Chapter 286 After the war (2)
Henderson’s wife.
Chloe looked at the photo lying on the desk with eyes that looked like they would shed tears at any moment.
“… Bad people.”
Henderson and Chloe.
The two were ordinary commoners.
Born in Lawrence, Henderson lived a life no different from others, naturally helping with farming at a young age, just like children of her age.
Marriage to Chloe was also included in the general category.
I met Chloe at the recommendation of my parents, who wanted to find stability quickly, rather than marrying out of love.
and accepted each other.
gave birth to a child
made a family
Like water boiling slowly, our feelings for each other deepened.
Henderson sometimes spewed out absurd words that he wanted to be a ‘soldier’ rather than a farmer, but he thought that if he was satisfied with the reality, there would be no big problem.
Then Lawrence and Barko’s problem broke out.
The atmosphere that Lawrence needed to be drafted in order to survive prevailed, and Henderson, along with the atmosphere, went out into the streets with crude weapons like his usual friends.
If it had dried then.
Could Henderson be dead?
Though she relived the past countless times, Chloe didn’t think that Henderson had made the wrong choice.
‘You looked genuinely happy.’
recruiting enlisted men.
Henderson, who passed Dmitri’s enlistment, became a completely different person the day he returned from his first vacation.
The slightly naive face turned sharp, and new calluses covered the hands as they gripped the sword.
Henderson talked about how happy life was at Dmitry that day.
The salary itself was so high that it was incomparable to farming work, and at first it was difficult because of the difference in level with others, but now he said that he enjoys practicing the sword itself.
It was nice to see.
A bright smile on his face showed his sincerity.
happy.
It was obviously hard for her husband to be away for many days, but when Henderson returned home, he was faithful to himself and his only son.
In the meantime, Dmitri’s status has risen.
After defeating Barco and serving on the southern front, Henderson suddenly became a celebrity in the surrounding towns.
“Chloe. I really respect Roman Dmitri. He is the one who will not abandon us under any circumstance, and even if he dies on the battlefield, he will not take his death lightly. So I want to become stronger. For him and for our family.”
before dying.
It was Henderson’s last appearance.
Henderson, who had been working hard on training while losing sleep, became really strong, but that strength returned to his death.
some people said Henderson was born as a farmer and lived a very valuable life.
When Duke Dmitry came to her and sympathized with her grief over the loss of her husband, she burst into tears.
on the desk.
There was only one picture of the two of them.
Henderson with her baby in her arms and Chloe with her arms crossed.
Leaving photos with magic is a formidable consumption for common people, so when Henderson received the prize money, he decided to find a photographer with a big heart.
regret remains.
If I had known that my husband would leave me so suddenly, I would have tried to take many pictures of him, not just one.
It was then.
smart smart
“Is Chloe-sama here?”
It was a familiar voice.
When Chloe opened the door with the sleeping child behind, she saw Chris through the door.
* * *
It was an awkward situation.
Chris, who was rumored to be somewhat cold-hearted towards Dmitri’s soldiers, but drank tea with an awkward face when facing Chloe.
Chloe had seen Henderson’s face a few times.
However, seeing Henderson’s wife, Chloe, in a situation where he died was emotionally uncomfortable.
I looked around.
Traces of Henderson were left everywhere.
A memorial service was held, but Chloe did not seem to be ready to let Henderson go.
widely.
putting down the teacup.
He opened his mouth in a slightly subdued voice.
“… Henderson was a good friend. He was like the link that connects people within Dmitri’s soldiers, and if it weren’t for Henderson’s sacrifice, many people would have died the day the Kronos Empire attacked Dmitri. I’m not taking Henderson’s death for granted. I just wanted to tell you what his death left us with just how valuable Henderson was.”
“is that so.”
Chloe smiled.
He was a caring person.
To put Chris’s mind at ease, she knew what she had to do.
“Actually, the reason I came to see Chloe is to select Henderson as a person of national merit.”
“… A man of national merit?”
It was an unfamiliar word.
I understand the meaning of the word itself, but I haven’t heard of a system related to it in the Salamander Continent.
“yes. Men of national merit are matters decided by this meeting. It is a national system that registers those who have devoted themselves to Dmitri as national merit and promises to be responsible for the livelihood of the rest of the family for the rest of their lives. Henderson was a brave fellow. What he has done deserves the treatment it deserves.”
Moment.
Chloe showed a puzzled face.
I tried to smile, but Chris’ words made me tear up.
Compensation is not important.
Dmitri did not take Henderson’s death lightly and decided to register him as a man of national merit.
Henderson was right.
Roman Dmitry was a man worthy of loyalty and did not allow his family to grieve over the loss of the head of the family.
He bowed his head.
I couldn’t bear to look up at Chris because of the endless tears.
‘It was said that only an attitude that does not take people’s death lightly and clear compensation can compensate for people’s sorrow.’
Those were the words of Roman Dmitry.
Chris the day before.
It reminded me of the heated discussions among Dmitry’s leaders who were discussing war reparations.
