234 – There was plenty left over (1)
Dalton seems very much looking forward to having an audience with the Fourth Prince.
He’s not running around like a new groom about to have his first night, with honey dripping from his eyes.
Her shoulders rose very high as she hummed a song that was inappropriate for her age.
“It’s a reward, a reward, for beating the Count. How can I boast about this to Millia? “Will she just shrug her shoulders and carry the gift and brag about it, or will she be honestly happy, hugging all three of us warmly and crying together?”
No, in terms of how happy she is, she must be more excited than a new groom about to have his first night.
Otherwise, I’m right next to you, and I wouldn’t say something like that that would become a side dish for drinks for the rest of my life.
However, I will have to properly tease him later.
Because that is the coming and going of Koreans.
“Captain Dalton, do you like it that much?”
When Dalton heard that, he suddenly hugged me.
I didn’t commit the atrocity of rubbing his face in that condition, but maybe it’s because, unlike me, he is a person who is proud of growing a beard.
His brown beard tickled my neck and cheeks.
“I’m dying, you bastard!”
From Noble mtl dot com
It’s not that I don’t understand how he feels, so I didn’t push Dalton away as he gave me a passionate hug while saying those words.
“I’m sure you did too, but I also received a lot of criticism after being granted the Barony of Maurer due to this civil war, calling myself a lucky bastard. Still, because I didn’t do anything, I was ignored by other barons and high-ranking knights under Count Frost.”
No matter what era or country you go to, a parachute suddenly dropped from outside is never welcome at first.
I have rarely met other nobles of the 4th Prince’s faction in person, so I don’t remember being openly ignored.
As soon as that damned Count Hogen saw me, the person who brought the first victory to this faction, he cut people’s hearts by saying that I came from a ‘lowly mercenary leader.’
The oppression and restraint that Dalton experienced must have been unspeakably severe.
“But this time, I played a solid role in taking over the County of Hansa, so not only His Highness the Fourth Prince but also Count Frost will have no choice but to acknowledge me.”
Because a parachute whose ability has been proven is not a parachute.
“That’s right.”
“Anyway, I thought you were more excited than me, but why are you so calm?”
It’s not that I’m not excited.
I have lived a life so far that it is no exaggeration to say that the reason I continued to work as a mercenary was only for this moment.
I feel like I want to dance shoulder to shoulder with Captain Dalton next to me, and I have the confidence to run wild like a drunk guy even if I don’t drink…
This war is not over yet.
Even though the battle with the enemy is over, there are still many attempts to keep our troops in check and to cut off their achievements.
“It’s a long way from being over. I have to take care of the 4th Prince, and take care of my share from the nobles. So let’s hurry.”
Dalton clicked his tongue when he heard me.
“As expected, Baron Cologne can’t be compared to a fool like me. “I’m sorry for being stone-headed.”
“If the captain had a stone head, he wouldn’t have come this far. And shouldn’t you be taking away Osundosun’s territory, honor, and status along with me? “You also have a child.”
This is Dalton, who holds the title of Baronet.
So, unless you have more than 50 children, it’s not like you can’t afford to give away a generous portion of property…
Parental psychology is all like that.
‘Something I want to leave a little more to my children.’
“A rotten bastard, really. If this continues, this bastard is going to rip off the real princess.”
It’s already hard enough with just three people, and you’re bringing a noble princess with you?
That will never happen.
“What nonsense? “Have you been drinking since midday?”
“If it’s you, there’s a chance.”
As I was chatting with Dalton, we arrived at the throne room where the Fourth Prince was.
I am also treated as a direct vassal of the Fourth Prince, but I have never met him or any of his direct vassals except Margrave Estelle…
What kind of people are waiting for me?
“Your Highness Prince Otto, I, Baron Martin von Cologne, have obeyed your orders and defeated a large army of 15,000 men led by the traitorous Count Hansa and taken over his entire county. “I now dedicate to you all the glory of this victory, including the lands and wealth that he possessed.”
This is a word with a needlessly long modifier that makes me cringe even when I say it.
