“Kael! Ah, should I now address you as Chief of the Imperial Staff?!”
“…Now that you mention it, Strategist might actually suit me better.”
Is the burden really heavier just because people started calling me ‘counselor’? Or am I just imagining things?
Or maybe I’ve just gotten used to being called Strategist.
When Her Highness Princess calls me like that, my face feels all tingly.
No matter what, my official title now is Chief of the Imperial Staff.
Sure, people still refer to me as the prodigy strategist and all that.
And truthfully, I do feel more accustomed to being called Strategist than Counselor.
“You don’t need to worry. Kael. Even as Chief of the Imperial Staff, your responsibilities won’t change much from when you were Strategist.”
“Actually, during the time when I was Strategist… Never mind. I shouldn’t have said that. My apologies.”
Her Highness gives me a look, and I quickly retract what I was about to say.
She already trusted me more than anyone else.
And it only exploded further after meeting Charlotte.
When Charlotte talks about me, it gives me chills. She’s practically done her homework on me.
Why I chose certain strategies, the reasoning behind my decisions, how I solved foreseeable problems, how I maximized benefits…
Listening to her talk about all that in front of Her Highness made the situation what it is now.
The funny thing is, I didn’t have any of those grand intentions.
Most of my decisions were like, “Hmm, this seems like a good idea,” and then I just went for it.
Kind of like when people interpret some famous artist’s work as having deep meaning, but the artist was probably just tired or rushing against a deadline.
“Um, but anyway, Your Highness.”
“Yes, Chief of the Imperial Staff?”
“…Could you just treat me a little more casually?”
Because I’m starting to feel my skin crawl.
At my heartfelt plea, Her Highness giggles lightly and nods.
“Why did I get appointed as Chief of the Imperial Staff? It’s not even some random position—it’s directly under the Imperial Family. And now…”
“Is it because you feel the Empire is focusing too much on you?”
“…Honestly, yes.”
Jealousy isn’t just about someone being successful; it’s when others elevate someone so high.
Till now, I’ve been a source of admiration, not jealousy.
After all, I was the one who pulled off things others couldn’t. (Though, from my perspective, it was all just dumb luck.)
Their admiration was more about my exploits than any sort of reward.
But now that I’ve officially received this title, things have changed.
It’s not just a military strategist position—it’s a powerful seat under the direct favor of the Emperor, the Chief of the Imperial Staff.
This might lead some neutral parties to change sides.
I’m a coward, and I don’t like creating clear enemies.
In situations where that might happen, I prefer to cut ties before it gets serious.
Considering all this, this appointment…
“It was the Emperor’s decision, Kael.”
“By His Majesty’s command?”
“Yes. He added that appointing you to a regular Chief of Staff role would mean you’d have to immediately head to the battlefield.”
What does He mean? While I’m scratching my head, Her Highness continues.
“You’ve traveled all over the Empire’s four borders, Kael. This time, His Majesty seems to suggest taking a break, observing the situation, and then moving into action. Besides, we’re not short on talent.”
“Could it be that the reason the position of Chief of the Imperial Staff was specifically created is…”
“Because if you were a normal Chief of Staff, you’d have to head to the battlefield right away. Plus, His Majesty doesn’t want to use you as a card too soon, and you haven’t had enough rest.”
Alright, now I understand why the Emperor appointed me to this position via Imperial decree.
Even though at first glance it looks like a great position favored by the Emperor, it’s not one that would immediately send you into battle to achieve quick glory.
In my view, this is the Emperor’s kindness in saying, “Take a break.”
But from an outsider’s perspective, it seems more like I’ve been pushed to the sidelines.
It’s the Emperor’s way of giving other talents in the Empire a chance to shine.
And it helps ease any jealousy that might be directed at me.
This prediction turned out to be true once I met the Emperor.
“Let’s be completely honest, Kael Klauwitz. I don’t want to see you tarnished.”
“Your Majesty?”
Once again, just before officially receiving the position of Chief of the Imperial Staff, I was summoned before the Emperor.
And there, that giant performed a tremendous act—showing true sincerity even to a mere noble.
And while I stood there awkwardly stammering, he smiled.
“Are you upset? This position is relatively inactive.”
