and interest and …greed.
[Name: Aelith von Lohengart]
[Status: She has discovered a toy that seems more useful than expected.]
[Emotion: Interest, anticipation for a new toy.]
"Infiltrating enemy lines and destroying their supply routes, rescuing our troops, devising deceptive tactics, and even the decisive contribution you made in the engagement with the enemy's great chieftain. The success of this Ashen Forest operation would have been impossible without your ingenuity, Lieutenant Jaeger."
The chamberlains and ladies-in-waiting approached me. They carried luxurious wooden boxes.
"Accordingly, I hereby promote you directly from lieutenant to captain and bestow upon you the Imperial Cross, one rank above the Iron Cross, so that you may continue contributing to the glory of the Empire."
"I am overwhelmed by Your Majesty's grace."
One of the chamberlains pinned the Imperial Cross to my chest. Beside the Iron Cross, with its rugged charm, hung the Imperial Cross adorned with silver trim.
Then they removed my rank insignia and shoulder boards and replaced them with those of a captain. The weight of three diamonds. Captain. I had finally done it.
Finally, the regimental commander was called forward.
"Colonel Karl von Dietrich, commander of the 7th Regiment. Step forward!"
His steps were light, as though he were walking on clouds. His eyes gleamed, and the corners of his mouth nearly reached his ears.
"As regimental commander, you annihilated the enemy through outstanding strategy and led your subordinates admirably."
This time, the Emperor himself descended from the dais. He removed a baton from his waist and handed it to the regimental commander.
"Accordingly, I hereby promote you to brigadier general in the Imperial Army and elevate the 7th Regiment to the 7th Brigade!"
"Oh, Your Majesty!!! This old man is so moved, I cannot stop crying!"
Dietrich, now Brigadier General rather than regimental commander, sobbed as he banged his head against the floor.
Brigadier general. A star.
It was the moment his lifelong wish came true.
[Name: Karl von Dietrich]
[Rank: Brigadier General]
[Emotion: Extreme elation, self-intoxication, and the satisfaction of his lust for power]
The Emperor spread both arms in satisfaction.
"Tonight, a celebration for all of you will be held in the Imperial Palace banquet hall! Enjoy yourselves to your hearts' content, heroes of the Empire!"
Waaaaaaaah-!
The applause and cheers from the crowd filled the audience chamber.
*
The grand banquet hall of the Imperial Palace was extravagantly splendid.
All manner of delicacies were piled like mountains atop the long tables, while the fountains spouted the finest wine instead of water.
"Oh, are you Captain Jaeger?"
"You look far more dashing in person! I've heard the rumors. They say you blew the orcs away by detonating a powder magazine?"
Then various dignitaries began crowding around me as well.
I used [Captivating Speech] just enough and dealt with them mechanically.
"You're too kind, Count. It was all thanks to the soldiers' blood and sweat."
"It's an honor, madam. Compared to your beauty, my accomplishments are nothing but a pile of dirt."
After I showed the proper amount of humility and flattered them, they withdrew with satisfied expressions.
'…What a nuisance.'
Taking advantage of the opening, I slipped away toward a secluded terrace. I was sick to death of people's flattery.
It was just as I was about to breathe in the cool night air.
Click, click.
The regular click of dress shoes reached me, followed by the hem of an elaborate dress entering my field of vision.
The First Princess, Aelith von Lohengart.
She had sent her attendants away and was walking toward me alone. Her moonlit golden hair and red eyes were beautiful enough to seem sacred.
I reflexively straightened and bowed my head.
"I pay my respects to Her Highness the First Princess."
"I seem to have interrupted you while you were resting, Sir Hero?"
She covered her lips with a fan and smiled, her eyes narrowing elegantly. Her voice was clear and melodious, like jade beads rolling.
"Not at all. It is my honor."
"Heh, an honor…."
She took another step toward me.
"Then enjoy that honor a little longer."
Tap.
The elaborate feathered fan in her hand dropped limply at the toe of my combat boot. It was clearly deliberate.
"Oh dear, my hand went slack."
She calmly pretended it was an accident. Without moving an inch, she looked down at me.
……What is this.
'Status Analysis.'
