I Was Mistaken as a Great War Commander

My heart started pounding madly as my breathing faltered.

Though I was striving to maintain a composed expression, the corners of my mouth were trembling faintly.

‘Stay calm! Think of an excuse!’

If I failed to respond, Daniel’s suspicion could solidify into certainty.

In that fleeting moment, simulating countless scenarios in his mind, Alastair managed to open his mouth with great difficulty.

“…Ah, was there such an incident? When I visited, they were still selling it, so I had no idea about that event.”

This was the answer Alastair had arrived at after much contemplation.

Based on the fact that Daniel had immediately started working at the General Staff Headquarters after graduating from the military academy, he likely hadn’t visited Jack’s Restaurant the previous year.

It was a form of deception, exploiting a blind spot in his knowledge.

“Hmm. Had no idea about such an incident…”

Daniel tapped the banquet table leisurely.

Those small gestures and faint sounds instilled a sense of unease in the tense Alastair.

He could feel Daniel’s suspicion weighing upon him.

In contrast, Daniel harbored no particular thoughts.

‘…Did they start selling it again?’

Since it had been a delicious dessert, the owner might not have given up on it.

Moreover, it wasn’t the restaurant’s fault if a customer with an allergy had accidentally ordered it.

With that line of thinking, Daniel nodded once and looked at Alastair.

“It seems they started selling the apple strudel again. Of course, to know for certain, I’d have to ask Jack’s Restaurant. Ah, and one more thing I wanted to ask…”

At the moment Daniel was about to ask his question, the sound of classical music played by the orchestra filled the banquet hall.

Simultaneously, the attendees began applauding, naturally drawing their gazes in that direction.

Starting from the third floor, the Imperial Family members were slowly descending the stairs, gripping the banisters.

It signaled the beginning of the ‘main event’ Philip had mentioned.

As an Imperial officer, Daniel was also obligated to show respect to the Imperial Family members, making it impossible to continue their conversation.

“Oh dear, it seems our time is up. We’ll have to leave the discussion at that for now.”

With a smile, Daniel rose from his seat, retrieving the peaked cap he had placed on the table.

“I hope you have an enjoyable time.”

After nodding once, Daniel tucked the cap under his arm and walked towards the crowd.

Thanks to this, Alastair felt a sense of relief.

‘Thank goodness. If the interrogative questioning had continued any further, I might have been exposed…’

Even as he felt relieved at this, Alastair paused as he glanced back at Daniel.

He could see Daniel engaged in a conversation with someone who appeared to be the Chief of Operational Planning, occasionally looking back at Alastair.

‘Damn it…!’

Evidently, Daniel had not entirely dismissed his suspicions.

He was undoubtedly informing the Chief of Operational Planning about his ‘suspicious person.’

Sighing heavily, Alastair hurriedly rose from his seat and headed towards the restroom.

Once inside, Alastair confirmed no one else was present and raised his wrist, pressing the transmit button on the miniature radio disguised as a wristwatch.

“Spiker, respond! This is Photographer!”

After a brief pause, the radio crackled with a response.

—What is it? Is it time to report the names?

Alastair shook his head.

“No! I’m currently under suspicion! They’ve likely heightened security as a precaution. Call off the Mad Dog Operation immediately! Disperse the agents to the old town! We need to proceed with Plan B!

—Under suspicion? Your identity forgery was perfect. Your disguise should have been undetectable by the Imperial forces.

“The situation turned unfavorable. The one suspecting me is none other than Daniel Steiner.”

Daniel Steiner. That name carried substantial weight.

After a momentary silence, the radio responded.

—Understood. Withdrawing from the original operation and shifting to Plan B. Relaying the orders to all agents. Good luck.

The radio transmission ended abruptly.

Staring at the wristwatch in silence, Alastair pressed his forehead.

‘Damn it. Having to resort to Plan B…’

Unlike the original operation, Plan B had an exponentially higher risk of failure.

Even if the operation succeeded, it would essentially provide the Empire with justification to initiate a war of territorial expansion, not to mention the likelihood of agent casualties.

