The General is 16 Years Old

Chapter 277 - The General is 16 Years Old

Nathan Evenhart:

When was the last time I talked to myself like this? It's been a while.

It's been a year since the incident we know as the Battle of the Evenhart Duchy, though the public never learned of it. The balance of power in the duchy shifted drastically. My aunt controls the rival faction, and you already know her plans—but there are details you can only grasp by seeing them in action.

Now, let's get to the main point…I'm sixteen years old, in my second year at the academy, and at the age when nobles are expected to arrange a marriage. In my case?

I've been engaged since I was five.

My fiancée, Chloe, is a duchess and an ice-element mage. And yes, I have a romantic relationship with her, but nothing beyond that has happened over the past year. My soul may be 500 years old, but I genuinely feel sixteen. And honestly, it's hard not to be tempted by the idea of having beautiful fiancées...

Because, well, I don't have just one fiancée.

I have three.

My second fiancée, Kinue, is a demi-human with long blonde hair and green eyes. Officially, she's just my girlfriend, but I know how lucky I am to have her by my side.

And the third?

Well... she's a dragon. Or something close to it, since her race comes from an unknown land where powerful beings exist. Cylla believes we're already married, and she's just as peculiar as I am. She's also been reincarnated, though she doesn't remember her past life. All I know is that at some point, she dreamed of me as Icarus and began searching for me.

Things have changed for Cylla at the academy as well. Over the past year, rumors spread that she was a Moon Panther cub after some professors specialized in magical beasts recognized her, making her somewhat famous. Because of that, more and more students started showing up to classes just to get a glimpse of her, and—consequently—I ended up gaining some fame too.

But… I learned the hard way that not everyone approached out of genuine curiosity.

Some girls started using Cylla as an excuse—pretending they wanted to talk to her, when in reality, they just wanted to get close to me.

My fiancées, of course, didn't let that slide. The moment they saw me giving too much attention to some of them, I was thoroughly scolded.

I swear I wasn't trying anything!

It was just five girls who only wanted to chat… How was I supposed to know the conversation would suddenly shift to them being single and looking for a noble to marry?

I continued walking, adjusting my clothes. I had just stepped off a small ship, and upon arriving, I saw that the port had been prepared for a grand feast organized by the dukes. I had spent nearly two weeks aboard, inspecting valuable artifacts and treasures for the event. The ship had traveled through all the major ports of the duchies, collecting treasures from noble vaults.

The feast, organized by the dukes, was meant to encourage cooperation among them, and the display of these treasures was a way to symbolize that unity.

I accepted the job when I learned that my aunt would be sending a team to one of the main ships.

Being a committed man is complicated; I have way too many expensive gifts to buy for my fiancées.

That night, all eight dukes were gathered in the same place—a rare and historic event.

In the past, each independent kingdom signed an agreement that led to a non-aggression and cooperation pact, defining each duchy's primary role and shaping them into what they are today.

This pact put an end to territorial disputes, allowing the duchies to become essential pillars of the kingdom when it fractured from the old empire.

The main activities were divided into sectors such as Military, Agriculture, Construction, Mining, and Engineering. Among the military duchies, the Valemont and Saul families stand out.

That doesn't mean the other duchies lack armies, but their primary activities dictate their regions' structure and functionality.

For example, my family cannot shift its main focus to large-scale weapons manufacturing, just as a military duchy cannot redirect its priorities toward agriculture. Doing so would disrupt the balance that sustains the kingdom.

The agreement includes clear limitations on what each duchy can produce outside its main area, ensuring that the economic and political balance remains stable.

In practice, my family leads agricultural sovereignty across the entire kingdom, but this position comes with restrictions. We cannot have a stronger military force or invest heavily in technology.

On the other hand, commercially, we have the advantage of selling to all the duchies and to the capital, which places the agricultural dukes in an economically superior position within their regions. This land sovereignty strengthens them financially but limits their growth in other areas.

This system is, in reality, the kingdom's way of keeping everyone under control. No duchy dares to break the agreement, as that would mean economic isolation, facing a united kingdom ready to invade and oppress their lands. On the other hand, accepting the pact guarantees extreme wealth by exercising the main activity exclusively. It's a choice between money and the fear of invasion, but the result is that all the duchies ended up adhering to the agreement to put an end to the wars of the past.

