Chapter 34
Chapter 34
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 34
Chapter Title: Peter Jaeger Takes Flight (4)
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Count Venner gave a faint smile and spoke in a gentle voice upon receiving his daughter's request.
"Ever since you entered the academy, even when I offered to help, you've always said, 'I can handle it myself,' and managed everything on your own. I never imagined you'd come to me directly asking for a favor before graduating."
"I thought the same. But this time, what I want is something I can't obtain through effort alone, so I've come to ask you."
Laura had come here worried whether her father would grant her request.
In truth, Count Venner was inclined to fulfill any request from his daughter, so long as it wasn't something that could cause serious trouble.
His daughter, Laura von Venner, had never given him a single moment of grief since birth. Instead, she had always exceeded his expectations.
As a father, he wanted to praise her achievements lavishly, but in this patriarchal era, maintaining his role as the stern patriarch meant he had never properly expressed his pride.
So this time, he planned to grant her request, tell her how proud he was, and make up for all the praise he'd withheld.
With a satisfied smile, Count Venner said to his daughter,
"Tell me what it is. If it's within my power, I'll make it happen."
Hearing her father's positive response, Laura's usually cool and composed expression brightened, her lips curving into a slight smile. Was it anticipation that everything would work out?
"Thank you, Father."
"No need. You've outshone the sons of other noble houses since entering the Imperial Academy, always claiming top honors. This is your first request. If I could, I'd pluck the stars from the sky for you. So enough stalling—out with it."
Emboldened by his words, Laura spoke.
"After graduating from the academy, I want to serve under Captain Peter Jaeger—no, Major Jaeger. Please help me, Father."
"That fellow who received the Silver Knight's Sword Cross Medal?"
"Yes. I believe starting my military career under him is the best path to success as a future commander. You've always said it yourself: no matter how talented an officer is, they need ten years of real combat experience after the academy. They must serve under an exemplary superior."
Count Venner nodded at her words.
He had heard the same advice from his own father incessantly while at the academy: if you want to rise, your first posting must be under a good superior.
Thanks to his father's recommendation, he had served under Brigadier General Howard, learned much, and through steady effort leveraging that experience, risen to lieutenant general at his current age.
Thus, he wanted to respect his daughter's wishes as much as possible, but one concern lingered.
"Certainly, Captain Jaeger—or soon-to-be Major Jaeger, which isn't wrong. He has the makings of a hero. Looking back at the empire's history, no one in the last century has earned the Silver Knight's Sword at his age and risen to major. However... even though you're a woman and can't inherit the countship, joining as a member of the Venner family under him would be..."
"I know. But Major Jaeger will rise faster than anyone, and his fame and value will only grow. Right now, he's the youngest recipient of the Silver Knight's Sword Cross Medal and a twenty-year-old major, but later he'll be a lieutenant colonel at twenty-three, a colonel at twenty-five. He could even become a general before thirty."
"...That's why His Highness the Crown Prince tasked me with watching him and providing support when needed. But that's not enough to convince me. Be specific."
Hearing that, Laura von Venner recalled the conversation she'd had with Peter Jaeger the day before.
Even though her Venner family shared the same goals as the crown prince and supported him, Peter Jaeger had freely shared the principles of his new formation tactics, how to employ them, and their utility.
From that, she glimpsed his genius and audacity.
Most commanders would keep new tactics secret until they could shine with them themselves.
But Jaeger had revealed everything to her because he believed even if Laura von Venner knew, she couldn't employ them as effectively as he could.
At the same time, she anticipated that serving under such a confident commander would allow her to overcome the limitations of being a woman, rise to general like her respected father, and lead tens of thousands to expand the empire's borders.
"I've heard that officers, NCOs, and soldiers who fought alongside Major Jaeger on the Rhineland Front all reaped significant benefits. His direct company commander broke the officer candidate ceiling to become a major. The platoon leaders under him are confirmed for captain next year. Even the NCOs—sergeants and above—were told they'd pass the officer candidate course just by submitting papers."
Count Venner nodded without objection.
After the crown prince recruited Jaeger, they had investigated all records, confirming the feats of those who served with him were true.
That Laura had such details meant she'd been interested in him for some time...
He felt a quiet pride that his daughter, like him, had an eye for talent.
"Even as a mere student platoon leader, he achieved such feats. Imagine what he'll accomplish commanding a full battalion formally. It's impossible to predict. If I, Laura von Venner, have a record of contributing alongside him, it'll greatly aid my career. And I'll learn the fundamentals of command that you always emphasized so well."
Count Venner sighed.
Her logic was flawless, even to him.
Especially considering the imperial military manual's line: "In war, a battalion commander is granted independent operational authority and can dominate the battlefield through its autonomy."
As a platoon leader, he'd maneuvered a battalion to behead an enemy battalion commander. As a company commander, he'd used a hundred men to slaughter an enemy colonel, two lieutenant colonels, and hundreds more. A genius like that.
Commanding a battalion, his exploits would be immense.
That's why the crown prince and he had pushed his rapid promotion—reward for excellence, but deploying Jaeger's battalion to the most dangerous fronts first.
Thinking of that...
As a father, he honestly didn't want to agree.
But no parent refuses a child. With a sigh, he said,
"Very well. But on one condition."
Laura's face lit up like a full moon. Seeing it, Count Venner felt a pang of resignation inside, but
he pressed on steadily to preserve his paternal dignity.
"As operations director at the General Staff, getting the personnel chief to reserve a spot under Major Jaeger is simple. But he's too prominent for arbitrary assignment. Hold the top spot overall until graduation next year."
"Understood."
"When Jaeger promotes to major, we'll publicly recruit academy graduates as his 'battalion adjutant.' Apply then. He's no fool—he'd accept you even if your grades scraped bottom. But to avoid gossip, show top honors, no?"
Other graduates or cadets might riot at dismissing the guaranteed general-track honor of top graduate so lightly, but
Laura von Venner hadn't relinquished first place since her first year.
To her, this condition was reasonable.
"Understood, Father."
Seizing the moment, Count Venner rose and stroked her hair as he had in her childhood, finally giving the praise he'd withheld.
"I've rejected all personnel requests, even from nobles pushing their kids, unless unavoidable. But this once, for you—who brought our house glory as top cadet without a single scandal despite being a woman—I'll break my iron rule. Don't make me regret it. Excel wherever you go, as always."
Laura teared up at her father's pride and faith.
That night, father and daughter opened their hearts, sharing stories they'd never discussed.
Laura asked about the major she'd chosen to follow; Count Venner answered honestly from his records and impressions.
The next morning, Count Venner wrote to Major (effective) Jaeger.
[After your mock battle victory, my daughter said she had questions for you directly, so I told her to bring food and ask. Whatever you said, she's now asking to be your adjutant. When she officially joins your command, treat her well.]
He briefly considered adding, "Take good care of my daughter, you bastard," but
Laura's eyes had sparkled discussing Jaeger from admiration of his ability, not romantic interest. He knew that.
So he held back.
Like any father of a daughter, though, he couldn't shake the uneasy discomfort: surely that guy wouldn't take my girl too.