Chapter 297
Chapter 297
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 297
Chapter Title: Glorious Vacation (1)
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When I heard His Imperial Majesty's words, I swallowed hard, my mind flashing to a scene where I might be demoted in rank or title as punishment.
I'd been bouncing around with excitement, figuring the odds of that were slim, but since I couldn't directly influence the Empire's political arena myself, some unforeseen variable could still lead to a severe reprimand.
I was still young enough that I could recover any lost rank or title if need be.
But people naturally balked at giving up what they'd once gained.
Seeing my expression, the Emperor gave a faint smile and nodded, and I let out a sigh of relief.
"Normally, matters concerning promotions above general in the military are handled jointly by the Minister of War and myself. But in this case, since it involves suppressing a rebellion, you're aware the Council got involved in the decision as well?"
"Yes, I am aware."
"The Council split right down the middle on factions. One side insisted you be punished harshly, while the other argued it fell under legitimate performance of duty and should be let go lightly. After quite a long debate, they settled on a fairly heavy penalty for you this time."
His expression wasn't all that grave when he called it "fairly heavy," so it had to be a level of discipline that wouldn't cause me any real harm.
"Abuse of authority—no, more precisely, excessive use of authority: suspension for three months and a fifty percent pay cut for six months. I can't even give a great reward to the man who smashed that traitor Manstein and saved the Empire from potential crisis, and instead have to pass on this kind of discipline. It pains my heart. Still, try to understand. Those opposed insisted that letting excessive use of authority slide without punishment could be abused later on. You're my subject, and so are they. I had no choice but to hear them out this time."
"Just punishment falls under Your Majesty's authority, so why lament it? Since it's come to this, I'll think of it as an extended vacation thanks to the suspension and rest easy."
The Emperor wore an apologetic look and sighed deeply with regret.
I could understand his feelings.
Because for a typical Imperial Army officer, getting hit with a three-month suspension and six-month half-pay cut mid-career was such a massive blow they'd have to kiss goodbye any hopes of promotion.
But in my case, with four stars already at age thirty, even if I stalled on promotions for twenty years, it wouldn't hinder me from reaching Field Marshal and Minister of War.
A pay cut barely registered; our house had territory income and the massive bounties I'd raked in so far, so there was hardly any impact.
No, thinking ahead to decades more of military life, taking this bold hit from the opposition and letting them have their little moral victory would actually help me stick around longer.
Framed that way, the discipline felt more like an unpaid vacation, and it didn't sour my mood at all.
I could take the whole family out for delicious meals, catch a circus show, revel in festivals to my heart's content... Ah! And a trip, too. Time to splurge without a care.
But drawing on the facial control skills honed from nearly twelve years in the military—professional salaryman no more—I replied with a serene, enlightened smile.
Why? Because grinning like a kid after getting disciplined could earn me extra charges for insolence and really screw me over.
"The favor Your Majesty has shown me thus far is already more fortune than I deserve."
The Emperor patted my shoulder.
"I'm grateful you understand. In compensation for your merits in the peace negotiations and cleaning up the Manstein faction, I'm thinking of giving you a special gift. It aligns with a request I have for you as well."
At those words, for some reason, my mind jumped to a famous anecdote about a prime minister from my hometown.
That fellow with the Huang surname who'd served relentlessly under King Sejong like a wrung-out rag until past eighty-five.
An ominous premonition hit me that I'd end up working like him.
"As you know, the Empire has a tradition where, once the Crown Prince turns ten, he tours the provinces every two years until twenty-five. Do you know why?"
"To give His Highness the Crown Prince a chance to experience firsthand the Empire he'll one day rule, and to let the nobles across the realm know he'll be the Empire's sun in the future."
"Exactly. And my eldest son, Albert, has just turned ten."
......Ah, please no. What sin did I commit in a past life to end up escorting the Emperor's son on some trip—who knows where—in this atmosphere?
Ignoring my reaction, the Emperor pressed on.
