Chapter 9
Chapter 9
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 9
Chapter Title: At the Richthofen House (1)
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“Salute to His Majesty Emperor Wilhelm II!”
With the military parade, January 18th passed without incident, and the minor patents I had filed were approved as well.
The letter from my father mentioned that businessmen and patrons were already showing interest. I picked out a few to weed out and told him to handle the rest as he saw fit.
“Hah!”
“Ugh…”
“Wow… how is he even good at fencing?”
Clang! Clang clang! Clash! I easily wielded my saber, pressing my opponent relentlessly.
He was cowed, stiff in his stance, barely able to parry. In that instant, I spotted an opening at his wrist.
Clang! Peeep-! I knocked his sword away and pressed mine to his throat, and the whistle blew.
“Erwin Rommel wins! Not bad at all.”
“Thank you, sir.”
I replied calmly and sheathed my blade.
Swordsmanship was utterly useless on the modern battlefield at this point, but I trained diligently since it helped with the trappings of honor and tradition.
It was actually quite fun—aside from the sore wrists—and I might even keep it up as a hobby.
With the fencing evaluation complete, midterms came to a close.
I took first place in the school, and aside from the guys jealous of me, my relationships with the other cadets were solid.
I was riding the perfect elite track.
“I’ll stop by Stuttgart and head straight there.”
“Got it. Schweidnitz in Silesia. You remember the address?”
“Of course.”
For our excellent grades, Manfred and I earned a short leave. I also cashed in the extra vacation promised by the commandant, so I stopped by home first.
I discussed with my parents how things should proceed going forward, then boarded another train.
“What a long day.”
I’d exhausted the crosswords, so I killed several hours poring over chess games.
It was already night when I arrived in Schweidnitz.
“Hey, you made it?”
“No way you’ve been waiting here. Why aren’t you home?”
“I’ve been here for hours… heh, kidding. I did some calculations using what we’ve been studying.”
He averted his gaze awkwardly when I gave him a look that said not bad.
“…I waited about an hour.”
“Tsk tsk, knew it. Come on, let’s go.”
“The butler’s resting in the driver’s seat. We can take the car.”
“Oh… a butler.”
…Kinda jealous.
Silesia was exactly the kind of place you’d imagine as the quintessential European countryside.
Farms and fields stretched to the horizon—a peaceful expanse.
Countless such regions were lorded over by the local landowners, the Junkers.
Manfred’s father was one, which meant… that massive manor amid the vast farmlands was Manfred’s home.
“No wonder everyone’s always going on about Junkers.”
“Aw, come on… this is on the small side, really.”
Manfred overheard my mutter and looked embarrassed.
No, I was just marveling at how this country hadn’t had a ‘revolution’ yet.
Harsh as it sounded to Manfred, the Junkers monopolizing these huge estates made them a blight on the nation.
“Alright, let’s get out.”
Oblivious to my thoughts, Manfred hopped out cheerfully.
It had already been night when we got off the train, and the car ride made it even later.
Click—the German countryside night was silent. Only the whisper of a cool breeze reached us.
Nice place.
“Mother and Father are probably asleep by now. Let’s rest up and greet them tomorrow.”
“Sounds good.”
And so, I settled in as a guest in that grand manor for the time being.
Clop-clop—
“See? I’m still better at riding than you.”
“Haha! No matter how good you are, you can’t outride someone aiming for cavalry!”
I laughed heartily, and Manfred grinned slyly.
Soon, that grin turned wicked.
“Lunchtime’s coming up, so race you back to the manor! On three… two… go!”
“Anyone can see I’ll lose… Hey! No cheating!!”
This noble pulls a cheap count-and-dash?!
I gave chase late, but there was no catching him.
“Argh… my ass…”
“Impressive, though. You kept up better than I thought.”
“You bastard…”
I glared while rubbing my sore backside, and Manfred cackled.
As we bickered, the butler slipped in smoothly.
“Gentlemen, lunch is served.”
“Right, food first.”