[Name: Aelith von Lohengart]
[Status: Looking forward to seeing Max flustered.]
[Emotion: A sadistic desire to see the hero of the Empire kneel at her feet and pick up an object.]
'Huh.'
I swallowed a hollow laugh. It was a classic sadistic disposition: using her authority to force the other person to submit, then enjoying the feeling of superiority as she watched them do it.
An ordinary soldier would have panicked and hurried to pick it up, or stiffened with a flushed face out of pride. The more they did so, the more completely they would be drawn into her rhythm.
[The skill 'Iron Mind' is active.]
[It suppresses humiliation and embarrassment and derives the optimal course of action.]
I wore a relaxed smile. Then I very slowly knelt on one knee and picked up the feathered fan from the floor.
[Name: Aelith von Lohengart]
[Status: Observing how someone called a hero will behave.]
[Emotion: Interest in his unexpectedly compliant behavior, along with slight disappointment because it was accomplished too easily.]
I raised my head and looked up at her. Her red eyes were looking down at me. Thanks to my kneeling position, my gaze naturally traced up the curves of her slender waist and voluptuous breasts.
"Your Highness."
Holding the fan out in both hands, I whispered as though I were genuinely saddened.
'Captivating Speech.'
[The skill 'Captivating Speech (Lv.3)' is activated.]
"It seems sad that the fan has left Your Highness's hand and fallen to the floor."
"……What?"
Aelith's eyebrow twitched slightly. That must have been an unexpected remark.
"But thanks to that, an Imperial soldier has gained the opportunity to look up at the most exalted person from the lowest place, so I suppose this too must be called an honor."
Rather than hand her the fan, I carefully enclosed her pale, delicate hand in mine. I placed the fan's handle into her palm, then slowly stroked the back of her hand with my thumb.
Swish.
The faint friction carried through her glove. Her shoulder jerked.
[The skill 'Captivating Speech' affects 'Aelith von Lohengart'.]
['Aelith von Lohengart' is unsettled by your skillful, almost sly counterattack.]
"……."
For an instant, bewilderment flashed across her face.
"Please take it, Your Highness."
Aelith stared intently at me for a moment, then changed her expression. It was neither contempt nor mockery, but delight. Like a predator that had discovered prey more delicious than expected, the corners of her mouth stretched toward her ears.
[Name: Aelith von Lohengart]
[Status: Wondering how to train this shameless little wolf cub.]
[Emotion: Sharply heightened interest, and a competitive desire to answer his provocation.]
"…Ha."
A short laugh escaped between her red lips. She snatched the fan away and lightly lifted my chin with its tip.
The touch of the cold material reached the tip of my chin.
"You have quite a way with words, Captain Jaeger. I thought you only wielded a gun on the battlefield, but you're fairly skilled at wagging your tongue too, aren't you?"
"It's merely a trick I learned to survive."
"To survive…."
She tapped my cheek with the fan.
"Yes. The capital is more dangerous than the battlefield. It's a place where one wrong word or action can cost you your head."
She bent down and brought her lips close to my ear. A sweet yet dangerous fragrance pricked my nose.
"I hear Duke Stahlberg is rather fond of you. That means you've become the dog of my 'enemy.'"
So she already knew.
"But a dog can change collars at any time depending on the food its owner offers. Isn't that right?"
Without breaking eye contact, I whispered.
"I am not a dog but a soldier, Your Highness. A soldier follows only a commander who can guarantee victory."
"Oh?"
Aelith's eyes curved like crescent moons. She seemed to like my answer quite a bit.
"Victory… I like that. I'll remember it."
She folded the fan and rose to her feet.
"Be careful the next time you pack your bags, Captain. If you choose the wrong side, ruin—not victory—will be waiting for you."
She turned and began walking away elegantly, but after a few steps, she stopped again.
"Ah, and one more thing."
She glanced back over her shoulder and flashed me a grin, a smile seductive enough to send a chill down my spine.
"That look in your eyes just now wasn't bad. That insolent gaze, as though you dared appraise a princess."
"……!"
"Come to my bedchamber next time. I'll test just how far that insolence of yours gets you…."
Click, click, click.
She walked away.
"……Crazy bitch."
And I muttered quietly. It was only to myself.