Mistaken for a War Hero

Chapter 22
Change of Plans

His heart pounded as his breathing became erratic.

He was trying to maintain a calm facade, but the corners of his mouth twitched slightly.

‘Calm down! Think of an excuse!’

If he couldn’t answer, Daniel’s suspicion might turn into certainty.

After running countless simulations in his head in a split second, Alistair finally spoke.

“…Ah, I see. I wasn’t aware of that incident because they were still selling it when I went there.”

This was the answer Alistair came up with after much deliberation.

Considering that Daniel started working at the General Staff Headquarters immediately after graduating from the academy, he likely hadn’t been to Jack’s Restaurant last year.

It was a deception tactic that exploited a gap in information.

“Hmm, you weren’t aware of that incident…”

Daniel leisurely tapped on the banquet table.

The small gesture and the faint sound amplified the anxiety within Alistair, who was already tense.

He could feel Daniel’s suspicion.

On the other hand, Daniel wasn’t thinking much of it.

‘…Did they start selling it again last year?’

It was a delicious dessert, so the owner might not have given up on it.

In the first place, it wasn’t the restaurant’s fault that a customer with an allergy accidentally ordered it.

Thinking that it must be the case, Daniel nodded and looked at Alistair.

“It seems they started selling Apple Strudel again. Of course, I’d have to ask Jack’s Restaurant to be sure. Ah, and one more question…”

Just as Daniel was about to ask his question, classical music played by the orchestra filled the banquet hall.

Simultaneously, the attendees started applauding, naturally drawing their attention.

From the third floor of the banquet hall, members of the Imperial family were slowly descending the stairs, holding onto the railing.

This meant that the main event Philip mentioned was about to begin.

As an Imperial officer, Daniel also had a duty to show respect to the Imperial family, so he couldn’t continue the conversation.

“Oh dear, it seems we’re out of time. I guess we’ll have to end our conversation here.”

Daniel smiled, picked up his uniform cap from the table, and stood up.

“I hope you have a pleasant time.”

Nodding his head once, Daniel tucked his cap under his arm and walked towards the crowd.

Alistair felt a sense of relief wash over him.

‘That was close. If he had continued with his leading questions, I might have been exposed…’

Feeling relieved, Alistair looked back at Daniel and paused.

He could see Daniel talking to someone who appeared to be the Chief of Operations Staff, occasionally glancing back at him.

‘Damn it…!’

As expected, Daniel still hadn’t let go of his suspicions.

He was undoubtedly telling the Chief of Operations Staff, “That person is suspicious.”

Alistair groaned and hurriedly got up, heading towards the restroom.

After entering the restroom and confirming that no one was around, Alistair raised his wrist and pressed the transmission button on the miniature radio disguised as a watch.

“Answer, Speaker! This is Photo Studio!”

After a brief wait, a response came from the radio.

─ What is it? Is it time to report the list of names?

Alistair shook his head.

“No! I’m under suspicion! They’ve probably tightened security. Cancel Operation Mad Dog immediately! Disperse the agents to the old town! We have to go with Plan B!”

─ Under suspicion? The identity forgery was perfect. Your disguise should be undetectable even by the Imperial Army.

“The situation took a turn for the worse. The one suspecting me is none other than Daniel Steiner.”

Daniel Steiner. The weight of that name was significant.

The reply came a moment later.

─ Understood. We’ll withdraw the original operation and switch to Plan B. I’ll inform all agents. Good luck.

The radio went silent.

Staring at his watch, Alistair pressed his hand to his forehead.

‘Damn it. To think we have to resort to Plan B…’

Unlike the original plan, Plan B had an exponentially higher chance of failure.

Even if the operation succeeded, not only would the agents be wiped out, but it would also give the Empire justification for launching an expansion war.

But there was no other way.

With Daniel Steiner’s suspicion on him, the original plan wouldn’t work.

Alistair ran a hand over his face and clasped his hands together, muttering a prayer.

“Oh God…”

Please protect us.

***

“He’s going to the restroom. Your new friend.”

“Hmm, it seems he was in a hurry.”

I watched Alistair enter the restroom and shrugged.

Seeing this, Ernst chuckled.

“Let’s put your hometown friend aside for now and focus on the ball.”

“…The ball, sir?”

“Ah, this is your first time at an Imperial banquet, isn’t it? Usually, when the banquet is in full swing, the Imperial family members come out and enjoy dancing. It’s a tradition passed down through the ages.”

I wasn’t sure what the correlation was between dancing and tradition, but I didn’t want to criticize the Imperial family’s culture.

I nodded casually and turned my gaze towards the central hall where the Imperial family members were preparing for the dance. The first thing I saw was Sylvia, wearing a purple evening gown.

It was a daring dress with a plunging back, but the blue necklace and earrings diverted attention, giving off an air of elegance rather than sultriness.

Frankly, she had a completely different aura compared to when I met her in the north.

Was it because of the light makeup? As I observed her closely, I quickly realized why Sylvia seemed different.

‘She doesn’t like this.’

Sylvia wasn’t smiling.

The playful and triumphant smile she had shown in the north was gone.

Thinking from her perspective, I could understand why.

If I were forced to dress up and dance in front of people I didn’t want to see, all for the sake of “Imperial tradition,” I wouldn’t like it either.

But regardless of Sylvia’s feelings, the lights in the banquet hall dimmed, and music signaling the start of the dance began to play.

As the music started, the Imperial family members began dancing with their partners, each with a smile on their face.

