I Was Mistaken as a Great War Commander

Thanks to Hartman’s consideration, I returned to my quarters and rested, then headed to the General Staff Headquarters the next morning.

The clear weather without a single cloud and the refreshing breeze put me in a pleasant mood, but as soon as I entered the Headquarters, that pleasant feeling vanished completely.

For everyone I encountered in the hallways treated me like some sort of ghost.

Those of lower rank than me would stiffen and hastily salute, while even my superiors would avoid eye contact and hurriedly return my salute.

Wondering what was going on, I stopped by the lounge to get some coffee, where I was able to grasp the full story.

Some personnel staff members were gathered, discussing me.

“Did you hear? It’s about Operations Staff Officer Daniel Steiner. Apparently, he took leave but was actually carrying out a mission for Her Highness the Princess.”
“He even visited Baron Velbar’s estate, didn’t he? Along with Colonel Hartman, who is the chief of Her Highness’s Imperial Guards.”
“Having become a war hero, he must be trying to enter politics now. In any case, let’s not cross Daniel Steiner. We can’t afford to suffer any consequences. And…”

The lieutenant colonel from the Personnel Planning Department, who had been speaking, trailed off upon noticing me.

Startled into silence, the lieutenant colonel suddenly flashed me an awkward smile.

Then he whispered something to his colleagues.

Reacting to the lieutenant colonel’s strange behavior, the officers who had been conversing glanced at me before clearing their throats unnaturally.

The major, who held the lowest rank among them, addressed me.

“G, Good morning, Major Daniel.”
After taking a sip of my coffee, I replied.

“Yes, good morning. It’s also a fine day for gossiping, it seems.”

At my words, they all began to look around uncomfortably before discarding their unfinished coffee and hurriedly leaving.

“Come to think of it, I have some urgent work to attend to…”
“Ah, yes, I need to meet with the department head as well.”

Offering their excuses one by one, they filed out of the lounge.

Silently observing their departure, I let out a low sigh.

Based on the strange rumors circulating in the Headquarters, it seemed I had established myself as ‘Her Highness the Princess’s closest aide.’

However, I couldn’t resent those spreading the rumors.

‘Even I would think the same way.’

Judging solely by the circumstances, it would be stranger not to think of me as the Princess’s closest aide.

But from my perspective, having no such intention, it was a headache.

‘How did things end up like this…?’

I had merely gone to my hometown to enjoy a vacation, but after unintentionally apprehending the Crown Prince’s secret organization, events had spiraled out of control.

‘I wonder how His Imperial Majesty the Emperor views me now…’

During our previous encounter, His Majesty had clearly stated that soldiers must maintain political neutrality, yet I had been engaging in remarkably political actions.

‘He certainly won’t view me favorably.’

It was a well-known fact that incurring the Emperor’s hatred could lead to nothing good.

Although apprehensive, dwelling on events that hadn’t occurred was an undesirable habit.

After finishing the remaining coffee, I crumpled the paper cup and tossed it into a nearby trash can.

Afterward, carrying my document bag, I exited the lounge and climbed the stairs to my personal office.

Opening the office door and glancing inside, I saw Lucie diligently working as usual.

Sensing my presence, Lucie raised her head and promptly stood to salute.

“Sir. You’ve arrived early today.”
“I couldn’t sleep, that’s all. More importantly, we don’t need to worry about the Security Police anymore.”
“…You’ve resolved the matter?”

Nodding, I started walking towards my desk but paused.

For a box, neatly wrapped with a ribbon, sat upon the desk.

Approaching with a puzzled expression, I lightly tapped the box.

“What’s this? It’s a rather suspicious box.”
“Apple strudel, sir. I thought you might enjoy it, so I brought it.”
“Oh? They sell this at the dessert shop? As far as I know, it’s a southern dish, not commonly found around here.”

Lucie hesitated briefly before speaking.

“I made it myself.”
“…You made it?”

With an impassive expression, Lucie nodded.

This caused me to break out in a cold sweat.

‘An assassination attempt?’

For a moment, a chilling feeling arose, but I soon regained my composure.

‘She wouldn’t try to kill me here at the Headquarters… In a space with just the two of us.’

If she killed me here, identifying the culprit would be too easy.

Lucie would undoubtedly be aware of that, so it was unlikely the food was meant for assassination.

‘Then does this mean she made me the dessert out of pure goodwill?’

Unable to discern the reason, I remained silent for a while before gradually realizing the possibility.

‘Could she think I protected her from the Security Police?’

In reality, I had merely acted out of self-preservation, but it seemed I had inadvertently given Lucie a strange misconception.

However, there was no need to clarify the misunderstanding, so I simply nodded and untied the ribbon on the box.

As the ribbon loosened, the box opened like a blooming flower, revealing the apple strudel baked in an inviting shape inside.

“It looks delicious.”

Taking the utensils enclosed in the box, I cut a small piece of the strudel and put it in my mouth.

After chewing a few times, I couldn’t help but exclaim in admiration.

“This is… remarkable.”

