NOVEL NEXT Chapter 6
After confirming that the Nobogord army had retreated, we also set off on our journey home.
As far as I remember, there had only been a few minor skirmishes, and not a single proper battle took place.
The enemy suffered no catastrophic losses that led to their surrender or retreat. It was, quite literally, a total mess.
Yet, strangely enough, there was a palpable excitement among the soldiers, as if we had achieved a grand victory.
“Blood and guts, blood and guts, what a miserable death this is! Blood and guts, blood and guts, what a miserable death this is!!”
The soldiers were energetically singing some ominous song.
I was both startled and intrigued by the bizarre tune, only to find out it was a military song.
‘What is this? It’s a bit different from the Imperial Army’s song my father taught me…?’
My father, a military figure, had emphasized memorizing the proper song, which I did without fail.
It spoke of fighting for a great cause, for the glory of the Empire.
Yet, what the soldiers were singing was completely different.
…I don’t know. Whatever it is, as long as the soldiers were singing energetically, that’s what mattered.
From what I heard from the soldiers nearby, it was surprisingly good for morale.
As long as that Army Tiger wasn’t involved, I could deal with any military song.
“Prince Kael!”
Turning my head, I saw the Princess leading her horse toward me.
Since we were on the move, I couldn’t properly bow, so I just lowered my head slightly.
“Your Highness the Princess.”
“Did you see our soldiers? They were absolutely jubilant!”
“Yes, Your Highness. It’s only natural, considering we returned with minimal damages.”
“And our Prince Kael had a significant part in that.”
I wondered if the Princess knew just how much she contributed to the chaos.
Honestly, if it weren’t for her sparkling eyes, I might have hesitated to step forward.
“Not only did you lift their spirits by sending off shooting stars, but honestly, your next strategy was even more impressive. You dealt a significant blow to Nobogord without even engaging in a battle.”
“Hahaha. Exactly.”
“When we return, everyone will talk about this event. Isn’t that exciting?”
“Um, to be honest, I feel more embarrassed than excited, Your Highness.”
“Embarrassed? About what?”
The Princess looked at me with wide eyes, as if she couldn’t comprehend.
Her expression was quite cute, and I almost burst out laughing.
Of course, that would have been the last thing I’d want to do.
“Both you, Your Highness, and the Legion Commander, and many others are praising the strategies I devised.”
“They’re praising you because you’re genuinely impressive!”
“To hear that makes me feel uneasy. However… from my perspective, those strategies were too embarrassing to even call strategies.”
“Why? Why do you say that?”
“Because they were simply fortunate.”
The Princess looked at me silently for a moment.
Perhaps she thought I was being modest?
If asked, my answer would undoubtedly be ‘no.’
“I’m glad the outcome was favorable. The decisions were made under the condition that the enemy moved as I wished. If things had gone awry, not only would it have been a failure, but there could have also been substantial losses.”
My father, a key figure in the military, always said that when making plans against people, establishing them under the assumption the opponent will act as you predict is a very risky and foolish thing to do.
If it ever worked once, it was because God took pity on you and helped you, so you should pray and never let it happen again.
“There’s such a thing as beginner’s luck. In this case, I just got lucky, Your Highness. I am by no means a great person. Much less a strategist.”
I truly was lucky. Ridiculously lucky. That’s the reality.
I wanted the Princess to know this and mitigate the high expectations a bit.
“Ah, I see, Prince Kael.”
“…Your Highness?”
“I understand.”
“Your Highness the Princess?”
You say you understand. But your expression tells me you don’t understand at all?!
It looks more like, ‘Ah, this person has humility! Impressive!!’
“Beware the arrogant. Keep your distance from those who consider themselves great.”
Words from my caring father, an excellent lord, and the great Emperor of this Empire.
Isabelle will surely hold those words deep within her heart for all her life, even until her last moments.
In that sense, the Kael beside me was entirely the opposite.
“There’s such a thing as beginner’s luck. In this case, I just got lucky, Your Highness.”
Everyone was praising me. The soldiers were cheering, and the commanders were applauding.
Even the usually stern Legion Commander was patting me on the shoulder with a smile like a child.
Even the princess herself was showering me with praises, so I felt it was okay to bask in a bit of glory.
However, Kael showed no hint of such feelings. He seemed uncomfortable saying it was all just luck.
