Think Only I'll Suffer?
Think Only I'll Suffer?
The next day.
I arrived for duty at General Headquarters, took my seat at the desk in my private office, and unfolded the newspaper.
【Exclusive! His Majesty the Emperor Selects an Heir!】
【The Next Emperor, Her Highness Selvia...... Regency to Commence Shortly】
【The Crown Princess's Closest Confidant, None Other Than Daniel Steiner?】
That last article made me uncomfortable, but that wasn't what mattered right now.
Turning a few more pages, the article I had been dreading appeared.
【Allied Nations Permanent Member State Edria Levels Intense Criticism at the Empire】
Beneath the headline was a black-and-white photograph of a familiar-looking man holding a press conference.
Snake-like, pale, narrow eyes and an emaciated figure.
It was Count Kaledra, the man who held the real power in Edria.
He was also the man who would eventually drive the Empire into a corner.
I stared at the photo of Kaledra in silence for a moment before reading through the article.
『......Count Kaledra condemned the Empire, stating it has effectively reduced the Kingdom of Eldreshia to a puppet state. Throughout the press conference, Count Kaledra criticized the Empire's expansionist war patterns and appealed to neighboring nations to rise up against the Empire......』
I confirmed the content, folded the newspaper, and let out a low groan.
'Goddammit.'
Just as I expected, Kaledra was preaching the dangers of the Empire and urging neutral nations to join the war.
It was now only a matter of time before the Sochiallis Republic and the Beleka Federal State, both among the great powers, joined the war.
From their standpoint, they had no choice but to prevent the Empire from becoming the sole hegemonic power and exerting its influence across the entire world.
In short, this meant a world war was becoming a tangible reality.
If a world war broke out, could the Empire truly win against the Republic, the Federal State, and the Allied Nations?
Even though the current situation had improved somewhat, the odds of victory remained low.
If the Empire were to be defeated, the victorious nations would convene a war crimes tribunal and execute the opposing military commanders as they saw fit.
'So I wanted to take off this uniform as soon as possible.......'
When I came to my senses, I had become a core member of the Imperial leadership.
On top of that, I was now caught up in internal Imperial politics, being called the Crown Princess's closest confidant. It was driving me insane.
Thanks to that, the possibility of defection had become as narrow as the eye of a needle.
No nation would welcome with open arms the defection of a field-grade officer who had carried out not only military feats but also political feats for the Empire.
Even if they did accept my defection, it was highly probable they would have ulterior motives.
'That doesn't mean my position in the imperial capital is safe, either.......'
Most unfortunately, there were plenty of people within the Empire who looked upon me with disfavor.
From the perspective of the already-established military factions, or the nobles and politicians, I must have seemed like a new faction that had abruptly emerged.
A terrifyingly fast-rising new faction that had also used private soldiers to cleanly eliminated political opponents? Fear and wariness were only natural.
The memory of all those distinguished figures glaring daggers at me in the great hall of the Imperial Palace was still vivid.
'Of course, I just feel wronged.......'
How many people would believe me if I said I was wronged?
Just yesterday, hadn't the Emperor himself pressured me without even bothering to hide his suspicion?
I was trembling with anxiety, wondering how many more misunderstandings would torment me in the future, when—
Tok-tok─
The sound of a knock shattered my ruminations.
Was it Lucy? I raised my head and looked toward the door as I spoke.
"Come in."
The office door flew open before my words had even finished.
The person who opened the door and walked in was indeed Lucy.
After all, she had said she would go to the operations staff office to retrieve work documents.
The problem was that behind Lucy, a tall man stood like a background prop.
Wondering who it might be, I raised my gaze. The moment I confirmed the man's face, I hurriedly rose from my seat.
"D-Deputy Chief of Staff, Your Excellency!"
I saluted almost reflexively, and Lucy stepped aside.
The Deputy Chief of Staff, Brigadier General Cedric, acknowledged my salute with a nod and stepped into my office.
Rolling his sanpaku eyes, Cedric surveyed his surroundings briefly before looking at me.
"Your office is tidy, since there are no unnecessary items. The state of cleanliness is also satisfactory."
"......Thank you, sir. But what brings the Deputy Chief of Staff to this place?"
"I came to inspect your work environment and, at the same time, to deliver some good news."
At the words "good news," a sense of unease crept over me.
That unease soon turned into certainty.
Because Cedric extended the hand he had been holding behind his back.
Resting on Cedric's palm was a small box wrapped in the Imperial flag.
It was a familiar box by now.
"Higher command has approved your special promotion. Opinions were divided, but after your recent apprehension of the insurrectionists, no one raised any further objections."
It would be more accurate to say they could not raise objections, rather than that they simply did not.
After all, Selvia, who was set to become the next Emperor, must have applied some sort of pressure.
