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Translator: Vine
Chapter Title: Am I the Only One Who Suffers?
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The next day.
Arriving at the General Staff Headquarters for work, I sat down at my desk in my private office and unfolded the newspaper.
[Breaking News! His Imperial Majesty Selects a Successor!]
[Her Highness Sylvia to be the Next Emperor… Regency to Begin Soon]
[Her Imperial Highness's Closest Confidant: None Other Than Daniel Steiner?]
The last article unsettled me, but that wasn't what mattered right now.
I flipped through a few pages of the newspaper, and there it was—the article I had been dreading.
[Adria, Permanent Member of the International Council, Levels Severe Criticism Against the Empire]
Below the headline was a black-and-white photograph of a familiar-looking man holding a press conference.
Pale, narrow eyes like a snake's, and a gaunt appearance.
It was Count Kaledra, the true power behind Adria.
He was also the man who would eventually drive the Empire into a corner.
I gazed at Kaledra in the photo for a moment, then began to read the article's contents.
『…Count Kaledra denounced the Empire, claiming it had effectively turned the Eldresia Kingdom into a puppet state. Throughout the press conference, Count Kaledra criticized the Empire's expansionist war patterns, appealing to neighboring nations to rise up against the Empire…』
After confirming the contents, I folded the newspaper and let out a low groan.
'Damn it.'
Just as expected, Kaledra was preaching about the Empire's danger, urging neutral nations to join the war.
Now, it was only a matter of time before the Sochialis Republic and the Belleka Federation, both great powers, joined the conflict.
From their perspective, they had to somehow prevent the Empire from becoming the sole hegemonic power and exerting its influence across the entire world.
In short, a world war was becoming a clear possibility.
If a world war broke out, could the Empire truly defeat the Republic, the Federation, and the Allied Nations?
Even though the current situation had improved slightly, the chances of victory were still low.
If the Empire lost, the victorious nations would hold war crime tribunals and execute the opposing military forces as they saw fit.
'That's why I wanted to get out of the military as much as possible…'
Before I knew it, I had become a core member of the Empire's leadership.
What's more, this time I was entangled in internal Imperial politics, being called the Princess's closest confidant – it was enough to drive me mad.
Thanks to this, the possibility of defection had shrunk to the size of a needle's eye.
No nation would welcome with open arms the defection of a field-grade officer who had displayed both military and political prowess on the Empire's behalf.
Even if they did accept asylum, there was a high probability they'd have ulterior motives.
'And it's not like my position in the capital is safe either…'
Unfortunately, many within the Empire itself viewed me unfavorably.
From the perspective of the established military factions, nobles, and politicians, I would naturally be seen as a suddenly emerging new power.
A rapidly rising new power, who even used private forces to cleanly eliminate political rivals? It was only natural for them to fear or be wary.
I vividly remembered the glares I received from prominent figures in the Imperial Palace's grand hall.
'Of course, I'm just being unfairly treated…'
How many would believe me if I claimed it was unfair?
Just yesterday, even the Emperor hadn't bothered to hide his suspicion while pressuring me, had he?
I was fretting, wondering how many more misunderstandings would plague me in the future, when—
*Knock, knock—*
A knock broke my thoughts.
Was it Lucy? I raised my head, looked at the door, and spoke.
"Come in."
No sooner had I spoken than the office door opened.
It was indeed Lucy who opened the door and entered.
She had said she would come to the Operations Staff Office to get some work documents.
The problem was the tall man standing behind Lucy, almost like a backdrop.
Wondering who it was, I raised my gaze, and as soon as I recognized the man's face, I quickly stood up.
"D-Deputy Chief of Staff, Your Excellency!"
I saluted almost reflexively, and Lucy stepped aside.
Brigadier General Cedric, the Deputy Chief of Staff, returned my salute with a nod and entered the office.
Cedric, his unsettling eyes scanning the surroundings once, then looked at me.
"Your office is tidy, free of unnecessary items. The cleanliness is also satisfactory."
"…Thank you, sir. But to what do I owe the pleasure of your visit, Deputy Chief of Staff?"
"I came to inspect your working environment, and to deliver some good news."
The words "good news" filled me with unease.
That unease quickly turned into certainty.
Because Cedric extended the hand he had been holding behind his back.
On Cedric's hand rested a small box, wrapped in the Empire's national flag.
It was a familiar box by now.
"The high command has approved your special promotion. There were differing opinions, but after your apprehension of the insurrectionists this time, no one raised any objections."
It wasn't that they didn't raise objections; it was that they couldn't.
Because Sylvia, who would become the next Emperor, had clearly applied some kind of pressure.
