Episode 286: After the war (2)
Henderson’s wife.
Chloe looked at the photo on the desk with eyes that looked like they were about to burst into tears.
“… … Bad people.”
Henderson and Chloe.
The two were ordinary commoners.
Henderson, who was born in Lawrence, lived a life no different from others, helping with farm work at a young age, just like other children his age.
His marriage to Chloe was also included in the general category.
Rather than marrying her because I especially loved her, I met Chloe at the recommendation of my parents who wanted her to find stability quickly.
And, they accepted each other.
I gave birth to a child.
I started a family.
Just like water slowly boiling, our feelings for each other deepened.
Henderson sometimes said nonsense, saying that he wanted to be a ‘soldier’ rather than a farmer, but he thought that if he was satisfied with reality, there would be no major problems.
Then the problem between Lawrence and Barco broke out.
The atmosphere that Lawrence had to submit to conscription in order to survive became widespread, and Henderson also joined the atmosphere and went out to the streets with crude weapons along with his friends.
If only I had stopped it then.
Wouldn’t Henderson be dead?
Although she replayed the past countless times, Chloe did not think that Henderson had made a wrong choice.
‘You looked genuinely happy.’
Recruiting private soldiers.
Henderson, who was accepted as Dmitry’s private soldier, was a completely different person the day he returned from his first vacation.
The slightly innocent face turned sharp, and the hands, which had been calloused from farming, were covered with new calluses as they held the sword.
Henderson talked about how happy he was living with Dmitry that day.
The salary itself was incomparable to farming, and at first he had a hard time because of the difference in level compared to other people, but now he said he enjoys practicing swordsmanship itself.
It was nice to see.
The bright smile on his face showed his sincerity.
happy.
It was certainly difficult having her husband away for many days, but when Henderson returned home, she was faithful to herself and her only son.
Meanwhile, Dmitry’s status rose.
By defeating Barco and making great achievements on the southern front, Henderson at some point became a celebrity in the surrounding villages.
“Chloe. I truly respect Roman Dmitry. He will not abandon us under any circumstances, and even if he dies on the battlefield, he will not take death lightly. So I want to become stronger. For him and for our family.”
Before I die.
It was Henderson’s last appearance.
Henderson, who devoted himself to training with less sleep, became really strong, but that strength came back after his death.
Some people said Henderson was born as a farmer and lived a truly valuable life.
When Duke Dmitry came to visit and sympathized with her sorrow over losing her husband, she shed many tears.
On the desk.
That was the only photo of the two of them.
Henderson holding a child and Chloe with her arms around each other.
Taking photos using magic was a huge expense for commoners, so when Henderson received the prize money, he made a big decision and went to find a photographer.
I was left with regret.
If I had known that my husband would leave my side so suddenly, I would have tried to take many pictures of him instead of just one.
It was then.
Knock knock.
“Chloe, are you there?”
It was a familiar voice.
When Chloe opened the door with her sleeping child, she saw Chris beyond the door.
* * *
It was an awkward situation.
Chris was known to be somewhat cool-headed towards Dmitry’s soldiers, but when faced with Chloe, he drank his tea with an awkward expression on his face.
Chloe had seen Henderson’s face a few times.
However, with Henderson dead, meeting his wife Chloe was bound to be emotionally uncomfortable.
I looked around.
Henderson’s traces were left everywhere.
Even though the memorial service was held, Chloe didn’t seem ready to let Henderson go just yet.
widely.
After putting down the teacup.
He opened his mouth in a slightly calm voice.
“… … Henderson was a good friend. He was the link that connected people within Dmitri’s soldiers, and if it weren’t for Henderson’s sacrifice, many people would have died the day the Kronos Empire attacked Dmitry. Henderson’s death is not to be taken for granted. “But I just wanted to tell you how valuable Henderson was and what his death left us.”
“is that so.”
Chloe smiled.
He was a very considerate person.
To put Chris’s mind at ease, she knew what she had to do.
“Actually, the reason I came to see you, Chloe, is to select Henderson as a person of national merit.”
“… … A person of national merit?”
It was an unfamiliar word.
I understand the meaning of the word itself, but I have never heard of a system related to it on the Salamander Continent.
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“yes. The issue of national merit was decided at this meeting. It is a national system that registers those who devoted themselves to Dmitry as national meritorious people, and promises to provide appropriate compensation and take responsibility for the livelihood of the remaining family members for the rest of their lives. Henderson was a brave fellow. “For what he has done, he deserves it.”
Moment.
Chloe showed a puzzled face.
I tried my best to smile, but Chris’ words made me feel like crying.
Compensation is not important.
The thought of Dmitry not taking Henderson’s death lightly and registering him as a person of national merit made me cry.
Henderson was right.
Roman Dmitry was a man worthy of loyalty and did not allow his family to mourn the loss of their head.
I bowed my head.
With tears flowing endlessly, I couldn’t bear to look up at Chris.
‘It was said that only an attitude that does not take people’s deaths lightly and clear compensation can compensate for people’s grief.’
These were the words of Roman Dmitry.
Chris a day ago.
I recalled the heated debate among Dmitry’s leaders discussing war compensation.
* * *
“… … “Are you sincere?”
