430 – The Road to a Dual Empire (1)
The next morning, Francois Blayard Village
Jules, the only hunter in this village, shouted loudly when he saw the serfs plowing the fields.
“The Reich Imperial Army has invaded, everyone run away if you don’t want to die!”
If it were another country, the serfs who heard this would have immediately gathered in the square.
Then, they would have debated whether to try to run away to take care of their family and at least their assets, or to offer food and money and beg for their lives…
Those who have become accustomed to their ‘monarchs’ changing once a year to the United Kingdom or Francois…
Even after hearing Jules’ warning, he reacted indifferently.
“If I run away, what’s worse than starving or being killed by the United Kingdom or the Francois Republic army?”
“Oh my, it’s a luxury, a luxury, even if I have to go to Hankal or starve to death. “Don’t you know the story about the village next door last time?”
“The man was captured by the United Kingdom and the man was killed and the woman was sold as a slave, right?”
I was grateful for the warning, but it was because I had already completely lost my attachment to the painful life I had experienced through the long years of war.
‘Would it be easier if I died like this?’
Zakri, a young man in the village who is now 30 years old and was lucky enough to avoid conscription, said as he continued plowing the field.
“I don’t know if it’s Reich or sausage or what. “If you had common sense, you wouldn’t burn half-grown wheat, right?”
Everyone nodded their heads at those words.
“Well, unless you lose the war and are chased like those Francois or the United Kingdom. “They’re going to try to dominate us, so there’s no need to kill them for no reason.”
“When I was young, I followed the village priest around and ate some ink, so I think differently.”
“Wow, you’re so damn smart.”
I could not feel any hope in the empty words that almost gave up everything.
No, strictly speaking, it wasn’t that they had no wishes left.
However, its size was very small.
I have an obsession with wanting to live with my family, even if it means starving, and I want to eat well, even if it’s only for one meal today.
And what they hope for even in their dreams.
Paulo, the oldest among the men here, sighed and said.
“Before the damn nobles became a republic and all, there was no need to starve to death unless there was a major famine. “I want to go back to that time.”
Those were truly good times for them.
There were almost no wars, and there was no such thing as starvation unless there was a bad harvest, so you could see children smiling brightly while eating.
I could have looked at my wife with her full stomach and laughed and said that this child would later become a great farmer like me.
However, reality did not give them any time to think about the nostalgic past.
“I’m hungry. “Bread, I want to eat bread.”
A child suddenly fell to the floor.
It was a very common occurrence after the war broke out, but the child’s father, Zachry, put down his farming tools and immediately ran towards the child.
“Mom will bring porridge soon. She said, eat that and cheer up…”
The child, relieved to be holding his father’s hand, smiled faintly and spoke while breathing heavily.
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“Porridge, porridge. “Can I eat a lot?”
Zakri thought about the warehouse situation in his village.
It wouldn’t be until today, or rather tomorrow, that I would be able to give the child a fist-sized bowl of porridge.
‘How can the world be so cruel…’
Zakri held his son’s hand and just let his tears fall and lied.
“When Dad comes to Mom, I’ll ask for a lot. So, let’s wait a little bit…”
“Really? “Then I’ll just sleep a little… I’ll wake up and eat a lot of porridge…”
Then the child closed his eyes and fell asleep.
His heart stopped beating, and his body gradually became cold.
“…Paul…”
The residents of this village, where death has become such a common joke, sighed and said when they saw Zachri.
“Hurry up and bury me. “Rest in peace even if you die.”
“Yes…”
“You have to bury it and pull out the weeds in the field again so that your wife and remaining children can be saved. “Don’t be too discouraged, it’s common here.”
In this hellish place, where his parents had to accept their child’s death as a daily occurrence, Zakri sighed and shed tears.
And at this time, an imperial officer came riding on a horse.
“Everyone stop working!”
At those words, everyone stopped what they were doing, knelt down and buried their heads in his hands.
It was so as not to offend the favor of the higher-ups.
“I am Friedrich von Jaeger, Second Lieutenant of the Imperial Army! From now on, your village has become the land of our empire, so you must follow the orders of the imperial army.”
The village chief responded to those words.
“Yes, so-called sari. But our village has no food or wealth to offer to the empire.”
Friedrich looked at the faces of Francois’ people and sighed in his heart.
‘The lives of people living in an incompetent country are truly miserable.’
“Her Highness Princess Lina of the Cafe Imperial Family earnestly requested the Empire to save you. So now, we, the Reich Empire, will do our best to help you return to a comfortable life.”
At those words, Zakri tilted his head.
‘Are you saying that the ruined imperial family will take care of us?’
“Are you sure?”
“I am a second lieutenant in the Imperial Army, the son of His Excellency Peter Jaeger, Reich Marshal, and also a minor duke. “Do you think I would lie to you guys like that?”
With those words, Francois’ people had great expectations.
“Hurry and go to the village square. “If you go, I will give you plenty of porridge mixed with wheat and barley.”
Then, the village residents, except Zachri, started running to the village square at once.
“I’m going to eat it! “Something to eat!”
“You don’t have to starve anymore! Long live the Empire! Long live Her Royal Highness!”
“We should stop by my house first and feed my wife and the kids.”
And Friedrich Jaeger saw Zachry remaining here and asked:
“The child I am holding now seems to be dead. My condolences.”
“……”
“Let me help you ask. “Her Majesty’s request to help you includes this.”
