I Was Mistaken as a Great War Commander

Daniel silently embraced the sorrowfully weeping Lucy, allowing her to expel all the pent-up emotions within.

Only after a prolonged outburst could Lucy finally regain her composure.

Confirming the return of life to Lucy’s eyes, Daniel gently raised his hand.

Enveloping Lucy in a gentle, firm embrace, Daniel suggested she should bathe and refresh herself.

Recognizing her disheveled state, Lucy gave a small nod.

Uttering an apology, Lucy turned to gather some clothes from her room.

After expressing gratitude for Daniel’s consideration, Lucy entered the bathroom.

Left alone, Daniel prepared food in the kitchen.

Judging by her appearance, she had likely been unable to eat properly, so he opted for a simple meal.

As Daniel sliced carrots with a kitchen knife, he suddenly felt a tightness around his neck.

‘I was startled by the necktie constricting my throat…’

He could scarcely fathom the shock when Lucy suddenly approached and grasped his necktie.

Initially, Daniel had thought she was finally revealing her true colors, but upon hearing her sorrowful sobs, he reconsidered.

Lucy was weeping.

And not merely weeping but crying with profound sorrow.

By any measure, her behavior was incompatible with that of an assassin confronting her target.

‘What on earth was that all about? Was she truly that overjoyed by my return?’

No, her tears seemed disproportionate to mere elation.

‘It was more akin to…’

Tears of relief, alleviating past grievances.

Recalling Lucy’s uncharacteristic demeanor, Daniel finished slicing the carrots and set down the knife.

After gathering the carrot slices, he tossed them into a large pot of boiling liquid.

The pot already contained various ingredients and chicken.

Considering the preparations complete, Daniel reduced the gas burner’s flame.

‘Alright. Now it just needs to simmer until done.’

Satisfied with his culinary efforts, Daniel surveyed his surroundings but paused abruptly.

He had noticed Lucy’s room door was ajar.

‘If I examine Lucy’s room…’

He might uncover useful information.

Sensing no movement from the bathroom, he had ample time.

After a deep breath, Daniel cautiously entered Lucy’s room.

Although he was a spy infiltrating a lady’s quarters, upon entering, a sense of deflation overshadowed any tension.

“Strikingly barren…”

Bed, desk, wardrobe, curtains.

The room’s sparse furnishings left little else to examine.

Consequently, Daniel felt an inexplicable sense of disquiet.

Typically, a room serves as a reflection of one’s personality.

Yet Lucy’s room lacked any trace of individuality.

Devoid of even the simplest personal touches like dolls or posters, the empty space lacked any human warmth.

It seemed plausible that no one had ever occupied this desolate space.

‘…Does she have no hobbies?’

Or perhaps she never had the opportunity to develop any.

Inadvertently pitying Lucy, Daniel’s gaze fell upon her desk, causing him to start in surprise.

‘What’s this?’

There were books on the desk.

‘Well, books are to be expected.’

However, their titles were perplexing.

“How to Seduce a Wolf-Like Man by Becoming a Fox!”
“Love is War! Strategies for Winning the Love Battlefield!”
“34 Ways to Capture a Man’s Heart!”

No less than three books on seducing the opposite sex.

And they were placed conspicuously in an otherwise barren room, devoid of even basic personal effects.

These were the books Lucy had acquired when ordered to seduce Daniel Steiner, though their pristine condition made them appear brand new.

Although momentarily flustered, Daniel soon regained his composure.

‘…Does Lucy have a romantic interest?’

As far as Daniel knew, she did not.

Lucy seldom opened her heart, not only to the opposite sex but also to her own gender.

‘Could it be… she intended to seduce me?’

A plausible inference.

This deduction prompted further speculation.

‘…Is she a honey trap?’

The honey trap, relying on physical allure, was a common tactic employed by modern-day spies confident in their looks.

Given Lucy’s objectively beautiful appearance, the possibility could not be ruled out.

‘In that case, her behavior at the front door might have been…’

As Daniel began to doubt Lucy, he shook his head.

‘No, surely not.’

If that had been an act, Lucy deserved to abandon her espionage career and become an actress instead.

For her sorrowful, childlike wails could never be dismissed as mere theatrics.

Then what had been the meaning behind her tears?

At that moment, Daniel sensed a vague connection to Lucy’s past.

Shhhh–

The sound of water hitting the floor echoed from the shower.

Realizing Lucy had finished bathing, Daniel hastily exited her room.

Entering the kitchen, he prepared tea and waited until the shower ceased before Lucy emerged from the bathroom.

Turning his gaze, he saw Lucy approaching, clad in a bathrobe, her silver-white damp hair glistening more brightly than usual.

As Lucy drew near, Daniel poured tea into a mug and handed it to her.

“Chamomile tea. It seems you haven’t been sleeping well, and chamomile tea has properties that alleviate insomnia and stress, so it should help.”

Regarding Daniel with a dazed expression, Lucy accepted the mug with both hands.

“…Thank you.”

With a nod, Daniel gestured toward the pot.