“Um…”
Manfred darted behind the butler and stuck out his tongue, spiking my blood pressure.
He was having such a blast teasing me that he beamed and said,
“Hurry up. Dinner’s gonna be rough, so fill up good.”
“Huh?”
Dinner’s gonna be rough?
Did Germany have some custom of skimping on dinner for guests?
I couldn’t hold back my curiosity.
“Rough how?”
“…Oh, didn’t I mention?”
Manfred flashed a bright smile.
“Party tonight. Father sent out invitations saying you were coming.”
“…”
A party? Using my name? And I had no clue—no prep at all?
I was dumbfounded. I even asked if I’d just forgotten, but no…
“You didn’t tell me.”
“Uh… my bad?”
“Get over here, you punk.”
“W-Wait! Ow! Go easy on my back!! Ow! Sorry!!”
Be grateful the butler took the riding crop away.
Even if crabs stick together, the servants averted their eyes, unwilling to take his side after that display.
This guy deserved it.
“My back…”
“Ahem.”
“Manfred, even so, how could you not mention the party to your friend?”
Manfred’s parents, Albrecht and Kunigunde, scolded him.
Then they turned to me.
“Sorry about that, Rommel. Our boy takes after his father—got a bit of a ditzy side.”
“I’m not ditzy… ahem, my apologies.”
“It’s fine. Haha.”
My laugh wasn’t genuine.
I didn’t even have a proper suit!!
But quick-on-the-uptake Manfred leaned in and offered,
“We’re about the same height, so you can borrow one of mine.”
“…Thaaanks…”
Smiling through gritted teeth was harder than I thought.
Manfred… no wonder he was so popular with the ladies, pissing off even another guy like this.
At least I could borrow a suit. If I’d known earlier, I could’ve packed meds…
As I sighed inwardly, Kunigunde spoke up.
“I hope you boys find someone to marry at this party…”
Twitch—the two girls our age, quietly eating, froze at her words.
Manfred, gauging their reactions, said awkwardly,
“H-Ha… Like I said before, Sis Therese, Elise, and I want to marry for love…”
Kunigunde replied indifferently.
“We allowed it at first, when you brought it up. A new era’s coming—we wanted to see things differently… but?”
“Hm. Turns out you lack the talent for it.”
Stoic Albrecht took over.
He shook his head.
“Who’d have thought you couldn’t even manage a romance, let alone marriage…”
“…It’s not that we can’t. We just won’t.”
“Pathetic, son.”
I blinked at their candid family talk in front of an outsider, then suddenly got dragged in.
“Let’s ask your friend, then. What about you, Rommel? You’re famous—surely you have a girlfriend?”
“…”
“Pfft hee hee hee hee.”
Don’t laugh.
I’ll kill you, Manfred.
I composed myself quickly.
“I’ve been focused on studies, so I haven’t paid much attention to that…”
“Hee hee hee hee hee hee hee.”
“…Birds of a feather, huh.”
Who mutters that loud?!
Even so, people have faces to save—I couldn’t let it slide.
“Cadet school’s strict about outside visits and such. Just never had the chance.”
“Nah. Back in my cadet days, I—”
“Hohoho.”
“…You’re right after all.”
Quick retreat.
At Kunigunde’s laugh, decorated soldier Albrecht executed a tactical withdrawal.
No wonder Manfred had those aerial maneuver skills.
As I admired that and glanced at Albrecht with Manfred, I felt eyes on me and turned forward.
Hm?
Manfred’s little sister Elise, startled, blushed and fixed her gaze on her food.
His older sister Therese eyed her curiously, then met my eyes.
We exchanged what’s that about? looks and turned back to Albrecht.
“Oh ho… so what was the name of that girl from cadet school… er, your girlfriend?”
“D-Dear. The only one I’ve ever given my heart to is you.”
“…And your body?”
Oof… Albrecht’s defensive maneuvers had been breached by Kunigunde.
They seemed like they could’ve been great captains in history, yet they never made a name in the Great War. A real mystery.