Chapter 406: Loyalty Is Never Free

The Rosenheim church holds the grave of Baron Constance. By rights, my father’s grave ought to be beside it, but sadly, my father has no grave at all.

I assume that after the battle, the Burgundians buried the dead in a common grave to prevent an epidemic. All I know is that the grave lies somewhere in Belfort; its exact location is a mystery.

To meet death with the open field for a bed is the fate of a nameless knight who lived on the battlefield. I too may meet my end on a battlefield, but my hope is to close my eyes peacefully at Hilda’s side.

On the baron’s grave, I laid the worn necklace I had received from the grand duke. I couldn’t say exactly what meaning the necklace carried, but there was no doubt it held the grand duke’s heart.

"His Highness told me once that Baron Constance and I are alike."

"I met him once, and there really is something about him that resembles you, Wolf."

"Really? Where exactly is the resemblance?"

I’ve seen the baron’s portrait, and our faces are nothing alike. And yet both the grand duke and Hilda agreed that I resembled him. Not a resemblance on the outside, but on the inside.

"He was a man who always sparkled like a star in the night sky."

"If he sparkled that much, he must have been easy to spot at night."

"And he was so very sweet to the ladies and the young noblewomen..."

"If he was only sweet to women, that just makes him a womanizer."

"Oh, honestly, Wolf! Are you jealous, by any chance?"

"Your eyes looked exactly like those of a girl in the throes of first love, that’s all."

Hilda burst into giggles and nestled into my arms. And with those lovely eyes gazing up at me, I couldn’t help stealing a kiss. Hilda seemed absolutely delighted that I was jealous.

We didn’t hesitate to flirt right in front of someone else’s grave.

"It wasn’t my first love. It was Elisa’s."

Selling out her friend like that. Well, let’s leave it at that. A wise husband doesn’t pry into his wife’s old first love. A first love is just that, a first love. I had one too. Hmm, was it 25 years ago?

My first love was the girl who sat beside me in elementary school. Sometimes I still think of those innocent days. She was a feisty little thing, sharp as a tack, who drew a line down our wooden desk and told me not to cross it.

Then Hilda pinched my side.

It felt like being yanked out of my memories by the hair.

"You were just thinking about another woman, weren’t you?"

"Ahem, our business here is done, so let’s head back to the castle."

It felt somewhat unjust, but I soothed a pouting Hilda as we stepped out of the church. Gunners in red coats, snow-white trousers, and golden epaulettes, arquebuses slung over their shoulders, escorted us.

On the way to the castle, I watched the scenery outside the carriage. It was only a small city, but I could feel the energy in the people, and they couldn’t take their eyes off our marching gunners.

"That armor suits you well."

"I-it still feels a bit awkward. Haha."

Hans, guarding the castle gate, stood clad in black plate armor.

This black plate armor was part of the spoils won by defeating the black knight I fought so fiercely beneath the prison tower of Radensdorf. Hans and that knight were of similar build, and there was no one else who could wear it.

I granted it to Hans to lend him the dignity he’d need to take firm control of the Rosenheim guards. The guards number about 50, and only two of my confidants followed me from Feuzen.

So it was necessary to show that he was a confidant trusted by their lord. Just as the people of Feuzen shunned the Boeven migrants, the stones already set in place will always push out the stone that rolls in.

Thanks to that, Hans took control of the guards with ease. And thanks to his forceful push, most of them were outfitted with at least a plate cuirass and a decent weapon.

I distributed the spoils of war to the guard unit.

Originally I’d planned to gather up the spoils and sell them off, but rather than fussing over a few dozen silver coins apiece, I decided it was better to issue the equipment to the guards and raise their fighting strength and morale.

Medieval soldiers mostly have to procure their own arms and armor, so a lord personally providing expensive equipment is taken as a sign of tremendous trust.

So when I distributed the plate armor and weapons from the spoils evenly among them, it instantly melted the hearts of the guards, who had been terribly envious of the gunners in their splendid new-style uniforms.

"Keep up the good work."

"It’s an honor, my lord!"

The guards’ burning loyalty simply warmed my heart.

Loyalty isn’t given for free; it’s earned by moving people’s hearts. After Hans took charge of them, the guard unit’s cohesion grew even stronger. Now I can trust them with the keys to the house.

When I returned to the office, August, who had been waiting, reported his progress. I had ordered him to root out illegal moneylending. Fortunately, he’d carried out the mission successfully.

But not perfectly.

"The ones who got away all fled south?"

"Yes. Those who caught wind of it chose to flee in the night rather than resist. In my view, there’s no doubt the Count of Basel planted the poison of usury in Rosenheim."

"Those damned bastards never stop finding ways to be a nuisance."

Retribution against Baschurten is underway, but it’s still too early to touch Basel. I plan to raise an army equipped with firearms and an artillery corps before provoking Basel in earnest.

If I blast away with cannons near Hissen under the pretext of training, they won’t be able to sleep at night. Of course, right now I have no cannons at all, just 20 gunners under me. So I need a certain amount of time.

Until then, I’ll have to block their schemes thoroughly.

Getting played by their tricks does nothing but sour my mood.

"Thank you for arranging a position for my brother-in-law (Wentner)."

"I didn’t appoint him because he’s your brother-in-law. I appointed him because he’s capable."

"Even so, thanks to your consideration, my lord, I’ve been able to hold my head high."

"Your wife must have been overjoyed."

August’s wife is Bailey Wentner. She was one of Hilda’s personal handmaids, and though she wasn’t a face I saw often, Hilda once praised her as a quick-witted, clever girl.

"Sir Einbeck, Basel may provoke us at the border, so go to Hissen and see to the town’s defenses. At present, you’re the only one I can trust with the border. Whatever support you need, you shall have."

"I’m grateful for your trust, but will I be able to return before my wife gives birth?"

"By then, it won’t be Hissen you’re guarding. It’ll be Rosenheim."

Under the influence of the population growth passive, the wives of childbearing age, Hilda among them, had all become pregnant and would give birth around the same time. I intended to cross into Austria only after Hilda safely delivered our child.

On this point, I will never yield.