Was Mistaken For A War Hero

Through CCTV, I indirectly received a death threat, so I went to my office and ordered Lucy to stop working.

After finishing lunch with Lucy, I returned to my office after showing her the military facilities that were available to officers at the staff headquarters.

Most of the afternoon tasks were handled by me.

The reason was simple.

I thought that if I piled more work onto Lucy, I might really end up dead.

It probably wouldn't happen, but if Lucy, driven mad by excessive work, took out a revolver from her holster and shot me, it would be a big problem, wouldn't it?

So from now on, I planned to proceed with work in a way that wouldn't provoke Lucy too much.

"Captain."

When I had finished all the tasks for the afternoon, Lucy, who was organizing the documents, looked at me.

"It's time to leave."

Has it already come to that?

I lifted my head and looked at the wall clock. As Lucy had said, the hour hand was pointing to 6 PM.

I would have liked to hum a little tune and leave the staff headquarters, but I refused to leave with Lucy. Who knew what might happen?

"Go ahead. I will stay behind and review a few things..."

"In that case, I will stay as well and assist you, Captain."

"...I think it's better to leave. I'll be going."

I cleared my throat, stood up, draped my officer's coat over my arm, and picked up my briefcase.

Lucy also finished preparing to leave and stood up.

We both opened the office door and stepped into the hallway, and Lucy naturally walked alongside me.

Carrying my briefcase just like I was, Lucy suddenly tilted her head, feeling somewhat puzzled.

"Captain? You don't look well. Is something wrong?"

It's because of you, you crazy woman!

…That sentence almost slipped out, but I restrained myself with superhuman patience.

"It's nothing. I just have a bit of an upset stomach. Don't worry about it."

With that, I kept silent and walked out of the staff headquarters.

We walked all the way to the eaves, and then I slowly stopped.

It was raining. It wasn't a downpour, just a light drizzle, weakly falling.

Because of that, Lucy, who had approached me, spoke with an expression of discomfort.

"It's raining. The weather forecast said it would be clear all day..."

"Pathetic."

Even the weather forecast in the distant future sometimes got predictions wrong, so it was foolish not to bring an umbrella just because today's weather forecast said it would be clear.

"An officer of the Empire should always be prepared for bad weather."

I pulled an umbrella out of my briefcase.

After hesitating for a moment, I held the umbrella out toward Lucy.

"Take it. I don't want my direct subordinate to be seen leaving in the rain like a fool."

"Eh? But..."

"Don't make me repeat myself."

Maintaining a professional relationship while offering just the right amount of goodwill was the best way to ensure one's survival.

Lucy, looking surprised, stared at me for a moment, then held out both hands and accepted the umbrella.

"I'll use it gratefully. But are you really okay with this? If I take the umbrella, you'll be walking in the rain."

"There's a spare one in my office. I can go back and get that."

Of course, there was no spare umbrella.

But I didn't want to be seen walking with a spy-like umbrella, so I lied.

Lucy looked at me with a meaningful glance but then nodded and unfolded the umbrella.

"Then, I'll see you tomorrow."

Lucy bowed slightly and started walking away.

I let out a sigh of relief as I watched her back.

'I'm alive.'

Being in the same office with a spy who could kill me at any time was mentally exhausting.

'By the way...'

Now, I had no choice but to stay at the headquarters until the rain stopped.

Since I was trapped here, I was considering handling tomorrow's tasks in advance when I saw a steam car approaching from afar.

It was a vehicle with a long bonnet and a slim body, reminiscent of the Dobel Model E, a car from an earlier period. It was now considered outdated, at least 20 years old in this era.

After the internal combustion engine became popular, anyone still driving such a car was either old or stingy.

As far as I knew, the person who owned that car had both of those traits.

Creeeek—

The vehicle came to a clean stop in front of the building entrance.

The person in the driver's seat was none other than my superior, Colonel Ernst.

After getting out of the car, Ernst saw me and immediately smiled broadly.

"Oh! Captain Daniel! I was just looking for you, and what a miraculous coincidence to run into you like this!"

"...You were looking for me?"

"Yes, didn't I tell you I was going to talk with the royal family? I received a wonderful proposal there! I think you'll be happy to hear it."

