Theodore's convictions

After returning from the camp Erika got an hour more of sleep before Bauer woke her up.

She was surprised and embarrassed at the same time to see Erika being sandwiched between two girls from both sides.

"Don't ask any questions and please forget you ever saw anything." Erika said in a low voice to avoid waking the others up.

She seemed seriously pissed off and awkward.

"Ehh, as you say milady." Bauer replied.

She also had a weird grin on her face which Erika could understand very well.

 Erika tried to get up but noticed that four hands have had her blocked.

"Um, a little help here?" She said looking at Bauer.

"Fufu, sure why not." Bauer helped Erika to get up from the bed.

She slowly removed Maruschka and Hanna's hands from over Erika.

She was careful so as not to wake them up.

After she washed her face for the second time, Erika changed her night dress and went downstairs.

When, Hanna and Maruschka woke up, they saw each other in front of them.

"Hey, what are you doing here?!" Hanna said as her face turn red with anger.

"Don't tarnish lady Erika's bed with your presence." She said.

Maruschka ignored it. She was already very happy with what happened today.

She smiled, "Ah, poor lady Hanna don't worry. I'll take care of lady Erika for you from today." Maruschka said with pride and boastfulness.

"Heh, we'll see about that." Hanna shrugged it off.

They both came down. 

It was breakfast time, and everyone sat down at the table again.

After breakfast, a carriage was arranged for the Landsturm family to return back to their own city.

Jerry, Karl and Gunther arrived in the palace, wearing their field-gray tunic and trousers along with jackboots carrying the relevant equipments for a submachine gunner and fusilier.

They greeted Erika with the traditional Wehrmacht salute.

"Good morning kommandant." The three said. 

"Hey, it's the same uniform that Erika was wearing that day I grounded her!" Erika's mother exclaimed.

"Huh! What?" Walther said surprised.

He couldn't comprehend Erika wearing such military attire.

This conversation was taking place in front of the palace gate. 

It was still morning and the sun was on the east sky rising up and gradually shifting towards the center.

"Well, actually a commander must wear the same military uniform." Erika explained looking away.

Lord Landsturm and Walther thanked Jerry and his soldiers.

"What do you want in return for saving us?" They asked.

"Forgive us, we can't take anything in return. It's the rule of the Wehrmacht to follow the kommandant's order at everytime." Jerry replied.

Lord and Lady Landsturm got into the carriage. However, Hanna stood silently beside Erika.

"Huh, Hanna aren't you going?" Erika asked looking at her.

"No I will remain here with you lady Erika." She answered.

Everyone present was surprised.

"Wait a minute what?!" Maruschka was the first to react.

"Why would you stay here?!" She asked.

"I hope it won't be a problem to you lady Erika and lady duchess." Hanna bowed and said.

"Oh no you won't be a problem. We'll be glad to have you if your parents are okay with it." Erika's mother smiled.

Listening to this Hanna was on cloud nine. Her dream of staying with Erika and helping her would come true.

"Alright we'll be leaving. Thanks for taking care of us." Lord Landsturm said from the carriage.

Jerry, Klaus and Gunther stood straight in front of Erika and gave the traditional salute.

"Kommandant," They said in unison.

Erika returned the salute. "Good luck" she said.

They got into another carriage and left along with the Landsturm couple.

"Yay, now I'll be with lady Erika." Hanna jumped and hugged Erika.

"Fufu, we'll be going inside then." Erika's mother said.

She and Walther went inside.

Maruschka however, was pissed. She wouldn't get to stay with Erika alone.

Erika on the other hand was embarrassed. 

"Alright, alright you can let go now." She patted Hanna's head.

But now Erika was in a pinch. She had to return to her barracks but with Hanna around that won't happen.

However, at that moment a voice called like a Godsend.

"Hanna, can you come inside for a moment?" Erika's mother called her.

"Yes, coming lady duchess." She replied and rushed inside.

This produced a chance for Erika. She asked Maruschka to follow her.

"I have a job for you." She said.

Hearing this Maruschka was extremely happy.

"Anything for you lady Erika." She said and walked besides Erika to her barracks.

Maruschka noticed that, the building Erika took her to this time was different from the one they entered before.

Unlike the previous building, this one had huge red cross sign in front.

