CH 286

After the war (2)

Henderson's wife.

Chloe looked at the picture on the desk with eyes that looked like she was about to burst into tears.

" Bad people.

Henderson and Chloe.

The two were ordinary ordinary people.

Born in Lawrence, Henderson lived a life no different from others, naturally helping with farming at a young age, just like children of his age.

Marriage to Chloe was also included in the general category.

I met Chloe at the suggestion of my parents, who wanted to find stability quickly, rather than marrying because of love.

And, they accepted each other.

gave birth to a child

started a family

As the water slowly boils, their feelings for each other deepened.

Henderson sometimes made vain remarks 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 problems.

Then the problem between Lawrence and Barco broke out.

There was a prevailing atmosphere that Lawrence had to accept conscription if it was to survive, and Henderson agreed with the atmosphere and went out into the streets with crude weapons with his friends.

Had it been dry then.

Henderson would have died.

Though he reflected on the past countless times, Chloe did not believe that Henderson had made the wrong choice.

'You looked really happy.'

recruiting soldiers.

Henderson, who was accepted as Dmitry's private enlisted, was a completely different person the day he returned from his first vacation.

The slightly innocent face turned sharp, and the hand, which had been full of calluses from farming, grabbed the sword and covered it with new calluses.

Henderson talked about how happy his life at Dmitry was that day.

The salary itself was incomparably higher than that of farming, and he said that he had a hard time at first because of the difference in level with other people, but now he enjoys learning the sword itself.

It was nice to see.

His bright smile showed his sincerity.

happy.

It was obviously difficult for her husband to be away from home many days, but Henderson was faithful to herself and her only son when she returned home.

Meanwhile, Dmitry's status rose.

After defeating Barco and playing ball on the Southern Front, Henderson soon became a celebrity in the surrounding town.

"Chloe. I really respect Roman Dmitry. He will not forsake us under any circumstances, and even if we die on the battlefield, He will not take death lightly. So I want to be stronger. For him and for my family."

before dying.

It was Henderson's last appearance.

Henderson, who had been focusing on training while reducing sleep, became really strong, but that strength came back to his death and said.

Some said Henderson was born a farmer and lived a very valuable life.

Even Dmitry Duke came to visit and shed tears when he sympathized with the sorrow of losing her husband.

on the desk.

There was only one picture of the two of them.

Henderson is holding a child and Chloe is holding her arms.

Leaving pictures with magic is a formidable consumption for commoners, so when Henderson received the prize money, he went to a photographer with a big heart.

regret is left

If I had known that my husband would suddenly leave my side, I would have tried to capture many pictures of him instead of just one.

That was then.

smart.

"Chloe, are you there?"

It was a familiar voice.

Chloe opened the door with her sleeping child, and Chris was seen through the door.

* * *

It was an awkward situation.

Chris was rumored to be a bit cold-headed by Dmitry's soldiers, but he drank tea with an awkward face in the face of Chloe.

Chloe had seen a few faces with Henderson.

But with Henderson's death, meeting his wife, Chloe, was emotionally uncomfortable.

looked around

Traces of Henderson were left everywhere.

A memorial service was held, but Chloe didn't seem ready to let Henderson go.

widely.

Putting down the teacup.

He opened his mouth in a slightly hoarse voice.

" Henderson was a good friend. He was like a link between people within Dmitry's soldiers, and if it weren't for Henderson's sacrifice, many people would have died the day the Kronos Empire attacked Dmitry. Henderson's death is not taken for granted. I just wanted to tell you how valuable Henderson was and what his death left us with."

is that so.

Chloe smiled.

He was a caring person.

To put Chris at ease, she knew what she had to do.

"Actually, the reason I came to Chloe-nim was to select Henderson as a national meritorious person."

" Are you of national merit?"

It was an unfamiliar word.

I understand the meaning of the word itself, but I've never heard of a system related to it on the Salamander Continent.

Yes. National merit is a matter decided by this meeting. It is a national system that promises to register those who have dedicated their lives to Dmitry as nationals of merit, and promise to be compensated accordingly and take responsibility for the livelihood of the rest of the family. Henderson was a brave friend. What he has done deserves the respect he deserves."

Moment.

Chloe looked confused.

I tried to smile, but Chris' words seemed to bring tears to my eyes.

The reward is not important.

Just the thought that Dmitry did not take Henderson's death lightly and that he would be registered as a national meritorious man for him made me cry.

Henderson was right.

Roman Dmitry was a man of allegiance, and he would not let the family who lost their father grieve.

bowed his head.

With tears flowing incessantly, I couldn't help but look up at Chris.

'It was said that only an attitude that does not take people's death lightly and clear compensation can compensate people's sorrow.'

These were the words of Roman Dmitry.

Chris a day ago.

It reminded me of the heated discussion of Dmitry's top leaders, discussing war compensation.

* * *

" Are you serious?"

Viscount Conrad doubted his ears.

Roman Dmitry's remarks puzzled not only him, but also those present at the meeting.

