MBD | Chapter 20

Elizabeth, the youngest sibling, awkwardly saluted and joked around. Everhart gently patted her head and laughed.

“Yeah. Thanks.”

Everhart deliberately applied to the 7th Mechanized Brigade. The nobles who wanted to personally place Everhart in a cushy position were puzzled, but he firmly pushed through with his decision.

As a result, his assignment was delayed compared to his graduating peers, but it didn’t matter since he got assigned anyway.

The 7th Mechanized Brigade was where Karl Heinrich was currently serving.

The most important thing was that Karl Heinrich was a second lieutenant, and Everhart was a first lieutenant.

‘I’m definitely going!’

Graupfeld was located in the north of Eisenwald.

Originally, it was a land mainly inhabited by the Graupfeld natives – the Grauins, and it was a region where civil wars frequently occurred due to the formation of the Free Liberation Army.

They only wanted one thing: independence from Eisenwald.

‘Sorry to say, but that’s never going to happen.’

The Graupfeld region had numerous mines, which were crucial areas that would later become the core industry of Eisenwald.

Moreover, the Graupfeld Civil War was also where Karl Heinrich made a name for himself.

‘No matter what, I’m getting a piece of the action!’

After organizing his thoughts, Everhart placed the enlistment notice on one side of the desk.

“Why? Do you have something to say?”

When Everhart asked, Elizabeth eagerly ran over.

“Yeah. You know, oppa. Can you persuade mom and dad?”

Elizabeth was currently in conflict with her parents over her medical school admission.

The medical level of Eisenwald, as well as the entire continent, was stuck in the early 19th century, and being a doctor or medical professional was one of the most avoided professions.

The Royal Medical College, which was almost a symbol of Eisenwald, had only been established for ten years, so that said it all.

Moreover, the place Elizabeth wanted to go was general medicine, where modern medicine was taught.

It was somewhat understandable that her parents were vehemently opposed to a noble with magical power becoming a general doctor.

Elizabeth, who had lived her life doing whatever she wanted as a noble’s daughter, was at a loss due to the sudden obstacle.

‘In the end, seeing that she met Hermann Schwarz, it means she did get admitted.’

Hermann Schwarz was also a medical school graduate.

Perhaps the Friedrich family had the blood of ‘Ah, whatever! I’ll do what I want!’ flowing through their veins.

When Everhart listened, Elizabeth grumbled with a huff.

“I really dream of being a doctor. I’m going to save people. It’s practically a mission, and saying I can’t do it because I’m a noble’s daughter is ridiculous. Right? Please!”

“Alright.”

“Ah, just once- Huh? Really? For real?”

Elizabeth’s eyes widened at the unexpected answer.

“I’ll persuade them. Why, don’t you believe me?”

“No… Honestly, I thought you wouldn’t.”

“Then why did you ask?”

“Ah, because mom and dad are adamant about it! …I came to see if maybe you could do something.”

Elizabeth, who seemed not to have expected much from the start, looked dejected when talking about their parents.

In fact, Everhart was planning to help even if Elizabeth hadn’t asked.

“But there’s a condition.”

“I’m not getting married.”

Marriage?

A surge of heat rose within him for a moment. This was Everhart’s pure emotion.

“Are you crazy? Who would dare such a- Anyway, there’s a condition.”

“What is it?”

“If something happens that you can’t handle, whatever it is, you must tell me. You can’t hide even a speck. If it really doesn’t work, you know Graf, right?”

Although it was a short period, Graf, who became the CEO of EberTech, had visited the main house a few times.

“Yeah.”

“Tell Graf, at least. That’s the condition.”

Although he would try his best to live a different life from the original, you never know what might happen.

By the time Karl Heinrich staged a coup, public distrust of the nobles would be at its peak. Elizabeth would be a university student about to graduate.

He had to think of a way to minimize the damage by using his brain.

“Is that all? Isn’t that hardly a condition?”

Elizabeth seemed to find it rather anticlimactic.

“Anyway. Don’t cause any trouble later.”

“Got it. But oppa.”

“Huh?”

“Can you really persuade mom and dad?”

“If I can’t, you won’t go?”

The once confident girl pouted her lips in dissatisfaction. It was clear that the family didn’t like the idea of Elizabeth becoming a doctor, regardless of Everhart’s approval.

Nevertheless, the original Elizabeth managed to get into medical school.

“It might not work out, though.”

“Then just enroll secretly.”

“What about the tuition?”

“I’ll pay for it.”

“…”

“I have a lot of money.”

As if he couldn’t even pay for his sister’s tuition. Yet, instead of being immediately happy, her suspicious gaze was directed at him.

