After sending Schatten, Mont Blanc, and 10 other horses into the stable and organizing the various spoils of war and gift supplies in the warehouse, that spacious warehouse seemed packed full. So I even moved goods down to the ancient Roman-era basement where Klugen had been hiding.

What captured Hilda’s interest was, of course, Mont Blanc.

"Is this magnificent white horse Count Épinay’s?"

"Yeah. It has a nasty temper and picks fights with everyone."

"Really? It’s so gentle, though."

"...Right. It’s gentle?"

Mont Blanc stayed still under Hilda’s touch without rearing up.

This horse had reared up when I touched it before.

Winter explained that Mont Blanc seemed to have taken a liking to the lady.

I’d somehow tamed it by bribing it with sugar cubes, but Hilda didn’t need that.

It’s not as though this horse discriminates between people... or does it?

Neigh!

The stable was peaceful except for Schatten getting jealous when Hilda lavished attention only on Mont Blanc. Most of the light cavalry horses were also docile compared to the ill-tempered Schatten and Mont Blanc. Hilda was curious about how I’d obtained Mont Blanc. I wondered whether I should tell her the truth.

So I embellished the story, saying I’d captured Count Épinay in the safest way possible so Hilda wouldn’t worry. However, Hilda, who’d been staring into my eyes, seemed to sense some falsehood in my words. In truth, it had been quite dangerous. If I hadn’t caught Épinay, I would’ve been surrounded and killed.

"Wolf. I pray for your safety every day. So please, never push yourself too hard."

"I won’t push myself. I don’t want to ruin the days I spend with you either."

"Even apart, we were thinking the same thing."

Looking at Hilda’s glistening eyes, I fingered the small jewelry box I was holding behind my back. It was the Eternal Angel topaz brooch, a specialty of the Glesia family that I’d received as a gift from Fried’s wife. But giving something so romantic in a stable would be terribly unromantic, wouldn’t it?

So I took Hilda to the rose garden.

August, who had his own memories of this Rosengarden—which had been Baron Constance’s mansion—was deeply lost in sentiment in the rose garden. I quickly gestured from behind to August, who’d noticed us, asking him to give us some space. Understanding immediately, August smiled and moved away.

"I brought you a gift from Euz."

I carefully showed Hilda the brooch. Crafted into a rose shape to highlight the yellowish topaz, it suited Hilda perfectly. Hilda stared at it blankly, then looked up at me. Her eyes brimmed with moisture. She pulled me into a tight embrace and kissed me deeply.

"I’m so happy! My lovely knight!"

Ahem, I should send a thank-you letter to Fried’s wife.

I hadn’t expected Hilda to be this happy.

She pinned the brooch to her chest with an incredibly joyful expression.

"I thought you had no interest in jewelry—surprised?"

"I still don’t have much interest. But you gave it to me, didn’t you? I don’t think I’ll ever forget today. I’m going to make it an anniversary for my lovely Wolf who gave me such a romantic gift."

R-really?

She wasn’t happy because the gift was a beautiful jewel—she was overjoyed that I had given her a gift. She’s such a lovely woman I can hardly stand it. In the rose garden, the two of us spent the day sharing our warmth and hearts for a long time.

As if soothing our burning longing, we regained peace in the scent of roses.

The next day, we departed for the royal castle.

Hilda and I, dressed in a gorgeous gown and banquet attire respectively, traveled by carriage. Today was the day of the merit awards ceremony along with the victory banquet. The Eternal Angel brooch was pinned to Hilda’s chest. It really suited her well. With rose-colored glasses on, everything looked beautiful to me.

Around the carriage, August rode at the front wearing majestic plate armor, followed by Anton bearing the family crest flag on horseback. Ted and Oscar escorted us on the left and right, with Hans in the rear. Looking at it this way, it was truly a noble procession.

We met Fiel and his wife Elisabeth in front of the royal palace.

I was meeting Elisabeth, who was also Hilda’s friend, for the first time. She was a lively beauty with lustrous black hair. Fiel sometimes said she was overwhelming, and it certainly seemed that way. Unlike usual, Fiel’s face was shadowed with fatigue. Had she not left her husband alone all night?

"Did you rest well last night?"

"I’m doing well. Looks like you were worn out all night?"

Fiel smiled sheepishly and avoided answering. Hilda was chatting with Elisabeth, and Elisabeth’s gaze seemed drawn to the brooch pinned to Hilda’s chest. Hilda proudly boasted that it was the Glesia family’s Eternal Angel brooch, a gift from her husband.

Elisabeth’s face instantly filled with envy.

Seeing that, Fiel sighed and said to me:

"When on earth did you get that brooch?"

