Chapter 11
Chapter 11
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 11
Chapter Title: Erika Bauman
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Maybe it wasn't too late. He seriously considered changing his approach right now.
Like a sociable person would, he could strike up a conversation as if nothing had happened, playing it cool.
Even if it meant shattering his image, it was better to open his mouth than to arrive at the capital without exchanging a single word.
First impressions could be ambiguous, but trust could be built later with effort.
It was far more comfortable to be seen as a lighthearted person than to stand before the emperor without any help.
There were ways. It was just that responding to whatever she said would carry more risk.
"Um, is it okay to call you Victor, sir?"
"Yes."
Fortunately, before he could resort to his backup plan, Erika spoke first.
He deliberately laced his tone with a hint of gratitude, irritation, and frustration.
If he showed he was upset, she'd probably think to herself, "He must be really hurt by the betrayal."
"Th-that..."
"..."
Instead of taking offense at his curt reply, she kept stammering and avoided his gaze.
She pulled a notebook from her bosom, flipped through it, glanced at him, then flipped through it again.
...It wasn't that she lacked the emperor's orders; she was just too timid to speak up.
That notebook probably had pre-prepared questions or information about him jotted down.
"I'm Erika from the House of Bauman, a count's family."
"Victor."
"Ah! I-I'm not trying to brag or any— Ow!"
"..."
She seemed to think mentioning her status in front of a commoner like him was a mistake and bit her tongue in her haste to explain.
If he were in a relaxed situation, he might have found it cute, but right now, he just wished she'd hurry up and ask her questions.
He didn't feel looked down on by her status, and being scorned as a commoner was something he was used to anyway.
"Eek, hic..."
"Hmm..."
He observed her for a moment; she seemed utterly flustered.
Her attire was modestly simple, her hairstyle and accessories just enough not to be ignored.
The most expensive-looking item was her necklace, but it showed no signs of wear, as if she didn't wear it often.
She looked over twenty, but no wedding ring meant she wasn't married.
Was she really just a disposable pawn?
Unmarried, from a count's family, so probably no immediate heirs, and no family waiting back home.
If she restrained from luxury even in meetings with foreign kings and nobles, either she was famous enough not to need boasting, or her house was so modest that extravagance was a burden.
The House of Bauman didn't appear in the game, nor had he heard of it, so the former was unlikely.
If she were truly insignificant, it wouldn't be odd for her to just escort him for any potential negotiations.
The emperor sending someone so painfully shy she couldn't even speak?
It was far more convincing that she was hesitating because it wasn't part of her mission.
Best not to expect much from this woman.
"Um, V-Victor, sir?"
"Yes."
"I-I..."
He lowered his expectations a bit.
Someone the emperor trusted to a degree, but whose absence wouldn't leave a big gap.
Just an ordinary noble lady, without the emperor's halo.
The rumors he'd heard and his first impression at the palace might have her scared of him.
They said some Imperials even used his name to threaten kids who wouldn't sleep, so it made sense she hesitated to speak.
"I've heard a lot about you for a while now, Victor, sir!"
...Or not?
The words that finally emerged after all that hesitation shattered his assumptions.
Unlike before, she started gushing with a slightly excited look.
"I even looked up the battles you commanded yourself! Like, um, the Battle of Serkutsk Gorge!"
Right now, Erika looked like a fan meeting a celebrity.
Whether this was her way of approaching him or genuine enthusiasm, he couldn't tell,
"...Is that so."
"Yes! Your agile unit deployments, maneuvers, breakthroughs! They're even talking about putting them in textbooks!"
It was clear the Empire had more leeway than the Ruth Kingdom.
The Battle of Serkutsk had happened just two years ago between the Empire and the kingdom, yet she spoke of it like someone else's story.
The Northern War wasn't her war.
If she'd been in combat herself, she couldn't spout such nonsense.
Paul's expression beside her was starting to twist.
Partly because he'd been the commander at Serkutsk, and maybe because it irked him that an Imperial like her was fawning over him.
To Victor, battle talk felt like the worst icebreaker material.
"I know about the Battle of Angelgorod too! Your first battle, and your unit only had 13 casualties..."
He was at a crossroads.
He could take her odd approach as sincere interest and an opportunity, accepting it.
His achievements didn't need exaggeration; plainly recounting what he'd done in Ruth would showcase his skills easily.
A noble lady would help spread his image through rumors.
Or he could treat it as a mistake or probe and respond cautiously.
Consistently, like a 'General Victor' would.
"...Victor, sir?"
"..."
The latter appealed more now, but her enthusiasm didn't seem feigned, which worried him.
After mentioning battles, she hadn't glanced at her densely noted notebook once.
Normally, flattering her would be advantageous.
She was the emperor's messenger, after all; what harm in currying favor?
But excitedly recounting war stories now wouldn't benefit him.
He wasn't Empire yet.
The negotiations were about transferring his person, not employment; he was still Ruth's general.
If that Ruth general boasted of exploits just hours after leaving the castle?
Not quite treason or betrayal, but it would raise doubts about his character.
Being seen as frivolous when holding the weighty position of supreme commander was a huge loss.
Bragging generals were common, but whether they seemed excellent was another matter.
She knew his feats, so no need to mention them himself.
Still, better than outright refusal: probe what kind of person she was.
Young and inexperienced, she might've asked naively, or if testing him, he'd just be more careful.
What to say?
"...Angelgorod. I remember it."
"Yes! Back then..."
He'd shown enough competence and loyalty, and maintained enough gravitas.
Time to reveal a deeper side.
His image so far might make him seem too distant.
Just a glimpse of his humanity.
"Victor."
"...Yes?"
He spoke carefully.
"Ivan, Georgi, Ilya, Anton..."
Erika, confused at first, paled as he continued listing names.
"...Pyotr."
"..."
He calmly recited the names of the 13 out of the 100 who had followed him.
"Victor shared my name, so the guys teased him a lot. He'd shoot me looks every time his name was called."
He briefly shared their stories.
Erika covered her mouth and looked down; Paul watched him with a strange glint in his eye.
"...No father, but his mother and sibling waited at home. After the battle, I packed his bag with things and sent it back."
"Ah..."
By the end, Erika had shrunk back like before he spoke.
"Anything else you're curious about?"
"...No."
At some point, she'd been jotting notes about him, but now she bowed her head limply.
Paul turned to the window as if he hadn't been watching, but his eyes were slightly red.
Success.
It was a gamble to show how he viewed war and what kind of man he was.
To someone who saw battles as mere accolades, it would seem out of nowhere.
He trusted the emperor wouldn't send someone that shallow, and thankfully, Erika took it seriously.
Just two years ago, so remembering their stories and faces was easy.
He'd sent their effects home with care, so they'd hardly mind him sharing a bit.
...Feeling a bit odd, he leaned back in his chair.
Closed his eyes and recalled the faces he'd rolled through battlefields with.