Chapter 18
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 18
Chapter Title: The Marriage Talk Only I Didn't Know About
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Sin-laws? Sin-laws? What the hell is this guy even saying?
Did he drink something weird in the car? Did the Koenihesen bastards lace it with poison?!
...No. If that were the case, he wouldn't be spouting nonsense—he'd be puking blood.
"Supreme Commander?"
"Wait, just wait a second."
I rack my brains, combing through my memories. What the hell did I miss?
As I dig into the past, one particular scene suddenly springs to mind.
Back when I was still just a field commander. Back when this guy was the Clozen Duke Family heir.
The day we barely repelled a brutal Koenihesen assault and collapsed in exhaustion, gasping for air.
Sharing our last few cigarettes while trading empty small talk.
"You rotten bastard. Snatching my last one like that. And you call yourself an Imperial Knight!"
"Was it your last stick? Sorry about that. I'll make it up with top-shelf cigars later. Don't be so stingy, officer."
Thinking back, it kinda pisses me off. No, you don't get to act all smug after taking someone's last smoke.
Among smokers, that final cigarette is sacred ground. Damn it.
"Whew... Hey, Will. Not bad for an officer. You were catching those Koeni bastards like rats."
"You're no slouch yourself. I figured a duke's heir would just talk big, but you fight like a real knight."
Officer and knight. Similar roles, yet worlds apart.
We were both rising to the top in our respective domains, so it was only natural our paths would clash.
But that fight marked the start of our deep bond.
I didn't care if he was from the Kenes Marquis Family or the future Kainel Duke.
What mattered was whether I had someone I could trust at my back.
We were each other's sharpest spear and sturdiest shield—comrades I could rely on without question.
As an officer leading the Imperial Army. As a knight setting the example for the troops.
That was how the two of us poured our all into our roles.
"Will."
Years later, on a day when we'd both become pillars of the Empire. He crossed his arms and asked.
"Officers and knights—are things still tense between them?"
"Tense doesn't even begin to cover it. If there wasn't a war on, they'd be at each other's throats nonstop."
"Not good. Far from it. Sure, the palace is staying quiet to see how far we'll go, but..."
"That's why you and I have to keep at it. If the leaders get along, the rest will fall in line, right?"
"True. But it's not enough. To quash the pride-fueled rivalry, we need something bigger."
Not enough. We needed a grander pretext for unity. Tough words.
"If you're dragging politics into this, count me out. Just hearing about it gives me a headache."
"You still need to know. Does a commander's job end with fighting the enemy? Apparently, we have to fight on other fronts too."
"...You've got me there."
Unlike our family, which steered clear of politics, his side thrived in that arena.
Duke families are a handful. I'd rather hunt Koenihesen scum than tangle with courtiers.
"Will. Down the line... how about we betroth my kid and yours?"
"An engagement between our children? Feels weird deciding it just between us like this."
"Their feelings will matter more as time goes on. But if there's no issue on their end, I'd push hard for it. What do you say?"
A blood alliance with a duke family. Not a bad deal—hell, it's a massive boon.
Our house has a towering reputation as war heroes, but nothing lasts forever.
War will end someday, and our fame will fade with it.
Forging this bond now would secure our future—no worries down the road.
Plus, it could smooth over the bad blood between officers and knights.
We're the central figures in each group, after all. A child born of that union? Perfect justification.
It was an offer too tempting to ignore back then.
"We'll talk details later. Later."
"Sure, sounds good. Later. But don't forget—I proposed, so you mull it over."
"Got it, got it."
And that was the end of the engagement talk. We never brought it up again.
Until decades later. Until today.
"You didn't forget, did you? Supreme Commander?"
We're all polite with the honorifics out of mutual respect.
But to me, he looks more mischievous than ever, like he's saying, 'You totally forgot, didn't you?' It irks me.
"...If you're thinking of Douglas, I'd refuse out of pity alone."
My eldest is over thirty and hasn't gone near a woman, let alone marriage.
Victory Duke's kids, meanwhile, are all wed with children of their own.
His two unmarried daughters are much younger than Douglas to boot.