The refreshing, tangy taste of apples combined with the warm, fragrant flavor of cinnamon.

Alongside it, walnuts and almonds stimulated a crisp texture, while sugar and raisins subtly asserted their presence, whispering, “We’re here too!”

Furthermore, the dough was perfectly baked, adding a delightful richness.

Although I had eaten quite a few apple strudels, I had never tasted one this delicious.

“You could start a business with this. Do you enjoy cooking in your free time?”

It was an innocuous question born of genuine curiosity, but Lucie merely blinked blankly, as if unaccustomed to receiving praise.

After a momentary silence, as if carefully choosing her words, Lucie spoke.

“That’s not the case. I bought a cookbook yesterday and practiced…”

Lucie trailed off, seeming embarrassed to voice the words ‘I practiced cooking for you.’

After a while of uncertainty, Lucie regained her composure and continued.

“…It’s a token of appreciation for your consideration yesterday.”

Having said that, Lucie deeply bowed her head towards me before taking her seat.

Afterward, she returned to her work with an expressionless demeanor, but her ears were noticeably flushed, impossible to conceal.

‘Moreover…’

As if she had encountered setbacks while practicing, a band-aid was wrapped around Lucie’s left index finger.

‘She must have cut her finger while slicing apples.’

To practice cooking and serve it to her superior was praiseworthy to an excessive degree.

Truly, she was an exemplary aide.

‘The problem, however…’

Was that this aide was plotting to take my life.

This dish, too, had likely been prepared to lower my guard with a high probability.

The thought made my throat tighten inexplicably.

‘At any rate, the leftovers…’

It seemed best to dispose of them upon returning to my quarters.

Meanwhile, in the audience chamber within the Imperial Palace.

“What did you just say…?”

The distinctive blue eyes of the blond Crown Prince Arno trembled momentarily.

For the news conveyed by Pelliston, the deputy director of the Intelligence Agency, was too outrageous to be true.

Although the Crown Prince wished to deny reality, Pelliston repeated his previous statement with a disdainful chuckle.

“…Baron Velbar has stated his intention to withdraw from the succession struggle. He is currently barricaded within his residence, forbidding any entry or exit.”

It was nothing short of a thunderbolt from the clear sky.

From the Crown Prince Arno’s perspective, with Dawn’s Radiance apprehended, Velbar’s support was essential to continue the succession struggle.

Yet Velbar had abruptly decided to withdraw his backing overnight, rendering the situation utterly bewildering.

“But why…”

In response to Arno’s murmur, Pelliston answered.

“I cannot ascertain the exact circumstances, but it appears he had a change of heart after conversing with Major Daniel Steiner.”
“…Daniel Steiner? That bastard again?”

Having laughed as if enlightened, Arno suddenly raised his voice.

“Why does that son of a bitch insist on obstructing me at every turn? Why!?”

From the initial assassination attempt in the north to the present, the man named Daniel Steiner had not only stood in Arno’s way but reduced all his plans to mere bubbles.

By making Velbar withdraw his support, he had effectively shattered Arno’s future prospects.

A throbbing pain pulsed in his head.

Simultaneously, rage smoldered from within.

“Deputy Director! The fight is not over yet! Immediately! Bring me information to have Daniel Steiner arrested right now! Find evidence that he’s been using mercenaries! For my sake…”

Arno’s voice gradually trailed off.

For the deputy director, who would ordinarily have nodded resolutely, was merely exchanging glances like an imbecile.

Just as Arno wondered why, the deputy director bowed his head apologetically.

“Your Highness. We’ve personally investigated, but no evidence has surfaced.”
“No evidence was found?”
“Yes. Judging that Daniel might have established his own forces, we conducted a thorough investigation, but nothing was uncovered.”

Cold sweat trickled down the deputy director’s forehead.

“If he was capable of taking down Dawn’s Radiance in one fell swoop, he must command a large-scale organization. In that case, there should undoubtedly be a system for issuing and receiving orders. However, Daniel Steiner…”

The deputy director lowered his head further.

“Major Daniel Steiner did not communicate with anyone from any organization while he was in the south. We were also unable to find any trace of the organization that attacked Dawn’s Radiance or where they dispersed.”
“What is the meaning of…”
“Your Highness. To be frank, I cannot shake the feeling that we’re chasing a ghost. We in the Intelligence Agency cannot fathom by what means Daniel Steiner is operating.”

A hint of fear crept into the deputy director’s voice.

As a result, Arno, who had been stunned, slumped back into his chair.

“Just who…”

In essence, the deputy director of the Imperial Intelligence Agency was saying that Daniel Steiner had conducted his operations so meticulously that not even a trace could be found.

At this realization, the rage simmering within Arno’s heart grew cold.

That chilled rage soon transformed into an indescribable sense of dread.

“…Just what kind of person is Daniel Steiner?”

The deputy director could not easily answer the Crown Prince’s question.

For he, too, could not properly define the individual named Daniel Steiner.

‘Merely, someone who would stop at nothing to achieve his objectives…’

The only way to describe him was as a ghost-like existence who left no trail whatsoever.