“I am by no means a great person. Much less a strategist.”
Perhaps, really. The way he said it, Kael might not be that impressive.
It could be that it simply aligned due to good fortune. God might just have lent a hand for a moment.
But, so what? How did Kael act afterward?
Some might feel pride even in that kind of luck and grow arrogant.
Even if they weren’t that extreme, they would still show their excitement and be brimming with joy.
‘In contrast, Kael, you’re really scarily calm about yourself.’
For this reason, Isabelle could not erase her fondness for Kael.
In fact, it grew even stronger. She felt he was someone she could really rely on.
“Um. I see, Prince Kael.”
Alright, as you say, I won’t completely dismiss the possibility of luck.
“I understand.”
But I won’t lower my expectations for you.
In fact, I find myself even more curious about just how extraordinary you’ll become.
“But, Prince Kael.”
I wanted to say this to the one insisting it was merely fortune.
“Luck tends to visit those with worth.”
“Your Highness?”
“And if luck strikes not once, but twice, or three times in succession… can it even be called luck? Wouldn’t that really be true ability?”
With that, Isabelle smiled brightly at Kael.
—
This area, three days from the capital by carriage, is the territory of the Duke of Bertier Empire.
Perhaps it’s because it resembles the faithful retainers and warriors protecting the Great Emperor, but so many distinguished military figures have emerged from the Duke’s territory.
Currently, the owner of this place, Arthur Clausewitz von Bertier Empire, was also among them.
Known as a notable warrior, he had displayed his prowess on the battlefield, and afterward, gained renown as a commander.
He later retired from active duty due to age and is now working diligently as the head of the Clausewitz family.
Indeed. Currently, the Duke of Bertier is the owner of the territory.
Thus, all official correspondence entering this place must first be inspected by him.
It’s a natural right, being both the lord and the Duke.
“Please, my lady. You can’t! If the lord finds out, it’ll be a big deal!”
Thanks to this, the steward of the Clausewitz family is currently sweating bullets.
“Give it to me quickly. That letter is related to my brother Kael!”
“It’s not a personal letter; it’s sent from the Ministry of War. If I give it to the lord, you’ll know its contents soon enough; please wait just a moment—”
“How can I wait when the news about my brother is right in front of my eyes?! Give it to me, steward! Quickly!”
“My Lady!!”
Before her eyes, the girl snatched the letter from the steward’s hands and darted out without looking back.
She resembled a squirrel, snatching an acorn and disappearing between the trees.
The incident was so sudden that the steward stood frozen, unable to say anything.
Then, sensing a presence, he turned around.
“Ma—My Lord.”
There stood the Duke of Bertier, clicking his tongue disapprovingly.
“I—I’m sorry, my lord. I’ll—”
“Stop, steward. No matter what, you know my sister will dash to anything related to my brother.”
“But it’s an official letter from the Ministry of War addressed to the Duke.”
“It’s not something I would throw away. She’ll find out soon enough if she reads it all. I’m more worried if there’s nothing about Kael in that letter.”
“Ah.”
“If, by chance, it really is so, I can only imagine how disappointed she’d be.”
Since childhood, she had always admired her older brother, despite their six-year age gap.
Though it felt a bit excessive, I thought she would eventually get over it.
But lo and behold, even at fifteen, she still gazes up to her brother.
‘When Kael was sent off to the training camp, and later, when he was called to serve, she cried and threw a fit about why she hated him so much.’
The sibling relationship was so good that as parents, we felt proud, yet it pained me as a father to hear my daughter express such sentiments.
Now I simply accept it. Someday, when she finds someone she likes, it will probably get better.
‘…No, wait. The thought of that guy taking my daughter makes my blood boil.’
The Duke held a strange sense of wariness toward a son-in-law he hadn’t even met yet.
“Ah. My lord. There she comes.”
“Really? She’s here sooner than I expected.”
What on earth did the letter contain? I hope she isn’t hurt or something.
How frustrating it is that I have retired from active duty and cannot receive news directly—
“Daddy!!!”
The urgent shout of Kaya approaching was exceedingly frantic.
For a moment, my heart sank, wondering if something was wrong.
“O—Oniisan! Kael Oniisan has done something amazing!!”
“…What?”
It seemed that something truly significant had occurred.