Chapter 62. The Dragon's True Heart (2)

Even outside the city walls, we could feel it, but

"Waaaaaaah!"

"The heroes of the empire have returned!"

"General Gerhart!"

"Her Majesty is with them!"

Inside the city was completely a crucible of cheers.

The main streets were packed with people, and their cheers were so intense that we could feel them on our skin.

Flags made with additional cloth, such as flags of the empire or the expedition, and symbols of the Weissilt family, fluttered here and there, and soldiers laughed as they brushed off flower petals scattered from various places on their armor.

"...is it? ..."

"...that's..."

-Whoosh!

"General! Please look this way too!"

"Kyaah!"

"Her Majesty looked this way!"

"What? Pl-Please look at me too!"

"Son! Over here, over here!"

Moreover, as Louise and Gerhart at the front responded to the cheers, the shouts that seemed like they would lift the capital city were so loud that we couldn't even hear their conversation just a few steps ahead.

"This is amazing. I've never seen such a sight before."

"Who would be used to this? It's a good thing, so just enjoy it."

"...Do you know that with that expression, it's hard to believe you're not used to this?"

As I could barely understand Friedrich's voice right next to me, we were walking while having a conversation that was almost like shouting.

"Aren't you enjoying it? I really like this heat."

Even though I wasn't the protagonist of this triumphal entry, I was genuinely feeling good.

"Heat..."

Friedrich, whose face was still slightly stiff,

-Thud.

"Oof. ...Ha, haha. It's the first time I've felt good after being hit in the face."

After being hit by a flower petal that flew from somewhere, the tension naturally left his face.

This sight of soldiers, nobles, and common people all united and enjoying themselves was something I couldn't see in the Rus Kingdom.

To begin with, the Northern War fizzled out without even attempting the counterattack that had been prepared for a long time, and even if that wasn't the case, such triumphal entries were unlikely to have happened.

Because the nobles were wary of the army's influence, rewards and commendations were often simply concluded within the royal palace.

Moreover, the king of the Rus Kingdom was too young to think of moving actively like the current Louise.

And if I recall the attitude of the Rus Kingdom nobles towards the common people...

"You like it?"

"Corps Commander Viktor, you'll understand once you get hit too."

"Hmm..."

-Thwack!

"Hmm."

"It flies as soon as I speak. How is it?"

"...It's good, I like it."

It couldn't help but be contrasted with the empire.

Not everyone would be like this, but at least the superiors I've met are not authoritarian, and the officers are not steeped in aristocratism.

Moreover, most of the soldiers are professional soldiers, so there's bound to be a difference in their will and combat power.

It was unfamiliar, but a pleasantly unfamiliar feeling.

"I'm glad I came."

"Hmm? Don't tell me you were going to refuse the triumphal entry prepared by Her Majesty?"

"No."

"...?"

I think I made the right decision to change jobs.

Even considering that I spent about two years in the Rus Kingdom from the start of the campaign, I think giving my best in the empire from now on might be the fastest shortcut to overcoming the 'crisis' and world conquest.

As I was marching without much deep thought like that,

"...?"

Suddenly, Louise, who had been walking ahead and conversing with Gerhart, turned to look at me.

It was such a brief moment that I almost thought it was an illusion, but I could see her smile as our eyes met.

"Did Her Majesty just look back now?"

"...It seems so."

Friedrich confirmed that it wasn't an illusion.

"Oh, Empress Louise!"

"It's an honor, an honor!"

"General Gerhart!"

She raised her hand again to receive the cheers of the people as if nothing had happened.

"..."

She promised to fully support my future path and is actually smiling continuously, so there's probably no need to worry.

Still, I couldn't help but feel concerned.

***

The triumphal march ended as we arrived at the square in front of the imperial palace.

Louise went ahead and stood on a prepared platform.

The unceasing cheers calmed down with just one gesture from Louise standing on the platform.

"People of the Dragonian Empire and proud soldiers! Today, we stand here to commemorate a great victory!"

Through a magical amplification device, her majestic voice spread throughout the square.

Her voice was powerful, and her lightly smiling expression was noble,

"The long war with the Brotan Kingdom has finally ended in victory for the empire! To honor the glory of the empire and everyone's meritorious service, I command!"

Not looking at a script, natural gestures like taking a step forward added strength to her speech.

In the game, she inevitably showed signs of reluctantly performing her duties, but I couldn't feel anything like that in Louise's current appearance.

"From today for three days, a festival will be held in Rainesberg so that everyone can enjoy this joy together! Soldiers! Put down your heavy armor for a moment and enjoy the festival together!"

