EP.430
The next morning, Francois Vlayard Village.
Jules, the only hunter in this village, shouted loudly when he saw the serfs plowing the fields.
“The Reich Imperial Army has invaded. Everyone run away if you don’t want to die!”
In any other country, the serfs who heard this would have immediately gathered in the square.
Then, they would have discussed whether they should try to run away to take care of their family and at least their assets, or offer food and money and beg for their lives…
Until now, they have been worried about their ‘monarchs’ changing once a year to the United Kingdom or the Francois. Those who were used to it…
reacted indifferently even after hearing Jules’ warning.
“If I run away, what’s worse than starving or being killed by the United Kingdom or the Francois Republic army?”
“Oh my gosh, if I could go to Hankal or starve to death, it would be a luxury. “Don’t you know the story about the village next door last time?”
“The man was captured by the United Kingdom and the man was killed and the woman was sold as a slave, right?”
I was grateful for the warning, but it was because I had already completely lost attachment to the painful life I had experienced through the long years of war.
‘Would it be easier if I died like this?’
Zachri, now 30 years old and one of the young men in the village who was lucky enough to avoid conscription, said as he continued plowing the field.
“I don’t know if it’s Reich or sausage or what. “If you had common sense, you wouldn’t burn half-grown wheat, right?”
Everyone nodded at those words.
“Well, unless you lose the war and are chased like those Francois or the United Kingdom. “There’s no need to kill them just because they’re trying to dominate us.”
“I think differently because when I was young, I followed the village priest around and ate some ink.”
“You’re so f*cking smart.”
There was no sense of hope in the empty words that almost gave up everything.
No, strictly speaking, it wasn’t that they had no wishes left.
However, its size was very small.
Like now, I have an obsession with wanting to live with my family even if it means starving. I want to eat my fill, even if it’s only for one meal today.
And what they hope for even in their dreams.
Paulo, the oldest among the men here, sighed and said.
“Before the damn nobles became a republic and all, there was no need to starve to death unless there was a major famine. “I want to go back to that time.”
Those were really good times for them.
There were almost no wars and there was no such thing as starvation unless there was a bad harvest, so you could see children smiling brightly while eating.
I could have looked at my wife’s bloated stomach and smiled and said that this child would later become a great farmer like me.
However, reality did not give them any time to think about the nostalgic past.
“I’m hungry. “I want to eat bread bread.”
One child suddenly fell to the floor.
As was common after the war broke out, the child’s father, Zachry, put down his farming tools and ran straight to the child’s direction.
“Mom will bring porridge soon. “Let’s eat that and cheer up…”
The relieved child, holding his father’s hand, smiled faintly and said while breathing heavily.
“Juk porridge. “Can I eat a lot?”
Zachry thought about the warehouse situation in his village.
It wasn’t until today or tomorrow that I would be able to give my child a fist-sized bowl of porridge.
‘How can the world be so cruel…’
Zachry held his son’s hand and lied, shedding tears.
“When Dad comes to Mom, I’ll ask for a lot. So, let’s wait a little while…”
“Really? Then, I’ll just get some sleep… I’ll wake up and eat a lot of porridge…”
Then the child closed his eyes and fell asleep.
My heart stopped beating and my body gradually became cold.
“… Paul…”
The residents of this village, where death had become such a common joke, sighed and said when they saw Zachry.
“Hurry and bury me. “Rest in peace even if you die.”
“Yes…”
“You have to bury it and pull out the weeds in the field again to save your wife and remaining children. “Don’t be too discouraged. It’s common here.”
In this hellish place where parents had to accept their child’s death as a daily occurrence, Zachri sighed and shed tears.
And at this time, an imperial officer rode up on horseback.
“Everyone stop working!”
At those words, everyone stopped their work, knelt down, and buried their heads.
It was so as not to offend the pleasure of the High One.
“I am Friedrich von Jaeger, Lieutenant of the Imperial Army! From now on, your village has become part of our empire, so you must follow the orders of the imperial army.”
The village chief responded to those words.
“Yes, Ensign. But our village has no food or wealth to offer to the empire.”
Frederick sighed in his heart when he saw the faces of Francois’ people.
‘The lives of people living in an incompetent country are truly miserable.’
“Her Highness Princess Lina of the Cafe royal family earnestly requested the empire to save you. So now, we, the Reich Empire, will do our best to help you return to a comfortable life.”
Zachry tilted his head at those words.
‘Does that ruined imperial family take care of us?’
“Are you sure?”
“I am a second lieutenant in the Imperial Army and the son of His Excellency Peter Jaeger, Reich Marshal, and also a minor duke. “Do you think I would lie to you guys like that?”
At those words, Francois’ people had great expectations.
“Hurry and go to the village square. “If you go, I will give you plenty of porridge mixed with wheat and barley.”
Then, the village residents, except Zachri, started running towards the village square all at once.
“I’m going to eat it! “Something to eat!”
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“You don’t have to starve anymore! Long live the Empire! Long live Her Royal Highness!”
“We should stop by my house first and feed my wife and the kids.”
And Friedrich Jaeger looked at Zachry, who was still here, and asked:
“I think the child I’m holding now is dead. My condolences.”
“……”
“Let me help you ask. “Her Majesty’s request to help you includes this.”
Then, Friedrich personally dug the grave for Zachry’s dead son and buried him with the utmost care.
