Chapter 110: Setback

Major general… I was going to be promoted to major general?

“I-I heard nothing about this…!”

“Oh? I thought you would have been told during your audience just now.”

“…Me, a major general…”

“A major general’s post happened to be vacant and fell into your hands. Your duties won’t change, so you need not worry.”

“…”

I wasn’t worried about receiving more work.

Was major general not far too high? A brigadier general sat at the very bottom of the general ranks and was often called an acting general. It was hardly a position from which one could loudly proclaim oneself a general.

A major general, by contrast, was unquestionably a general—the fourth-highest rank when field marshal was included. Father had been a brigadier general when he was still in the army. I had surpassed even him.

“…More importantly, are you and I both going?”

I would set the rank aside for the moment.

Thinking about it calmly, it was more surprising that Second Princess Emma and I were both being sent as envoys.

The alliance proposal I drafted had assumed that I would remain in Wa as ambassador. There had been no plan for Second Princess Emma to accompany me.

“Are they still trying to dilute my achievements by placing you beside me?”

Now that General Newsbeck’s faction was growing, I could hardly imagine anyone trying to undermine the achievements of her closest aide.

I had thought such efforts had already disappeared within her camp.

“Even if so, it would be difficult to win any spectacular achievements in Wa. Would it not be more effective for you to remain here and distinguish yourself? Are we truly both going?”

“Yes. I have received orders that we’ll both go.”

“Even though they’re raising me to major general? My rank alone is sufficient for an ambassador. If I go with you, would that not amount to sending two ambassadors?”

“We’ll only be temporary envoys. After making ourselves known and establishing relations in Wa, we intend to return.”

“…What? I intended to remain in Wa for a long time.”

“Asia won’t become the main theater of the war. We can’t stay there indefinitely. It’s already winter. The battlefields will begin moving again in early summer, once winter has ended and the spring mud has improved. We’ll return by then.”

“…”

I was speechless.

“During that time, we must teach the language of Wa to the person who will remain as ambassador. I’ll leave that to you.”

“…There’s no need. I would be sufficient.”

“No. You must continue distinguishing yourself on the front lines. We can’t allow you to idle away your time in Wa.”

“…Ngh.”

Faced with her unyielding attitude, I made an inarticulate sound.

“What? Did you want to live in Wa that badly?”

“…”

I did.

It was Wa. It was Japan. Of course I preferred it. I had also received word that Eisen’s condition was stabilizing.

To prevent a dispute over the succession to House Willard, I had wanted to seclude myself in Wa.

I had even planned to take Shia-neesama with me and live there peacefully.

I stood on the battlefield for Shia-neesama’s sake.

Not for Lunoa Kingdom. After accomplishing too much, I could no longer flee the battlefield. Becoming ambassador to Wa had been the only route by which I could escape without difficulty and live peacefully with Shia-neesama.

“…It isn’t that I particularly wished to.”

I had thought the plan was perfect.

Why had it suddenly changed?

“Then there’s no problem, is there?”

“…Your Highness.”

…

…I was the one who had drawn up the alliance proposal. It shouldn’t have changed.

“Brigadier General Willard, our country can’t afford to let you sit idle. Whatever you may think, I won’t yield on this. We can’t win without you.”

“I have no objection. I understand.”

Pressing the matter farther would damage her opinion of me.

Although Second Princess Emma and I had become somewhat close, she would surely be angry if she learned that I truly wanted to flee the front lines.

It would be unwise to provoke her anger.

“Then I’ll take my leave. I still have work to do.”

“Yes. Do your best.”

“Excuse me.”

Did I have no choice but to give up?

I bowed to Second Princess Emma and headed toward my office.

Noah walked down the corridor with slumped shoulders and heavy steps.

“…That was close.”

Watching his retreating back, Emma quietly murmured those words.