ALL NOVEL Chapter 27
“Young Master! Young Master Kael!!”
The first person to greet me upon my return from the Pavilion Front was, of course, our Alexei.
He had declared he would follow me anywhere, but I had to persuade him otherwise.
I had taken Alexei with me when we clashed with Nobogord, but that had been more of a skirmish than a war.
Now, however, we were facing a massive war with at least five Imperial Legions deployed.
Moreover, unlike before, I wasn’t just joining for the sake of experience without any role.
“Oh dear! Just look at your face! It’s clear you haven’t been eating on time! No matter how unappetizing the military rations are, haven’t I told you time and again that you should eat properly?”
“I didn’t skip a single meal; I ate just fine.”
While our family’s culinary achievements might not reach the level of our personal chef, the Imperial Army rations were decent enough.
One reason the Imperial Legion could boast the continent’s best combat capability was precisely that they always provided their soldiers with meals above the basic standard.
How one could determine the kind of treatment they received is quite simple.
It’s by observing the quality of the food they are served daily.
Stripped down to its basics, it becomes all the more significant.
Soldiers cannot perform just out of duty; it doesn’t matter if it’s conscription or recruitment. Pride must always accompany duty.
The Empire has chosen to cultivate that pride by providing good rations.
“Those who scoff at food should be forced to eat instant rice made with salted anchovies and kimchi. Then they’d understand whether or not pride can come from food.”
Anyway, for such reasons, I have never once skipped a meal.
A member of the Clausewitz Family making a fuss over the food in the barracks?
Our ancestors would directly visit me in a dream to chastise.
Then they’d exclaim, “Eat! Our family cannot refuse the humble rice!”
“Your cheeks are sunken, and you have dark circles under your eyes!”
“No, I didn’t.”
“I daresay you’ve lost weight. Has the Imperial Army been training you too hard?!”
“Honestly, are you sure our grandmother isn’t in here with you?”
After a reasonable amount of suspicion, we returned to a normal conversation.
“Now then, have you finished all your duties?”
“I’m not sure. It could be, or it might not be.”
“If you say no, does that mean you might go back to the Eastern Battlefield?”
I really don’t know.
As I hesitated, Alexei scanned the surroundings and whispered.
“Are you perhaps hesitant because of a message from the Crown Princess?”
“The Crown Princess only mentioned that she would see me again.”
“In that case…”
“It’s because I don’t quite understand myself.”
It might be best to flee from here before it’s too late.
On the other hand, I feel I might possess more talent than expected.
So, to conclude, it’s accurate to say I truly don’t know what to do for both my family and myself.
“For now, let’s head to the capital. Even if we run diligently from today, it will take some time.”
“Oh dear. I’m worried our Young Master might be pushing himself too hard!”
“Thanks to my father’s special training, I won’t die from just sitting in a carriage for a while.”
That might just be the reason behind my discomfort at being called a strategist.
It gives the impression that someone so labeled would have average or even below-average physical abilities.
After all the work, my muscles feel like they’re melting away, leaving only bones and skin.
Picture a thoroughly exhausted office worker, weary from their grueling workload.
“Despite how it looks, I’ve trained under my father, who’s no slouch. I can wield a sword decently. It just seems that the title of ‘strategist’ doesn’t fit well.”
That notion left me feeling quite unjust. To be honest, I’ve gone through tough times just to build my physical strength.
“Let’s go, Young Master! We’ll set off for the capital!”
“Right. Alexei, please assist me again this time.”
One thing is certain: I need to raise Alexei’s salary.
As the master, I have been dragging him all over, so it’s clear he deserves it.
*
Two months. No, has it almost been three months?
The atmosphere in the capital upon my return was much calmer than I had anticipated.
News of the Pavilion Front must have already circulated.
People were aware of the dismal state of the coalition that had boasted and bragged.
Still, there was no sign of any major stir.
Perhaps it meant they wouldn’t jump the gun since the war had just begun.