“The pot contains a chicken broth soup. I could have prepared other dishes, but since you appear to have been fasting for several days, I opted for a soup to avoid straining your stomach. You need to replenish your nutrients gently.”

Feeling the mug’s warmth, Lucy turned her gaze toward the steaming pot.

“It should be ready to eat in about two hours. Turn off the heat then. If it tastes too bland, you can add some pepper and salt.”

Daniel’s composed explanation provided a soothing reassurance.

After a moment’s hesitation, Lucy nodded, prompting Daniel to let out a low sigh.

“There are limits to empathy. For a subordinate to have her superior cater to her is rather undignified for me.”

Feeling apologetic, Lucy averted her eyes.

Daniel gently grasped her shoulder.

Expecting a reprimand, Daniel instead lowered his voice as he spoke.

“If you’re concerned about my dignity, don’t arbitrarily starve yourself again. And don’t get sick either. Understood?”

Unprepared for such consolation, Lucy’s eyes widened slightly.

After patting her shoulder, Daniel withdrew his hand.

“Focus on regaining your strength before Christmas. I’d rather not be the lone, pitiful soul amidst all the couples at the shops.”
“…Christmas, you say?”
“Didn’t I say we’d go and enjoy some Stollen together?”

Stollen.

Those simple words made Lucy reaffirm that her current situation was not a dream.

The Christmas she had thought would never return.

Lucy’s time had begun to move forward once more.

“I shall keep that in mind.”

Seeing Lucy’s faint smile, Daniel nodded.

Perceiving her recovery, he deemed it appropriate to depart.

“Well, I’ll be on my way then.”

Donning his uniform cap from the kitchen table, Daniel walked past Lucy.

“Lieutenant Colonel Daniel.”

Though her voice remained hoarse, her words were clear.

After a brief silence, Lucy mustered her courage to continue.

“I will certainly repay this kindness.”

Daniel let out a low chuckle at her words.

“Kindness, is it? A doctor I once saved said the same thing. It’s an odd feeling.”

Suppressing his laughter, Daniel spoke in a playful tone.

“I look forward to it.”

With a faint smile, Daniel departed the quarters.

Left alone in the empty quarters, Lucy embraced the mug, her face inexplicably flushed.

‘It seems before Christmas…’

She would need to acquire a pretty outfit.

In the permanent member nation of Edria, part of the International Alliance.
Count Kaledra’s study.

“Report No. 2892693 – Velanos Situation Update 1542410931”

Count Kaledra frowned as he read the report from the Intelligence Agency’s Information Bureau.

The report stated that Daniel Steiner had pressured the Prime Minister of Velanos, successfully concluding negotiations in the Empire’s favor.

“Is this true?”

The Information Bureau’s Deputy Director, Beck, nodded.

“Yes. This report has undergone cross-verification.”

Consequently, Kaledra closed his eyes and clenched his teeth.

‘Not only did he survive the shipwreck, an absurdity in itself…’

Daniel had gone even further, exploiting his presumed death to subjugate the Prime Minister of Velanos.

As a result, the Empire had effectively secured itself from potential maritime attacks.

By permitting the stationing of Imperial troops, Velanos would serve as a breakwater and vanguard, shielding the Empire from enemy assaults.

‘Troublesome.’

Originally, the Empire’s demise had been a certainty.

Everything had proceeded according to plan, with no discernible flaws.

‘Victory for the Alliance had seemed within grasp…’

Yet Daniel Steiner had unexpectedly emerged, disrupting the plans one by one.

Like a hero from a tale, defying his impending fate.

Grinding his teeth, Kaledra slowly opened his eyes.

‘No matter how exceptional you may be…’

A mere human could never reverse the tide’s inexorable flow.

The Empire’s downfall was inevitable, and the Alliance would flourish.

‘I will ensure it happens.’

Moreover, the military situation favored the Alliance, so there was no need for undue apprehension.

‘However…’

He could not predict Lucy’s decision in the wake of Daniel’s survival.

Recent reports even suggested Lucy might have had a change of heart at the Palentia branch in the Empire.

With Daniel’s unexpected return amidst these circumstances, Kaledra found himself in a precarious position.

Originally, he had planned for Lucy to fill the void left by Daniel.

Daniel’s survival was akin to a bolt from the blue, disrupting Kaledra’s plans.

‘Lucy’s defection cannot become a reality.’

While he could concede other matters, he could never relinquish Lucy Emilia.

Sensing the gravity of the situation, Kaledra glared at Beck as he spoke.

“Issue an order for Lucy’s immediate return. Now!”

Recognizing the urgency, Beck silently nodded.

As Beck turned to leave the study, Kaledra raised his hand to his forehead.

His feverish brow burned as if afflicted.

The source of this stress was undoubtedly Daniel Steiner.

‘Emperor of the Empire. Why do you merely observe that man?’

From Kaledra’s perspective, it was incomprehensible.

For all indicators pointed to the same conclusion.

‘That man is…’

The very monster destined to devour the Empire.