But there was no other choice.

As long as Daniel Steiner harbored suspicions, the original plan would not succeed.

Wiping his face once, Alastair clasped his hands and murmured a pious prayer.

“Lord Almighty…”

Please, watch over us.

○

“He’s heading to the restroom. Your newfound friend, it seems.”
“Hmm. He seemed to be in a hurry.”

As I watched Alastair enter the restroom, I shrugged my shoulders.

Observing this, Ernst chuckled.

“Let’s leave your fellow countryman’s tale for now and focus on the ball.”
“…A ball, you say?”
“Ah, that’s right, this is your first Imperial Court banquet, isn’t it? Usually, once the banquet reaches its peak, the Imperial Family members emerge to enjoy a dance. It’s a tradition passed down from ancient times.”

I couldn’t fathom the connection between dancing and tradition, but I didn’t wish to question the Imperial Court’s customs.

After a casual nod, I shifted my gaze towards the central hall where the Imperial Family members were preparing for the dance.

The first person I noticed was Celvia, dressed in a crimson evening gown with a daring open back.

While the dress exposed her back, the azure necklace and earrings she wore drew attention away from any perceived immodesty, exuding an elegant, sophisticated aura.

Truthfully, her demeanor differed greatly from when I had encountered her in the north.

Was it due to the subtle makeup she wore? Observing her intently, I quickly realized the reason for her change in demeanor.

‘It seems she dislikes this setting.’

Celvia was not smiling.

Gone was the playful or triumphant smile she had displayed in the north.

Then again, putting myself in her shoes, I could understand.

If I had to dance while being dolled up to uphold the Imperial Court’s tradition, watched by unwanted spectators, I too would dislike it.

However, regardless of Celvia’s feelings, the banquet hall’s lighting dimmed, and a musical piece signaling the start of the dance began to play.

As the music commenced, the Imperial Family members each offered smiles as they began dancing with their partners.

Celvia was no exception, though one notable difference was that she maintained an expressionless demeanor throughout, unlike the other Imperial Family members.

Of course, even her expressionless countenance seemed quite captivating to me.

I tend to consider myself a rather rational person, but it seemed my rationality fell short of transcending superficial appearances.

Had someone else worn such a sullen expression, I might have told them to lighten up. But with Celvia’s exquisite beauty, even that expression appeared like a work of art.

Truly, this was the terrifying power of superficial appearance – something I needed to guard against.

Thus, with folded arms, I observed as impassively as possible until the dance concluded and the lighting brightened.

Immediately after, everyone applauded the Imperial Family members, as if on cue.

Receiving the quasi-gallery’s applause, Celvia seemed annoyed as she shifted her gaze around until our eyes met.

Celvia’s eyes widened slightly. In that moment, I was about to applaud.

—Don’t.

Celvia’s lip movements made me halt my intended applause.

As a result, I stood there in an awkward pose as the banquet hall’s high-ranking figures approached the Imperial Family members, each offering their own greetings.

Celvia was no exception.

Watching her converse and smile with the high-ranking figures, I tilted my head in bewilderment.

‘What did I do wrong?’

Was applauding after our eyes met a violation of Imperial Court etiquette?

Amid my puzzlement and confusion, Celvia politely excused herself from the high-ranking figures and made her way through the crowd.

As she approached me, I stepped aside to allow her passage.

However, Celvia continued advancing towards me.

Upon reaching me, Celvia looked up at me with a faint smile.

“It’s been a while, Daniel… Should I address you as Captain now?”

So she had come to me. After a momentary pause, I nodded.

“Yes, I’ve been promoted to Captain.”
“I see. Well, you have accumulated considerable merits, so it’s only natural. By the way, you’ve changed your hairstyle?”
“Yes. I didn’t want to, but my superior was quite insistent…”

Celvia let out a soft chuckle.

“Then a reward should be given to that insistent superior. It suits you well. It also makes you look more mature.”
“I’ve always been mature, you know…”
“Age alone does not make one mature, does it? Especially when you look at those people over there.”