However, if the person you are meeting for the first time is someone who is ambitious enough to want to hold absolute power, it is best to bow down and go in.
Why? Because all powerful people in this world like people who bend to their own devices.
“Both of you, raise your heads.”
When I looked up, I saw that most of the nobles had sad expressions.
Meanwhile, Margrave Estelle, who is standing right next to the 4th Prince, slightly raises the corner of his mouth and smiles, while our Prince Otto is looking at him with an extremely solemn gaze.
“Baron Cologne and Baron Maurer, the feat that you two risked your lives for, moved me greatly. When I first heard the report that you had defeated 15,000 troops with your own strength and captured Count Hansa prisoner, you cheered in your room and shed tears. Furthermore, when I heard that they had completely taken over the County of Hansa, I was so happy that I drank with them to the point of getting drunk in broad daylight.”
If Hilde, who considers honor and loyalty to be the highest values on earth, had heard this, she would have been so happy and cried as if she were wailing right here.
I am not a noble, but a mere mercenary captain.
Therefore, I know very well that these words of ‘honor’ from a high person are really meaningless.
In Korea, the government calls people who served their full term of service up to sergeant majors as patriots who devoted themselves to their country, but no one likes hearing that, right?
The same principle applies in this world as well.
However, when living in this world, there are times when you have to hide your true feelings.
“It is an honor.”
But you should not pretend to be humble after making great achievements.
If I pretend to be nice and say that I did everything thanks to you, those people will open their eyes and pay me a 50% discount on my fair share.
“Do you know why we were so happy about your victory?”
“Isn’t it because we can get one step closer to His Majesty’s great intentions?”
Rather than being able to get one step closer to the dream of unifying the Rhine-Palatinate Empire, this is actually what you were afraid of.
The force is so weak that the internal solidarity may be broken at any time, and no one outside believes in you, Otto.
I know that as soon as Dalton and I achieved the feat of swallowing up an earldom, the stock price soared and we went from a company on the verge of bankruptcy to a promising force.
But if I mention it with my own mouth, they will criticize my achievements and call me an arrogant bastard.
Otto said while putting his hand on my shoulder and patting me.
“That’s true, but honestly, our faction is very weak. So even the lords who had remained neutral until now had no intention of joining my faction. “I guess you thought you never knew when it might collapse.”
I looked like I was completely devastated.
As if I was hearing it for the first time.
It breaks my heart that I have to work so hard in my social life just to feed my subordinates.
After this damn political maneuver called audience is over, I have to go back to my dorm and touch Karin’s breasts and ask Lucia to give me a lap pillow.
Then what kind of service should we ask Hilde for?
Oh, I feel like my head will break if I don’t have such pleasant thoughts.
“Aren’t they the ones who don’t know the high intentions of His Majesty? So, you may be swayed by only the fragmentary information you see before your eyes.”
“Thank you for saying that. I heard that even when he was a mercenary leader, he always rewarded his employers with results that exceeded expectations. “You’re very smart.”
Yes, I told you in return that I would bow down to you to this extent.
Reveal your true colors, you damned prince.
“Thanks to your great victory this time, our faction has escaped the brink of destruction. So, if there is a reward you want, feel free to say it. Do you want to be granted more spacious territory? Or do you hope to achieve something bigger?”
Everyone’s eyes were focused on me at those words.
Since the prince was lucky, it would not be a problem if I received a generous grant of territory, but considering the future, it is not a good choice.
Why? In order to survive in this faction, the important thing now is to gain the complete trust of the Fourth Prince.
Furthermore, it means not disobeying Margrave Estelle.
But are you deceived by the bait waved in front of you?
This is like protesting to kill me.
So, in times like this, you need a strategy of handing over the initiative while pretending to be humble.
This is something you usually do in a game where you collect autumn leaves.
‘You are welcome.’
“I am Your Majesty’s subject. Therefore, I believe that His Majesty will reward you generously.”
There is nothing wrong with this statement.
If you don’t give me an appropriate reward for making a great contribution in front of all the nobles who are involved in the unfavorable faction…
Because that guy is 100% defeated.