I'm familiar with how these types of stories go,
Where someone possesses another, or they've reincarnated.
Most of the time, the ones in these stories have the goal of living an easy life.
There were some about revenge and whatnot, but the overwhelming majority were like that.
I wondered what kind of absurdly stupid goal that was, but after finding myself in the same situation, I understood.
That an ordinary life is the sweetest and most desirable gift of all.
Even I have set my ultimate goal to eating well and living well, just like now.
Of course, that includes taking good care of my family and my household.
What's the point of living well alone? Only when your family is happy and your house is at peace can you truly live well.
For that reason. As the eldest son of the Clausewitz family, of Count Berthier, I did my best.
I will continue to do so. I will constantly strive for it.
Therefore. Having become the main character of the banquet along with the Princess, I could no longer belittle myself.
"I've been saying this on the way here, too. It's truly amazing how you came up with a strategy as soon as the meteor fell, Young Master Kael."
"I merely racked my brain to the best of my ability for the sake of the Empire and the army, Your Highness."
I stopped saying outright, 'I'm not that kind of guy.'
Of course, I didn't drop my humility and boast, 'Actually, I'm pretty great.'
I won't boast, but I will stop being so timid.
'Everything is for my family, my house. And for my future.'
I've lived as a noble for over 20 years already. With this much experience, I roughly know how the political world works.
If a talented person acts humble, people admire them even more but also become wary.
But if that humility becomes excessive, a treacherous thought arises and they start to look down on you.
I'll not allow my family to suffer just because I made the mistake of being too humble.
"Hahaha. I don't know how it happened that Her Highness the Imperial Princess secretly joined the military campaign, but such a thing occurred."
"That's exactly what I'm saying. Perhaps the heavens were so moved by a direct descendant of the Imperial Family accompanying us to this distant front line that they bestowed a gift upon us!"
The people from the Ministry of War. The high-ranking military commanders quickly joined in, noticing my change.
Indeed, military prowess alone is not enough to reach high positions.
You need political sense and aptitude. Yes. Absolutely.
"Fufufu. Is that so? I am also very pleased to have met Young Master Kael during this campaign."
The situation naturally elevates the Princess by my side as she elevates me.
Just as this atmosphere of goodwill was about to slightly ease my tension.
"Your Highness."
Someone approached and whispered something quietly into the Princess's ear.
The man who is conveying the message now. I've seen his face a few times before.
'He was the Princess's guard, right? The man who disguised himself as a junior officer.'
The guard comes and delivers a message. And the smile of the Princess, who heard it, cracks slightly.
I don't know exactly what happened, but one thing is certain.
From the Princess's perspective, something quite troublesome has happened, or someone has arrived.
"Everyone. His Highness the First Prince will be arriving shortly."
And once again, my prediction was not wrong.
More than that, it was the First Prince. The atmosphere of this banquet hall turned cold immediately.
*
'Why? Why on earth is that person coming to the banquet?!'
Isabelle was extremely flustered. It was something she hadn't even considered.
Gnaeus Heldenbergh. The First Prince. And the current center of the pacifist nobles in the Empire.
A person who believes that diplomatic actions alone are sufficient to maintain peace, rather than military actions, given the current power of the Empire.
For that reason, they didn't see eye to eye. Clashing at every turn, since in Gnaeus' eyes, Isabelle was a warmonger.
The First Prince is not very close to the military. He has never attended a military banquet.
It is said that he does not engage in private conversations with military personnel, except for national events.
So it was surprising that the First Prince suddenly appeared at the banquet.
"What are you doing?"
For that reason, it was a natural course of action for Isabelle to stop the First Prince, who was about to enter the banquet hall.
"Ah. My cute little sister. Is the banquet going well?"
"Don't change the subject. Why are you here?"
"Why am I here? As a Prince of the Empire, I just wanted to see those who have worked hard."
'Are you kidding me right now?' was about to come out of her mouth.
If there were no eyes watching around. If there were no ears listening, it would have.
"So. Why are you doing that? You've always been critical of the Imperial Army's activities."
"Now, now. Critical? I was simply opposing the military when I thought unnecessary damage had occurred because of excessive ambition. You call that being critical?"
"Yes! That's what we call being critical! You idiot!"
They are the Prince and Princess of the Empire, but in the end, they are also siblings.
They're only a year apart, so it's understandable that they growl at each other, not being able to devour each other.
"Are you going to spoil the good mood by saying things like there was heavy consumption of supplies, or that there were regrettable sacrifices, like last time?"
"Bel. You should say that more nicely. Shouldn't you be more dignified as a member of the Imperial Family?"
Then Isabelle bit her lip, letting out a groan.
As the Prince said, she was too excited. So some excessive words came out.
