I Became a Genius Commander at the Academy

Chapter 199: General Yaeger, Beloved Of The Emperor (4)

Right now, I felt like I was facing the biggest crisis of my life.

Someone might call me a hypocrite for saying this… but it was truly the biggest crisis of my life.

Thinking about it, my existing father-in-law was the enemy of the Empire, another person who just volunteered to be my future father-in-law was the Emperor himself, and my brother-in-law was the Crown Prince.

My chest swelled with pride to the point where it felt like it was going to burst from the pressure.

But in Korea, there was a saying that you could survive even in a tiger’s den if you kept your wits about you, right?

So, let’s hold on tight to our sanity and start with the obligatory words to somehow find a way to survive.

“Haha, I have a legal wife named Laura, and marrying the Princess would be too great a burden for me. So, I ask you to reconsider…”

After I said this, the Emperor laughed so hard he clutched his stomach and said,

“If you cause trouble, you have to take responsibility, General Yaeger. I know you well enough to understand that your words just now were not ill-intended. But if it weren’t between you and me, I would have been a bit uncomfortable, haha. You know what I mean?”

…At least with this, I had secured a minimal justification not to be criticized as clueless in the noble assembly or elsewhere.

It made sense because it was polite to refuse something given for free at least once or twice. Accepting the Princess as a wife when I already had a legal wife wouldn’t look good if I just accepted it without any objections, especially since it was offered by the Emperor.

Seeing how nuanced the Emperor’s expression became, had I not made it seem like a formality but showed even the slightest discomfort… I couldn’t imagine what would have happened.

It might not have been a political or military disadvantage, but I could have been called in during my leave to continue being the Crown Prince’s son’s tutor (or playmate).

I would have had to be called out to various schools in the Empire to give congratulatory speeches, be a figurehead, participate in endless events, and give lectures to young students.

The content of the lectures would be something like this…

“If you all work very hard like me, you can play a significant role on the battlefield and eventually become a general with stars. The Empire is always open to soldiers who strive and possess skills. Long live the Emperor, long live the Crown Prince.”

…Lectures filled with all sorts of passion mixed with a sense of teenage melodrama, dozens of times… I would have to tout my achievements, from elementary school kids younger than 8 to academy students, waking up even those who were asleep.

“Princess Louise is too good for me. So, I will cherish her as much as I can…”

“Call her Louise. She would feel slighted if she heard that.”

“Yes, I will cherish Louise as much as I can.”

After I said this, the Emperor finally nodded his head as if satisfied.

“It’s fortunate. Louise also said she prefers you over princes or nobles from other empires or kingdoms. I’ve advised my sons and daughters on arranged marriages several times, but it feels great to facilitate one where the husband and wife genuinely love each other.”

…Princess Louise, no, Louise, had a beautiful face, a great figure, and a very nice personality.

Moreover, through her interest in military science and the 7th Guard Division, and through our discussions, I found she was adept in rhetoric and handling situations beyond her years and had a high understanding of the Empire’s political situation.

However, to me, she was currently a “wise and good person,” not “a loving partner or wife.”

Considering many generals and officers around me marry without even knowing their partner’s face, this wasn’t so bad, was it?

“Anyway, let’s talk about the rest of the rewards and the role I expect from you. You’ll like it.”

“I am always grateful for Your Majesty’s grace.”

“Is that so? Then, for Louise’s sake, please continue to excel. The fiefs you will receive as a reward are the County of Horn and the County of Melk. Additionally, you will be granted a reward of 60,000 gold.”

Combining the fiefs I had received so far with the two new counties in the western part of Ostarica, I would be on par with the great nobles of the Reich Empire in terms of influence.

Considering all the humiliations I went through as a commoner orphan when I first entered the academy, it was truly amazing how quickly one’s fate could change.

“Thank you, Your Majesty. I will sincerely repay your grace.”

“Oh, there’s more I need to give you. Butler, bring those documents. And now that I think about it, there are quite a few beauties around you who genuinely favor a man named Peter Yaeger: Laura von Benner, Anastasia Kerzhit, even your exclusive maid Charlotte.”

“I guess I’m just lucky with people.”

Hearing this, the Emperor picked a few documents, placed them in front of him, and said with a mischievous smile,

“So, with this new marriage, tidy up all your relationships with women. Because, having Louise as your wife, I’d prefer if you didn’t increase the number of women around you, if possible.”

