EP.199
Now I feel like I’m facing the biggest crisis of my life.
If someone hears this, it may seem like they will criticize me as a hypocrite… but it is true that it is the biggest crisis of my life.
If you think about it, your father-in-law who is already here is the head of the empire, and the other person who just announced himself as your prospective father-in-law is His Majesty the Emperor of the Empire, and your brother-in-law is His Royal Highness the Crown Prince.
My heart feels like it’s going to explode from the pressure.
But in Korea, there’s a saying that says even if you go into a tiger’s den, you’ll survive as long as you keep your wits about you, right?
So, let’s hold on tight and find a way to survive by first saying what we have to say as a ritual.
“Haha, I have a wife named Laura, and marrying Her Royal Highness is such a heavy burden. So, I hope you’ll reconsider once again…”
When I said these formal words, His Majesty the Emperor held his belly button and smiled.
“If you cause an accident, you have to take responsibility, Lieutenant General Yeager. Because I know you well, I can tell that what you just said was not meant to be malicious. But if it wasn’t between me and you, I would feel a little uncomfortable haha. “You know how I feel, right?”
…… First of all, with this, even if rumors spread in the noble council or elsewhere, I have at least the justification to not be criticized as an unscrupulous bastard.
That’s why, even if someone offers you something for free, it’s polite to refuse it once or twice before accepting it, but it doesn’t look good if a guy who takes Her Royal Highness as his wife and even has a true wife accepts it just because Her Majesty the Emperor gives it to him.
Seeing that the expression on the face of the person who knew this was so three-dimensional, I don’t know what would have happened if I had shown even the slightest bit of discomfort rather than saying it out of courtesy.
It may not be at a political or military disadvantage, but I will be called in during my vacation and continue to be a tutor (playmate) for His Highness the Crown Prince’s son.
I would have had to be called to various schools in the empire and give congratulatory speeches, face-to-face events, and lectures to young students.
The content of the lecture will be like this.
‘Everyone, if you work hard like me, you can be very active on the battlefield and become a general with stars in the future. The Empire is always open to hardworking and capable soldiers. ‘Long live your Majesty the Emperor, long live your Royal Highness the Crown Prince.’
… I gave dozens of lectures that felt like I was a middle school student mixed with all kinds of passion, etc…. With my words of achievement, I woke up everyone from elementary school students under the age of 8 to those who were forcibly taken to the academy by talking about my achievements. Going in circles…
“Her Royal Highness Princess Louise is too much for me. So save as much as you can…”
“Call me Louise. “If that child hears it, he’ll be upset.”
“Yes, I will try to save Louise as much as possible.”
When I said this, His Majesty nodded as if he was finally satisfied.
“thank god. Louise said that she liked you much better than the princes or great nobles of other empires or kingdoms. “I have recommended arranged marriages to my sons and daughters many times in the past, but it feels great to be able to achieve an arranged marriage between a husband and wife who love each other so much.”
…… Louise, no, Louise is a woman with a pretty face, a nice body, and a very nice personality.
In addition, she showed interest in the military department and the 7th Guards Division, and after having several debate-like conversations with her, I learned that she was unusually good at speaking and conducting herself, and that she had a good understanding of the political situation of the empire.
However, to me now, she is a ‘wise and good person’ and is not accepted as a ‘beloved lover or wife.’
Considering that many of the generals and officers around me get married without even knowing each other, isn’t this a noble person?
“By the way, now let me tell you about the rest of the business and the roles expected of you. “You’ll like it.”
“I am always grateful for Your Majesty’s grace.”
“is it? Then, please think about Louise and be more active in the future. The territory you will receive as a prize is the County of Horn and the County of Melk. There will be a reward of 60,000 gold.”
Combining the territories I have received so far with the two newly granted counties in western Austria, I have been placed in a similar position to the great nobles of the Reich Empire in terms of influence alone.
When I first entered the academy, I was a commoner and an orphan, and when I think about all the humiliation I had to endure, it really takes a moment for me to change as a person.
“Thank you, Your Majesty. “I will repay your kindness with all my heart.”
“Oh, I still have more to give you. Please bring the documents to the deacon. And now that I think about it, there are many beautiful women around you who have a sincere interest in a man named Peter Yeager. Even a personal maid named Laura von Wenner Anastasia Kergit Charlotte.”
“It’s because I’m a bit lucky with people.”
After hearing those words, His Majesty selected several documents and placed them in front of him, then spoke with an evil smile.
“So, since you are newly married this time, end all relationships with women. “Because as long as you take Louise as your wife, I don’t want you to have more women.”