To her, he's just an older brother one year apart, whom she squabbles with every day, but to others, he's the First Prince of this Empire.
If she, as a Princess, does not uphold the Prince's authority, the order of the Imperial Family could be shaken.
"Sigh... Please. Just, be reasonable. Okay? Be reasonable."
"I really didn't come here to cause trouble, you know?"
The Prince shrugged his shoulders once and continued.
"I heard that you avoided battle as much as possible, and proved the Empire's superiority without provoking Novgorod's hostility."
"That's..."
"That's what this older brother wanted. There's no need to always pick up swords and spears, shed blood, and sacrifice lives to fight. There are many other ways to demoralize the enemies and make them lose the will to fight."
She wanted to deny it somehow. But objectively speaking, it's true, so it was hard to do so.
In the end, Isabelle sighed and had to step aside.
"Thank you. Well. Shall we go see the people who achieved a truly great victory?"
Looking at the First Prince entering the banquet hall and the few following him, Isabelle thought.
I'll let it slide once because he's my brother. But if he causes trouble again, I'll really kill him.
But as if he had sensed Isabelle's inner thoughts.
"Greetings to Your Highness, the First Prince."
"It's nice to meet you all. I heard you all worked hard this time."
"You flatter us, Your Highness."
In the past, when he saw military personnel, he used to say things like, 'They eat too much tax money. They seem to handle soldiers carelessly to gain merit. Supplies are all bought by the Imperial citizens, so they shouldn't be used carelessly.' etc.
He used to implicitly say such things, making them suffocate.
But today, he didn't bring up those stories.
As a pacifist, he is not checking the military, but rather praising them for their hard work.
'Did that person eat something wrong?'
Isabelle thought so at first, but thinking back, it's understandable.
Just as he said earlier. This time, the Empire dealt a blow without a major battle or damage.
The Prince might think that the military also confirmed that fighting unconditionally is not the only way.
"Oh. So you're Kael. The eldest son of Count Berthier, was it?"
"Yes, Your Highness. I am Kael Clausewitz."
"I've heard about you. You raised morale with your brilliant strategy, gave Novgorod a reason to retreat, and in the end, even imprinted the superiority of our Empire. You're truly amazing. Haha!"
In the meantime, the Prince is also praising Kael, whom she acknowledged, so it feel quite good.
It's proof that her eyes weren't wrong. It means he made an impressive impression on the picky First Prince.
"Your second strategy was also amazing, but I like your first strategy more. It is said that even those who have learned about stars instinctively regard the falling of a meteor as an ominous omen. Moreover, it was inside the military camp, so the anxiety would have been even greater."
The Prince is now excited, as if he's about to put his arm around Kael's shoulder.
"But Kael, you gave a completely different answer while everyone was saying that we should retreat or that we should quickly decide the outcome. With just kites, and things to attach to kites. You raised our collapsing allies and suppressed the enemies."
"It was largely thanks to the Corps Commander readily accepting the wit that came to mind at the time, Your Highness."
"Humble, just as I heard. You are a man who will take responsibility for the future of our Empire. Hahaha!"
...? The atmosphere isn't as bad as she thought? Was she worried for nothing?
Just as Isabelle, who was about to drag the Prince away at the slightest hint of trouble, was feeling a little relieved......
"Your Highness the Prince. Perhaps you should also say something about the other military personnel."
A person who had been staring at Kael with a displeased expression for a while now spoke up.
He was one of the pacifist nobles who had entered with the Prince a little while ago.
"Young Master Kael is certainly great, but the pillars are just as important. Anyone can come up with that one-time wit, but the role of not wavering is not easily accomplished."
At first glance, it sounds like he's talking about the greatness of the military personnel, but that noble is on the pacifist side.
There's no reason for such a person to suddenly boost the military. There is some other intention.
And that, some people, including Isabelle, could immediately realize.
'Could it be. Is he trying to check him?'
That noble seems to be known as a rather brilliant strategist by the Prince's side.
It seems he was upset that the Prince was praising a young man.
Although he is the eldest son of a Count, he probably saw him as a still rookie noble.
So maybe he was subtly checking him. Isabelle thought so.
'He knows Young Master Kael's background and still acts like that. He must be connected to at least a Marquis family.'
Count Berthier is clearly a warmonger. On the contrary, that person is by the Prince's side, so he's a pacifist.
It's a light jab in the political world, as is usually the case.
However, no matter what. To show such a shameful appearance at a banquet...
As the host, Isabelle decided that she should give a stern warning, and was just about to take a step, when,
"You're right."
Kael laughed a bit loudly...But his eyes were cold.
Leaving the Prince's side, he approached the noble and stood in front of him.
"Just as you said, what I did is just was something anyone can come up with once. I completely agree with your opinion."
Kael, who said so, was holding a boiled egg that had been served as finger food.