Chapter 63. The Dragon's True Heart (3)

"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!"

As the doors of the audience chamber opened, Gerhart, Viktor, and Friedrich, the main protagonists of the victory in the Brotan Kingdom war, entered wearing their dress uniforms.

"..."

The gazes of the nobles waiting inside the audience chamber were fixed on the generals.

Some nobles looked favorably at the generals, genuinely rejoicing in the empire's victory.

Some nobles sent cold or hostile glances for reasons such as being wary of the generals' influence.

Particularly negative gazes were mainly directed at Viktor, the rising general, and the gaze Theodore sent towards Viktor was intertwined with various negative emotions such as hostility, jealousy, and hatred.

Gerhart and Viktor walked towards the throne calmly yet proudly while receiving such gazes, and Friedrich followed, clenching his fists tightly.

Gerhart knelt on one knee before Louise's throne, who wore a subtle smile.

"I, Gerhart Weissilt, and two others have arrived."

"We greet Your Majesty."

"We greet Your Majesty!"

Gerhart's voice echoed in the audience chamber, and Friedrich and Viktor also knelt on one knee and bowed their heads.

After a moment of silence.

-Rustle.

Louise, who had been sitting on the throne, stood up.

She slowly scanned the generals kneeling before her.

"Loyal generals of the Dragonian Empire. You are the protagonists who led this war to victory and brought the Brotan Kingdom to its knees."

Looking at Viktor, who had bowed his head, she began speaking in a dignified voice and walked down towards Gerhart.

"Duke Gerhart Weissilt."

Gerhart slightly raised his head at Louise's call.

"You have brought victory to the empire with your excellent command and leadership. To honor your long-standing dedication and meritorious service, I bestow upon you the rank of Grand Marshal of the Dragonian Imperial Army."

At the mention of bestowing the rank of Grand Marshal, which had only existed in name, Gerhart's body flinched.

She received a sword carefully offered by a maid at her side.

"I bestow this sword as a symbol of trust in you. Your orders on the battlefield are my orders, and any challenge to you is a challenge to me."

Although Gerhart had been respected by all imperial generals for his abilities and achievements, he had never been fully recognized in this position by the Empress until now.

Gerhart's fingertips trembled as he respectfully received the sword with both hands.

"...Thank you, Your Majesty."

"Furthermore."

However, the Empress did not stop speaking even at Gerhart's trembling voice.

"A monument will be erected to commemorate your achievements and loyalty, to widely proclaim that the Dragonian Empire has a great general named Gerhart Weissilt."

"..."

Gerhart, having lost his composure, couldn't even properly express his gratitude, but none of the nobles in the audience chamber found this strange.

The rank of Grand Marshal and the erection of a monument are the greatest honors a general can dream of.

Due to the recent turmoil in the empire's political situation, there hadn't been room to hold such award ceremonies.

No noble could deny the merits Gerhart had accumulated so far, so at the previous meeting to decide on rewards, no one opposed Louise's opinion to bestow these honors.

For Gerhart, who had refused fiefdoms on the grounds that he needed to go to the battlefield, this was the most appealing reward.

"Thank you, thank you, Your Majesty! I will dedicate my entire life to elevating the glory of the empire!"

Applause erupted among the nobles, and he bowed his head with reddened eyes.

"Count Friedrich Gunter."

Shortly after, Louise called Friedrich next.

Friedrich raised his head with a tense face.

"Your shining bravery created a bridgehead in the war, and subsequently, you and your 8th Corps made great contributions to defeating the Brotan Kingdom army. I promote your title from Count to Margrave, and appoint you as Governor-General of the occupied territories in the Brotan Kingdom direction. When stabilization is deemed complete, Anyac will become your fief."

Friedrich's eyes widened at the unexpectedly generous reward.

Anyac is a strategic point in the Brotan Kingdom direction along with Saint-Toire and Montfieu, and at the same time, it's an important point through which most of the logistics moving to the left and right of the Crejon Mountains pass.

Moreover, with its huge port, Anyac was the wealthiest among the Brotan Kingdom territories occupied by the empire.

Louise handed him a golden plaque.

"I expect your active role as both the shield and sword of the empire in the future."

"I will never forget Your Majesty's grace!"

He bowed his head while grasping the plaque, and the nobles applauded and murmured quietly.

Finally, Louise's gaze turned to Viktor, who was still kneeling.

"Corps Commander Viktor."

She called that name in a gentle voice.

As he raised his head, she looked at his face for a moment without saying anything.

"There were loud voices of doubt towards you. Some doubted your loyalty after defecting to the empire, and others doubted the capabilities of the 1st Provisional Corps and you. But, you ultimately proved yourself splendidly."

Just as Viktor was pondering how to respond, she opened her mouth.

"Your name was never missing from the reports written by Grand Marshal Gerhart Weissilt. Strategy, tactics, command, diplomacy, agreement. Your name was written in every process of victory."

The longer Louise's praise continued, the more sour the expressions of Theodore and the nobles of his faction became.

Some nobles were displeased that the praise directed at Viktor was longer than that for Gerhart or Friedrich, but it wasn't enough to go beyond slightly frowning as it wasn't to the extent of going against the Empress conducting the award ceremony.

Nobles who were truly loyal to the Empress closely observed Viktor, who seemed to be receiving the Empress' trust.