After all, that was a period of carnage. Today, all the leaders of the duchies drink and laugh together—something that, millennia ago, would have been unthinkable without them trying to kill each other.

As I walked through the event, a figure appeared in the distance, but upon seeing me, rushed toward me. It was a 15-year-old boy from the new first-year class at the academy, thin, wearing a formal outfit that looked like a butler's uniform. He was probably working at the feast, maybe near the nobles or as my aunt's assistant. He had red hair and a personality… cheerful? A bit silly? I don't know, but he was a good person, even if peculiar.

"I'm very happy to see you here, Lord Nathan," said the boy, bowing.

"It's a feast given by the dukes, why wouldn't I be?" I answered seriously but jokingly.

He got nervous.

"True! I'm sorry, sir," he quickly corrected himself.

"It's all right, Frederick. I'm just joking with you. What are you doing here? I thought my aunt would have already dismissed you to go back home to the city. Your mother is going to scold you for getting home late."

"I'm already an adult, sir… at least on paper. I turned 15 over the break, did you forget?" he replied, laughing.

"Sorry, Lord Wolves," I bowed playfully.

He panicked.

"Don't do that, sir! If someone of your status does that to someone like me, I'm in trouble!"

I laughed.

Frederick Wolves… yes, he was part of Nikolaus Wolves' family—or what was left of it. After Nikolaus fell, the kingdom stripped his nobility and handed over his lands, fortune, and even the lives of his descendants to my aunt. Castles, farms, businesses, inventions, inheritances… everything was confiscated. Harming a High Noble has severe consequences: the lives of children, grandchildren, nephews, employees, and commoners tied to the Wolves family were placed under my aunt's control, who was granted the right to decide their fates—including execution—at any time.

You know my aunt. You know what she did… "Servitude or Death." Those who worked for the Wolves family but were not directly involved in Nikolaus' crimes were given the option of servitude. They would continue working on the same lands to keep the duchy's economy stable. As for those who were actively involved… they were either executed or, well, wished they had been. I won't go into details.

The Wolves were a large family, full of cousins and distant relatives. Although they lost their noble titles, my aunt did not punish those who had nothing to do with Nikolaus' crimes. She offered servitude as an alternative, and although they are bound to some conditions or could be executed at any time, my aunt was not a tyrant.

They kept part of their fortune and certain rights as noble citizens, but under strict rules: they cannot leave the duchy without prior notice to the local baron, minor crimes result in immediate execution, and if they marry someone from outside, their children inherit the punishment.

It was a delicate situation. Technically, we could have turned all of them into slaves.

The main branch of the Wolves family was nearly wiped out when Nikolaus took over leadership after his father and brother's deaths.

The heir, Frederick, was the illegitimate son of Nikolaus' brother and a commoner maid who suffered abuse in the Wolves household. He had been sent to a remote village and was supposed to live out his days as a local guard, but Nikolaus kept him alive for a reason.

After marrying Chloe and taking control of the Evenhart Duchy, Nikolaus planned to install Frederick as a marquis under his control, since Chloe's children would inherit the Evenhart name, not Wolves.

"I have to go, Frederick," I said, trying to end the conversation.

"Nathan… I mean, Lord Nathan." He seemed a bit embarrassed. "Are you still going to help me… with that?"

I raised an eyebrow, crossing my arms.

"Are you seriously asking me for help getting a date with Natty and Catty?"

Frederick turned red like a tomato, stepping closer in a panic.

"Please, keep your voice down!" he whispered, nervous. "I… I just want some tips. I want to know what Nathalie and Caitlyn like."

I paused, pretending to give it serious thought.

"Knives, axes… and any tool capable of causing pain."

He blinked, confused.

"I'm being serious, Lord Nathan. I… I just wanted to try getting closer, you know? Maybe be friends with them."

I am being serious…

I placed a hand on his shoulder, giving him the kind of look one gives to a man whose soul was already lost.

"Frederick… I would help you with any other single girl at the academy. Any of them. But those two… man, I pity what they'd do to you if you tried anything."

He sighed, looking discouraged.

