Chapter 321
EP.321
Among the officers under my command, there is one who was promoted to major before he was 30 years old, even though he did not have many majors that were important for promotion.
When I first found out about this, I was curious to see if there was any corruption, so I reviewed this guy’s background and major history about three times, but I couldn’t figure out the reason on the documents, but after working with him for a month, I realized that he was just a very talented guy who had excellent management skills and became successful. I came to a conclusion.
Anyway, one day I had to receive a one-on-one business report from him, so I asked him about his secret to success to satisfy my curiosity, and I received this answer.
‘I am not an officer with as much resourcefulness and military power as you, and my status is nothing more than the son of a country knight. In order for me to get ahead, if a high-ranking person invited me to a party with women, I would participate with a grateful heart, and when they asked me to drink, I would win everyone’s favor by attending unconditionally and staying until the end, except for really important matters. ‘
To put it in a good way, he was a competent subordinate who was loved by all the high-ranking people, but in a bad way, he was an expert in flattery who did not cross the line.
Recognizing the skills of a person who was recognized for his abilities and rose to prominence in a different way than I was, I decided to spend one night to learn the skills, and the conclusion of the learning I received as a result was…
“The way to win the favor of a higher person is to gain the favor of that person.” I said it was about flattering people at their eye level. “I haven’t rubbed my palms with anyone since I joined the imperial army, so I thought I wouldn’t have any use for it, but I never thought I would use it to move the heart of His Royal Highness, Duke Philorence.”
Muttering that, I took the consolation letter and consolation prize I had received from Her Majesty the Empress and walked to the room where Her Royal Highness Duke Philorence was waiting.
At the same time, I was wondering how to gain favor by selling out the duke’s older sister, Her Majesty the Empress of the Empire.
When we entered the room, there was a young duke and a female knight inside.
“General Peter Jäger, commander of the Reich-Ferrocian United Forces, meets with His Royal Highness the Duke. Thank you for allowing me to have a private audience with you.”
“There is no need to be too grateful, as I only gave permission because I could not treat the person who brought my sister’s letter and consolation prizes poorly.”
“Thank you for your kind words. “Here is a letter written by Her Majesty the Empress of the Empire herself.”
When I delivered the letter, the duke got up from his chair and went down to get the letter. Unlike when I had an audience with him in the morning, all his movements were natural and confident.
It wasn’t the level of change in a novel where the weak main character awakens overnight and becomes the best expert in the world, but anyone close to him can clearly see that the person has clearly changed.
I was momentarily surprised when I saw that, but as the saying goes, there is no effect without a cause in this world, I knew that the person who inspired the duke with courage was the young female knight next to him.
The duke, who is only 11 years old, is still wary of me, a 35-year-old unfamiliar adult, and sometimes shows signs of anxiety.
After briefly exchanging glances with the young female knight standing behind the Duke, his expression became dignified again.
If the Duchy of Philorence had been run in a common sense and desirable manner, the duke should have gained comfort and courage by seeing his uncle, who served as regent, in the throne room…
Now, that person is a female knight who looks to be only about 15 years old, and her behavior is similar to Charlotte’s. Looking at her body language, she was holding on by gaining comfort and courage from a girl who was probably a ‘former maid’.
According to his original plan, he was going to gain favor by taking advantage of his relationship with the Empress, who was the older half-sister of Duke Philorence, but seeing the scene before him, he felt the need to slightly revise his plan.
As I was lost in thought for a moment, the Duke spoke with a hint of disappointment in his voice.
“Before my father passed away, he told me that in case of danger, I should rely on my uncle and regent, Count Antonio, and Sister Fabiola, Empress of the Reich Empire. The letter you sent me contains nothing but official greetings. “Didn’t Captain Jaeger leave another message?”
No matter how blood-related a family is, if they are separated for more than 10 years, the relationship becomes like strangers.
In fact, there is an old saying that neighbors who live nearby are like cousins, so is there even a saying that they are cousins?
Moreover, Her Majesty the Empress married into the Reich Empire a few years before the Duke before me was born, so we have never met face to face, so there is no way she would consider such a young Duke as family.
Still, the justification for being able to hold a private residence like I do now is because I sold that person’s older sister, the Empress, so I have to make up the story appropriately.
Since it was something the emperor allowed, if the results are good, even if you are caught later, you will be acquitted after only a ‘formal interrogation’.
“Her Majesty the Empress only spoke of official matters in her letters, but in reality, she called me aside and asked me to tell Her Majesty a few things before she went to war.”
It’s a lie at a shallow level that the duke could have recognized even when he was around 17 years old, but the other person is an 11-year-old orphan who lost his parents at an early age.