"I received it as a gift from the Glesia family."

"Ah, I should’ve bought jewelry instead of Rosenheim rose perfume."

I’d heard that women really hate being compared unfavorably to their friends. They say husbands get nagged because of it. Who did I hear that from? A friend. Hilda, who’d grown confident thanks to my gift, seemed to be in a very good mood. Her brooch drew tremendous interest from the other noblewomen too.

"Oh my, goodness. Where is this brooch from?"

"This brilliant yellow glow is so charming."

It seemed Hilda was drawing attention because a woman famous for usually having no interest in jewelry had suddenly appeared wearing a stunning brooch. Then a thought struck me. Like advertising sponsorship.

Could Fried’s wife possibly have been aiming for this very effect?

Glesia’s brooch suddenly became a hot topic among the noblewomen.

If my thinking was correct... I really couldn’t let my guard down with anyone.

That melancholy, pitiful-looking wife was a shrewd businesswoman after all.

"What on earth is going on? Hilda getting this kind of attention from noblewomen."

"Brother-in-law, I think I’ve just witnessed a true businesswoman’s skill firsthand."

"What are you talking about?"

When we entered the royal palace hall, Hilda and I stood at the War Minister family’s position.

Michael, who’d arrived first, whispered to me that there would be good results.

I also exchanged greetings with Michael’s sister-in-law for the first time.

And his sister-in-law also showed interest in Hilda’s brooch.

Anyway, good results?

Michael and I had gone home yesterday, but my father-in-law had apparently convened the Grand Council and settled the merit awards in advance. The man seemed to know no fatigue. Thanks to that, a quick consensus had been reached, and today all eyes were on how Grand Duke Karlus would announce things before the assembled nobles.

Opposite the War Minister’s family was the Finance Minister’s family.

They were frowning, seemingly displeased with yesterday’s council results.

Hmm, judging from those expressions, the results were definitely favorable for me.

What about the other minister families?

The Judicial Minister’s family was friendly toward me since we’d worked together, and the Administrative Minister’s family, as always, maintained neutrality toward the other ministers while unconditionally supporting the royal family’s decisions. Fortunately, they didn’t seem uncomfortable. If they supported my father-in-law, it wouldn’t matter if the Finance Minister opposed.

"His Grand Ducal Highness enters!"

Grand Duke Karlus entered the hall with the Crown Prince and the Queen.

I was seeing the Queen, who had almost no public activities, for the first time today.

"Steiner, who protects Beren, and Euznirk, who guards the border, cooperated to repel Burgundy’s northern invasion without major damage. I commend the War Minister family for their efforts in leading the duchy forces. Paust von Steiner, step forward."

My father-in-law stepped forward and knelt on one knee. He was recognized for leading the duchy forces and defeating the enemy’s main force, receiving considerable wealth as compensation. Michael was called next. The order seemed to follow the hierarchy within the duchy forces.

The cavalry commander who led the Beren Lance Cavalry also received many rewards.

"Wolfgang Ritter von Streit, step forward."

I was called and went before the Grand Duke—or was it just my imagination?

A silence fell so deep that not even breathing could be heard.

What? Why had it gone so quiet?

"I have heard of your brilliant military achievements. Following the Crown Prince’s orders, you upheld your knightly oath by saving people who couldn’t evacuate, then advanced north to defeat enemy raiding parties and weaken their forces. Not satisfied with that, you raided and burned the enemy’s supply base, making decisive contributions to the war effort."

The shocked faces of nobles hearing about my achievements for the first time were a sight to behold. Even in summary, they were incredible feats. It sounded almost as if I’d led the entire war single-handedly. Achievements made possible by the Commander Scouter. Grand Duke Karlus continued:

"The achievement of capturing Count Épinay of Burgundy, the enemy’s supreme commander, is an unparalleled feat. When I received the report from the War Minister, it was like seeing the reincarnation of Steinhof."

The central nobles held their breath and focused on Grand Duke Karlus’s next words. The comparison to Steinhof, hailed as the hero who saved the nation 20 years ago, carried enormous weight. From Grand Duke Karlus’s manner as he drew out the moment while surveying the hall, I caught the distinct air of a showman.

Was he deliberately drawing things out to build anticipation?

"I appoint Wolfgang Ritter von Streit as centurion. Also, at the War Minister’s active proposal, and feeling the need to create an independent cavalry force specialized in raids and pursuits, I hereby establish a knightly order composed of light cavalry. The inaugural commander is Streit, and I grant him the right to decide the knightly order’s name."

What? A knightly order?

And I was the inaugural commander?

"Furthermore, I grant Streit an appropriate estate."