Celvia glanced back at the men who had approached her earlier.

“They all believe the Empire should embark on a war of territorial expansion. Without any consideration for the repercussions it might have on the international community.”

Well, such a mindset was indeed prevalent in this era.

Wasn’t it during the modern age that many considered colonizing less advanced civilizations as a form of business or even a noble act of salvation?

In that sense, Celvia was the enlightened one, not them.

“It can’t be helped. Since the Empire has gained the upper hand, advocating for further conquest is a natural course of action. Not everyone can be as wise as Her Highness the Princess…”

I trailed off and closed my mouth.

The fellow countryman who had gone to the restroom was now rushing back in our direction.

And he had a rather grave expression.

Just as I wondered what was happening, he reached into his chest pocket.

Perceiving the potential danger in an instant, I opened my holster and drew my revolver.

The moment he seemed about to throw something, I pulled the trigger.

Bang!

The bullet blasted through his head.

However, the unidentified object he had released was still hurtling towards us.

“Your Highness!”

Sensing the crisis, I grabbed Celvia’s wrist and pulled her towards me.

Holding Celvia in my embrace, I instinctively turned and closed my eyes.

And then.

Flash!

A blinding light engulfed the surroundings.

○

…Steadying my breathing, I slowly opened my eyes.

My vision was shrouded in darkness. At the very least, this was no longer the banquet hall we had been in moments ago.

Amid the stillness, I waited for my eyes to adjust to the darkness.

Making any rash movements or sounds could be problematic.

“Daniel…”
“Quiet.”

Silencing the stirring Celvia, I waited for a while until the interior of our location came into view.

‘A hotel?’

We seemed to be in a spacious living room decorated with luxurious interiors.

Glancing behind me, I noticed a cityscape visible beneath the glass walls.

Only then could I discern the true nature of the object the man had thrown.

‘An aethelium conversion grenade.’

A disruptive grenade that literally converted the position of anyone caught in its blast radius.

Expensive and unable to specify the target’s conversion location, it wasn’t a widely used weapon.

I had heard it was occasionally employed for special purposes, but I never imagined I would be on the receiving end.

“Um…”
“I told you to be quiet.”
“No, it’s not that…”

Rustle. Celvia’s hand moved as if trying to push me away.

It was only then that I realized I had been holding her in a tight embrace without releasing her.

In my state of tension, I had belatedly become aware of my discourteous behavior.

“Ah.”

Loosening my embrace, Celvia took a step back.

For some reason, her ears were flushed as she regarded me with a displeased expression.

Her breathing also seemed slightly labored.

“My apologies.”

After offering my apology, Celvia brushed the hair that had fallen forward behind her ear and spoke.

“I understand your intention was to protect me. But please be more careful next time. And…”

Shifting her gaze, Celvia concealed herself behind a nearby sofa.

“They’re coming. I can hear footsteps. Seven, no, eight of them, perhaps.”

Footsteps? Hiding beside Celvia, I strained my ears and indeed heard distant footsteps.

It seemed they were unaware of our precise location but were searching the vicinity.

I let out an involuntary sigh.

“…It seems our situation has become quite troublesome, but I’ll do my utmost to protect you for now.”
“There’s no need for that.”

Celvia hitched up the hem of her evening gown.

Revealing a gun holstered to her thigh.

Witnessing this, I exhaled a dejected breath.

“Do you always carry a gun like that?”
“One can never be too prepared for any situation.”
“It seems I’m not the mature one here; it’s Her Highness the Princess.”

Retrieving the gun from her thigh holster, Celvia offered a faint smile.

“Let’s consider us both mature.”
“Very well. Then…”

As the footsteps grew closer, I peered towards the door and spoke.

“Let’s handle protecting our own lives maturely.”

Click!

Chambering a round into her gun, Celvia responded with a spirited tone.

“As I had hoped.”

Truly, a woman of iron.

Honestly speaking, there could be no better assurance.