喵绅HCMOIC士网页版

Chapter 76

Chapter 76

“Hey. Hey. Look over there. Look.”

At Wilhelm’s prodding in the ribs, Shulifen turned his head reluctantly.

There stood Karl, surrounded by various nobles, his expression suggesting he might scream ‘Aaargh!’ at any moment.

“He’s just dying out there. Looks like he’s back at square one from when we first attended the New Year’s Eve ceremony.”

“Really? But that was over a decade ago… Wait. Is this Karl’s first time attending the palace’s New Year’s Eve ceremony?”

“Probably, right? Karl wasn’t the heir to the Adelheit family. His sister was. Plus, he was fighting on the battlefield until a few years ago. So, if he’s familiar with the palace’s New Year’s ceremonies, that’s odd.”

They were all future Marquisates and lords of the empire, so they are very familiar with these occasions.

Constantly greeting the influx of guests, engaging in endless conversations, maintaining a calm demeanour no matter the topic – it was all part of the package for future nobility and heirs to titles.

But Karl was different. Being surrounded by various nobles like this was unfamiliar for him.

As the eldest son but not the heir, he would have simply attended the New Year’s Eve ceremony with the departed members of his family.

“What do you think? Karl seems to think he can just get by with minimal effort.”

“Yeah, starting from now.”

It was obvious, but Karl was undoubtedly the protagonist of this palace New Year’s Eve ceremony.

There will be a brief exchange of greetings, some small talk, and so on.

And once the titled nobles stepped back, it would be the turn of the heirs who followed them.

“Hey, Alexander. Fetch me another drink.”

“Can’t you go get it yourself?”

“You’re closer.”

“Goddamn it.”

Taking a wine glass from Alexander, Wilhelm chuckled as he observed the situation.

“The ladies seem to be really eyeing it a lot. Looking at them, it seems like they’re all being cautious and watching each other, doesn’t it?”

As he said, from the young heirs to the ladies aiming their gazes at Karl from all directions, it seemed like everyone was trying to catch his attention.

Perhaps, for these women, Karl was the ultimate prize. Surely, the moment they stood next to him, they’d receive envy from everyone.

“Anyway, Karl’s got Selena by his side. Do you really think other women have a chance?”

Joachim murmured half-slung in his chair, a statement born from experience.

Indeed, they themselves had become more discerning when it came to women. They had realized that they were looking at women more than necessary.

Was it because of the vanity of nobles? They couldn’t help but wonder why. But they soon found out why.

“Selena was just too beautiful.”

Perhaps she was even dubbed the first love of every academy boy for a reason. Perhaps she was confessed to and rejected daily. There was certainly a reason for it all.

It was fortunate that Selena was the future Lady, after all. If she had been a lower noble, they might have seen attempts to manipulate her with power.

Even though they had let go of old feelings, the four still believed that Selena was the most beautiful woman in the world. This was not just a subjective opinion, but an objective declaration of beauty itself.

‘Well, that Eloise we met recently, the elf, wasn’t bad either. But she’s an elf, so let’s leave her out of this.’

Anyway, if Karl were to show interest in other women while dating Selena, it was unthinkable.

If such a thing were to happen, the four of them were willing to open Karl’s eyes and heart as his friends.

“Phew.”

Wilhelm, who had been drinking wine, suddenly spat the contents back into his cup.

Shulifen, who had been watching, sighed as if to say, ‘That’s dirty, you crazy bastard,’ and made a sarcastic remark.

“That’s enough for both of you. What’s going on, Wilhelm?”

“Cough, cough. Look, look over there. Karl’s running away.”

Running away? Who? Karl? The recipient of the Medal of Honor was fleeing? The war hero who slaughtered elves?

Turning his head, Shulifen saw Karl indeed darting around the banquet hall, trying to avoid the young heirs who were unwilling to give up chasing after him.

The sight made the four of them chuckle nervously, biting their lips. They had to be careful.

Laughing like this, they might get caught by Karl, and who knows what consequences that might bring.

“…Surprising, isn’t it? I always thought he was a very cold person.”