“Oppa, you seem to have grown up after attending the military academy.”

“What are you talking about? I was always an adult.”

“Will little oppa become like you too?”

“Franz? That kid is hopeless.”

Elizabeth let out a small laugh for the first time at his words. He had met Franz briefly here, and he was more hopeless than expected.

He had told Weber to keep an eye on him, but who knows? If he doesn’t get scammed in this life, he might acknowledge it.

Striking while the iron is hot, Everhart left to settle things immediately.

Of course, the process wasn’t easy. But who was Everhart? He was the eldest son of this family.

Ironically, his strong persuasion led the head and mistress of the noble family to reluctantly agree.

“Is this right, oppa?”

“What is.”

“I’m glad to go to medical school, but what’s with the content of this contract? …Sister usage rights?”

Elizabeth’s expression crumpled as she read the contract filled with tiny letters.

“Three free unconditional sister usage rights. With this kind of option, it’s a bargain, right?”

Seeing Everhart’s smiling face, Elizabeth wanted to argue that there was more to it.

Elizabeth frowned as she read another clause.

“Oppa, are you planning to make me a lonely old woman?”

“Why?”

“Prohibition of arranged marriage before thirty…”

“Thirty is still young, what lonely old woman.”

What a funny thing to say, thirty is still a fresh sprout.

Ah, tears welled up at the thought of the trampled sprout Kang Woojin…

“Does that mean love marriage is allowed?”

“Do you have someone you like!? Who is it!”

“Why are you freaking out! It’s an all-girls school, so no!”

Elizabeth hurriedly tried to calm down her brother, who reacted more intensely than expected to her casual remark.

As a daughter of the prestigious Friedrich family, Elizabeth had already prepared herself for marriage talks after graduation.

Her friends already had fiancés, and some were set to marry right after graduation. So it was unexpected from Elizabeth’s perspective.

Everhart, who had gotten up from the desk, sipped his coffee.

“Why? Do you want to get married early? Mom and dad would want that, but if you want, just say so.”

Everhart spoke sincerely. If Elizabeth wanted, he was willing to find someone decent, though not a trash like Wolfgang.

Elizabeth hesitated, then spoke with difficulty.

“I think it’s a bit early for marriage.”

“Then do what you want.”

“You’re not angry? That statement just now…”

“Angry? Why would I be angry?”

Seeing Everhart’s expression of genuine confusion, Elizabeth relaxed.

“You’ve changed after attending the military academy.”

“That’s a compliment, right? Anyway, just sign and go to school, student.”

But Elizabeth didn’t seem ready to leave easily. When Everhart looked at her curiously, Elizabeth pouted and said.

“Oppa, you know how to drive, right?”

“Hey, of course! I… why?”

“Take me to school.”

“You want to use your great brother as a chauffeur! I’m a first lieutenant, you know.”

“Exactly. I want to brag about my awesome brother to my friends.”

Elizabeth playfully lifted her chin and smiled, and Everhart put down his empty coffee cup and stood up.

Come to think of it, Everhart had never accompanied Elizabeth on her way to school.

“Sigh, fine. Let’s go.”

A faint smile spread across his face. This kind of peace wasn’t bad.

࿐⋆˚𝜗𝜚˚⋆

The Feldberg Fortress was the frontline of the Nordelian district occupied by the Graupfeld Free Liberation Army.

“You must have had a hard journey, Lieutenant Friedrich. Was there any inconvenience on the way?”

“No. Thanks to the captain’s consideration.”

The one who greeted Everhart at Feldberg was Alexander von Wolfgart, a man in his mid-thirties.

As a member of one of the Five Great Nobles, he was stationed in such a remote place simply because Alexander was the son of the first wife of Duke Wolfgart. By the way, the current wife was the fourth.

Alexander had no interest in becoming the head of the Wolfgart family.

Alexander introduced Everhart to the Feldberg Fortress in detail. Due to frequent civil wars, various parts of the fortress were damaged or under repair.

Everhart followed Alexander to the reception room for a private meeting.

“Make yourself comfortable.”

“Thank you.”

“The regimental commander is on an inspection, so you can meet him during dinner.”

“Yes.”

“You don’t have to be so formal…”

Alexander had coffee brought in by an aide. Even in the military, where rank was everything, it wasn’t easy to ignore a true noble like Everhart.

When Everhart applied to the Feldberg Fortress, Alexander thought someone was playing a strange prank.

“Ahem, well, as a member of the Five Great Nobles, I cautiously ask, is there something you want? Did you make a deal with the higher-ups, or if there’s a position you desire, speak up now.”

“Oh, can I get the position I want?”

Alexander felt a chill down his spine at Everhart’s smile.