Chapter 201
Chapter 201
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Vine
Chapter: 201
Chapter Title: Peter Jaeger's Women (2)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
“As you well know, Madam, I am an Imperial Princess. Because of that, I've been intensively trained in how to live elegantly and gracefully like a proper princess. That's why I know how to dance beautifully at balls, and I've studied literature, art, languages, and music quite deeply. Someday, if the man I love wants to hear it, I could play an instrument for him or sing with a lovely voice.”
Just as Louise had said, all the education that the noble ladies of the Empire received was geared toward becoming good wives and proper ladies.
That was why the young ladies put up for arranged marriages in the marriage market were invariably beautiful and elegant.
Louise in particular had been born a beauty, and from a young age, she'd dreamed of marrying a dashing prince on a white horse.
With the goal of becoming a princess worthy of such a man, she'd honed herself with grueling determination, earning her the reputation in high society as the epitome of refined, intellectual beauty—universally acknowledged.
This was in stark contrast to Laura, who had entered the military academy like her father with dreams of becoming a commander, contenting herself with only the minimum cultural refinement expected of a noble lady.
“That's true enough, but to be honest, Lieutenant General Jaeger may be an Imperial Count and a lieutenant general, but he's so utterly devoted to war that he lacks the refinements of a nobleman, don't you think?”
“That's just who he is. Even at social gatherings, he often dances poorly, and he can't keep up with conversations about the latest literature, performances, or art that the other nobles discuss.”
“So no matter how well I sing or how much refinement I have as a noblewoman, it probably won't appeal to him much.”
Laura couldn't hide her shock upon hearing this.
Because what Louise was saying meant that, in order to become family with Lieutenant General Jaeger, she was setting aside the refinement and dignity she'd cultivated as a princess and respecting Laura von Venner as a person.
For someone who had lived her life with immense pride and self-assurance in her status and way of living to set aside what she valued most was truly astonishing.
“So I've made my own efforts in my own way. I've put aside the knightly tales I used to love reading in my spare time and picked up books on military science that Lieutenant General Jaeger knows well and enjoys. I even called in Baron Zeppelin to learn the military knowledge taught at the academy. That way, I could chime in when Lieutenant General Jaeger, who visits me often, shares his stories.”
With that, the princess casually placed an academy first-year textbook on the desk, clearly well-worn from her own hands.
“This is the military science primer I used when studying with Baron Zeppelin. At first, I couldn't even bear to open it because I had no idea what any of it meant, but after studying steadily, I started to understand a bit of what the general talks about. It made me so happy.”
Laura, Charlotte, and Anastasia opened the textbook the princess had brought out.
Sure enough, it was filled with traces of Louise von Reich's efforts to draw even a little closer to the Lieutenant General Jaeger she admired.
Important sections were underlined, and the margins were densely packed with annotations.
Anyone seeing it would instantly recognize that the princess's feelings for Lieutenant General Jaeger were utterly sincere.
“So when I asked about training the 7th Guard Division based on what I'd learned, he'd explain it all to me one by one with a serious expression, calmly and patiently. It was truly impressive. It was nothing like the other young noblemen who'd been desperate to form even a small connection with me, flattering me by pandering to topics they thought I'd like. I was so happy—I even started enjoying Baron Zeppelin's military science lectures, which I used to find incomprehensible.”
Laura, Charlotte, and Anastasia were left speechless by the depth of love and effort in Louise's sincere confession.
“But the more I learned, the more I understood how remarkable the general is, though it left me with regrets. When he's at home instead of on the battlefield, I can cheer him on enthusiastically and support him in every way possible. But I can't be by his side to help in the moments he needs it most, like you, Madam Laura. I was so envious of that.”
In the Battle of Ostrica, Laura had made no small contribution and been able to provide direct assistance.
Over the past ten years or so, they'd fought together on dangerous battlefields, filling in each other's shortcomings.
In that regard, Laura and Peter Jaeger shared a far broader mutual understanding than most noble couples, staying close both emotionally and physically.
Yet even Laura could empathize with the princess calling her enviable.
It was because she'd experienced the situation at Lichten Hill, where Lieutenant General Jaeger had been on the brink of death, and she hadn't been able to help because she was pregnant with Friedrich.
Louise took Laura's hand, who was looking at her with a stunned expression, and said,
“That's why I have no intention of competing with you, Madam. Our strengths complement each other in different ways—we're both people the general needs.”
Laura looked at the princess and thought,
‘Lieutenant General Jaeger is such an exceptional man that he has many enemies, and the weight of his duties and responsibilities is on a level I can't match. He still has nightmares from Lichten Hill sometimes. Can I confidently say that sharing his burdens alone is enough?’
When she thought about it a little deeply and a little coldly, the answer was no.
That was why she'd been quietly considering assigning Anastasia and Charlotte to Lieutenant General Jaeger for quite some time now.