Viscount Conrad couldn’t believe his ears.
Roman Dmitry’s remarks embarrassed not only him but also those attending the meeting.
“War compensation. great. We were thinking about that too, but the amount our lord mentioned was a whopping 1 million gold. That is an amount that even Dmitry’s wealth cannot afford. Wouldn’t it be better to reduce it to 500,000 gold? “I think a realistic plan would be to talk well with the Kingdom of Cairo and use the compensation received from the Kronos Empire entirely as war compensation.”
Everyone nodded.
1 million gold.
It was a sum that took my breath away just hearing about it.
The Kingdom of Redford was almost ruined due to a debt of 100,000 gold, and no matter how much Dmitry was, if he gave up that much money as war compensation, the situation would inevitably worsen financially.
In most matters, Roman Dmitry’s will was followed entirely.
But now, a dissenting voice was needed.
Roman Dmitry said.
“That is correct. 1 million gold is a burden even for Dmitri, but it is meaningful as war compensation. The Kronos Empire offered 500,000 gold as compensation as a condition for a truce. If we give them the same amount of compensation as we received from them. “What do you think people will think?”
“… … “I would be thankful for that.”
“The reward in front of you may express your gratitude, but people cannot help but think that winning or losing a war is directly related to the reward. Our money does not include a single silver in 500,000 gold. With this war compensation, I plan to give people a firm belief that sacrifice for Dmitry will definitely be worth it.”
The price of a truce.
Roman Dmitry deliberately asked for 500,000 gold.
It was an excessive amount to accept under the authority of Baron Charlton, but it could not be said to be a burdensome sum on the scale of the empire.
The reason for setting it that way was because of consideration of future war compensation.
Dmitry planned to pay war compensation equal to the amount he received from Kronos, and 500,000 gold was an appropriate amount to proceed with his future plans.
In the first place.
Kronos’ war compensation had great symbolic meaning.
Dmitry gained a lot from this war simply by offering compensation as a condition of the truce.
“This war compensation is just the beginning. Dmitry plans to introduce the ‘national meritorious person’ system from now on. He will pay sufficient compensation to the casualties of the war, but those who have made remarkable contributions, such as Henderson, will be remembered as men of national merit and will be paid appropriate compensation. It does not simply mean difference. This is to prove that war crimes come with appropriate compensation. We have finished all discussions with Cairo regarding this. Cairo agreed to use all 500,000 gold for war compensation, and expressed its intention to pay a portion of the remaining 500,000 gold.”
No one objected.
The country remembers the sacrifices of individuals.
In fact, even the leaders who attended the meeting knew that one day they could be included as individuals.
“We lost a lot in the war. In particular, as trade with the Kronos Empire is restricted, we are bound to experience financial hardship for the time being. But for those who follow Dmitry, we must show that the greatest loss we think of is the loss of a person. I do not mean to speak of a tabletop theory of creating a country for people. A truly powerful nation comes from the ordinary people who make up its backbone. “If Dmitry’s people truly want Dmitry’s revival, the temporary shakiness will soon be resolved and lead Dmitry in a new direction.”
It was a strong voice.
Roman Dmitry experienced a past life.
Dmitri has his own way and his own thoughts.
In the end, I knew that it would develop in an ideal direction, just as it achieved peace and prosperity in the martial arts world.
“We won the war. Dmitry, please don’t let me get lost in sadness anywhere and not be able to enjoy the joy of victory. From now on, I will focus on taking care of the people’s livelihood.”
“I follow your orders!”
“I follow your orders!”
Everyone raised their voices.
Right now at this moment.
Even Viscount Konrad, who had been expressing doubts, accepted the order with a loud voice and a boiling heart.
* * *
Chris leaves.
Chloe cried loudly.
[National Meritorious Person, Henderson]
It was a small medal.
I couldn’t help but cry at the fact that Dmitry remembered Henderson and did not ignore the sadness of the bereaved family.
After hearing that Henderson was dead.
For a moment, I felt resentment toward Roman Dmitri, but now I thought it was fortunate that it was a sacrifice for Dmitri.
The life of a commoner was harsh.
Even if a person was conscripted and died, it was rare for a noble to properly compensate him for it.
It was a meaningless sacrifice.
When war broke out in common territories, the mere fact of being conscripted made the people of that family cry as if the world was falling apart.
The odds of him returning safely were very low.
They would definitely return with their lives lost or with serious physical problems, but at that time, those who talked about the ‘duty of conscription’ were busy holding their own parties if they won the war, or raising taxes in the aftermath of the war if they lost.
“Black, dark.”
I couldn’t stop crying.
Even in return for Dmitry.
The sadness of losing Henderson has not gone away.
The sadness could not be relieved by any means, but at least the feeling of resentment did not increase the sadness.
How much did you cry?
Chloe, who had been crying for a while, saw the box that Chris had left behind.
“This is a reward given to those who have contributed to the country. Please check later.”
compensation.
It was a sad word.
But Chloe has to live with reality, because she is now a widow who lost her husband.
I reached out and opened the box.
“… … .”
Moment.
I was at a loss for words.
Inside the box.
Gold coins, which commoners would never see in their lifetime, were piled high, showing off their brilliant colors.
fantasy,
