Chapter 425
EP.425
Imperial Palace.
When I came to the imperial palace to apply for military service and was walking down the hallway, my steps felt light and cheerful.
It’s been a long time since the corners of my mouth fell on my ears, and my heart swells with anticipation for the happiness and peace that life will bring in the future.
I have risen to the highest position a soldier can achieve.
He saved the empire from crisis and laid the foundation for becoming a ‘hegemony’.
‘Now I have no more regrets.’
“It’s a nice day. Isn’t that right, Captain Karl?”
Carol smiled bitterly at those words.
“Yes, Marshal. The day is truly sunny. “It would be perfect to go to a place with a nice view.”
“The Marshal says he will soon be a civilian because he is going to submit an application for discharge. Just call me Marquis Jaeger.”
“I honestly have no idea that the Marshal has been discharged.”
After becoming possessed in this world, I continued to live as a soldier for nearly 30 years.
I have only lived as an officer commander in the Reich Empire…
Now, after I ask His Majesty for retirement, I will become a wealthy person who just stays in the villa and relax like my father-in-law. I feel very happy, but I also feel sad.
‘Still, it would be too greedy to stay here any longer.’
Although I do have some regrets about wanting to do more.
When you leave, you should leave gracefully, as they say, the back of someone you know is beautiful.
Feeling such complicated emotions, I slapped Carol on the shoulder.
“If you think about it that way, I can’t believe you’re entering the academy.”
Originally, Carol was a smart person who had been steadily preparing to enter the Academy.
This guy did a better job by my side than most officers who graduated from the academy after being judged as outstanding.
Looking at this guy, I feel like I don’t need an academy course at all.
Still, I had to go because ‘academic background’ was essential to succeed as an imperial officer in peaceful times.
His school uniform will have the Bronze Knight Sword medal on it, so if other students grovel, there will be no one to grovel and start a fuss.
However, due to his personality, he will not show off and show off at school, and he will grow by getting along well with other kids.
‘I wonder if this little guy will one day earn a star and rise to the rank of enemy.’
There are many things I want to keep an eye on even after I retire, so I want to live as healthy as possible for as long as possible.
Don’t be stressed.
Carol shrugged her shoulders at my words and then spoke.
“For my contribution in participating in this expedition, I was promoted to first rank and received a small fiefdom. So now you’re a major.”
Although he did not achieve any outstanding achievements, he participated in the battle to gain the Grand Duchy of Warsaw and 42 duchies.
In other words, in a situation where everyone who participated in the war had no choice but to receive a reward, I was appointed as the adjutant of the Imperial Army Marshal, so I was definitely promoted and received some territory.
“But back in my day, there were no officers who earned the rank of major before entering the academy.”
“This is all thanks to the Marshal and the comrades who fought together in Bastion. And the Marshal’s academic achievement award hasn’t been announced yet…”
I shook my head at those words.
“You will be granted the title of duke, a few more suitable fiefdoms, and an honorary title. “After my essay is announced, come visit my house with your grandmother.”
“I’m willing to go.”
“And now that I’m entering the academy, I’ll have to think about getting married soon. Tell me when you get married. “I will officiate the wedding.”
When I was sorting out these sad feelings while chatting about all kinds of things.
A servant appeared next to me and spoke.
“Marshal Jaeger, His Majesty is looking for you. Please come inside.”
With those words, I untied the dagger I was wearing around my waist, handed it to Carol, and said,
“That is my final gift to you as your enemy.”
**
As soon as I entered the Emperor’s office, His Majesty stood up from his seat, ran towards me, and hugged me tightly.
“Marshal Jaeger, how could a man who was the supreme commander of a country risk so much risk and fight at the vanguard? And then, if I get hurt somewhere, what will happen to me and the empire?”
At those words, I bowed my head and apologized.
“It was inevitable for the empire to win. “But I came back unscathed, so please forgive me.”
“I forgive you because you were not hurt. “You shouldn’t do that.”
“I am devastated.”
As I looked around, I realized that under normal circumstances, the Grand Master and other servants would have looked uncomfortable.
Now I’m just trying to turn my face away and clear my throat.
“Ahmmm ahmmm.”
I guess the scale of my achievements is so great that I don’t have the courage to say anything to His Majesty like this.
His Majesty also slowly let go of me and slightly raised the corners of his mouth and smiled softly.
