200 – Peter Jaeger’s Women (1)
Count Peter Jaeger’s mansion, drawing room.
The Empire’s 4th Princess Louise von Reich was waiting for someone here.
At the same time, Vice Admiral Jaeger was having a small conversation with Vice Admiral Jaeger’s personal maid, Charlotte, whom he had familiarized himself with by often accompanying him to the imperial palace, and with whom he had built a close relationship under the princess’s meticulous planning.
“The aroma and taste of black tea are great, and the snacks are just the right amount of sweetness, savory, and have a good texture. I think the lieutenant general will also like it very much. Lieutenant General, do you eat like this every day?”
“Ah, yes. I can only serve black tea on the battlefield, but other than that, I serve it every day. “I also bake cookies myself every day.”
“Lieutenant General Jaeger is a very happy person. I can’t believe you can eat such delicious snacks and tea every day. “At this level, it is not much different from the imperial palace in terms of taste and aroma.”
Louise is quite serious about sweets and tea, so even if she is flattered, she is a princess who finds it difficult to say that tasteless sweets or tea are delicious.
However, even by her strict standards, Charlotte’s baked goods and tea were well within the acceptable standard.
It was like saying that even if a cafe serving snacks and tea were opened in the capital right now and started business, it would be quite popular.
Charlotte, who received such sincere praise, recalled the scene where Lieutenant General Jaeger often complimented her on the deliciousness of her tea and snacks, and spoke with a slight blush on her face.
“When she was training as a dedicated maid, she learned how to bake cookies, and even after she was assigned to the lieutenant general, she studied hard and made cookies whenever she got the chance.”
“If it weren’t for the Vice Admiral’s exclusive use, the taste is at a level I’d want to take to the imperial palace’s pastry chef.”
“Thank you, Your Royal Highness. But today, Lieutenant General Jaeger has entered the imperial palace and will probably come back late…”
“I know. It’s okay, because the people I want to meet today are Colonel Kergit and Lieutenant Colonel Laura. But until those two arrive, if possible, could you tell me the story of the Vice Admiral that bards often sing?”
If Laura or Anastasia were here, they would have noticed that there was more to Louise’s friendly attitude toward Charlotte than just kindness.
However, what Charlotte was educated about was the skills necessary to handle her affairs and how to satisfy the general who served her as her exclusive maid day and night.
Because he had very little political and social knowledge and experience, he did not doubt the princess’s favor for a single moment.
Moreover, Louise assumes that she will marry Lieutenant General Jaeger, and when she sends a letter to the 7th Guards Division to ensure a smooth marital relationship in the future, she writes the letter in front of Charlotte by acting as a young woman who does not know the world. Sent it.
“Yes, Her Royal Highness. “That happened when the lieutenant general had just been promoted to brigadier general and visited my house after consoling dead or injured soldiers and their families…”
“Is that so? The lieutenant general stands up for his subordinates not only on the battlefield but also after the war is over. “You look like a knight from a story.”
So, the princess and Charlotte had a conversation, creating an atmosphere where anyone could see them as friends who were absorbed in the story of their loved one.
Not long after, the door opened and Laura von Benner and Anastasia Kergit arrived.
“Her Royal Highness, why did you come to such a shabby place without making an appointment in advance…?”
“I came because I wanted to meet Madame Laura and Baron Kergit personally. “I have something to talk about closely.”
With those words, Laura signaled Charlotte to leave, but Louise smiled and said.
“It is a political issue, but it is also a story that Charlotte needs to hear. Then just a moment…”
After saying this, Louise handed the two people a letter with the emperor’s seal in the small bag she was carrying.
“It hasn’t been announced yet, but it is an edict that will be officially announced soon. Please read it once, and then let’s start the real story.”
Laura and Anya held the letter with the emperor’s seal in their hands and began to read, while Louise began to drink the black tea left in the cup with a relaxed expression.
As the princess was about to finish her tea, Laura carefully spoke out.
“My husband, Lieutenant General Peter Yeager, already has a wife named me. “By the way, is it okay for Her Royal Highness, as a member of the imperial family, to become my husband’s second wife?”
It was obvious to anyone who heard it.
If you just listen to what he said, it may seem like he is worried about the princess.
In reality, it was said out of jealousy and a desire to monopolize her as she did not want to lose her status as the only woman who had been loved by a man named Peter Yeager.
The princess was troubled by those words.
Should I be honest and say that I love Lieutenant General Jaeger to the same degree as you, or should I gradually persuade him by showing him the cold reality?
