Chapter 4: War Is Not Child's Play, Empress.
Chapter 4: War Is Not Child's Play, Empress.
Chapter 4
There was someone who poured cold water on the ballroom, which had been heated up by the Empress's idealism.
"Your Majesty, the Empress. May I say a word?"
Count Walter von Clausen, the Commander-in-Chief and another war hero, finally stepped forward.
"Very well. Count Walter. Please state your opinion."
The Empress's annoyance was evident.
However, she dared not rudely interrupt a war hero.
"Of course, women can fight just as well. That statement itself is not wrong."
Indeed.
There were female soldiers at the Northern Wall Territory, too.
There were demi-humans and half-breeds as well.
Just look at my adjutant, Eileen Arbanes; she was a staff officer who saved thousands of lives.
"However, war is brutally realistic."
Walter's gaze turned toward the White Rose Knights lined up behind the Empress.
Long, flowing hair and various accessories.
Shoes that had never stepped on the mud of the battlefield.
Armor that prioritized decoration over actual combat.
A knighthood that smelled more of perfume than the scent of blood.
"Your Majesty, the Empress, you are a wise person, but you must know how to distinguish between idealism and reality."
The White Rose Knights.
Twice the budget of the Northern Wall Territory was spent on them.
On people who weren't even regular soldiers.
Walter was pointing this out.
'War is not child's play. Empress.'
It had been an 8-year war.
Ernst, who had experienced those hellish times, knew it well.
In the face of war, idealism like freedom or peace doesn't mean jack shit.
It's simple.
War is about killing and being killed, and it was a place where you could do anything just to survive.
While they held parties every day in this luxurious Platinum Palace and discussed idealism, countless lives were being extinguished at the Northern Wall Territory.
Yet, the Empress was spouting hypocritical words without a care.
"I understand the soldiers' desire to root out the Demons."
Eleonora looked toward the Northern Army, trying to hide her displeasure.
"However, further war will only make the Empire sick. Now is an era that needs understanding and coexistence, not swords. Because swords only harm innocent lives. I will remember Count Walter's loyal advice. I will deliberate as much as possible, so shall we stop here for today?"
"Understood. Your Majesty, the Empress. I hope you make a wise decision."
The Empress did not want to talk to Count Walter any longer.
Count Walter, too, had no intention of provoking the Empress further.
It was because he knew that this Imperial family was being run by the Empress.
'She talks so easily.'
Ernst, who had been watching the conversation, pressed his finger against his glass.
Jjeojeok.
The glass had cracked before he knew it.
The war with the Demons had been going on for hundreds of years.
Were the intellectuals of this world really continuing the war against the Demons because they were foolish?
'No. Absolutely not.'
The goal of the Demons that Ernst had faced on the battlefield was clear.
To annihilate the human race.
That was the only goal.
Unfortunately, this was the worldview of this damn romance fantasy world.
Humans and Demons could never mix, just like fire and ice, or oil and water.
A peace treaty with the Demons was tantamount to giving them a chance to regroup and swallow the human continent.
"Young Master."
Just then, Eileen quietly approached his side.
She had approached him after realizing that Ernst was coldly furious.
"You must not act rashly. This is the Imperial Palace and the heart of the capital. We must not give them a pretext."
Eileen offered advice as a staff officer.
"Of course, I know that well, Eileen."
Ernst said in a low voice.
The reason why Count Walter, and the soldiers of the Northern Wall Territory attending this ball, were holding back was for one reason only.
'Soldiers are authoritarian, violent, and dangerous.'
'War doesn't stop because the military exists.'
It was true.
If they had rebelled rashly here, it would have been tantamount to proving to the whole world that the Empress's logic was correct.
"We will not move from here today."
Ernst, who knew that fact well, did not have a smile in his eyes either.
Three days later.
Soldiers were gathered in front of the notice board at the temporary encampment located on the outskirts of the capital.
"Move! Let me see too!"
"Compensation plans have been posted?"
When Ernst approached with Eileen, the soldiers opened a path.
In the center of the board.
A proclamation stamped with the Emperor's seal was posted.
"Hmm."
Ernst read the text slowly.
Grain for 1 year for bereaved families of the fallen.
Treatment in their respective hometowns for injured soldiers.
Reconstruction support for the Northern Wall Territory to be discussed later at the Council of Nobles.
A lump sum of consolation money for participating soldiers.
That was all.