Sylvia was no exception, but unlike the others, she remained expressionless throughout the dance.

Of course, even her expressionless face was quite attractive to me.

I tend to think of myself as a rational person, but it seemed my rationality was easily swayed by appearances.

If someone else had that sullen expression, I would have told them to cheer up, but seeing the beautiful Sylvia like that, even her expression seemed like a picturesque scene.

This was why the obsession with appearances was so terrifying. It was something to be wary of.

So, I watched with my arms crossed and a calm expression. Soon, the dance ended, and the lights brightened.

Then, as if on cue, everyone started applauding the Imperial family.

Sylvia, receiving applause from the pseudo-gallery, shifted her gaze around with an annoyed look, then our eyes met.

Her eyes widened slightly. Just as I was about to clap,

─ Don’t.

Sylvia’s lip movements stopped my applause.

Frozen in an awkward posture, I watched as the high-ranking officials in the banquet hall approached the Imperial family members and engaged them in conversation.

Sylvia was no exception.

As I blankly watched Sylvia talking and laughing with the high-ranking officials, I tilted my head in confusion.

‘Did I do something wrong?’

Was clapping when our eyes met a breach of Imperial etiquette?

Curiosity and bewilderment mingled within me as Sylvia politely excused herself from the high-ranking officials and made her way through the crowd.

Seeing her coming towards me, I stepped aside to make way.

But Sylvia continued to walk towards me.

Stopping right in front of me, she looked up and gave a faint smile.

“It’s been a while. Daniel… or should I say Captain?”

She really was coming towards me. After a moment of stunned silence, I nodded.

“Yes, I’ve been promoted to Captain.”

“I see. Well, it’s only natural considering all the merits you’ve earned. By the way, you changed your hairstyle?”

“Yes, I didn’t want to, but my superior was quite insistent…”

Sylvia giggled.

“I should give that insistent superior a reward. It suits you well. You look more mature.”

“I am already an adult, but…”

“Just getting older doesn’t make you an adult, does it? Especially when you look at those people.”

Sylvia glanced back at the men who had approached her.

“They all think the Empire should wage a war of expansion. Without even considering the impact it would have on the international community.”

Well, in this era, such thinking was considered normal.

Wasn’t the modern age filled with people who saw colonizing less developed civilizations as a business venture or even a form of salvation?

It meant that Sylvia was enlightened, not that those men were ignorant.

“It can’t be helped. Now that the Empire has gained the upper hand, advocating for war is a natural course of action. Not everyone can be as wise as Your Highness…”

I stopped mid-sentence.

My friend from my hometown, who had gone to the restroom, was running towards us.

With a very determined look on his face.

Just as I was wondering what was going on, he reached into his pocket.

Instinctively sensing danger, I opened my holster and drew my revolver.

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

Bang!

The bullet pierced his head.

However, the unknown object he had thrown was still flying towards us.

“Your Highness!”

Feeling a sense of crisis, I grabbed Sylvia’s wrist and pulled her towards me.

Holding her in my arms, I instinctively turned and closed my eyes.

And then,

Flash—

A blinding light engulfed everything.

***

…I slowly opened my eyes, catching my breath.

My vision was blurry. This wasn’t the banquet hall I was just in.

Amidst the silence, I waited for my eyes to adjust to the darkness.

It wouldn’t do to make any noise by moving carelessly.

“Daniel…”

“Quiet.”

I silenced Sylvia, who was stirring, and waited for a while until I could see the interior of the place I was in.

‘A hotel?’

I was in a spacious living room decorated with luxurious furniture.

Glancing behind me, I saw a cityscape spread out below the glass wall.

Then, I realized what the man had thrown.

‘An Aethereum Transference Grenade.’

It was a disruption grenade that literally transferred the location of anyone caught in its blast.

It wasn’t a popular item due to its high price and the inability to specifically determine the destination of the transfer.

I had heard that it was sometimes used for special operations, but I never thought I would be on the receiving end of it.

“Um…”

“I told you to be quiet.”

“But…”

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

Only then did I realize that I was still holding her tightly.

In my nervousness, I belatedly realized the impropriety of my actions.

“Ah.”

As I released my hold, Sylvia stepped back.

Her ears were flushed red as she looked at me with displeasure.

Her breathing seemed a bit ragged as well.

“I apologize.”

I apologized, and Sylvia tucked a strand of hair that had fallen forward behind her ear and said,

“I understand you were trying to protect me. But please be more careful next time. And…”

Her eyes changed as she hid behind a nearby sofa.

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

Footsteps? I hid next to Sylvia and listened closely, and indeed, I could hear footsteps nearby.

They didn’t seem to know our exact location, but they were searching the vicinity.

I couldn’t help but sigh.

“…This is quite a difficult situation, but I’ll do my best to protect you.”

“There’s no need for that.”

Sylvia lifted the hem of her evening gown.

A pistol strapped to her thigh was revealed.

Seeing that, I let out a sigh of disbelief.

“Do you always carry a pistol like that?”

“You never know what might happen.”

“It seems that I’m not the mature one here, but Your Highness.”

Sylvia drew the pistol from her thigh holster and smiled faintly.

“Let’s just say we both are.”

“Alright, then…”

The footsteps were getting closer.

I looked towards the door and said,

“Let’s act like adults and protect ourselves.”

Click—

Sylvia loaded her pistol and replied confidently,

“That’s exactly what I want.”

As expected of the Iron Blood.

Frankly, I couldn’t have asked for a more reliable partner.

—————

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