“How could I be upset? I am merely grateful for the Emperor’s benevolence.”
And I really, truly am. Who wouldn’t be happy with being asked to take a break? (Unless someone is obsessed with achieving glory, but that’s not me!)
As I showed my total sincerity with all my body, the Emperor chuckled heartily and said—
“Nonsense. Even if you are now Chief of the Imperial Staff, you’re technically in the rear now, and surely you must feel some regret after having been so active on the battlefield as a strategist.”
“…”
No matter how many times I deny it, he’s just going to keep agreeing with me: “Yes, yes, you are upset.”
So I give up, standing there quietly, and sure enough, the Emperor nods like he knew I’d do just that.
“You must’ve heard. The Western Legion will be reinforced, withdrawing two legions from each border, expanding into 11 in total, to form the Imperial First Army.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“What was your first thought on hearing that?”
I see what the Emperor is doing—I’m dealing with no ordinary man here, the master of this vast Empire.
The greater the king, the more coldly and strictly he views situations. He’s not some guy who’ll just let me sit around and hear flattery.
So, he’s challenging me to view the situation critically.
The Empire faces different kingdoms on all its borders.
But the Empire doesn’t rotate the legions around all the borders indiscriminately. Each legion has a fixed region, rarely stepping out of it.
Which has benefits—troops fight optimally in their familiar environment, confident and knowledgeable about the terrain.
And lastly, they become symbols of their region, fostering pride.
“…Let me say what I think…”
I can already see why the Emperor asked this question.
“Of course, the combined might of the Empire will be awe-inspiring, potentially overwhelming. But with legions gathered from different regions, there will likely be a bit of friction…”
“Power struggles.”
Before I could diplomatically phrase it, the Emperor just blurted it out.
So caught off guard, I give a small cough and hear his chuckle.
“Why so surprised? Didn’t you already know this?”
“It’s just…”
“There can’t be none. The Western legions naturally consider this their turf. And the legion commanders, their subordinates, and the soldiers from other borders all carry their own pride. Should they all come together without any issues, well, that wouldn’t be state affairs, would it?”
He’s ruthless, truly ruthless. Other inept leaders would say, “Ah, that won’t happen” or “They’ll figure it out.”
“Your Majesty is correct. The Western legions consider this their territory. The legions coming from other borders have all achieved notable victories. Even more, they’ve experienced recent combat, in contrast to the relatively quiet West.”
“What you’re saying is true.”
“All of them will want to prove their superiority, especially considering they’re all highly accomplished.”
As the Emperor continues speaking:
For several reasons, there will be significant growing pains.
Currently, it’s a tangle of legions coming from all directions—north, south, east, and west.
It will take time for all these groups to fully merge into the Imperial First Army.
That’s why the Emperor didn’t place me directly into a military counselor role that might require immediate action.
Instead, appointing me as Chief of the Imperial Staff keeps me at a slight distance, giving me time to watch and analyze the situation.
It’s so my well-deserved reputation doesn’t suffer from any avoidable setbacks.
“And surely all this unnecessary jealousy is bothersome, wouldn’t you agree?”
“…Forgive me, Your Majesty.”
Indeed. The Emperor thought through everything, granting me the position of Chief of the Imperial Staff.
If I achieved more glory now, I’d probably face even more envy and jealousy.
So, he wants me to step back for a while, out of the direct spotlight.
It’s astonishing how much the Emperor cares.
His protectiveness, trying to prevent any tarnishing of my reputation, is almost tangible.
Why on earth is he doing all this? The question keeps bubbling up in my throat.
Should I ask? Or should I keep quiet and just follow His Majesty’s wishes?
“Chief of the Imperial Staff.”
“Yes! Your Majesty!”
“While you remain in the capital, would you spend some time with the Second Princess?”
“Me…?”
The Emperor nods in response to my question.
“Eventually, the Second Princess may also head to the West. If the two of you end up working together there, it would be good for her to benefit from some of your wisdom beforehand.”
…”
Your Majesty… are you sure you only want me to teach her strategies? Are you not hinting at anything else?
The Emperor keeps smiling… but why does his gaze feel like there’s some deeper plan behind it?*