Then, she took a deep breath and spoke quietly.
“Everyone wants to be first for the person they love, and I want that person to only look out for me. Any woman. But yes, Colonel Laura, ma’am. “Among the royal family and nobles, how many people will live and be truly loved by their husbands?”
“Why are you suddenly saying that?”
“Lady Laura received the support of the Marquis of Venner and lived as an officer just like the men, no, she was even better, so you may not feel it. She thought of other noble ladies. “How these girls who were her girls get married, have children, and live lonely lives.”
Peter Yeager, who entered the academy as a commoner and an orphan and rose to success, understands this story ‘just’ as saying that there is such a custom.
However, Laura realized that she had experience living as a noblewoman until her mid-teens, and even after that, she often met her childhood noblewoman friends in the imperial capital.
As the only daughter of her soldier father, she had the ability and opportunity to rise as an officer even though she was a woman, and in the process, she was very fortunate to meet and marry the person she loved.
“My sisters often come to visit me at the palace and say that. She pretends that her husband treats her well because she is the princess, but she says that a man who rarely smiles in front of her smiles that much in front of her concubines. She sweetly whispers her love. Because of this, she says she often feels lonely and sad, even when her husband is in the household. “Have you ever felt that way, Laura?”
Laura was taken aback by those words.
Because the man named Peter Yeager only looked out for himself no matter how much other women tried to treat him, and he truly cared for and loved her.
She neglected the story because she thought it had nothing to do with her.
Louise spoke heavily in a voice that conveyed her earnest heart.
“You don’t have any, right? You probably don’t have it. Because even when Lieutenant General Jaeger came to visit the imperial palace, when he returned, he would express his love for you to the extent that he would ask me to recommend a gift that his wife would like. And if a wonderful person who knows how to love and respect someone like that is the perfect match for the ideal type I have longed for, I would be okay with putting aside everything about being a royal family and going second.”
“Her Royal Highness…”
“I think Lady Laura will understand what I mean. “You are much happier with the second or third time with someone who truly loves you, than with the first time with someone who doesn’t even love you.”
When Laura heard those words, she imagined that she was just an ordinary noblewoman, and how unhappy she would have been if, as the princess had said, she had arranged to marry someone who did not love her.
I felt frustrated and distressed just thinking about it.
So, she was able to deeply sympathize with the feelings of the princess in front of her.
“Besides, accepting me is also for Lieutenant General Yeager’s sake. You know. The lieutenant general has so far overcome political purges and crises without any problems. “He already has so many political opponents that it’s impossible to know when he might be impeached.”
“Yes, my father is trying his best to prevent that, but… I understand that there are often people in the Imperial Council who claim that the Vice Admiral’s loyalty or ability is dangerous to the Empire.”
“I heard that if Major Martius, the former heir of the Marquis Griffin family, betrayed the Austrian army during this expedition, the damage would have been severe if it had not been for Lieutenant General Jaeger’s response. However, among those who assume the worst case scenario, what if the lieutenant general betrays the empire by moving to Warsaw or another Kingdom of Stockholm? There is no doubt that the North is likely to follow the Lieutenant General who cut off Khan’s head, and they are claiming that disaster will befall the empire.”
As the princess said, not only the emperor but also the majority of nobles with titles belonging to the Imperial Council doubt Lieutenant General Jaeger’s loyalty.
Honestly, it is unclear when that trust will be lost.
“That is why my father wants to place me next to Lieutenant General Jaeger and show everyone the trust that His Majesty the Emperor and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince have in order to remove any false suspicions toward Lieutenant General Jaeger. Furthermore, we are trying to give him justification and practicality to secure the North as a basis for demonstrating his capabilities. “Colonel Kergit must also be by his side during that process.”
“To protect the people I love, do I have to agree?”
“Yes.”
After hearing those words, Laura nodded his head and then answered.
“I understand. “Please tell His Majesty that Laura von Wehner is convinced…”
When Laura tried to retreat, Louise said, showing her envious expression and her sorrowful eyes at the same time.
“We are going to become family in the future anyway, so would you please listen to my story? I really envy Mrs. Laura. Because Madam Laura can help you in areas where I cannot help you, Lieutenant General.”
Laura didn’t really understand what that meant, but she listened because it was the princess’ order.
Because she never thought she would live her life and hear people say they were envious of the princess who was at the top of the imperial power hierarchy.
Because that curiosity got in the way.