Chapter 63
Chapter 63
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 63
Chapter Title: The Ballroom is Politics (2)
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Having been born outside a noble house, I never received proper cultural education, so even at the academy, I barely passed my liberal arts courses.
Even after becoming a professor, I wanted to avoid them as much as possible, but for an imperial noble or officer, balls were something you could never escape.
Because in this era, a ball wasn't like politicians or high officials casually playing golf back in Korea—it was on a whole different level.
I wasn't from a noble family anyway, and I'd ignored it all this time due to my lack of dancing skills and refinement.
Normally, academy graduates serving as second lieutenants had to attend balls near their units unless they were fighting on the front lines.
There, they'd meet families that could sponsor them or form close ties with, and it was common to find a marriage prospect while dancing with young ladies.
That's why even on the front lines, when things got urgent, military law exempted second lieutenants and lieutenants from duty on ball nights for marriage reasons. That says it all.
So unlike fighting in war or on the political stage, I could only give a timid response.
"I'm from commoner stock... You know that well enough."
The count, who understood that perfectly, let out a sigh and said,
"Last time, you were just a captain, so His Highness the Crown Prince and I pretended you were ill and told you to rest. But things are different now. You must attend."
"I understand."
"Still, everyone knows you're a commoner, so even the nobles aligned with the anti-Crown Prince faction won't demand you dance with Peter Jaeger or anything like that. At worst, they'll gossip behind your back. Normally, that kind of talk leads people to strip off their clothes in shame, but your achievements are so great that it won't leave a mark on you."
And rightly so—protagonists in novels or comics and noble young ladies had practiced social dancing at home for at least five to eight years.
For someone like me, who'd only studied at the academy and rolled around on the front lines, dancing gracefully like those nobles was practically impossible.
To catch up now, I'd need at least two months of intensive dance training. Fat chance.
So his words that I didn't need to learn dancing just to save face around people were a huge relief.
"But you wouldn't go in thinking like those Staff College students and wear your uniform, right? It's not against regulations for the Imperial Army, but as a noble and professor, you can't do that. Because a ball is described as a gathering for dancing and socializing, but in reality, it's a political arena."
"Of course. That's why I've put some thought into it and prepared a decent outfit, even hiring a temporary servant."
Hearing that, Count Venner waved his hand dismissively and said,
"That might be the best for a parvenu baron with no connections. But I can't let that happen. I'll tell the Venner family steward to lend you one of our butlers. Take him along. That should handle your clothes and everything else without issue. Let's talk about something more productive."
At that, the count's face, which had seemed full of annoyance just moments ago, turned deadly serious, like when he was in meetings in Bisocia.
"To be frank, the old you was just a worthless orphan officer not even worth my glance. Overcoming your status to enter the academy was impressive, but you were still just a bit better than the average staff officer riffraff."
Until I proved my worth on the Rhineland Front, that fact always stirred up inferiority whenever it was mentioned, but now it was a long-overcome issue.
Most of the guys who'd mocked me were now looking at me with envy and jealousy, so the words held no meaning anymore.
Even the faction opposing His Highness the Crown Prince would curse me as an "orphan colonel" behind my back but unconsciously treat me like the head of a noble house in their hostility.
"But now you've caught the eye of His Highness the Crown Prince and me, and even His Imperial Majesty the Emperor is watching you. Your title and fief prove it."
Instead of replying, I nodded.
"No. Actually, His Majesty holds you in favor. He seems to have looked kindly on how you killed the deputy commander in Bisocia but pulled out of the pursuit to avoid making needless political enemies, even though you could have racked up more achievements."
Considering that the lowest rank for a commoner officer receiving a title in history was usually major general at least, anyone with a brain could see it.
But hearing it straight from a superior felt entirely different.
"What if I'd chased more achievements in that pursuit?"
"He'd have given you a bigger fief but skipped the title. Instead of making you a Staff College professor, he'd have promoted you to colonel and assigned you to a division like the 14th near Leitenburg—full of deputy division commanders nearing retirement, where you'd roll for two years."
"I see."
I answered flatly, but it was a more horrific assignment than I'd imagined.
Of course, given my age and achievements, His Imperial Majesty wasn't sending me to the central army to purge me.
The 14th Division near Leitenburg was central army, so opportunities for merit were scarce.
Conditions were good near the capital, making it great for easy duty.
Because of that, it was a stopover for colonels who'd given up on general promotions despite seniority surpassing most division commanders, a final rest spot.
Sending a 21-year-old colonel there before 30, with stars on his shoulders?
They wouldn't outright beat him or impeach him since ranks mattered.
But within regulations, he'd face absurdities and hazing beyond imagination.
And this conversation was indirectly asking how I'd conduct myself at the ball.
"In short, you want me to maintain minimum dignity at this ball and block approaches from other factions on my own? Politically speaking, with His Majesty stepping down soon, the vote for the next emperor will start."
Just like in that book I'd read, 'A Holy Roman Empire That's Neither Holy Nor an Empire,' here the emperor was elected by noble vote.
Of course, candidates were limited to the emperor's sons, and the crown prince usually won barring extraordinary circumstances.
But with many politically neutral nobles, failing to win the moderates' votes could be seen as lacking 'the capacity to maintain imperial stability.'
Too many opposition votes would prove there were that many trying to check the emperor, who was the ruling party and government.
So what worried Count Venner was how many votes he secured here, determining the next emperor's authority.
'If I, seen as future Field Marshal handling the emperor's military power, side with another prince, his authority would hit rock bottom?'
That's where it'd lead, but talking too much gets you killed like Yang Xiu in Romance of the Three Kingdoms.
"You're someone His Highness somewhat forcefully brought in, so how do you think we'd feel if you got chummy with the other side? You know well enough—no one but His Highness treats a mere colonel so well, even getting a powerhouse like me, a lieutenant general on the General Staff, involved."
Anyone not a brainless idiot could agree.
Who made an orphan nobody a baron? His Highness the Crown Prince, who gave without stint.
"Of course. So if anyone approaches me, I'll cut them off appropriately."
Count Venner nodded in satisfaction at my exactly desired answer and said,
"Having a woman with you would help in many ways. Laura served as your adjutant, right? Take her along."
"As ordered. But... is it really okay for me to go with a second lieutenant?"
"It's His Highness's command. Laura has better taste than you anyway—have her pick your formal wear."
Considering everything, Laura was far better at judging clothes than I was.
"Understood. Then I'll take my leave..."
As I spoke and turned to go, the count bellowed in a voice mixed with exasperation and anger.
"Fine! Go home and rest easy!"
**
After Colonel Jaeger left, Count Venner let out a deep sigh.
Because with things turning out this way, his precious daughter, whom he'd cherished so dearly, was going to that thief...
His daughter hadn't even experienced first love, so she didn't know her own feelings, but after graduating Staff College, she'd said she wanted to follow the colonel, so strictly speaking, he wasn't a thief.
"Among men her age worth marrying Laura, excluding royalty, Jaeger is the best anyway. Silver Knight's Sword double medal, baron title, Staff College professor, and same age—perfect. Plus, Laura likes him too..."
Now that it had come to this, wasn't it a father's duty to lay the groundwork for his daughter to be with the colonel she respected and loved?
They'd spent more time as commander and adjutant than most noble engagements, so they'd do well.