"According to the Grand Marshal's report, you were a capable staff officer in strategy meetings, and an excellent commander on the battlefield. Even in diplomatic strategy and preparation for subsequent agreements, you stood out, he says. Margrave Friedrich Gunter. What do you think? Is the Grand Marshal's report valid?"

Gerhart grinned while keeping his head bowed, and Louise passed the baton to Friedrich.

Friedrich, who was momentarily flustered,

"No, it isn't."

"...Hmm?"

After surprising Louise with a firm answer.

"Although I haven't read the report myself, I dare say. Whatever is written in that report, it won't match the actual achievements Corps Commander Viktor has made."

"Oh ho."

He added in a serious voice.

"If you say so, there's no need to hesitate. Bring it."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Louise, who silenced the murmuring nobles with one sweep of her gaze after the long praise compared to other generals, opened a wooden box brought by an attendant.

"Corps Commander Viktor. I promote your 1st Provisional Corps to my direct corps, and will call it the Red Dragon Corps. Also, I appoint you as the Corps Commander of the Red Dragon Corps, to become my hands and feet and show that power to the enemies of the empire."

What came out of the box was a neatly folded flag.

Louise smiled brightly and handed Viktor a flag with a red dragon spreading its wings on a purple background.

When she said she would establish an Empress' direct corps centered on the 1st Provisional Corps, nobles who felt this as a threat to their power immediately tried to resist.

However, pro-Empress nobles couldn't actively resist due to their position, and her authority, strengthened by Gerhart's success, was difficult for even the noble faction to break.

They tried various methods such as tacit approval, persuasion, and checks, but couldn't break the Empress' stubbornness.

She stated that the direct corps was only for border defense and direct mission execution, and made a strong move saying she would take charge of everything from recruitment to maintenance and management without the nobles' support.

As nobles who sincerely supported the Empress agreed with this, eventually even the opposing nobles had to yield.

"I will do my best for the Dragonian Empire."

Viktor respectfully received the flag with such a story behind it.

Louise smiled slightly as she confirmed the corners of his mouth rising slightly, and Theodore shared whispers with other nobles with a displeased expression watching this.

"Long live the Dragonian Empire! Long live Empress Louise Zainburg!"

"Long live! Long live!"

At Gerhart's lead cheer, who grasped the atmosphere, everyone shouted cheers praising the empire and the Empress, and,

"This evening, a banquet is prepared for you, so make sure to attend."

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

"Understood!"

As Louise mentioned the victory celebration banquet, the award ceremony concluded.

---

"Count Gunter, no, Margrave Gunter Your Excellency!"

"Ahem! I'm still not used to it either, hahaha!"

After informing the soldiers that the entire 1st Provisional Corps had become Louise's direct corps, I attended the victory celebration banquet with Anna.

Under the bright lights, the nobles' conversations and laughter were unceasing, and empty plates were quickly filled thanks to the circulating attendants.

"Could you tell us more about the Battle of Lake Apitello?"

"That's right! You keep saying no..."

"...Hmm."

I walked around the outskirts of the lively and noisy banquet hall, pushing down the strangely felt awkwardness with juice.

"What's wrong, General?"

Anna, wearing a neat dress uniform, approached and asked me.

Her expression was close to expressionless as usual, but perhaps due to the fruit wine she was holding, her cheeks were slightly flushed.

"Anna."

"Are you not enjoying yourself?"

Her brown short hair swayed as she tilted her head.

Whether due to the alcohol or not, her gestures seemed larger than usual.

"No, I'm enjoying it."

"You seem to be worried about something, are you really enjoying yourself?"

"...Of course."

Actually, I do feel good, but as Anna says, there's a lot to worry about.

Establishing a direct corps and appointing me as the corps commander of that direct corps isn't particularly concerning when I recall her saying she would "fully support my future path."

What concerns me is how her attitude towards the empire has changed.

In the triumphal entry and award ceremony, Louise actively flaunted her authority as Empress, and even established a direct corps which can be seen as a symbol of power.

I wonder if this behavior, which was never seen in the game, is an extension of her full support, or if there's another intention.

It seems there's no need to worry, but I can't help but be concerned about what she's thinking now.

-Clink.

"Hmm?"

Something hit my hand as I was pondering like that.

"Usually, this is a special remedy when you have a lot on your mind."

She offered me fruit wine in a glass, befitting a banquet hosted by the Empress.

"Is that so? Hmm, maybe."

"There's a quiet place in the back..."

Before Anna's following words could finish,

"...Ha, this..."

"...!"

"...What's this?"

The murmur of the approaching crowd caught my attention.

The crowd that had come almost right in front of me quickly parted to the left and right.

"Corps Commander Viktor, so you were here."

Louise, wearing a red dress, appeared between them.

"Greetings, Your Majesty."

"Hmm, nice to see you. Are you Corps Commander Viktor's lover?"

"...! I am Anna, Corps Commander Viktor's adjutant, Your Majesty."

Anna, uncharacteristically flustered, took a deep breath and then paid her respects to Louise.

"Adjutant? ...Hmm. It seems you were trying to spend time with Corps Commander Viktor. Could you wait for a moment? I have something to discuss with him separately."

"...There's no need to ask for my permission separately."

"Thank you."

Louise, who had been observing Anna for a moment, spoke to her with a polite attitude contrasting her initial direct tone.

"Follow me. I know a good place."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Ignoring Anna's slightly disgruntled response, the piercing gazes around, and the much louder murmurs, she walked ahead.

I slowly followed behind her.