Celebrating or mocking the enemy would come only after the fighting had concluded.
That’s not bad. In fact, it feels rather fitting for the Empire.
Victory is, after all, a steadfast and reasoned conviction we all share.
“The reports on the Pavilion Front were quite intriguing, Prince Kael.”
I regained focus and looked at the Crown Princess sitting right in front of me.
Even at first glance, it was clear she was the embodiment of charisma.
“Ah, Bel has gone to the Eastern Region. She plans to comfort the Empire’s citizens there.”
“Is that so?”
“Gnaius is currently in seclusion. He says there’s no need, but he stubbornly insists that doing so is the right thing. Honestly, younger brothers can be so difficult to deal with.”
“I see.”
Why on earth would she discuss the Crown Prince and Crown Princess with the son of a mere noble?
I couldn’t bring myself to outright ask but instead fidgeted with the teacup in front of me.
The Crown Princess gazed at me thoughtfully, then smiled and opened her mouth.
“Prince Kael.”
“Yes, Your Highness the Crown Princess.”
“Are you in dilemma?”
That sentence was abrupt, stripped to its essentials.
Yet I couldn’t shake the feeling that the Crown Princess already knew everything.
“There’s a saying that goes, ‘An age creates heroes.’”
I had heard that phrase before, so I waited quietly for her to continue.
“And you see, sometimes heroes must be humble but at other times must boldly reveal themselves. Do you know why?”
“…Not really.”
“Because, you see…”
The smile on the Crown Princess’s lips deepened.
“The humility of an exceptional person does not appear as humility. Instead, it ignites a somewhat foolish desire to surpass that hero and claim what is theirs.”
“…”
“So heroes must either become ever greater… or suffer disgraceful falls.”
“Prince Kael. The Crown Princess continued as she called my name again.
“You wish to remain where you are. But that won’t be easy. You’ve already shown who you are, what kind of person you are, and what potential you possess.”
“…Your Highness the Crown Princess is right.”
“Therefore, I must say, how about simply becoming who people want you to be?”
The evaluations, thoughts, and opinions others have about me.
I know what they think. It’s just my lack of confidence holding me back.
Until now, I had succeeded thanks to luck. Everything had just lined up nicely.
For now, everyone chants my name, so maybe, just maybe?
But if I were to slip up and fall…
“Prince Kael.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“Merely possessing ability does not grant one the right to have ambitions.”
The Crown Princess pointed towards my chest with a serious expression.
Seeing her like that made me swallow hard, instinctively.
“To have ambition is to qualify to finally wield the true abilities within oneself.”
“…”
Ambition. It seemed a distant word to me.
I came to realize with luck as the eldest son of a Duke, meeting a good younger sibling by chance, and becoming the heir without any issues.
I became the next Duke.
And by sheer luck, I recalled memories of my past life and could utilize them in various situations.
But I thought that was it. I worried about what would happen when real situations arose.
I had decided that this was all I could do, and I shouldn’t attempt any foolishness beyond that.
“Become an outstanding strategist. Aim to be a wonderful advisor. You have the qualifications to hold such ambitions. I guarantee it myself.”
“…”
“Even if you later feel unable to achieve that, do not worry. I, too, will stand by my word to support you as is only right.”
The Crown Princess grinned as she said this.
Seeing her smile made me involuntarily smile in return.
“I have no intention of putting a leash on you.”
After a hearty laugh faded, the Crown Princess tipped her teacup.
“Nor do I wish to tempt you like a hunting dog with meat. I merely want to show you what ambition is.”
“Your Highness.”
“Do you not wish to make this Empire stronger? Do you not want to elevate your family to the highest rank? Do you not wish for the name ‘Kael’ to be remembered in history?”
It felt as if a massive rock had just dropped into the formerly calm waters.
Ambition. The very word that urged me and my family to rise higher.
Those words were short yet powerful. Above all, it felt like a storm had cleared from my mind.