She raised the scepter she was holding in her hand.

"We have become stronger, and the united Dragonian Empire fears no enemy! Let the whole world know our name that will be eternal from now on! Long live the Dragonian Empire!"

"Waaaaaaah!"

"Long live! Long live the Dragonian Empire!"

"Long live Empress Louise Zainburg!"

Perhaps because it had been suppressed for a while, the cheers seemed to make the square vibrate louder than during the march.

Louise entered the imperial palace first, and after the officers, including myself, finished preparing for the soldiers' participation in the festival.

"Shortly, there will be a ceremony for awarding medals and rewards in the audience chamber. I will guide you to a waiting room where the generals can stay for a moment."

"Hmm."

Gerhart, Friedrich, and I also entered the imperial palace.

"Did you perhaps come wearing what you wore on the battlefield?"

"Hmm? The dress uniform is here."

"Hmm... It doesn't seem to fit. ...Oh my. Didn't you say you were a corps commander? Why did you bring a supply dress uniform worn by ordinary officers!"

"I originally..."

"This is why Her Majesty said to prepare! Corps Commander Viktor, please come this way!"

"..."

As soon as I entered the palace, I had to face an attack from the maids.

Under the pretext of preparing for the award ceremony, they dragged me around busily here and there.

My whole body was washed, and I was changed into a dress uniform that fit me perfectly, though I don't know how they measured the size.

"You were here already."

"Hmm. Oh, did you receive a new dress uniform?"

"Yes."

After all preparations were finished, I was able to arrive at the waiting room where Friedrich and Gerhart were.

Unlike Gerhart, who was leisurely enjoying refreshments, Friedrich was half-leaning on the sofa to the extent of not appearing rude.

Just looking at his somewhat pale face, I could roughly guess what he had gone through.

"...Corps Commander Friedrich can't get up."

"Corps Commander Friedrich, was it very difficult?"

"Haha... Maybe because I've been on the battlefield for so long, I'm really not used to other people's hands touching me. How about you, General Gerhart?"

"I often think that I could wash myself, at least. It can't be helped since it's an important occasion, but."

"...I think so too."

"That's right."

After briefly exchanging light conversation with them,

"Um, General Gerhart."

"Hmm?"

"May I ask what conversation you had with Her Majesty during the march earlier?"

I asked Gerhart about what I had been curious about for a while.

"Oh ho."

He showed a very blatant smile.

"Is there a specific reason you're curious?"

"Ah, I think I know. Earlier during the conversation, Her Majesty suddenly looked back, and I think she looked at Corps Commander Viktor."

"...That's right."

"Hmm, hmm. That's right."

Gerhart nodded at Friedrich's additional explanation.

"You're curious about Her Majesty's intentions, is that it?"

"Yes."

"To be honest, I was surprised too. It might sound disrespectful, but hasn't Her Majesty ever been this proactive before?"

"...Yes."

He continued speaking while stroking his chin.

"Well, my answer is no."

"...I see."

"It's not because it's something that needs to be kept secret particularly. If it were that kind of conversation, we wouldn't have had it during the march."

"..."

"You might worry if I say it like this. There's no need to worry at all. You'll understand why I'm saying this just by participating in the upcoming award ceremony."

"That's right. If Her Majesty has read the reports, she would know how much Corps Commander Viktor contributed. General, didn't you have such a conversation with Her Majesty?"

"Well, something similar. You could say Her Majesty's and my intentions aligned."

It was closer to curiosity than worry, but Gerhart didn't seem to want to talk about it right now.

"I understand. I'll wait comfortably."

"Hmm."

Gerhart, who was watching me sit down and pick up a cookie from the table,

"You can look forward to it, Deputy Commander Viktor."

Suddenly spoke meaningfully.

"...What do you mean?"

"It means exactly what I said. Of course, Corps Commander Friedrich will receive excellent rewards too, but I think you, in particular, can look forward to it even more."

"...?"

With those final words, Gerhart didn't mention the conversation he had with the Empress anymore.

"I will guide you to the audience chamber."

"Hmm."

We, who had been resting in the waiting room, moved to the audience chamber following the guidance of an attendant.

Gerhart still maintained his composure, while Friedrich showed occasional smiles as if nervous.

Eventually, we arrived in front of the huge doors of the audience chamber.

"Entering are the triumphant generals: Corps Commander Gerhart Weissilt of the 10th Corps, Corps Commander Viktor of the 1st Provisional Corps, and Corps Commander Friedrich Gunter of the 8th Corps!"

With the attendant's resounding announcement, those massive doors began to move.

I took a short breath.