"Lately, voices in the Council have been calling for stronger central control in the North. I looked into it closely, and as long as you and Colonel Kerjitte are alive, the northerners who've suffered under Ludwig's hooves won't dream of leaving the Empire. Still, to ensure smooth governance, the Imperial Family needs to send a signal that we're paying attention to them."
Hearing that, I was genuinely speechless.
Ah, with four stars on my shoulder, now I had to escort the far more intimidating Crown Prince all the way to the North, not some company president's kid...
Of course, this kind of trip permitted "family accompaniment," so our family and His Highness would bond tightly.
My standing in the Empire would soar even higher, but no matter how I sliced it, the mental burden was immense.
Yet the Emperor apparently thought this wasn't burden enough and flashed a wicked smile.
"Since you're going on the trip anyway, wouldn't it be good to show the Crown Prince's face to the northern tribal chiefs? Stay up there a month and have them pay their respects. Just in case anything happens to His Highness, you'll guard him personally from behind."
"Understood, Your Majesty."
"Seeing you, who holds absolute sway in the North, serving the Crown Prince will erase any lingering rebellion in their hearts for good."
With that, as if the real talk was wrapping up, the Emperor spoke lightly.
"The official decree comes out tomorrow afternoon. So tomorrow morning, go to the Crown Prince's chambers and tell him personally that you'll be leading the trip four months from now. The boy's heard plenty of your heroic tales from his tutors, so he seems quite interested in you."
......Being this favored by the Emperor now and the future Emperor was truly a joy.
The problem was it was so joyful and burdensome my back felt like it might give out.
"This will elevate the Jaeger Marquis house even further and skyrocket your political standing. I'd say it's reward enough. It's late—head back now."
I gave a final bow before leaving.
"Then I take my leave, Your Majesty."
So shocked by the daunting reality of escorting the Crown Prince on a long journey, I staggered out like a drunk—even though I hadn't touched a drop.
Not long after Peter Jaeger left, a woman in her mid-thirties entered.
The moment the Emperor saw her face, the woman guarding him swiftly withdrew from the room.
Because the one who'd just entered was Empress Eleonore von Medici.
"What brings you here so late, Empress?"
Her tone was cold, as if addressing a stranger rather than the woman she'd shared the most years with.
But this wasn't anything special.
Among the Empire's Emperor, royals, and nobles, the Jaeger household's warm marriage stood out as the rare exception.
Most lived in icy, businesslike unions forged by political marriages.
"I wanted to discuss Albert's trip, even at this late hour. Does Your Majesty truly intend to send that child all the way to the distant North? Even with the Imperial Guard Knights escorting him, it's too harsh and dangerous."
"......I'm well aware, but the trip is in early April, so it won't be that cold. Besides, his protection falls to the Imperial Guard Knights and General Peter Jaeger. Nothing will happen. Moreover, as Crown Prince, Albert must fulfill his duties."
"General Peter Jaeger is only just thirty, and piling the Crown Prince's trust on him—what are you thinking for the Empire..."
Michael let out an exasperated sigh.
"Even as Empress, a woman meddling in the Empire's politics is unbecoming. No—with your position, it might stir up even more talk."
The Emperor paused, then stated firmly.
"If you're going to make claims, bring proper evidence. Spare me the nonsense that General Peter Jaeger will harm the Empire. Don't you get it? The Empire is either soaring toward hegemony or plummeting to ruin—those are our only paths. And for the Empire to survive, I need Jaeger."
"But granting one subject so much..."
"If Jaeger had just stubbornly pursued his own ideas, even the opposition might have pushed for discipline. No—they'd have been counterattacked. After seeing his actions, why do you still doubt him?"
The Empress stomped the carpet in frustration and stormed out, and the Emperor gazed at the armor Peter Jaeger had worn at the Rischen Hills, displayed prominently in his chambers.
The armor bore countless sword slashes, arrow marks, mace dents, and bloodstains that no amount of washing could erase.
"......How could I doubt General Jaeger, who thought of me first even when staking his life—no, in situations far worse? All I can do is provide the stage for him to shine as much as he wants. In that process, the Empire will advance on its own."