* * *
“… Are you serious?”
Viscount Conrad doubted his ears.
Roman Dmitri’s remarks embarrassed him as well as those present at the meeting.
“War reparations. great. We were thinking about that too, but the amount the lord said is a whopping 1 million gold. That’s an amount that Dmitri couldn’t afford. Wouldn’t it be better to reduce it to 500,000 gold? I think it is a realistic way to talk well with the Kingdom of Cairo and use the rewards received from the Cronus Empire as war rewards.”
Everyone nodded.
1 million gold.
It was an amount that took my breath away just by hearing it.
The Kingdom of Redford was almost ruined because of a debt of 100,000 gold, but even Dmitry would have to make the financial situation worse if he gave that much money as war compensation.
Most of the problems were entirely in accordance with Roman Dmitri’s will.
But now it was a situation where a dissenting voice was needed.
said Roman Dmitry.
“That’s right. One million gold was a burden even for Dmitri, but that’s why it was meaningful as a war reward. The Kronos Empire offered 500,000 gold as compensation as a condition of a truce. If we give them the same amount as compensation. What do people think?”
“… That would be appreciated.”
“The reward in front of your eyes will express your gratitude, but people can’t help but think that the victory or defeat of the war is directly related to the reward. At 500,000 gold, our money doesn’t even include a single silver. With this war reparation money, I intend to give people a firm belief that sacrifices for Dmitri must be worth it.”
price of a truce.
Roman Dmitri deliberately asked for 500,000 gold.
It was an excessive amount to accept under the authority of Baron Charlton, but it was not a burdensome amount on the scale of the empire.
The reason for such a decision was to think of war reparations afterwards.
Dmitri intended to pay war compensation equal to the amount he received from Cronus, and 500,000 gold was an appropriate amount to proceed with his future plans.
in the first place.
Cronus’ war reward had a great symbolic meaning.
Dmitry gained a lot from this war just by offering compensation as a condition of the armistice.
“This war reparation is just the beginning. Dmitry intends to introduce a ‘person of national merit’ system from now on. Sufficient compensation will be paid to the casualties of the war, but those who have made great achievements such as Henderson will remember their names as men of national merit and pay appropriate compensation. It’s not just about equality. It is to prove that a reasonable reward follows a criminal record. We have finished talking with Cairo about this. Cairo agreed to use all 500,000 gold for war reparations, and expressed its intention to pay a portion of the remaining 500,000 gold.”
no one objected
For the country to remember individual sacrifices.
In fact, even the leaders who attended the meeting knew that at some point you could be included in that individual.
“We lost a lot in the war. In particular, as trade with the Kronos Empire is restricted, they will have to suffer financially for the time being. But we have to show the people who follow Dmitri that the biggest loss we think is the loss of a person. I do not mean to talk about tabletop talk about creating a country for people. A true power comes from the common people who make up its backbone. If Dmitri’s people truly wish for Dmitri’s revival, the temporary shake-up will soon be resolved and lead Dmitri in a new direction.”
It was a strong voice.
Roman Dmitry experienced a past life.
Dmitry thinks he has his own way.
In the end, I knew that it would develop in an ideal direction, just as Moorim achieved peace and prosperity.
“We won the war. Dmitry Lest there ever be a moment where you lose yourself in sorrow and the joy of victory. From now on, I will focus on taking care of people’s livelihood.”
“I take orders!”
“I take orders!”
Everyone raised their voices.
Right now at this moment.
Even Viscount Conrad, who was expressing his doubts, obeyed the order with a booming voice in his beating heart.
* * *
Chris is leaving.
Chloe cried out loud.
[National Merit Henderson]
It was a small medal.
I couldn’t help but cry at the fact that Dmitri remembered Henderson and didn’t ignore the grief of the bereaved family.
Hearing that Henderson is dead.
Although it was only for a moment, I felt resentful of Roman Dmitri, but I thought it was fortunate that I was sacrificed for Dmitri now.
Commoner life was harsh.
Even if they were usually conscripted to death, few nobles would properly compensate for it.
It was a pointless sacrifice.
When war broke out in the general territories, the mere fact of being conscripted made the people of that family weep as if the world was collapsing.
The odds of returning safely were very low.
Obviously, they would return with a loss of life or a serious physical problem. At that time, people who talked about ‘duty of conscription’ were busy holding their own party if they won the war or raising taxes in the aftermath of the war if they were defeated.
“It’s black.”
The crying didn’t stop.
Even in return from Dmitry.
The sadness of losing Henderson did not go away.
The sadness could not be relieved in any way, but at least the feelings of resentment did not increase the sadness.
how much i cried
Chloe, who had been crying for a while, saw the box Chris had left behind.
“This is a reward given to people of national merit. Check it out later.”
compensation.
It was a sad word.
However, Chloe has to live in reality, so now she has become a widow who lost her husband.
I reached out and opened the box.
“… .”
Moment.
I’m speechless.
inside the box.
Heaps of gold coins, which commoners would never even see in their lifetime, were showing off their brilliant colors.