Furthermore, I had accumulated merits in the North, so I knew a promotion was only a matter of time, but I hadn't expected a special promotion so quickly, which left me feeling bewildered.
"Come here. I'll pin your new insignia."
Half-resigned, I walked and stood before Cedric.
Cedric then unfolded the flag, opened the box, and took out a Lieutenant Colonel's insignia.
With practiced movements, Cedric removed the Major's insignia from my uniform and pinned on the Lieutenant Colonel's.
Cedric gazed at me, now a Lieutenant Colonel, then took a step back.
"Congratulations on your promotion, Lieutenant Colonel Daniel Steiner."
It was a plain congratulation, devoid of flowery language.
Thinking it typical of Cedric, I maintained a slight tension and replied.
"Thank you, sir. Though I am unworthy, I will continue to dedicate myself to the Empire."
"Unworthy, you say?"
Cedric's unsettling eyes blinked once.
"You not only stabilized Nordia, the occupied territory, but also perfectly concluded negotiations with the Kingdom. Furthermore, this time you apprehended the group instigating rebellion. What part of that is 'unworthy'?"
Once again, Cedric's unsettling eyes slowly blinked.
"Lieutenant Colonel Daniel Steiner. On behalf of the Empire, I extend my thanks. And I will take note of your words about dedicating yourself to the Empire."
…I couldn't shake the feeling that I had said something wrong.
Just as I had a vague bad premonition, Lucy, who was standing near the entrance, spoke.
"Congratulations on your promotion, Lieutenant Colonel Daniel."
Her congratulatory words somehow felt like she was mocking me.
Feeling something was amiss, I faced Cedric and spoke.
"Deputy Chief of Staff, Your Excellency. The reason I just called myself unworthy is because a significant portion of the merits I earned was due to my aide's contributions."
"Your aide's contributions were significant?"
"Yes. I won't deny that I issued the orders to stabilize Nordia. However, it was my aide who executed my orders accurately and swiftly, establishing the administrative system."
Cedric, with a slightly surprised expression, turned around.
"Is that true?"
At Cedric's question, Lucy looked flustered and quickly bowed her head.
"Deputy Chief of Staff, Your Excellency. I merely followed orders. I believe all credit should rightfully go to my superior, Lieutenant Colonel Daniel."
Lucy had come here as a spy, sent to eliminate traitors within the capital.
It was safe to assume she had no intention of staying long.
But what if she suddenly caught the eye of the high command and got promoted?
While perhaps not as much as me, it would certainly create difficulties for her to leave the Empire.
That's why she was desperately denying any credit to herself.
Of course, I had no need to understand her circumstances.
"It is true, sir. My aide is simply too modest, which is why she denies it. Therefore, Deputy Chief of Staff, I hope you will not only commend my contributions but also consider my aide's."
"Hmm."
Cedric, after a moment's thought, nodded.
"You wouldn't lie to me. I will review how significant Second Lieutenant Lucy's contributions were to the stabilization of Nordia, and then proceed with a special promotion evaluation."
I bowed my head, expressing profound gratitude.
As I bowed, Lucy, unable to retort further, broke out in a cold sweat.
Cedric, who had been looking at Lucy meaningfully, shrugged once and turned to leave.
"Well then, I shall take my leave. Dedicate yourselves to your duties."
As Cedric walked out of the office, Lucy turned to me, as if utterly dumbfounded.
"Major… no, Lieutenant Colonel. I merely carried out the orders I was given."
She seemed to be asking me to retract what I told Cedric, even now, but there was no chance of that.
Smiling, I walked over to Lucy.
"Aide. Do you know how difficult it is to execute orders correctly? In that regard, your special promotion is not strange at all."
A crack appeared in Lucy's impassive expression.
It was a subtle change, but I could feel her anger.
'So what can you do about it?'
I was merely a benevolent superior, looking out for his subordinate.
"From now on, I intend to boast about my aide's accomplishments everywhere. After all, it's not easy to keep silent when you have such a capable subordinate as yourself, is it?"
"…Lieutenant Colonel."
"No need to be so moved. This is simply what a superior with a capable subordinate ought to do. I wish you continued success, Second Lieutenant Lucy. No, I suppose I'll have to call you First Lieutenant soon."
Saying that, I maintained my smile and patted Lucy's shoulder.
"If possible, I hope we can ascend to the top together."
Lucy bit her lower lip tightly, lost in what seemed like many thoughts, and remained silent for a while.
After a short silence, Lucy lowered her gaze and quietly moved her lips.
"…Thank you, Lieutenant Colonel."
Though she didn't look grateful at all.