"War reparations. good. We were thinking about it too, but the amount the master said was a whopping 1 million gold. That was an amount that even Dmitry's financial resources could not afford. Wouldn't it be better to reduce it to 500,000 gold instead? I think it is a realistic way to use the compensation received from the Kronos Empire as a war compensation by talking well with the Cairo Kingdom."

Everyone nodded.

1 million gold.

It was an amount that took my breath away just to hear it.

The Kingdom of Redford was about to collapse due to a debt of 100,000 gold, but no matter how much Dmitry, the situation would inevitably worsen financially if he offered that amount of money as war compensation.

In any case, I completely followed Roman Dmitry's will.

But now, a voice of opposition was needed.

Roman Dmitry said.

"That's right. 1 million gold is an amount that is burdensome for Dmitry as well, but that is why it is meaningful as a war reward. The Kronos Empire offered 500,000 gold as a reward as a condition of the ceasefire. If we give them the same amount we received as compensation. What do people think?"

" That would be grateful."

"The reward in front of you will express your gratitude, but people have no choice but to think that the victory or defeat of a war is directly related to the reward. In 500,000 gold, our money does not include a single silver. With this war reparation, I intend to give people a firm belief that sacrifices for Dmitry must be well worth it."

the price of a truce.

Roman Dmitry deliberately demanded 500,000 gold.

It was an excessive amount to accept as Baron Charlton's authority, but it could not be said that it was a burdensome amount for the size of the empire.

The reason why it was set that way was because I was thinking about the compensation for the war after that.

Dmitry was going to pay the war compensation as much as the amount he had received from Kronos, and 500,000 gold was an appropriate amount to proceed with his future plans.

in the first place.

Kronos' war compensation had a great symbolic meaning.

The fact that he had offered compensation as a condition of a ceasefire alone, Dmitry had gained a lot from this war.

"This war compensation is just the beginning. From now on, Dmitry is planning to introduce a system of 'people of national merit'. Even the casualties of the war will be compensated sufficiently, but those who made a remarkable achievement like Henderson will remember their names as national merit and pay the appropriate compensation. It's not just about equality. It is to prove that a reasonable reward comes with a previous crime. We have finished talking to Cairo about this. Cairo agreed to use all of the 500,000 gold for war compensation, and expressed his intention to bear part of the remaining 500,000 gold."

No one protested.

The nation remembers individual sacrifices.

In fact, even the leaders at the meeting knew that one day they could be included in the individual.

"We lost a lot in the war. In particular, as restrictions on trade with the Kronos Empire have arisen, they are bound to suffer financially for the time being. But for those who follow Dmitry, we have to show that the biggest loss we think is the loss of a person. This is not to say that I am talking about the idea of creating a country for people. A true power comes from the ordinary people who make up its skeleton. If the people of Dmitry really want Dmitry's revival, then the temporary shake will soon be resolved and lead Dmitry in a new direction.

It was a strong voice.

Roman Dmitry experienced a previous life.

His own way, the Dmitry he thinks.

In the end, I knew that it would develop in an ideal direction, just as Moorim had achieved the peaceful dynasty.

"We won the war. Dmitry, lest it be lost anywhere in sorrow and not enjoying the joy of victory. From now on, I will focus on taking care of the people's livelihood."

"I take orders!"

"I take orders!"

Everyone raised their voices.

Right now this moment.

Even Viscount Konrad, who had expressed his doubts, obeyed the orders with a shrill voice in his boiling heart.

* * *

Chris leaves.

Chloe cried a lot.

[People of National Merit, Henderson]

It was a small medal.

The fact that Dmitry remembers Henderson, and the fact that he does not ignore the grief of the bereaved family, made tears come to his eyes.

I heard that Henderson was dead.

For a moment, I had a resentment towards Roman Dmitry, but I thought it was fortunate that it was a sacrifice for Dmitry now.

The life of commoners was harsh.

Even if they usually die due to conscription, there were very few nobles who properly compensated for them.

It was a meaningless sacrifice.

When war broke out in common territories, the mere fact that they were conscripted made the people of that family cry as if the world was falling apart.

The odds of returning well were very low.

Surely he would lose his life or return to a state with a major physical abnormality, but back then, those who spoke of the 'duty of conscription' had their own party if they won the war, or were busy raising taxes in the aftermath of the war.

"Black, black."

The crying didn't stop.

Even in return for Dmitry.

The sadness of losing Henderson did not go away.

The sadness could not be relieved in any way, but at least the feeling of resentment did not increase the sadness.

how much i cried

After crying for a while, Chloe saw the box Chris had left behind.

"This is a reward given to those of national merit. Please check later."

reward.

It was a sad word.

But Chloe has to live with reality, and now she has become a widow who lost her husband.

He reached out and opened the box.

" ."

Moment.

I lost my words.

inside the box.

Gold coins, which commoners would not be able to see for the rest of their lives, were piled up and boasting brilliant colors.