On the west side of the formation, Prévédiche stood ramrod straight, supporting himself on his gun barrel, his boots together.
He had lived for twenty-one years, yet only in these past few months of campaigning with the Crown Prince had he understood what a life of pride, fulfillment, and boiling blood truly was.
He could not help recalling the past two days after returning to Paris, when beautiful young noble ladies had flocked around him, begging to hear stories of "fighting in Vienna."
General Moreau's deep thrust behind Austrian Army lines, turning everything upside down, had long since made the Paris papers. As a soldier who had taken part in the campaign, Prévédiche had already become a hero in the eyes of those around him.
Even when he recounted his battle experience in Trento, where he had never fired a shot, everyone would cry out in amazement.
Naturally, he also made a point of describing the Fifth Army Corps' heroic feats, driving the atmosphere to its peak.
Now, even his elder brother, who had once looked down on him, had begun treating him with great respect.
Prévédiche thrust out his chest and thought to himself that he had to kill a few enemies properly on the battlefield in the future, or he would be wasting the opportunity the Crown Prince had bestowed upon him.
"Attention!"
At the officer's shout, Lieutenant Colonel Mason came to the very front of the formation. He swept his gaze over the Grenadier Battalion soldiers and called out, "The Crown Prince is preparing to promulgate an exceedingly important law—the Declaration of Human Rights. This is a..."
Before he could finish, the soldiers took up the words in unison: "Long live His Highness the Crown Prince!"
Mason glanced helplessly at the speaker, Mr. Cruset, beside him. He