“The major I chose this time was truly amazing. He led an army of 1 million people and took over the Grand Duchy of Warsaw with minimal casualties. The Allied countries, including the Grand Duchy of Czechia, received enormous amounts of territory and money that far exceeded expectations. Thanks to this, our empire has now become the only hegemony on Europa, and all that remains is to spread its wings and fly.”
“It is an honour.”
His Majesty patted my shoulder and smiled softly.
“I think this is all thanks to having you as my enemy. There are many things left in our empire that will require your skills in the future. Are you really planning on retiring though?”
While listening to the emperor’s words, I recalled past events.
He was possessed by a 15-year-old orphan and struggled to somehow enter the academy and change his ways to live. He was originally supposed to be defeated, but he pulled off a ridiculous surprise attack on the Rhineland front and achieved victory.
In addition, he destroyed the enemy’s supplies in Czechia.
Just when I thought I had settled down, I had to lead the 7th Division from Lichen Hill to hold off the enemy’s 100,000-strong army.
Recently, he led an army of 1 million people to block the invading Allied forces at Bastion and occupy the Grand Duchy of Warsaw.
I have lived a very difficult but rewarding life for nearly 30 years.
Therefore, although my head is happy to know that I have to retire, my heart feels regretful that I have to retire.
‘Now it’s time to go.’
I smiled and answered those words.
“Yes, Your Majesty. I did everything I could as a general of a country. “I was able to save His Majesty from the danger of death, saved the empire from the crisis of ruin, and now laid the foundation for the empire to gain hegemony over the entire continent.”
The emperor smiled bitterly after hearing my words.
“yes. You saved my life on Litzen Hill, and it was you who saved the empire from being consumed by the Allied forces led by the Archduke of Warsaw. The Grand Duchy of Warsaw and the 42 Allied Duchies have been handed over to me. As a subject, it is true that you have done everything you could have done for me.”
It is common for an ordinary monarch to keep in check or look down on a general who played a major role when the country was in danger of collapse.
Because it is true that if I ever point a sword at His Majesty, I could be taken down from the position of emperor.
He becomes unable to trust his subjects who devoted themselves to him.
But now His Majesty’s eyes and voice are full of only goodwill toward me.
The reason we can talk about retirement while laughing like this is probably because I hoped to give up power first.
“I am so flattered and happy to hear you say that. So, as I said before my departure, I am now planning to retire. Even without me, there are many capable people, including senior captains, so I believe there will be no shortage in supporting Your Majesty’s reign. “I think my remaining role now is to watch the empire prosper from behind the scenes.”
“Could you please reconsider?”
“As a mere subject, I have contributed too much under Your Majesty’s command. “If I continue to remain in the military, all the generals will become obsessed with looking after me, which will have a negative impact on the imperial army in the long run.”
I took a moment to catch my breath and handed the resignation letter I had already written to Her Majesty.
“I was able to come this far thanks to His Majesty’s trust in me and his full support. So, I will give all the credit I have contributed to Your Majesty. It is no longer helpful to the Empire for me to be by your side any longer. Now I will go back to the night and rest. I will resign from my position as Marshal. Please allow it.”
At those words, His Majesty accepted my resignation with an expression as if he had no choice.
“I understand. As you wish, I will accept your resignation as Marshal. “As of today, Marquis Peter von Jaeger is no longer Marshal of the Imperial Army.”
“I am devastated.”
However, when His Majesty received the resignation letter, an ominous smile appeared on His Majesty’s face, not one of regret, but as if he had a plan.
“But I cannot accept that you are retiring like this. So I came up with another alternative.”
“……?”
When I heard those words, I got goosebumps all over my body out of ominousness.
To be honest, I thought it would be difficult to completely retire, and I thought it would end with me receiving an honorary title and often being called to the imperial palace.
But…
His Majesty spoke as he handed me the documents he had prepared in advance.
“All the nobles of the Imperial Council unanimously opposed your retirement. So I thought carefully. “I decided it wasn’t right to keep you in the position of an enemy.”
After the goosebumps disappeared, cold sweat began to break out.
“Therefore, I, Emperor Michael von Reich, hereby appoint Duke Peter Jaeger as ‘Grand Marshal of the Imperial Army’ as of the present time.”
Grand Marshal. Six stars instead of five?
A word from the author (author review)
Sorry for the delay in uploading.
The time setting is incorrect. I will be careful not to make any mistakes.
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