"His second daughter is twenty-three, and the youngest is twenty, isn't she?"
"Age isn't an issue, Supreme Commander."
"I know, but our eldest shows zero interest in women. If there were feelings involved, maybe—but they've barely met. Marriage talk feels off."
Have Victory Duke's daughters been chasing Douglas?
News to me. Makes pairing the firstborns even less sensible.
"An engagement is still a good thing, no?"
"... ."
As we talk, I sense he's got some ulterior motive.
This is Victory Duke, who dotes on his kids—especially his daughters—more than anyone.
I still remember him saying he'd welcome even a commoner as a son-in-law if his daughter loved him.
Yet here he is, pushing to pair kids who've barely met? Doesn't add up.
"...Could it be."
The thought leads straight to another possibility.
"Not the eldest, but the second son... is that it?"
Victory Duke just smiles and sips his tea instead of answering.
I knew it. So the marriage talk was about my second son after all.
Douglas, you fool—your little brother's the one getting hitched. What are you doing?
"Richi, right? Your second son, Supreme Commander."
"That's right."
"You remember our youngest daughter?"
"Ariete, wasn't it? Same age as Richi. Just enrolled in the academy, yeah?"
Victory Duke nods in satisfaction.
What the...? Why's he reacting like that—
"Truth is, our youngest followed your boy around."
"...What?"
I blurt out something stupid in shock. Who followed who?
"Exactly what I said, Will. Your son swept my daughter off her feet."
*
Being a knight is such a stuffy, grueling calling.
Even I—briefly—wondered why the hell I bothered.
When my youngest said she wanted in, I tried to talk her out of it. Multiple times.
Well, I tried. Ultimately, I failed.
It wasn't just the hardship. Because of me—her father.
I feared she'd struggle under endless comparisons.
"I want to be a knight."
"Ari. That's..."
"I want to. A knight."
"...Fine."
They say you can't win against your own kids. Spot on.
With that kind of stubbornness, what choice did I have?
I ended up letting my baby girl become a knight.
After that, I checked on her progress daily.
Her talent was modest, but she was making up for it with effort, they said.
She didn't aim to surpass or even match her father.
She just wanted to be a knight—that was all.
I couldn't even cheer her on properly. Worried it'd burden her.
Watching her improve from afar was all I allowed myself.
Don't pressure her. Not even asking how she's doing—proceed with caution.
Then one day, Ari declared:
"I've decided. I'm applying to a double major."
"Double major?"
"Knight Department and Officer Department."
At first, I thought she'd eaten something bad.
Should I summon the head chef to check the ingredients?
A girl who wants to be a knight suddenly gunning for Officer Department too?
"Father."
The reason came out soon enough.
"A really interesting guy showed up in front of me."
"A guy?"
For a split second, I imagined some scumbag seducing my baby girl.
Track him down—if he's unworthy, smash his legs in the duke's name...
"Richi Reinhardt."
The legs... yeah, can't break those.
"Father. If I let that guy slip away, I'll regret it forever."
"What are you on about all of a sudden? I can't make heads or tails of it. You... seeing him romantically?"
I'd heard Will's second son, Richi, enrolled in the academy too.
Same age and class as Ari. Bound to cross paths often, share common ground.
If something sparked between them as man and woman... who am I to argue?
"Hmm... not sure about that."
Not sure, huh. What the hell is she even saying?
"But one thing's crystal clear—if I lose him, I'll be pissed. Beyond pissed. Definitely."
"... ."
Her knightly talent is objectively upper-mid tier, if I'm being sharp about it.
But her eye for people outshines even mine.
If she says she'll regret it, that she'll hate losing him.
What can a father do? Trust her judgment, of course.
I immediately set up a meeting with Will—no, the Supreme Commander.
And right now, I'm conveying that intent.
"Exactly what I said, Will. Your son swept my daughter off her feet."
Sounds like a joke, right? A prank? But no, old friend.
Your boy's gone and stolen my little girl.
So take responsibility. Time to honor that old promise between us.
"Hold on. I'll summon my son right now and get to the bottom of—"
No, don't go jumping the gun like that, you oaf.