Chapter 137
Chapter 137
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 137
Chapter Title: Peter Jaeger's Day Off (3)
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I had a solid excuse that I'd been helping Charlotte, but deep down, I was still worried.
The reason was simple. I'd promised Laura we'd have dinner together at seven, but by the time I got home, it was almost eight.
"Charlotte, as a fellow woman, any advice on how I should handle this?"
She pondered for a moment, her expression thoughtful, then replied in a bright voice.
"I think you should just be honest with Major Laura. She often helps out her subordinates when they're in a bind, so I'm sure she'll understand, my lord."
Laura did sometimes go out of her way to assist officers from the Venner Marquisate who had loyally served generation after generation.
So if I explained that I'd been helping Charlotte—who assisted me with administrative duties and attended to my needs right by my side...
Well, aiding someone who was practically my retainer was only natural for a noble. There had to be some leeway there.
Laura would probably let it slide with just a few grumbles.
"And I'll speak up the moment we go in. I'll say it was thanks to you helping me that I avoided disaster."
As we talked, we arrived at the dining room door before we knew it.
When I opened it and stepped inside, Laura fixed me with a look full of displeasure, her voice as cold as ice.
"Major General Jaeger, you didn't have much on your schedule today. Why are you so late?"
"Ah, well..."
"You didn't forget our promise to spend time together starting at seven for dinner, did you?"
As I fumbled for words, Charlotte stepped in with a beaming smile.
"Truth is, he's been visiting the wounded from his wartime exploits since this morning, helping them one by one. He had a bit of time left after, so he even came to my place. Right then, some loan sharks showed up demanding the money we borrowed, and my lord drew his sword and chased them all off himself."
Laura's anger toward me eased, but now she eyed Charlotte suspiciously.
Undeterred, Charlotte gazed at me with eyes full of admiration, like I was some hero.
"He found out about our family's troubles and offered to help by letting us move into his old house. He even promised to support my little brother's academy enrollment. So that's why he was a little late."
"I see. Well, I don't know how long she'll be able to serve as your exclusive maid, but she should do her best to repay the favor."
"Yes, if you'll allow it, I plan to spend my life by your side making it up to you."
For a split second, sparks seemed to fly between them. Nah, had to be my imagination.
Just as I was about to order the food served, the butler's voice came from outside the door.
"My lord, Major Kerzhit is here with a gift. Shall I tell her to wait until after dinner?"
I could have said to make her wait since I was dining with Laura, but Anya was one of my key subordinates I'd be working with long-term.
They'd prepared plenty of food anyway, so one extra guest wouldn't be an issue.
Besides, it felt wrong to leave someone who'd brought a gift standing around.
"Laura, mind if I invite Anya to join us?"
"She brought a gift, so no choice. But in exchange, you'll have to keep me company late tonight."
"Got it."
...Lately, His Imperial Majesty the Emperor, His Highness the Crown Prince, and even Marquis Venner had been pressuring us to produce an heir soon. Laura and I had been holding intense "physical training sessions" every night, and it was wearing me out.
Seeing the fire in her eyes, I had a feeling I wouldn't be getting much sleep.
By the time the food was all laid out, the door opened, and in walked Anya, newly promoted to major. She carried two leather coats and a bottle of wine in her hands.
"Major General Jaeger, Major Laura, sorry for showing up unannounced. But the cavalry unit insisted I deliver this to you two quickly, for all you've done for us."
"No need to apologize—glad you came. What's with the coats? Both black, but one has a white band and two red stripes on the right shoulder."
"Ah, the one with the stripes is for you, sir. In our tribe, the strongest warrior and chieftain wears leather garb decorated like that. You're not our chieftain, but you helped us northerners secure a home."
Sure enough, when I'd petitioned for rewards because the land granted to northerners in the military was too cramped for proper farming...
Thanks to that, their warriors' tribes and families got extra territory suitable for raising livestock and crops.
With that, Anya came around behind me and draped the chieftain's coat over my shoulders like it was meant to be.
"It suits you perfectly. This coat is reserved for our tribe's finest warrior, but you look so dashing in it—like you'll rise to the top of the Imperial Army someday, maybe even field marshal."
Come to think of it, Field Marshal Adelaide was set to retire next year or the year after. Marquis Venner would probably take the baton then.
He's not exactly young, so after three years or so, he'd step down.
Wonder who the next field marshal would be.
Even with my fast promotions, I'd need to claim two or three more commander-in-chief heads for a special jump.
At least ten years, maybe never marshal.
"I'll wear it often. Feels comfortable."
Anya beamed at me.
"The coat was made by other tribesmen, but that armband-like pattern on the right? I stitched it myself in my spare time after work. Hoping to serve under you for a long time."
I'd love to keep Major Anya and her cavalry under my command too.
Last time at the Cresy battle, our brigade lacked independent action authority, so I couldn't use the cavalry effectively.
But at division level, even in massive melees of tens of thousands, I could position them independently if I wanted.
Place them right, and they could shred knights and infantry like mad.
"Major Kerzhit will be promoting soon too—regiment command, right? Won't be easy serving in the same place as the major general then."
"Major Laura, by then our major general will be a lieutenant general commanding tens of thousands. And I believe Peter Jaeger Major General is the one who'll make the best use of our cavalry and me, Anastasia Kerzhit."
"Nonsense. A major like you could shine under any command."
Laura puffed her cheeks a bit, wrapped around my right arm, and pressed her chest against me.
Anya glanced at that, then eyed my left arm.
Meanwhile, Charlotte—who knows what she was thinking—brought over the teapot and poured for Laura and Anya.
She filled mine next, then made an "oh" face.
"One moment, my lord. Something fell—let me pick it up."
With that, Charlotte stood to my left, bent over to grab something from the floor on my right.
Her position was such that her chest briefly blocked my view.
She picked it up casually, like it was nothing, brushed her long hair aside with her right hand, and straightened up.
"My lord, it was a silver coin that fell from your wallet."
"Thanks."
"No trouble at all. Helping you whenever you need is my role."
Laura and Anya shot terrifying glares at the smiling Charlotte, eyes full of intensity.
Soon the meal arrived, and Anya, Laura, and I set aside the awkward vibe to chat enjoyably about all sorts of things.
Daily army life, close calls in the Hatin Forest and Cresy Plain battles, gossip about new unit commanders.
Anya promised to drop by my place now and then to ask about anything she didn't know, then left.
Laura turned to me with a brilliantly bright but deeply ominous smile and sat on my lap.
She pressed her body against my torso, kissed my cheek, and said,
"It's His Majesty's decree, so I won't let you sleep tonight. And I'm starting to want your child, Major General."
With that, I spent a night so intense I forgot everything until the next morning.
As an aside, the aftermath left my back so wrecked I couldn't even go outside the next day.