Then, Frederick personally dug the grave for Zachry’s dead son and buried him with the utmost care.
“Let’s eat the porridge first. And if you ask the military chaplain, you will be able to hold a simple funeral.”
“Yes, thank you. Lieutenant…”
Zakri buried his dead son in his heart for a moment and ran to the square.
Then, there were imperial flags, cafe imperial flags, and even imperial soldiers serving porridge.
“Give me one more bowl of porridge! “I’m so hungry!”
“You’ve been starving all this time, soldiers!”
“My child is hungry!”
Whether it be so or not, officers and non-commissioned officers controlled civilians with spears.
If I didn’t follow the control, I would be kicked or stabbed with a sword or spear, so I couldn’t even think of going wild and screaming for food.
“His Excellency General Jaeger said that if you eat too much, you can die. And after we leave, we will distribute wheat and barley flour in moderation!”
“Those who did not receive the porridge should come out quickly and receive the porridge.”
Zakri, dumbfounded, went forward and received the porridge.
“Eating too fast can make you sick, so eat slowly.”
As soon as Zakri received the porridge, his eyes began to redden.
“Yes, thank you. But why are you really doing this to us?”
Because the porridge was almost finished, the soldier, who had nothing else to do, responded kindly.
“Her Highness the Princess of the Cafe Imperial Family becomes the Crown Prince and Consort of the Empire. “She wanted him to take care of Francois’ people, so she helps like this.”
Zakri, who remembered the happy times when he was young and had an imperial family, began to cry while eating porridge.
“The cafe empire has collapsed, but Her Royal Highness still does not forget us and cherishes us…”
Then, after eating a lot of porridge and meeting his family, he started crying.
“Philip is dead. But it’s okay now, because Her Royal Highness has come. “They say you don’t have to starve anymore…”
Zakri’s family also held each other and cried in joy over Philip’s death, but that they would not have to go hungry in the future.
“Dad… Can we eat porridge every day now?”
“You can also eat bread.”
And Peter Yeager, who had brought the crown prince and princess here to see his son…
**
“Your Majesty the Crown Prince, I apologize, but could you at least wave your hand at the people?”
After hearing what I said, His Highness Albert immediately went out and waved to the villagers without asking or questioning.
“My wife, Lina, asked me to protect you, so the Reich Empire will never abandon you!”
At those words, all the people present cheered.
“Thank you, thank you!”
“Her Royal Highness Princess Lina, thank you for taking care of us until the end.”
“Long live the Reich Empire!”
I carefully whispered to Crown Prince Rain, who was watching.
“The Francois Empire may have collapsed, but the Cafe royal family still remains in the hearts of the people. “Isn’t it the nobles, not the commoners, who pushed out Your Majesty’s grandfather, the last of you, in the first place?”
“That’s true.”
Maybe it’s because I became the Grand Marshal and became an old man, but everyone except the Emperor and Empress uses honorifics towards me.
Seeing the Empress, who has no family background, acting like that without even knowing how His Highness the Crown Prince is treating me…
‘Her Royal Highness, who only has blood, will not be able to engage in palace politics for the rest of her life. ‘It’s because you can’t understand the situation like that.’
When I think about that, I think I can hear the corners of His Majesty’s mouth twitching.
“So, for the final glory of the Cape Imperial Family, which no longer exists, and to be born into a family that will leave an honorable name as a noble family of the Empire in the future… Your Majesty Rain, please comfort them as well.”
“Don’t do that.”
Then I spoke carefully.
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“In addition, please love and cherish His Highness the Crown Prince more, who smiles while holding the hand of a mere serf, for His Majesty’s sake. “Just as he loves you.”
As soon as the Crown Princess heard those words, she immediately walked to where the Crown Prince was.
And I called my son Friedrich with a gesture.
When I saw him walking confidently from afar, I thought he would be a better general than me when he got to be my age.
I asked while thinking such nonsense.
“Okay, what did you feel when you saw this?”
“I felt that the people of weak countries were suffering indescribably. “I am determined to do my best to avoid that, Excellency Generalissimo.”
It’s so special.
Who is this child that chooses such extraordinary words?
I thought about stroking his head, but I suppressed my impulse because people around me were watching.
“That is all correct. However, there is one thing wrong.”
“What is it?”
“The commander of an empire must not hesitate to do anything to make the country strong. “This includes massacring the troops of an enemy country, staining one’s hands with blood, and instigating war between other countries.”
Friedrich’s pupils shook at those words.
Looking at the amount of knowledge he has studied, he is as good as a staff officer who completed the training course at the staff college, but that is probably because he has never been in combat.
But if you get stronger with a little bit of real-life experience, you will noticeably improve in no time.
In that sense, I prayed for his development and pledged to reveal one secret that I could disclose to my son, who had the status of a minor duke.
“Friedrich, listen for a moment.”
“Yes, Excellency Marshal.”
I whispered quietly into his ear.
“Your Majesty the Crown Prince, you may not know this, but why does it seem like there are no men in His Highness the Crown Prince’s family? “The reason is because I assassinated all the men of His Highness’s family for the sake of the empire.”
The guy’s body was shaking violently.
“It is a fact known to His Majesty, the Minister of Military Affairs, several senior captains and generals, and high-ranking officials of the empire. “They just don’t talk.”
“If so, my father would have killed all of the direct male lineage of His Highness the Crown Prince.”
“I couldn’t help it because it was helpful to the empire. So, if you need to, you should do the same.”