There was no pension.
There were no long-term medical expenses.
There was no protection for the bereaved families.
The reconstruction budget for the Northern Wall Territory was not finalized either.
The price of 8 years was just that single piece of paper.
"My arm is worth this?"
"My brothers all died at the Northern Wall Territory!"
"Grain for a year for the bereaved families? Are you telling them to starve to death after that?!"
"Injured soldiers get treated in their hometowns? Do you think our lord will pay for the treatment? For a serf like me?!"
Anger spread among the soldiers.
At first, that anger was low.
But soon, that spark shook the entire barracks.
"Are you kidding me!"
"We risked our lives to protect the Empire!"
"They would have come to their senses if the Demons had come down to the capital!"
Ernst stared at the proclamation.
Now it was certain.
The Imperial family had no intention of giving the Northern Army fair compensation.
The Council of Nobles saw the soldiers as a burden.
The Empress saw the military itself as a danger.
The hunt was over.
So, the hunting dogs were no longer needed.
"It is as expected, Young Master. From the beginning, the Empress did not welcome our Northern Army."
Even Eileen's voice sank coldly.
There was a reason why she, who was usually cautious and calm, was furious.
This place where the 1st Regiment of the Northern Army was staying was not the center of the capital.
It was in the outskirts, more than an hour away from the capital.
The Northern Army had to set up a temporary encampment in such a remote place.
It was because they claimed it was dangerous for public order to have over three thousand soldiers in the center of the capital.
The Council of Nobles even talked about violence, looting, and even rape regarding the Northern Army's stationing in the capital.
Thus, under the surveillance of the White Rose Knights, the Northern Army had to relieve their travel fatigue in this remote place.
They weren't even given a warm bathtub, let alone a soft bed.
Even the quick-witted soldiers of the Northern Wall Territory knew about this unreasonable treatment.
Yet, the reason they didn't voice their complaints was because of a shred of hope.
The minimal belief that they wouldn't turn their backs on the soldiers who fought risking their lives against the Demons.
But today, that belief was betrayed.
"Let's go to the capital and demand answers right now!"
"That's right! Let's go and demand fair compensation!"
The soldiers began to raise their voices.
That was when.
"Can't you all lower your voices!"
Commander-in-Chief Walter von Clausen walked out from inside the barracks.
The old general's face looked older than it had yesterday.
"Ernst."
"Yes. Count."
"I will go to the Imperial Palace."
Ernst's gaze turned to Walter.
"Do you mean you will go alone?"
"Yes."
"I will accompany you."
"No. I will go alone."
Walter shook his head.
"His Majesty Julian learned swordsmanship from me when he was young. Even if his temperament is violent, he is a fair person. And he is someone who cherishes the military. There might still be room for him to listen to me."
"Count. Right now, the Imperial family is not being run by His Majesty the Emperor, but by the Empress, who decides all matters."
"I know."
Walter's voice was heavy.
"Still, I must go first."
"But it is dangerous."
"Where is there any work that isn't dangerous."
Walter smiled wearily.
"I am the Commander-in-Chief. It is my responsibility to demand compensation and treatment for the soldiers. If you step forward first, they will immediately latch onto the Eisenwald family."
Ernst closed his mouth.
It wasn't wrong.
Ernst was a war hero of the Northern Army.
He was also a Swordmaster.
And as someone from the Northern Grand Ducal family, he was the symbol of the Northern Army.
So it was even more dangerous.
If the Imperial family feared him, they would try to eliminate him first.
"Ernst."
Walter placed his hand on his shoulder.
"Calm the soldiers down. If their anger explodes now, they will frame us for plotting treason."
"Yes. Understood."
"I will go."
Ernst looked at Walter for a moment.
The old general who had spent countless nights with him at the Northern Wall Territory.
The Commander-in-Chief who didn't run away even on the collapsed walls.
The person the soldiers followed like a father.
That Walter turned his body toward the Imperial Palace.
Watching his back, Ernst felt an strangely ominous premonition.
From the Northern Wall Territory to the capital.
The instinct that had seen countless deaths was whispering.
That path is not safe.
"Count."
Walter stopped walking.
"Please be careful."
The old general looked back.
And smiled faintly.
"Don't worry. This old man still has work to do."
With those words, Walter von Clausen left the barracks.
Ernst watched his back for a long time.
And he knew.
Something had begun to roll in an irreversible direction.
End of Chapter 4.