Mistaken for a War Hero

Chapter 20
I Have Allergies

After indirectly receiving a death threat through the CCTV, I went back to my office and ordered Lucy to stop working.

Then, after having lunch with Lucy and showing her the facilities available to officers at the General Staff Headquarters, I returned to my office.

I handled most of the afternoon’s work myself.

The reason was simple.

I felt that if I piled more work onto Lucy, I might actually die.

It was unlikely, but if Lucy, driven mad by the excessive workload, were to pull out her revolver from its holster and shoot me, it would be a disaster.

So, I intended to proceed with my work in a way that wouldn’t provoke Lucy as much as possible.

“Captain.”

Just as I finished all the afternoon’s work, Lucy organized the documents and looked at me.

“It’s closing time.”

Was it that late already?

I looked up at the wall clock, and as Lucy said, the hour hand was pointing to 6 p.m.

I wanted to hum a cheerful tune and leave the General Staff Headquarters, but I refused to leave with Lucy. Who knows what might happen?

“You can go first. I’ll stay and do some more reviewing…”

“Then I’ll stay with you and help, Captain.”

“…I was going to, but I think it’s better if you leave. Let’s go.”

Clearing my throat, I stood up, put on my officer’s coat, and picked up my briefcase.

Lucy also finished her preparations for leaving and stood up.

As I opened the office door and stepped into the hallway, Lucy naturally fell into step beside me.

Walking alongside me with her briefcase, she suddenly tilted her head in confusion.

“Captain? You look pale. Is something wrong?”

It’s because of you, you crazy woman!

…Those words reached the roof of my mouth, but I endured them with superhuman patience.

“I’m just feeling a bit unwell. It’s nothing to worry about.”

With that, I maintained my silence and exited the General Staff Headquarters.

I walked towards the eaves, then slowly stopped.

It was raining. Not a downpour, but a drizzle, falling gently like beads.

Lucy, walking next to me, spoke with a troubled tone.

“It’s raining. The weather forecast said it would be clear all day…”

“How pathetic.”

Even the weather forecasts of the far future sometimes got it wrong, so it was foolish to rely on the current weather forecast and not bring an umbrella.

“An Imperial officer must always be prepared for inclement weather.”

I took out the folding umbrella from my briefcase.

After a moment of contemplation, I offered the umbrella to Lucy.

“Take it. I don’t want my direct subordinate to be seen as someone foolish enough to walk in the rain without an umbrella.”

“Sir? But…”

“Don’t make me say it twice.”

Maintaining a professional relationship while offering appropriate favors was the key to prolonging my life.

Lucy looked at me with surprise, then took the umbrella with both hands.

“Thank you, sir. I’ll use it well. But are you sure? If I take the umbrella, you’ll have to walk in the rain.”

“I have a spare one in my office. I’ll just go get it.”

Actually, I didn’t have a spare.

It was a lie I told because I wanted to avoid walking with a spy under the same umbrella.

Lucy gave me a meaningful look, then nodded and opened the umbrella.

“Then I’ll see you tomorrow.”

She bowed her head and walked away.

Watching her retreating figure, I let out a sigh of relief.

‘I survived.’

Sharing an office with a spy who could kill me at any moment was incredibly draining.

‘That aside…’

Now I was stuck at headquarters until the rain stopped.

Just as I was thinking about getting a head start on tomorrow’s work since I was trapped here anyway, I saw a steam engine vehicle with a long bonnet and a sleek body approaching from afar.

It was a classic car reminiscent of the Doble Model E, but in this era, it was considered outdated, having been released more than 20 years ago.

In a time when internal combustion engine vehicles were becoming mainstream, only old people or misers would drive such a car.

And as far as I knew, the owner of that car possessed both of those qualities.

Screech—

The car entered the headquarters entrance and came to a neat stop.

As expected, the person in the driver’s seat was my superior, Colonel Ernst.

Ernst got out of the car and was about to enter the General Staff Headquarters when he spotted me and smiled brightly.

“Oh! Captain Daniel! I was just looking for you, what a coincidence!”

“…You were looking for me, sir?”

“Yes. Didn’t I tell you I had a meeting with someone from the Imperial family? I received a very good offer there! You’ll be happy to hear it too.”

I already felt uneasy.

Breaking out in a cold sweat, I asked,

“What kind of offer is it, sir?”

