The Emperor's Generosity
Karl heard the Emperor's words and bowed his head reflexively. Then he said, 'This honor is too much for me. Please accept it.'
“I want to know the reason.”
The Emperor asked that after Karl had asked him to withdraw his intention. Karl answered with the reason.
It was no false modesty. Placing the most junior among all Medal of Honor recipients in front of the others seemed like an excessive act.
They were the Empire's protectors, the heroes who saved the Empire. Yet they were slowly being forgotten in the past. So wasn't it right to place them in front?
“Your heart is truly deep.”
But to the Emperor, it seemed there was even more reason to place Karl in front.
“I don't misunderstand your intention. Placing the junior in front might seem like telling the past heroes, 'Now you are of the past.'”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“That is exactly why you must stand in front, Karl Adelheit.”
At that, Karl looked puzzled, as if he didn't understand the reason.
“Time is a frightening thing. The past is so powerful. No matter how brilliant something was, over time it fades and becomes hazy. Even if you try to make it shine again, to make it stand out clearly, you keep polishing it, polishing it, polishing it. Yet time's passage is never easily erased. Karl Adelheit.”
The Emperor reflexively touched his wrinkled forehead.
“So sometimes the moment comes when you must share today's brilliance to highlight the past glory. Not by forcibly hiding the old, but by naturally evoking the past as something of today.”
“...!”
“Surely the past has faded quite a bit. But that doesn't mean the sparkle is entirely gone. With today's light reflecting on it, it can shine again, can't it?”
Finally, Karl understood what the Emperor was saying. He realized why he was being placed in front.
He was requesting: to step forward and make the Empire remember the past heroes as well.
To ensure they would not forget that those who had bravely stepped forward for the Empire and sacrificed themselves had existed before.
“Will you understand my heart?”
At the Emperor's question, Karl nodded once and spoke.
“Friedrich Count's eldest son, Karl Adelheit. As per Your Majesty's order, I will do so. If I can make them shine again, even a thousand times, I will.”
“Yes. Do as I say.”
The Emperor looked at the young man kneeling before him. Truly, a willing person.
*
Now he understood why he had been called. He had come to make a request and seek understanding.
The Emperor could have simply sent someone to command, “Come out.” But he hadn't.
Whether it was to show him as a requester or as a Medal of Honor recipient, either way, from Karl's perspective, it was deeply grateful.
Anyway, after the New Year's greetings were roughly finished, the Emperor shifted the topic to light conversation.
“I heard you were on the battlefield for nearly three years. And now you've returned as an academy student.”
“Yes, Your Majesty. As a mere returning student who became a Medal of Honor recipient, I am overwhelmed by this glory.”
“You simply received what you deserved. There's no need to say that.”
After saying that, the Emperor subtly asked about the Special Intelligence Agency pension fund.
He had heard about it. Two marquis families and two imperial counts had created it.
At first it had been a bit sudden and there were concerns, but he had soon calmed down.
And of course, the reason was his name prominently featured on it.
“Did you propose this?”
“Yes, Your Majesty. I never took the war or welfare lightly...”
“There is no way. If it were so light, you would not have shouldered the Empire's honor twice. Rather, I feel sorry. I should have been more careful with that part. I only focused on making the Empire stronger and forgot them for a while.”
“Absolutely not. I know better than anyone how the Empire treats those who return from the battlefield.”
“Saying the Empire's treatment of soldiers is stupid doesn't make sense in the first place.”
“Not a country at peace for over fifty years, and until just a few years ago it was fighting a war.”
“The Empire is doing its best. I simply lent a hand.”
“Hearing you say that, my heart feels a bit better.”
The Emperor smiled a little, then let out an “Aah.”
“Are preparations going well?”
“Your Majesty?”
“No other meaning. I was simply curious. The title succession order has changed, hasn't it?”
What was this? The Emperor asking a lowly noble something like that was surprising.
He said there was no other meaning, but the content was suddenly “title succession order”? What was going on?
“Forgive me, Your Majesty. As a humble subject, I cannot understand what you mean.”
Then the Emperor put a question mark above his head and stared at him for a moment. The look in his eyes strongly conveyed, “Are you really asking sincerely?”
“Still not saying anything about being a count?”
“If you mean my father, I have heard nothing of the sort.”
“...”
The Emperor, who had been silent for a moment, suddenly gestured to the servant standing beside him.
Then he whispered something in his ear, and the servant left at a brisk pace.
A short while later.
“Your Majesty, I have received your order.”
“Come in. Crown Prince.”
The Crown Prince entered, looking like he had been pulled away from his duties.
The Crown Prince blinked a few times, not understanding why he had been called, then met Karl's eyes and gave a slight wave before refocusing on the Emperor.
“Crown Prince.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“From what I see, the eldest son of Friedrich Count still doesn't know anything. What happened?”
“Aah...”
Wait, is this related to the Crown Prince too? What is this? What are they all talking about?
“Actually, I talked to Friedrich Count yesterday.”
“And?”
“It was probably evening time... so the Count was going to talk to Karl Adelheit today. I was thinking that.”
Hearing the story, it seemed there had been some conversation between the father and the Crown Prince.
But what exactly? He still didn't know why or what had been discussed. He had no clue.
“Hmm.”
The Emperor stroked his chin and nodded. “Well, since you're still a student, it will take time. Friedrich Count will have a headache. Still, it's a good thing for the county. A count who received the Medal twice. Has this happened before, Crown Prince?”
“I don't recall, Your Majesty.”
...What were they even talking about? Count?
Why count? I am just the eldest son of the count family, keeping the family pride intact and ensuring no blemish on the reputation. Later, I only need to push my sister who will become count well?
Karl's question was resolved during the conversation with the Crown Prince after the Emperor left.
“...Eh?! Me and my sister?”
“Shh. Most still don't know this fact.”
Shh? How long could this be kept secret! Especially the Crown Princess!
Oh my god. Our sister and the Crown Prince? Future Crown Princess? Even the future Empress?!
Shock. Too much shock to find words.
Because sister was taken? No. The real shock was that sister was the Crown Princess, even becoming Empress.
'Our Crown Prince... can he live happily...?'
Sister was definitely a good person. Though a bit too good, but good is good.
But conversely, there were definitely scary parts.
This was not ordinary scary. It was the sister who had inherited everything from the strict-eyed mother.
I followed sister well, and sister treated me well, but if sister ever disappointed me or got angry, I knew exactly what would happen right after.
“Crown Prince.”
So, risking everything, Karl asked.
“Is it okay? My sister is definitely a good person. But... how to put it. She might be a bit far from being a virtuous Crown Princess or Empress.”
“Hahaha! How could I not know that. Karl, I know everything. Knowing that, I fell even more.”
“Ah, yes. Really...”
His taste was quite unique. Falling for that. And I had seen it myself?
Last time in the Special Intelligence Agency's interrogation room, I saw them stabbing the Gganfs' shoulders with bayonets.
'...Wait a minute.'
“Crown Prince. Really, if my sister ends up with you as Crown Princess and then Empress, what happens to the Friedrich Count title?”
“If there is no other suitable successor, the Crown Princess and Empress will hold that title. Such cases are not rare.”
The Crown Prince took a sip of tea and smiled.
“But the current Friedrich County is different. It has overwhelming reputation and honor different from any other count in the Empire. There is one perfect title successor.”