Louise then took Charlotte and Anastasia's hands and continued,
“I've heard so much from the general about the Battle of Lichten Hill. He said Colonel Anastasia saved his life by putting him on a horse and retreating together. And if Charlotte hadn't cared for him, he would've collapsed from exhaustion and died in the fight.”
For Louise, speaking in such a humble, pleading tone—setting aside her pride and status as a princess—was uncomfortable.
Because up until now, she had never been in a position to make lowly requests; she was always the one making high-handed demands.
But there was one reason she didn't hesitate.
‘Sometimes, setting aside one's authority and position as a royal is the way to true authority.’
True to those words, she'd already resolved to secure her own firm place in the count's family led by Peter Jaeger as its head—without inciting jealousy from the others—before coming here.
Her efforts bore fruit. Laura eventually nodded as if she had no choice, sending a silent signal of genuine acceptance into the family.
“Madam Laura, from now on, just call me Louise—no need for titles like ‘Highness.’ Treat me like a little sister. We're practically family now, after all.”
Laura was greatly flustered by the words but replied cautiously,
“Understood, Lady Louise.”
“Yes, take care of me. Big sister Laura.”
And so Louise succeeded in uniting Charlotte, Anastasia, and Laura by fully leveraging her status as princess, her dignity, and her social savvy.
At the same time, Peter Jaeger was being worked to the bone by the crown prince, who was just a touch indignant that he'd dared to take the crown prince's one beloved little sister from the imperial family—the only one he truly trusted and cherished.
“Lieutenant General Jaeger, you know how much I value you, right? Ah, of course, everyone knows how much I value the 7th Guard Division too.”
“Yes, Your Highness. I am well aware.”
“So, as their representative, have a drink for them. It's wine worth several gold coins per bottle, but for you and the 7th Division's officers, what's a few bottles? I trust you won't refuse my sincerity.”
“Your Highness, I have official documents to handle tomorrow...”
“Your father-in-law will take care of those just fine.”
And so that day, Lieutenant General Jaeger and the male officers of the 7th Guard Division each downed at least two bottles of wine plus a liter of beer—an enormous quantity of alcohol.
In Korea, a crown prince doing this would be assault, but in the Reich Empire, dominated by macho alpha-male ideals, it was an immense reward, leaving everyone thoroughly satisfied.
Everyone except the one who'd suffered the most, that is.
The next afternoon, at the Peter Jaeger estate.
“His Highness the Crown Prince said he doesn't get along with the other princesses because of political entanglements, so he's the only one he truly cherishes—Princess Louise, or just Louise now. But making me drink like that... Can I even make it to work tomorrow?”
As he muttered to himself, a sweet, savory aroma wafted in through the crack in the door, mingled with the rich, oily umami of grilling sausages.
It seemed Laura and Charlotte were making hangover remedies for him.
“Master, it's time to get up. Sleeping all day because of the hangover isn't good for you.”
“Sorry, I have no strength in my body. Could you help me up, just a little?”
“Yes, one moment.”
Charlotte, drawing on her experience from Lichten supporting wounded soldiers to field beds, effortlessly helped me up despite being smaller and lighter.
In the process, my right hand and chest brushed against Charlotte's breasts, making me panic for a moment as I glanced at her face...
Even if it was just helping me up, it clearly bothered her too.
Her face was flushed red.
I wanted to walk on my own if possible, but right now, I just didn't have the strength.
And so, with support from Charlotte, who had just turned twenty, I carefully made my way to the table and sat down.
On the table were the usual hangover cures: bratwurst stir-fried in garlic oil, potatoes, and bread made from rye and barley.
Deeper in the kitchen, Laura, Louise, and Anya were bustling about.
“Lady Louise, could you grab the forks and knives?”
“Big sister Laura, it's best to sprinkle lots of sugar and cinnamon on the churros.”
“Anya, instead of beer right now, bring some milk or fruit juice.”
No idea what happened yesterday, but Laura and Anya used to have sparks flying between them in a subtle rivalry.
Louise, being a princess, must have been awkward for Laura and Anya to deal with, yet here they were, calling each other affectionately like family despite the lingering awkwardness—what on earth had gone down?
Did someone cast a spell?
Before long, Louise came over to my side, setting down the knife and fork, and said,
“To become a wife you love, I figured I shouldn't lord my princess status over Big Sister Laura, Anya, and Charlotte and make things uncomfortable. Instead, I should get along with them as much as possible. So I set aside my pride first and persuaded us all to get along as four.”
...Hearing that, I was grateful but also a bit dumbfounded.
Seeing my reaction, Louise leaned in close to my ear and whispered softly,
“If I'd thrown my princess weight around and clashed with Big Sister Laura, Anya, or Charlotte, you definitely would've distanced yourself from me. I humbled myself a lot because I want your love. So in return, you have to love me as much as possible, my prince.”
Setting aside her pride for my sake, resolving everything from small household matters to larger political entanglements.
No wonder His Highness the Crown Prince and His Imperial Majesty the Emperor cherish her so much.
Yeah, I'm really a thief of the world.