The departure ceremony was a grand affair.
It was truly something.
Led by the performance of the military marching band, we marched along in our dress uniforms.
True to form, the military—never one for aesthetics—simply lined us up in order of our home planets.
Wifey was at the head of the line.
Since we couldn't have Wifey herself carrying a flag, a burly member of the Imperial Guard waved it instead.
Thomas was in Wifey’s group.
Following Wifey and the Imperial Capital group were the various lords.
In other words, we were the ones marching with the flags.
Naturally, as a Grand Duke, I was at the front.
I marched while waving the flag of the Planet Kamishiro Main House.
It was a massive banner embroidered with a dragon and a tiger.
How should I put it... I felt like I was part of a cheer squad.
Behind me, the others who had become lords raised their own flags.
Theirs just had the names of their territories written on them.
...So, I was the only flashy one.
I felt a little embarrassed, but the spectators cheered for us with shrill, enthusiastic voices.
Those who had lost family members watched with tears in their eyes.
Wifey gave a speech, and then the Gaming Monk and a priest performed a ritual.
Once that concluded, I was officially appointed as the Executive Officer.
"I will strike down the Zork, even if it costs my life!"
When I declared that, a thundering round of applause broke out.
"Your Excellency the Grand Duke! Good luck!"
"We're praying for you!"
"Go get 'em!"
They sure liked to say whatever came to mind.
I heard the crowd was even more fanatical than they had been for Thomas.
After lining us up on the deck for a final salute, the ship departed.
Since we were heading into the atmosphere, we hurried inside.
"Phew... I’m exhausted..."
This was more draining than actual training.
"Yes, yes. Go change. I’m going to wash the dress uniforms."
"Okay."
Following Claire's instructions, I changed into my usual military uniform.
By the way, once the three-shift rotation ended, I transformed into the Potato Tracksuit Man.
Wifey was busy being interviewed by the media.
The ship even had war correspondents on board.
Apparently, sticking with me was the best way to get a scoop.
They were putting their lives on the line, too.
"Ah, Grand Duke Kamishiro! Please, a comment! Do you think we can win this war?"
A lady wearing glasses approached me.
I struggled to find a comment.
Whether we won or lost was ultimately a matter of luck.
"We are going because there is a chance of victory."
There was no way I could let the words "we can't win" cross my lips.
We would win.
Even if we had to crawl through the mud.
I pulled my military cap down low so she couldn't read my expression.
She seemingly took that as a sign of grim resolve, as the reporter murmured, "I-I see..." and hurried away.
That was my victory.
Now then, time to go help with the laundry.
Our chores were handled on a rotation system.
Even a Major had to pull their weight.
So, once I finished my duties, I put on an apron and headed to the laundry room.
Claire was busy loading military uniforms and shirts that had finished washing into a basket.
"Sorry. I just finished. I’ll help."
"Thanks. Please do."
I started moving the laundry into the dryers.
Maybe it was because they were industrial-sized, but the washers and dryers were separate units.
Once a load was dry, I checked the tags and sorted the items.
Ironing was the responsibility of the individual.
Even One-oh-one and Tatiana could handle it.
I wouldn't let them claim they couldn't.
At the Officer Academy, if you couldn't make a bed or iron a sheet, you weren't even considered human.
I packed the items into bags and handed them to the delivery person along with the folded sheets.
"I’m counting on you."
"Got it."
Just then, that lady reporter from earlier walked in.
"Um... does Your Excellency the Grand Duke... also do chores?"
She looked genuinely shocked.
"I do. All the squad leaders on this ship were classmates at the Officer Academy."
Unlike Thomas or Cyrus, I was a career soldier.
Doing this much was standard, wasn't it?
"I-I see. So you haven't changed your lifestyle since you were an Officer Academy student."
"Basically, yeah. My direct superiors are also His Majesty's Imperial Guard, so they don't bother us with small details like this."
We did everything ourselves at the Officer Academy... Wait!
Come to think of it, what actually happened to our graduation?!
"Hey, Claire. What ever happened to our graduation ceremony?"
"The diplomas arrived as electronic files. Yesterday, I think."
"I hadn't even looked... so, there you have it. Even though I’m a Major, I still haven't quite lost that student mindset. Ahahahaha!"
"I-I see..."
"I clean toilets, serve food, and cook, too. If you stop doing it, you'll forget how!"
What was that look?
She had a face that said, "I just landed the scoop of a lifetime."
Laundry finished.
I checked the clock and saw it was ten minutes before the meeting.
"Oops, it's almost time for the briefing. Claire, you should come too."
"Understood."
I left the apron behind and headed for the conference room.
The media wasn't allowed inside.
We parted ways at the door and prepared for a communication conference with the other ships.
Wifey was already there.
"Oh, the Lord Groom is the last to arrive."
Man, everyone was so motivated...
"I was on laundry duty, so I apologize for the delay."
"Kahahahaha! As expected of the Lord Groom! A man of great character!"
Our counterparts in the conference were Thomas and Cyrus.
It would be a disaster if we were wiped out, but Thomas was desperate to make up for his previous failed expedition, while Cyrus planned to use the success of this campaign to force his promotion to Duke.
As for Wifey, if she didn't lead from the front, no one would follow her anymore.
That was the result of the constant blunders made by Maro and the Duke Association.
None of them could afford to run.
Though it didn't seem like they had any intention of doing so anyway.
"With my brother-in-law here, we’re as safe as can be! Ahahahaha!"
For some reason, Thomas was in high spirits.
Cyrus was also stifling a laugh.
"Even so, the comrades who make a Field-grade Officer do chores are certainly bold!"
The thought seemed to have struck Wifey's funny bone, as she slammed the desk and laughed loudly.
"Was it really that funny?"
When I asked Claire, she was laughing as well.
"In a normal company, you'd be a Department Director. And they’re making a Department Director do chores."
"L-Look, everyone except the Lord Groom seems to think it’s notable. See?"
The media’s breaking news article already featured a picture of me in an apron.
It was a favorable piece.
The article was being widely supported, primarily by former soldiers.
"At a normal Officer Academy, they don't make you do chores like this. Since ours is the strictest National Academy in the Empire, it must be their unique educational policy."
"Phew..."
I hadn't realized that.
I had only enrolled because it was tuition-free and paid a salary.
Plus, the Space Marines had better benefits than the Army.
Especially the food.
The Army’s food was... well, it left a lot to be desired.
There was also the sheer number of qualifications you could earn, and things like that.
I hadn't thought about "educational policy" at all.
But I'll keep my mouth shut.
As long as I stay silent, people will keep assuming the best of me.
Thus, we spent our days adjusting to life aboard the battleship.
At last, we reached the vicinity of the front-line planet.