I already felt uneasy.

I secretly started sweating and asked again.

"A wonderful proposal?"

"Have you heard that the royal family is holding a banquet to celebrate the victory of the northern army? Very graciously, the royal family sent invitations to both me and you."

"Eh? But... Why would they invite me to a banquet, even though you're the one involved?"

I was genuinely asking, but Ernst playfully tapped me on the side, looking quite pleased, as if enjoying a joke.

"I see you're being modest! How could the royal family not invite you after all the merits you've earned? So, don't worry about it, just go with me."

…This was troublesome. I really didn't want to go.

If I was right, there would definitely be a terrorist attack at this banquet.

I didn't know exactly what kind of attack would happen, but I'd seen it mentioned briefly in a game's history book.

In any case, I wanted to avoid unknown dangers as much as possible.

But, there was no way a mere captain could refuse the royal family's invitation.

Was there no way out? I looked at Ernst desperately, as if clutching at straws.

"Colonel, I don't know if you'll believe me, but I have a royal family allergy. My condition worsens when I'm around high-born people. Could I be excused from attending?"

For the first time, Ernst frowned slightly, looking at me with a hint of disdain, as if he had just heard a dad joke.

"Captain Daniel."

"Yes?"

"Please, stop with the nonsense."

"...Yes."

In the somber atmosphere, it seemed I couldn't express my refusal any longer.

So, sadly, it was decided I would attend the banquet.

Meanwhile, at the Eisenkrone Palace of the Empire.

Second floor of the Royal Library.

"Your Highness."

Selvia, who was reading ancient manuscripts spread across her desk, lifted her head.

Standing before her was a middle-aged officer wearing a uniform adorned with a golden eagle emblem, Colonel Hartmann Edelstein, the head of the royal guards.

Upon recognizing the person who called her, Selvia lowered her head and turned the page of the manuscript.

"What is it?"

Her tone was cold, implying she didn't want to be disturbed as she focused on deciphering the ancient texts.

But this time, Hartmann couldn't let it go.

"The head maid in charge of the outfits asked me to speak with you. She says it's difficult since you have no interest in dressing up and spend all your time in the library, especially with the banquet tomorrow."

Selvia sighed softly.

"Then tell the head maid that studying tactics and strategies would be far more beneficial than worrying about my appearance."

"Your Highness."

"Hartmann. I have no intention of being eye candy for the people attending the banquet. I simply succeeded in pushing back the allied forces from the north, and now they want to celebrate it..."

Selvia trailed off, shaking her head as if in disbelief.

"If it were up to me, I'd have put the money spent on the banquet into national defense. What on earth is my father thinking?"

A smile appeared on Hartmann's face.

It wasn't the kind of attitude one would expect from someone with the blood of a leader; it was rather humble.

However, her dislike of social gatherings might bring disadvantages in the long run.

"Your Highness. A banquet is a foundation of social interaction, and social interaction is politics. Also, the state, in the grand scheme of things, is a collective of people. Excessive social interaction can turn the people into enemies, but a complete lack of it might turn the nobility against you."

Historically, those who were praised by only one side did not last long.

"To rule over both is the job of an emperor. One of the most powerful leaders in the world, commanding the greatest military force. Do you understand what I'm saying?"

Although he wasn't wrong, Selvia still wasn't convinced.

She remained silent in defiance, but Hartmann, as if he'd just remembered something, said:

"Ah, by the way, Captain Daniel Steiner will be attending the banquet too. You know him, don't you?"

At the mention of Daniel Steiner, Selvia's shoulders flinched.

─ "If my death can save the reporter, that's enough. A soldier exists to protect the citizens of their country."

His words still echoed in her mind.

He was someone who wouldn't be bad to have around. She would prefer to have him as an ally.

Clearing her throat, Selvia closed the manuscript.

"...Fine. Have the head maid come. I suppose I can manage a little bit of dressing up."

She spoke calmly, but Hartmann noticed the faint flush creeping up her ears.

'Seems like you're not very good at hiding your emotions.'

Was it because she had a soft spot for Captain Steiner? Hartmann kept his smile in check and left the room.

The banquet was about to begin, but only time would tell whether the royal family's feast would end in celebration or disaster.