Remus Bavaria, the Duke of Bernstfall, murmured as he resumed his discussion with the four after exchanging pleasantries with Karl earlier.

By the way, he was currently sipping wine mixed with a little mint chocolate. Karl, upon seeing this, panicked and darted away, only to be caught by the nobles again, and now he was being harassed by the young heirs.

“Is that how it seemed to you?”

“It’s inevitable. He’s a Medal of Honor recipient. Even seasoned soldiers find it hard to receive it. Some even say it’s like dancing on the threshold of death, if not already dancing on it. And he’s received it not just once, but twice.”

Apart from the medal, Remus already knew almost everything about Karl.

He had spent over two, nearly three years on the front lines. He wasn’t just a noble staying in the rear, he fought bloodily against the Luzernes on the front lines. He even killed Kanfras with a single sword and prevented a train terrorist attack.

That’s the kind of person he was. That’s the kind of man he was. Remus thought it was only natural for him to be cold, rigid, and even a bit frightening.

‘Yet, strangely, he seems rather gentle, almost vulnerable.’

Somehow, that made him even more likeable. When you see someone who seems less human, you might feel awe, but you don’t really feel like getting close to them. It creates a distance without you realizing it.

In that sense, Karl Adelheit was undoubtedly an impressive person. Not only did he have abilities, but he also didn’t flaunt them, making it much easier to approach him.

Perhaps, for that reason, the four of them here had also become friends with Karl.

And through that chain reaction came the arrival of some interesting winter treats and, most importantly, the appearance of the “Karl Adelheit Veterans’ Pension Foundation.”

“By the way, I heard the first pension was given to a veteran yesterday.”

“Yes, Lord Remus. A war hero who lost an arm in a battle over 30 years ago…”

“Ah, that’s enough, Shulifen. You don’t need to go into detail. I simply support it gladly out of goodwill and the obligation and pride of nobility. I have no doubt it will be used for the right purpose.”

“I can only admire the generosity of your heart.”

Someone watching might praise them as the true aristocrats of the empire and shower them with praise.

Yes, they did have such feelings. Feelings for the people of the empire, the obligation of nobility, and pride. Those were reasons why they willingly participated.

But that’s not all there was. Naturally, everyone had their own motives, and especially among the nobility, there were clear political reasons as well.

‘Nowadays, there’s a high probability that we won’t have another large-scale war like before. Even the elf who questioned the empire’s order eventually split into two factions, one completely crumbling and the other bowing to the empire. Abileshti was greatly shocked by the advancement of firearms and explosives, and Lasker is in a state of extreme chaos.’

Indeed, it was the best situation for the empire. For a while, no one on the continent could challenge the empire’s order. Even if they wanted to rebel, the empire had grown too large for that.

It is truly a time of peace. And that peace, in a few short years, will dull and rust all that was once sharpened.

‘That’s why we can’t allow that. Even in a time of peace, what needs to stand should stand, and what shouldn’t rust shouldn’t rust. Only those who prepare for war have the right to enjoy peace.’

But then, how do you prepare for that war? Do you train soldiers every day and increase military strength?

No. Doing so would surely deplete the treasury in no time, even for an empire. If the Luzernes War had lasted for over two more years, it would have been a real disaster.

That’s why what’s needed is pride. Praise for heroes. And someday, a willingness to do the same when that moment comes.

So, they must glorify and uphold the past even more than before. Just as they treated them, they must give the people of the future the assurance that the future empire will acknowledge them.

With just that sentiment, with just that determination, they achieve the same effect as constant military training. They gain more benefits than increasing military strength. Above all, they don’t lose their legitimacy.

“Still, I’m curious about the reaction of the people of the empire.”

“Of course, it’s positive. Since it’s a system that not only supports the individuals but also their families. Even though quite a bit of time has passed. Moreover, the public sentiment is extremely favourable, considering they’re already receiving support from the welfare system and now they’re getting additional pensions.”

“That’s really good. It’s very desirable.”

The Karl Adelheit Veterans’ Pension Foundation. It’s a name that seems to have been chosen very well.

Lord Remus thought so as he sighed ‘Ah,’ realizing he had no mint chocolate left!