"I'm serious, Lord Nathan… I really like them. I tried to find out as much as I could about them, but they're too reserved..."

I sighed as well.

"Alright… I'll help you. Here's what you do: go to Martha and Hugo and tell them you're interested in their daughters. I'm sure they'll welcome you with open arms… and even give you a few tips."

He gave me a wary look, trying to figure out if I was being serious or just messing with him.

"I… think I shouldn't do that."

I smirked.

"Yeah… you really think I'd set up a suitor for their daughters? Did you forget I'm basically their boss? Anything I say could be taken as a recommendation. Besides, that lovely woman cooks my food, cleans my room, and… well, she has the key to it. I have no desire to test the wrath of a mother. But look, I did promise to help you. I'll put you in the same place as them. The rest… is up to you."

I let out a small laugh and walked away, leaving Frederick behind.

Poor soul…

As I walked, I kept thinking about how insane that boy was for even considering getting close to the twins. He had no idea what he was getting himself into.

Before I could move on, Frederick appeared again, stopping me in my tracks.

"Lord Nathan..." he said, bowing respectfully, though his nervousness was clear. "Please, help me. I'll do anything you ask… as long as it's not something wrong. I just… I just want to at least try being friends with the twins. And also… to know if their parents would approve… I mean… if they'd even allow me to approach them."

He's courting death and doesn't even realize it…

"Do you really want to know if they'd approve of someone? If they'd accept a boy trying to get close to their daughters and asking them out? Do you even realize what you're asking?" I questioned him.

Frederick nodded, serious.

"I beg for your help, Lord Nathan. I… I know they are nobles. I don't understand nobility very well, but I know parents decide their children's futures. I just want to know if I can try… to be their friend."

I stared at him for a moment, reflecting on the sheer insanity he was trying to throw himself into.

"Alright… but you do remember your last name, don't you? Wolves."

He nodded again, not quite understanding where I was going with this.

"Their family has served mine since this land was founded. You, my friend… are at the top of their list of people they'd love to kill. Literally…"

Frederick turned pale.

The boy lowered his head, shame evident.

"Alright… sorry, Lord Nathan. I… I didn't mean to cause trouble."

I sighed, shaking my head.

"Don't worry so much. I'll help you."

He lifted his gaze, his eyes shining with hope.

"I'll ask their mother what she thinks about some random academy student… let's say, taking an interest in her daughters. I won't mention it's you."

A huge smile spread across his face.

"Thank you so much, Lord Nathan!"

Then, in a moment of excitement, he placed his hands on my shoulders—only to quickly step back once he realized his mistake.

"Oh! I'm sorry, Lord Nathan! I don't have permission to… to touch you like that."

I sighed internally.

"I don't mind, Frederick… but you need to understand how things work with other nobles. If you did that to someone more traditional, someone who sees themselves as superior, you could end up in a very difficult situation."

He nodded, more serious this time.

"You and I grew up among commoners. Our sense of etiquette is different. But these elitist nobles… they do care about these formalities. You'll have to learn if you want to avoid embarrassing yourself."

Frederick nodded again, looking a little more confident.

Even so, I couldn't shake the feeling that he was diving headfirst into a viper's nest.

Frederick lost his nobility—though he barely even knew he had it. Nikolaus had forced him to live as a commoner, keeping him isolated from the family and distant relatives. When he and his mother were sentenced to death by a kingdom official, they were desperate. But my aunt… she forgave them. She also had to help them in other ways, since the Wolves family's reputation was in ruins among the nobility after Nikolaus' crimes. Imagine waking up one day and finding out you were going to die because of a crime committed by a distant relative?

Yeah. A lot of people wanted Frederick dead—especially once he was considered a commoner, meaning no one would care if he were assassinated.

To protect him, my aunt restored his noble status, promoting him to Baron at the age of fifteen. It was the only way to ensure safety for him and his mother. She also granted him a portion of the Wolves' inheritance, while the rest was reinvested into the duchy itself—particularly in the region he now governs. The boy inherited earth magic, a trademark of the Wolves bloodline, and was sent to study in Apsalon, since his family's fortune allowed him to receive a proper magical education.