Furthermore, since I had also accumulated meritorious deeds in the north, I had thought a promotion was only a matter of time. Still, I hadn't expected to receive a special promotion this quickly, and I felt dazed.
"Come here. I will affix the rank insignia for you."
Half-resigned, I walked over and stood before Cedric.
Then, Cedric unfurled the flag, opened the box, and took out the lieutenant colonel's badge.
With practiced movements, Cedric removed the major's badge from my uniform and pinned the lieutenant colonel's badge in its place.
Cedric stared at me, now a lieutenant colonel, for a moment, then took a step back.
"Congratulations on your promotion. Lieutenant Colonel Daniel Steiner."
It was a flat congratulatory remark, devoid of any flourishes.
Thinking this was just like Cedric, I maintained a slight tension as I answered.
"Thank you, sir. Though I am lacking, I will continue to devote myself to the Empire."
"Lacking, you say?"
Cedric's sanpaku eyes blinked once.
"You not only stabilized the occupied territory of Nordia, but also perfectly concluded the negotiations with the Kingdom. Furthermore, this time you even apprehended a group scheming a rebellion. In what way are you lacking?"
Once more, Cedric's sanpaku eyes blinked slowly.
"Lieutenant Colonel Daniel Steiner. On behalf of the Empire, I will convey thanks in its stead. I will also take careful note of your remark about devoting yourself to the Empire."
......I could not shake the feeling that I had said something wrong.
Just as a vague, ominous premonition began to form, Lucy, who had been standing by the entrance, spoke up.
"Congratulations on your promotion, Lieutenant Colonel Daniel, sir."
Her congratulatory words somehow felt like she was mocking me.
Finding that somewhat displeasing, I looked straight at Cedric and spoke.
"Deputy Chief of Staff, Your Excellency. In truth, the reason I just called myself lacking was that for some of the meritorious deeds I have accumulated, my adjutant deserves a large share of the credit."
"Your adjutant deserves a large share of the credit?"
"Yes, sir. I will not deny that it was I who gave the orders to stabilize Nordia. However, it was my adjutant who executed my orders reliably and swiftly, and established the administrative system."
Looking somewhat surprised, Cedric turned to look behind him.
"Is this true?"
At Cedric's question, Lucy appeared flustered and hurriedly bowed her head.
"Deputy Chief of Staff, Your Excellency. I merely followed orders. I believe it is right that all credit goes to my direct superior, Lieutenant Colonel Daniel."
Lucy had come here as a spy to eliminate a traitor within the imperial capital.
It was safe to assume she had no intention of staying long.
So, what would happen if she suddenly caught the attention of higher command and received a promotion?
Though it wouldn't be as problematic for her as it was for me, her difficulties in leaving the Empire would naturally increase.
That was why she was desperately denying that she had any credit.
Of course, I had no obligation to understand her circumstances.
"It is true. My adjutant is merely denying it out of a humble disposition. Therefore, I hope that Your Excellency the Deputy Chief of Staff will not only praise my contributions, but also consider those of my adjutant."
"Hmm."
Cedric thought for a moment, then nodded.
"You have no reason to tell me a falsehood. I shall examine exactly what contribution Second Lieutenant Lucy made to the stabilization of Nordia, and then proceed with a special promotion review."
I bowed my head, expressing deep gratitude.
As I bowed my head, Lucy could no longer protest, and broke into a cold sweat.
Cedric, who had been fixing Lucy with a meaningful gaze, shrugged his shoulders once and turned around.
"Then I shall take my leave. Dedicate yourselves to your duties."
As Cedric exited the office, Lucy turned to look at me, utterly dumbfounded.
"Major...... no, Lieutenant Colonel, sir. I merely carried out the orders I was given."
She looked as though she wanted me to retract the words I had spoken to Cedric, but that was out of the question.
With a smile on my face, I walked toward Lucy.
"Adjutant. Do you understand how difficult it is to carry out orders correctly? In that respect, there is nothing strange about you receiving a special promotion."
A crack appeared in Lucy's expressionless mask.
It was a subtle shift, but I could feel that she was furious.
'So what can you do about it?'
I was nothing more than a benevolent superior trying to look after his subordinate.
"I intend to boast about my adjutant's achievements here and there going forward. After all, when one has a capable subordinate like you, it isn't easy to keep one's mouth shut, now is it?"
"......Lieutenant Colonel, sir."
"There is no need to feel deeply moved. This is simply what a superior with a capable subordinate ought to do. I hope your success continues. Second Lieutenant Lucy. No, I should call you First Lieutenant soon enough."
Having said that, I patted Lucy on the shoulder while keeping my smile in place.
"If possible, I would like us to rise to high places together."
Lucy, as if lost in thought, bit down hard on her lower lip and remained silent for a long moment.
After a brief silence, she lowered her gaze and quietly moved her lips.
"......Thank you, Lieutenant Colonel, sir."
Though she looked anything but grateful.