Chapter 68
Chapter 68
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 68
Chapter Title: The Answer is Already Decided (2)
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"The Empire's Fifth Prince, Jonas von Reich. A pleasure to finally meet you, Lieutenant Colonel."
"It is an honor to meet Your Highness the Prince."
"I was delayed by some urgent business that came up suddenly. I hope the meal I prepared as an apology was to your liking?"
Even though our Empire is a militaristic nation that's lenient about men's indulgences, openly offering a woman to an unmarried 21-year-old is hardly something to bring up casually.
That's because the Deus Faith, the Empire's religion, demands chastity from all men and women before marriage.
However, this rule is rarely followed among the nobility, especially in the male-dominated military.
It's much like high schoolers in Korea sneaking drinks behind their teachers' backs on school trips. By the time they graduate from the Academy and get commissioned as lieutenants, about 95% have already had their first experiences.
Coming from commoner stock, I've been too busy and focused clawing my way here to lose mine, but all unmarried officers have to at least pretend to be pure on the surface. So that's that.
"Yes, the meal you prepared was exquisite. It wouldn't be out of place at an imperial banquet."
Jonas seemed to have hoped I'd enjoyed some intimate time with Marie, judging by the faint disappointment on his face.
As if I'd be crazy enough to touch that woman and let a beautiful spy infiltrate my home. Not a chance.
"Our estate's chef is a fellow who worked at the palace for about fifteen years before going independent."
"That explains it. It was truly delicious."
"Come back sometime, and I'll treat you to something even better."
I bowed my head as if deeply honored, but I'd never set foot in this bastard's mansion again.
The Fifth Prince and I spent about ten minutes chatting about the food, the political situation, and military matters.
Once the mood had warmed up, the Fifth Prince looked at me and asked,
"That aside, did you have any guess why I summoned you today?"
"I'm afraid not. But... if it pleases Your Highness, shall I regale you with a few tales of my exploits from Checobia or the Rhineland Front?"
In truth, anyone could see that he'd called me here to recruit Peter Jaeger, bolstering his power and position in the Empire as a first step toward the throne.
Playing coy like I knew would only make things smoother for him—he'd be thrilled to dive right into the pitch.
Besides, coming here was meant to eliminate any suspicion from the Crown Prince while proving that Peter Jaeger was valuable enough to be coveted even by the Fifth Prince.
And if I could subtly draw out the terms he offered, it would give me leverage to negotiate better ones from the Crown Prince.
Of course, what His Highness the Crown Prince had already bestowed was more than generous—overflowing, even...
But with a chance at 200 million in annual salary on the table, why settle for 100 million? No way I'd turn that down like some fool.
"Tales of valor are fine, but I'm a busy man myself. Let me get straight to the point. Even now, wouldn't you consider abandoning the Crown Prince and joining my side?"
I put on a look of utter surprise, staring blankly at the Fifth Prince as if I'd never imagined such a thing.
"Didn't you suspect as much when I summoned you? Very well. As for the terms I can offer..."
He paused, adopting a thoughtful expression, then spoke.
"I'll be direct. I want to become Emperor. And for that, I need you. I'll offer the absolute best terms I can give. If I become Emperor and you continue performing as you have, I'll see to it that you hold a field marshal's baton before you're thirty."
The field marshal's baton—the literal staff used by commanders for directing troops, a symbol of authority.
Only a five-star field marshal could carry one, making this a promise to elevate me to the de facto top of the Imperial Army's hierarchy.
"And it wouldn't do for a field marshal to hold a mere barony. At the very least, you deserve a county. I'll grant you a county near the capital and the title of count to go with it."
At this point, it felt like even he knew his odds as the Fifth Prince were slim, so he was just throwing out wild offers.
Local counties belonged to lesser counts who could be muscled out—dispossessed or their houses toppled on some pretext.
But counts near the capital were always tied to the imperial family or descendants of legendary founding heroes. Untouchable.
The Emperor himself often backed down from policies if they protested. That said it all.
"Follow me, and I'll shower you with immense wealth, honor, and beautiful women. Even if a noble lady as refined and beautiful as that Laura you brought to the banquet might be a stretch, I can provide any number of women more stunning than that girl of yours..."
What an innocent fool. No—honestly, his offer tempted me for a moment.
Anyone without exceptional loyalty or judgment would waver at stakes this juicy.
'Does he think this paltry sum can buy my loyalty?'
It was tempting enough to utter those words and betray him.
I even recalled a line from an old game where the Demon King tempted the hero, and decided to quote it.
"Baron Peter Jaeger is deeply grateful for Your Highness the Fifth Prince's merciful and generous proposal. My house will forever regard receiving such an offer as the highest honor."
The Fifth Prince's face crumpled completely upon hearing that.
No fool could miss the implication of my words.
"However, a knight sworn to a single lord never changes allegiance unless betrayed. Nor does the honor of an Imperial noble permit it."
In this world, officers invoking knighthood were mostly tagged as eccentric and monitored.
Even among the Crown Prince's faction, more had switched from backing other princes than started loyal from the outset.
It wasn't utter nonsense, but just a dusty tale of bygone ideals.
"Thus, even if Your Highness swore by Deus to grant me half the world, as long as His Highness the Crown Prince lives, Peter Jaeger will serve him."
If someone back in Korea heard me say that, it'd be so cringey middle-school drama it'd raise goosebumps. But in this Empire, still ruled by romance and chivalry, it'd land perfectly.
Not that the Fifth Prince could ever claim half the world—or even the Reich Empire's throne—no matter how hard he tried.
The Fifth Prince snapped in anger,
"Damn it all! Didn't I, Jonas von Reich, offer you everything? Just take it! Why refuse it all?"
To rile up the man who'd dragged me here and to ensure any hidden ears of the Crown Prince heard clearly, I replied,
"Baron Peter Jaeger now enjoys the overly generous title and treatment of a baron in the Empire. But I owe my rise entirely to the virtue of His Imperial Majesty the Emperor and His Highness the Crown Prince, who recognized and acknowledged my worth. Without them, I'd be nothing more than a commoner orphan fresh out of the Academy."
Strictly speaking, I'd rolled around the Rhineland before the Crown Prince picked me up, proving my value first. But still.
In Checobia, if he hadn't launched pursuit forces on my mere major's report, we'd have won the war only to go down in history as bungling idiots.
"Thus, I believe my current fame stems entirely from His Highness the Crown Prince. As the old saying goes, even an ordinary sword gains renown in the hands of a fine knight. I am the same."
Saying this before the Crown Prince would earn me jeers for excessive flattery.
Though I'd received his aid, plenty in this world flop even with the board set for them.
He'd invested 1, and I'd delivered at least 3 or 4 in return.
Hearing this, the Fifth Prince seemed to abandon any further recruitment attempts and waved me off.
"You're dismissed. Pretend today's events never happened."
"I have lectures to prepare today and haven't left my home, Your Highness."
With that, I turned and left the Fifth Prince's mansion.