For a lonely child, even though he was someone whose face he would rarely see once in his life, it would be difficult to tell the truth because he would be hungry for family affection.
Even if someone claims to the duke that the Empress of the Reich Empire could not have said such a thing, he can kill the man who is telling the truth under his status as the leader of the Reich Empire, calling him a liar.
The young duke’s eyes lit up.
“Go ahead and say it.”
Because he was educated as the heir of the dukedom from a young age, he speaks quite politely, but is very excited.
“The Empress summoned me and ordered me to protect my father’s country, the Duchy of Philollens, even if the imperial army was in danger of being annihilated. He also said that if His Highness the Duke seems anxious, he should personally visit him and deliver a letter of comfort.”
“When my father, Duke Philolence, passed away, I met for the first time my sister who came all the way to attend the funeral. I was surprised that she was more beautiful than I thought, but then she saw me and hugged me, telling me not to be upset. “I still can’t forget that warmth, but hearing your words makes me feel like that warmth is coming back to me.”
Our Empress is a typical empress commonly seen on the Europa continent.
To put it in a good way, he is carrying out his role competently and flawlessly. In a bad way, he is a person who can act as if he hates his younger brother, whom he has only seen once in his life, in order to maintain his power.
I don’t think your Majesty, including myself, would agree with the statement that he is warm.
Immediately, I was astonished by the way she handled herself without crossing the line when I saw the Empress take a Viscounty for Her Highness the Third Prince under an incredible justification while purging Count Manstein’s group five years ago.
I kept a good expression on my face and continued talking, with the thought of stabbing someone on the battlefield.
“When preparing consolation gifts for Her Majesty, the Empress not only sent gifts such as swords, armor, and precious furniture, but also various other items.”
After saying that, I handed the box containing the consolation prize to the girl who was acting as a guard knight.
She opened the object carefully and opened her mouth.
“Aren’t snacks and candy like storybook chessboards? “Why on earth does Her Majesty do this?”
He was just one of the duke’s guards, but if he presumptuously intervened in the conversation and revealed his feelings, the young duke would have to yell at him right away.
As I expected, there seemed to be a great relationship of trust between the two, and the young duke did not point out that the knight was showing his emotions.
If you were to evaluate your ability as a ruler, this would be something that would be evaluated as less than a failing grade out of 100, but it is more beneficial to me, who has to approach the Empress and gain the duke’s sympathy through this girl, so let’s just smile and move on. .
Because what is good for the empire is good.
“Your Highness is still young and cannot directly participate in the war, so shouldn’t you sit inside the castle and wait for news of our victory? Then, Her Majesty the Empress thought that there would be times when she was anxious about how the war would unfold, so she sent this message. “When you’re having a hard time, eating snacks and candies will make you feel a little better, and when you can’t sleep because of worries, someone you can trust…”
I gave the girl behind me a quick glance.
“I think I sent it to you because I thought you would be able to sleep a little more comfortably if you heard someone you trust reading a storybook at your bedside.”
In fact, these are things I purchased with my own money, with Her Majesty’s permission, stamped the royal family’s seal on them, quickly packaged them, and disguised them as ‘consolation items for the Empress.’
However, the 11-year-old, who received such a heartfelt gift for the first time since his father died three years ago, soon had tears in his eyes.
“Is it really your sister who sent it?”
Nodding my head quietly, I agreed to the question.
The little duke must have been so touched by the empress’s warm consideration that he couldn’t speak and sobbed for several minutes in front of me.
As soon as I saw that, I asked permission to go to the bathroom and left for a moment.
As I was leaving the room, I looked through the crack in the door and saw the girl knight wiping away the duke’s tears and comforting him.
Then, after going to the bathroom and coming back, he drank a glass of water and slowly came back. The duke spoke with a more relaxed attitude than when he first saw him.
“I certainly received the consideration of Her Majesty the Empress of the Reich Empire. As Duke Philorence, I will never forget this favor.”
“I’m so sorry.”
“Captain Jaeger, someday, an appropriate reward will be bestowed on you separately from the one given by His Majesty the Emperor of the Empire. “You can step away now.”
According to the original plan, I was going to withdraw after gaining this much favor.
Now, in order for me to gain maximum benefit from this expedition to Philolence, I must establish as close a relationship as possible with the duke.
Now the time has come to flatter the duke according to his situation, referring to the words of a subordinate from whom I learned how to conduct himself before.
So instead of backing down, I cautiously asked.
“Just a moment before that. “May I inform Her Majesty about the guard knight behind Her Majesty?”
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