“You’ve heard that the Imperial family is holding a banquet to celebrate the victory of the Northern Front Army, right? Thankfully, they’ve sent invitations to both me and you.”

“Sir? But… why would they invite me to the banquet?”

I asked in earnest, but Ernst playfully nudged my side.

He seemed to be in a very good mood, probably because he received an invitation from the Imperial family.

“This guy, he’s got humility ingrained in him. With all the merits you’ve accumulated, how could the Imperial family not invite you? So don’t mind it and let’s go together.”

…This is troubling. I wasn’t joking; I really didn’t want to go.

As far as I knew, there would definitely be a terrorist attack at the banquet celebrating the Northern Front Army’s victory.

I wasn’t sure what kind of terrorist attack it would be.

It was only mentioned in one line in the game’s historical records.

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

But a mere Captain couldn’t refuse an invitation from the Imperial family.

Was there really no way out of this? Racking my brain, I looked at Ernst with a desperate hope.

“Sir, I’m not sure if you’ll believe me, but I have an allergy to the Imperial family. It’s a condition where my symptoms worsen when I see noble and high-ranking people. So, would it be possible for me to be absent…”

Ernst frowned, a rare sight.

His eyes held a slight disgust, like a teenager encountering a cheesy joke for the first time.

“Captain Daniel.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Please stop with the nonsense.”

“…Yes, sir.”

In this stifling atmosphere, I couldn’t bring myself to express my desire to be absent any further.

So, unfortunately, my attendance at the banquet was confirmed.

***

Meanwhile, at the Eisenz Krone Palace in the Empire.

2nd floor of the Imperial Library.

“Your Highness.”

Sylvia, who was deciphering ancient documents with several books spread out on the desk, looked up.

Standing there was a veteran officer in a uniform with the golden wing insignia on his shoulder, Lieutenant Colonel Hartmann Edelstein, the princess’s chief bodyguard.

Confirming the identity of the person who called her, Sylvia lowered her head and turned the page of the ancient document.

“What is it?”

Her tone was cold. It was also a way of telling him not to interrupt her as she was engrossed in deciphering the document.

However, Hartmann couldn’t overlook this matter.

“The chief lady-in-waiting in charge of attire asked me to speak to you. She said it’s troubling that Your Highness isn’t interested in dressing up and only stays in the library, as they need to prepare for tomorrow’s banquet.”

Sylvia let out a soft sigh.

“Then tell the chief lady-in-waiting that studying tactics and strategy would be far more beneficial than spending time on dressing up.”

“Your Highness.”

“Hartmann, I have no intention of becoming eye candy for the attendees of the banquet. In the first place, we only succeeded in pushing back the Allied forces in the north, and now we’re having a celebration…?”

Sylvia trailed off and shook her head in disapproval.

“If it were up to me, I would have used the money spent on the banquet for national defense. What is Father thinking?”

A smile appeared on Hartmann’s lips.

Her attitude was incredibly humble, unlike what one would expect from someone born with the blood of a leader.

However, her dislike for social gatherings could be detrimental in the long run.

“Your Highness, banquets are the foundation of social interaction, and social interaction is politics. Moreover, a nation, in essence, is a gathering of people. Excessive socializing may turn the people into enemies, but a complete lack of it may turn the nobles against you.”

Historically, those who were praised only by one side never lasted long.

“An Emperor is someone who rules both, keeping them under their control. A single leader who commands the most powerful army in the world. Do you understand what I’m saying?”

She didn’t disagree, but she still wasn’t keen on the idea.

As Sylvia protested with her silence, Hartmann suddenly spoke as if he had just remembered something.

“Ah, come to think of it, Captain Daniel Steiner will also be attending this banquet. He’s acquainted with Your Highness, isn’t he?”

At the mention of Daniel Steiner, Sylvia flinched slightly.

“If I can ensure your survival by dying, that’s enough for me. A soldier exists to protect their nation’s citizens.”

She still couldn’t forget his words.

He was someone worth keeping close. If possible, she wanted him on her side.

Clearing her throat, Sylvia closed the ancient document.

“…Alright. Summon the chief lady-in-waiting. I suppose a little dressing up wouldn’t hurt.”

She spoke calmly, but Hartmann could see her ears turning slightly red.

‘It seems you’re not very good at hiding your emotions.’

Was she that fond of Daniel Steiner?

With a faint smile, Hartmann nodded.

—————

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