“To me, there are only Louise and Laura…”

“Stop talking nonsense and read this document. It’s the arranged marriage proposal I sent to Lieutenant Colonel Kerzhit through the Imperial Noble Assembly. Reading the contents, even you, known as the least understanding of women’s hearts in the Empire, would grasp the situation.”

Suppressing my pounding heart for a moment, I took the letter stamped with the Emperor’s seal and read it.

[To the Baroness Anastasia Kerzhit, the White Wolf of the North. Thanks to the first defection of a certain tribe after the northern campaign, the Empire easily secured vast territories in the north. As the Emperor of the Empire, I am genuinely grateful for your dedication. However, now that Baroness Kerzhit has turned 20, it would be appropriate for her to marry a noble of the Empire’s standing. (Abbreviated) If you accept the arranged marriage, I guarantee your appointment as the commander of the 1st Brigade of the Northern Army and promotion to major general. In recognition of your significant contributions to stabilizing the north, you will be granted a count’s title and a county in the north. I look forward to a favorable reply.]

In Korea, if the President sent a letter like this offering promotions and vast amounts of real estate and buildings, it would be considered a great insult and shame.

However, in the Reich Empire and throughout the continent of Europa, strategic marriages were essential among nobles, regardless of gender.

For her, who aimed to protect the numerous northern tribes, including the White Wolf Tribe, this proposal was absolutely necessary.

However, the proposal lacked Lieutenant Colonel Anya’s stamp of approval.

“Since the Imperial Noble Assembly and I have discussed this proposal as a formal agenda and come to a conclusion, she only needed to approve it for the marriage with a suitable high noble family to proceed, along with other matters. But Colonel Kerzhit refused, saying, ‘I cannot enter into an arranged marriage with anyone other than the respected General.’”

“I knew Lieutenant Colonel Anastasia was devoted to me, but to put off the prosperity of the northern tribes, which she values as much as her own life…”

“You were the only one who didn’t know. Even if you grabbed a private from your division and asked, they would know Lieutenant Colonel Kerzhit has a crush on you. Well, moving on, let’s be direct.”

The Emperor looked at me with a fatherly expression, showing clear displeasure, then spoke with the demeanor of the ruler of the Empire.

“The North is a mess right now. Frankly, if either you or Lieutenant Colonel Kerzhit were to die or retire, it would split in half, between factions loyal to the Stockholm Kingdom and those loyal to the Empire. As the Emperor of the Empire, I cannot allow this to happen.”

“Looking at the state of the Empire, if the Stockholm Kingdom swallows half of the North, the Empire’s hegemony will be at risk.”

“As a father, I would prefer not to increase your wives beyond Louise and Lieutenant Colonel Laura, but what can I do? There needs to be a child between you and the Lieutenant Colonel to symbolize the unification of the North. Also, personally, the contents of the petition Lieutenant Colonel Kerzhit sent me rejecting the arranged marriage proposal tugged at my heartstrings. Louise has read it and agrees.”

Two thoughts crossed my mind when I heard this story.

First, even though I had no such intention, I realized the situation required me to take responsibility for Anastasia Kerzhit, both strategically and personally.

The second thought was about where my next posting would be.

“Additionally, there is another person involved, but Louise will make that decision, so I won’t mention it. Lastly, your next position will be as commander of the Northern Army. You’re known as the most clueless about women in the Empire, General Peter Yaeger, but you’re not unaware of this, are you?”

“…So you mean to say, hunt down those disrupting the North, execute them, and take bitter revenge on the Stockholm bastards who have desecrated the snowy white lands loved by Lieutenant Colonel Anya.”

“Exactly, very accurate. Do as you’ve thought and pacify the North. Just bring back results, and don’t worry about the aftermath. The Crown Prince and I will take care of it. And since the wedding is scheduled for a month from now, don’t lay a hand on Louise until then. I would be disappointed if you couldn’t keep that promise.”

As the conversation ended and I was about to go home, the Emperor stopped me and said,

“Ah, right now, Michael, the officers, and generals of the 7th Guard Division are gathered in the palace garden for a banquet. Stay there and have fun all night. Otherwise, Michael will be disappointed. Also, I’ve sent a message to your home, so don’t worry.”

…My stomach was already full from dining with His Majesty, and now with the alcohol provided by the Crown Prince…

“I understand, Your Majesty.”

Of course, due to the Crown Prince continuously serving me drinks while calling out my name hundreds of times that day, I realized one could indeed die from drinking too much alcohol.

And maybe it was just my feeling, but while the Crown Prince seemed to serve other generals moderately, he kept pouring me beer endlessly.