“For me, the only people I have are Louise and Laura…”
“Stop talking nonsense and just read this document. “This is a proposal for an arranged marriage that I sent to Colonel Kergit through the Imperial Noble Council, and if you look at the content written in it, even you, the best person in the empire, would understand the situation, no matter how ignorant you are of women’s feelings.”
I suppressed my pounding heart for a moment and read the letter with His Majesty’s royal seal.
[To Baron Anastasia Kergit, the White Wolf of the North. Thanks to the fact that the Gyeonggi tribe was the first to defect after the northern expedition ended, the empire was able to easily secure a large territory in the north. As the emperor of the empire, I am truly grateful for your dedication. However, since Baron Kergit is now 20 years old, I think it would be a good idea to marry a nobleman worthy of the empire. (omitted) If you agree to the marriage of convenience, I will guarantee you that you will be appointed commander of the 1st Brigade of the Northern Army and promoted to brigadier general. In recognition of your great contribution to stabilizing the North, you will be granted the title of Count and an Earldom in the North, so I hope for a good response.]
In Korea, if the President sends a letter like this, saying he will be given a promotion and a huge amount of real estate and buildings, It would be a great insult and shame.
However, on the European continent, including the Reich Empire, arranged marriages were essential among nobles, regardless of gender.
For her, who is trying to protect numerous northern tribes, including the White Wolf tribe, this proposal is absolutely necessary.
However, there was no stamp of Colonel Anya’s approval on this proposal.
“As this was the conclusion reached after the Jim and the Imperial Council discussed this proposal as an official agenda, I planned to marry her to Yeongsik of an appropriate noble family and move forward with the rest once she approves. But Colonel Kergit said this and refused. ‘I cannot enter into a marriage of convenience with anyone other than the respected Lieutenant General.’”
“I knew Colonel Anastasia was following me, but she put off the prosperity of the northern tribes that she valued as much as her own life.”
“You were the only one who didn’t know. If you ask just one private in your division, he will know that Colonel Kergit has a crush on you. Well, anyway, let me be blunt.”
When His Majesty saw me, he returned to his father’s expression, showed that he was truly displeased, and spoke with a face befitting the ruler of an empire.
“The North is in shambles right now. To be honest, if either you or Colonel Kergit die or retire, it will be split in half. A pro-Stockholm Kingdom faction and a pro-Imperial faction. “As the emperor of an empire, this is completely unacceptable.”
“Looking at the direction of the empire, if the Kingdom of Stockholm swallows half of the north, the hegemony of the empire will be at risk.”
“As a father, I don’t want to have more wives besides Louise and Colonel Laura, but what can I do? There needs to be a child between you and the Colonel to create a symbol that will unite the North. Also, personally, the content of the petition that Colonel Kergit sent me, rejecting the proposal for an arranged marriage, caught my eye. Louise read it and agreed.”
When I heard that story, two thoughts ran through my mind.
First, I was aware of the situation in which I was politically and personally responsible for a person named Anastasia Kergit, even though I had no intention of doing so.
My second thought was about where my next position would be.
“There is another person, but I won’t mention that child because Louise will decide on her own. The last thing I want to say is that your next position will be Commander of the Northern Army. Lieutenant General Peter Yeager is said to be the best in the empire because he has no sense when it comes to women, but he doesn’t know this, right?”
“… Don’t you mean to catch and kill those who are shaking up the North and take cruel revenge on the Stockholm bastards who are polluting the snow-covered white land that Colonel Anya loved?”
“It’s accurate, very accurate. Please conquer the North as you thought. As long as you get results, you don’t have to worry about the rest. The crown prince and I will take responsibility for this. And the wedding is scheduled for a month later, so don’t touch Louise until then. “I think I’ll be a little disappointed if I don’t keep this promise.”
After the conversation was over and I was about to enter the house, His Majesty grabbed me and said,
“Ah, Michael and the officers and generals of the 7th Guards Division are having a banquet in the garden of the imperial palace, so you can hang out there all night today. Otherwise, Michael will be upset. “I’ve also sent a message to your house, so don’t worry.”
…… I felt bloated while eating with His Majesty the Emperor, and even the alcohol that His Highness the Crown Prince gave me…
“I understand, Your Majesty.”
It would be natural, but on this day, I realized with my whole body that a person can die while drinking alcohol thanks to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince who constantly poured me drinks while chanting my name hundreds of times.
And I don’t know if it was because of his mood, but His Royal Highness seemed to pour a reasonable amount of beer for the other generals, but he poured endless amounts of beer for me.
See next episode