"Lady Erika, what's this place?" She asked, being curious about this new house.

Erika entered the building and Maruschka followed her through the corridor.

She saw various women in light grey dress and a white apron with the same red cross sign drawn in front walking and talking amongst themselves. 

"Maruschka, you have very strong healing capabilities don't you?" Erika said suddenly while walking.

"Yes, lady Erika. I can heal any external injuries with my magic." She replied.

"Do you need me to do something?" She asked.

Maruschka followed Erika to the top floor of the building in front of a room. In front of the door something was written that Maruschka couldn't understand.

Entering the room, Maruschka saw a man possibly in the thirties sitting in desk.

He was wearing the same field gray tunic as the other soldiers Maruschka saw.

But instead of a steel pot, he had a cap on his head, just like Erika before.

Noticing Erika entering the room, the man stood up.

"Guten tag kommandant!" He saluted.

"As you were Eugen." Erika repleid.

She pulled a chair from the table and sat on it. She signalled Maruschka to do the same.

Maruschka complied. After she sat down, Erika started speaking.

"This is Maruschka," Erika introduced Eugen to her.

"She has a very strong healing capabilities. So I want to leave her under your command. She can assist you since there are no more healers in the Wehrmacht." She explained.

Erika knew that the lack of healer has been straining for Eugen, specially since the grenadier regiment 950 was continuously conducting missions inside the dark forest.

Many soldiers are regularly injured and healing them strained Eugen. So he required Maruschka's help the most.

"As you wish kommandant. She will be really helpful for me." Eugen replied.

As Erika stood up Eugen and Maruschka did so too.

"Maruschka from now on will be a surgeon in my Wehrmacht. Eugen will explain the rest." She said.

As Erika was about to leave Eugen saluted her again.

Maruschka was now happy to be able serve under Erika. She looked forward to what she was going to do.

Erika returned to the OKW building to check on the preparations of her Wehrmacht on the upcoming mission.

Meanwhile, in the capital things were far from calm. Remaining royal knights and city guards barred anyone from leaving the city.

The economy was on the verge of a breakdown. Many families lost their loved ones due to the previous expedition and were now suffering from hardships.

The fact that increased tax rates that were not lessened and withholding money used for various charity works made things worse.

Also the knights and city guards were continuously arresting people for suspects of being involved in the chaos that happened in the palace.

However, thanks to the fact that most of the soldiers of the Royal Army didn't actually die and were able to return back safe and sound alleviated things a little.

Also, the conscription of civilians to reform the Royal Army also came as a blessing for the people.

Thus the lives of the civilians were somehow staggering inside the city.

Inside the palace prince Theodore was burning with rage.

"This is the first time my father actually hurt me." He said whispering.

Although the physical pain was gone, mentally he was still feeling the sting on his face.

He was also worried about his father's inactions against the Raubenbraum duchy.

"How can my father not see the fact that sooner or later, they will attack us?!" He said striking at the table in his room.

"I can't let it continue. I must take things into my own hands." He said gritting his teeths.

"I will regain my father's trust. He will see that I'm still capable." He said.

"Otherwise my future as the king will be in jeopardy." He thought.

Thinking for some time he came up with a plan.

He called a servant outside the room to call for an expert herbalist, who arrived at his room after a while.

"How can I help you your highness?" The old man said bowing before the prince.

"Do you know about about a herb that can incapacitate a person for a long time but can be healed totally?" Prince asked.

"Yes, there is actually a herb like that, but why do you want it your highness?" the old man said.

"That's none of your business. Bring me those herbs as fast as you can and don't speak a word to anyone about it." He scolded.

"Y-yes, forgive me your highness." the man said bowing his head more and shocking in fear.

He left the room after the prince signalled him to leave.

He went to his house and rushed back with the herbs prince asked for.

"Here is the herbs you asked for your highness." The old man bowed and showed the green triangular leaves in his hands to the prince.

"If you mix one leaf along with tea, the person who consumes the tea will remain unconscious for at least two months. But it may harm the person." He said.

"I suggest you use half the leaf to make the person sleep for at least 47 days. This way the person won't have any permanent injury." He explained.

"Alright, you may leave. And not a single word to anyone." Prince warned him.

That night as the king slept in his bedroom after dinner, he never woke up.