“Let’s eat the porridge first. And if you ask the military chaplain, you will be able to hold a simple funeral.”
“Yes, thank you. Lieutenant…”
Zachry buried his dead son in his heart for a moment and ran to the square.
Then, there were imperial flags, cafe imperial flags, and imperial soldiers serving porridge.
“Give me one more bowl of porridge! “I’m so hungry!”
“You’ve been starving all this time, soldiers!”
“My child is hungry!”
Either way, officers and non-commissioned officers controlled civilians with spears.
I couldn’t even think of running wild and screaming for food because I felt like if I didn’t follow the control, I would be kicked or stabbed with a sword or spear.
“His Excellency Marshal Jaeger said that if you eat too much, you can die. And after we leave, we will distribute wheat and barley flour in moderation!”
“Those who did not receive the porridge should come out quickly and receive the porridge.”
Zachry, dumbfounded, went forward and received the porridge.
“Eating too fast can make you sick, so eat slowly.”
As soon as Zachri received the porridge, his eyes began to blush.
“Yes, thank you. But why are you really doing this to us?”
Since the porridge was almost finished, the soldier, who had little else to do, responded kindly.
“Her Highness the Princess of the Cafe Imperial Family becomes the Crown Prince and Concubine of the Empire. “He wanted to take care of Francois’ people, so he is helping them like this.”
Zachry, who remembered the happy times when the royal family existed as a child, began to cry while eating porridge.
“The cafe empire has collapsed, but Her Royal Highness still doesn’t forget us and cares for us…”
Then, after eating a lot of porridge and meeting her family, she started crying.
“Philip is dead. But it’s okay now because Her Royal Highness has come. “They say I don’t have to starve anymore…”
Zachry’s family also held each other and cried in joy at not having to starve in the future despite Philip’s death.
“Dad… can we eat porridge every day now?”
“You can also eat bread.”
And Peter Yeager, who had brought the crown prince and princess here to see his son…
**
“I apologize, Your Majesty the Crown Prince, but could you at least wave to the people?”
After hearing my words, His Highness Albert immediately went out and waved to the villagers without asking or questioning.
“My wife Lina asked me to protect you, so the Reich Empire will never abandon you!”
At those words, all the people present cheered.
“Thank you thank you!”
“Thank you, Princess Lina, for taking care of us until the end.”
“Long live the Reich Empire!”
I whispered carefully to Crown Prince Rain, who was watching.
“The Francois Empire may have collapsed, but the Cafe royal family still remains in the hearts of the people. “Isn’t it the nobles, not the commoners, who pushed out Your Majesty’s grandfather, the last of you, in the first place?”
“I guess so.”
Maybe it’s because I became the Grand Marshal and became an old man, but everyone except the Emperor and Empress uses honorifics towards me.
Seeing the Empress, who has no family background, acting like that without even knowing how His Highness the Crown Prince over there treats me…
‘Our Royal Highness the Crown Princess, who only has blood, will not be able to engage in palace politics for the rest of her life. ‘It’s because you can’t understand the situation like that.’
As I think about that, I think I can hear the corners of His Majesty’s mouth twitching.
“So, for the final glory of the now-defunct Kafe Imperial Family, to be born into a family that will leave an honorable name as a noble family of the Empire in the future… Your Highness, please comfort them as well.”
“Don’t do that.”
Then I spoke carefully.
“Furthermore, please love and cherish His Highness the Crown Prince more, who smiles while holding the hand of a mere serf for His Majesty’s sake. “Just as he loves you.”
As soon as Crown Prince Bi heard those words, he immediately walked towards where the Crown Prince was.
And I gestured to my son Friedrich.
When I saw him walking confidently from afar, I thought to myself, “Wouldn’t he be a better general than me when he gets older?”
I asked while thinking such nonsense.
“So what did you feel when you saw this?”
“I felt that the people of weak countries were suffering indescribably. “I am determined to do my best to avoid that, Excellency Generalissimo.”
It’s so special.
Whose child is he that chooses such special words?
I thought about patting him on the head, but I suppressed my impulse as people around me were watching.
“That is all correct. “There’s just one thing wrong.”
“What is?”
“The commander of an empire must not hesitate to do anything to make the country strong. “This includes massacring the troops of an enemy country, staining one’s hands with blood, and instigating war between other countries.”
Friedrich’s pupils shook at those words.
If you look at the amount of knowledge he has studied, he is as good as a staff officer who completed the entire curriculum at the Staff College, but that may be because he has never been in combat.
However, if you get a little more experience and become stronger, you will noticeably improve in no time.
In that sense, I prayed for his development and pledged to reveal one secret that I could disclose to my son, who had the status of a minor duke.
“Friedrich, listen for a moment.”
“Your Excellency the Marshal.”
I whispered quietly into his ear.
“Your Majesty the Crown Prince, you may not know this, but why does it seem like there are no men in His Highness the Crown Prince’s family? “The reason is because I assassinated all the men of His Highness’s family for the sake of the empire.”
The guy’s body was shaking violently.
“It is a fact known to His Majesty, the Minister of Military Affairs, several high-ranking commanders, and high-ranking officials of the Empire. “They just don’t talk.”
“If so, my father would have killed all of the male lineages of His Highness the Crown Prince.”
“I couldn’t help it because it was helpful to the empire. So, if it’s necessary, you should do the same.”
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