I got closer to him during this period, as he temporarily stayed in a village near the castle while his mother handled documents with my aunt. Since I was starting to take on my role as duke, I also participated in the process.

The ceremony was simple: a few nobles from the duchy were present, and Frederick had to kneel before me, Chloe, and my aunt.

She handed him a scepter and pinned an insignia onto his ceremonial attire while delivering a formal speech about duty and protection.

I tried to pay attention, but halfway through, I have to admit—my mind wandered.

Blame Athena. She wouldn't stop whispering bullshit in my ear.

In the end, Frederick was formally named a baron, securing political protection, and became somewhat of an assistant to me.

My aunt saw this as an opportunity to teach me about administration while I helped him, since the village under his command was nearly a day's travel away, and she wanted to invest in that region.

When he awakened the earth element, he decided to become a Builder Mage, which made sense, considering his position as an administrator.

There's an ironic detail in all of this:

One of the villages Frederick now governs is the same one that Nikolaus' men raided years ago, forcing the villagers to seek my aunt's help.

That was the night I went after the raiders with Sifu, leaving my mother behind, only to end up getting kidnapped by Sisika.

That village became special to me. And now, the heir of the Wolves family is the one taking care of it. It's hard not to see the irony in that.

Frederick grew even closer to me after joining Apsalon Academy. He's a naive kid, completely harmless. One time, I joked that he should get a hat for his horse because of the sun. He believed me. Poor guy. And to top it off, he fell for Natty and Catty.

He swears he only fell for one of them—only realizing they were twins when he saw them together.

In the end, he seems to have fallen for both.

This guy is insane. I guess that's why his last name is Wolves—that family is full of crazy ideas.

In the distance, I spotted a familiar figure at one of the main tables.The hall was grand, with nine tables standing out at the center of the massive, illuminated space. Eight of them belonged to the dukes and their families, while the ninth, at the very center, belonged to the representative of the royal family and their entourage.

At my family's table, I noticed Martha standing still beside the chairs. She was clearly holding herself back, struggling internally. My aunt had probably forbidden her from working at this event, insisting that she enjoy the occasion and let the other servants handle the service. But I knew Martha too well. She was a perfectionist. Standing around with nothing to do had to be eating her alive.

The moment she saw me, Martha rushed over, worry gleaming in her eyes.

"Young master! I'm glad everything went well with your mission." Her stiff posture and restless hands showed just how much she wanted to do something. "Would you like me to fetch anything for you?"

I knew exactly what she was doing. Looking for an excuse to keep busy.

"No need, Martha. Thank you, you can rest."

A faint smile formed on my lips, but inside, I was thoroughly enjoying watching the internal conflict deepen on her face. Telling her to rest was like throwing a spark into a barrel of gunpowder. She looked even more tense, quiet frustration flashing in the way she bit the corner of her lips.

"Is everything alright, Martha?" I asked, feigning concern.

"Of course..." she replied, visibly disheartened, returning to her spot with the look of someone who had just suffered defeat.

I sighed and decided to cut her some slack.

She deserved it.

"Martha," I called again.

She turned instantly, her face lighting up with an impeccable smile.

"Would you like me to do something, young master?" The hope in her voice was palpable.

Damn… She's so dedicated I actually felt guilty.

"Can you show me where Kinue and Chloe are?"

Her smile widened—like I had just given her a purpose in life.

"Of course! Let me be of service!"

She immediately started guiding me through the hall, taking the opportunity to update me on the past few days. I listened to her, but something was still on my mind. And I decided to bring it up.

"By the way," I interrupted, "I found out there's a boy at the academy who wants to ask your daughters out… He even asked for my help to figure out what they like so he could buy them a gift."

She stopped abruptly and, to my surprise, started laughing.

A genuine laugh—yet filled with a deadly undertone.

"That was funny, young master."

"I'm being serious."

Martha simply shook her head, her gaze darkening slightly as she continued laughing.

"If any boy ever showed up trying something with Natty or Catty, I would torture him until he lost his memory… and spent the rest of his life drooling in a chair."

I subtly glanced back.

There was Frederick, hiding behind a column, watching me with an optimistic smile, flashing a thumbs-up as if to say: 'So? How'd it go?'

I just shook my head silently.

I tried, buddy. I tried.