Deception Won't Work
Deception Won't Work
As I walked down the hallway after leaving the reception room, I inwardly cheered.
'Nice!'
When Selvia had summoned me, I wondered what new misfortune awaited, but it was just needless worry.
Because the proposal Selvia had made was less a misfortune and more like a stroke of luck.
'I was already feeling completely out of place in the capital anyway...'
I couldn't help but be glad at being given a legitimate opportunity to stay abroad.
Moreover, since Selvia, who was handling the regency, had said she would review it favorably, my appointment as the diplomatic ambassador to Bellanos was practically confirmed.
'Indeed. Heaven never sends a person to their death.'
It was a moment where the saying "Even if the sky falls, there is a hole to rise through" truly hit home.
'Even...'
If I went to Bellanos as a diplomatic ambassador, I would definitely be treated well.
As a neutral nation, they wouldn't want to stir up conflict with the Empire, which possessed the world's greatest military power.
So, from my perspective, being dispatched as the diplomatic ambassador to Bellanos was akin to a kind of vacation.
Just escaping the threats lurking in the capital was reason enough to be thankful, and the thought of being treated well while staying abroad made a smile automatically spread across my face.
Returning to my private office without hiding my pleasant mood, I opened the door and then stopped short.
Because the Deputy Chief Operations Staff Officer, Ernst, was waiting inside the office.
"...Deputy Chief? You haven't left yet?"
When I asked, puzzled, Ernst, who had his hands clasped behind his back, gave a dry cough.
"I was curious about what you discussed with Her Imperial Highness. Could you perhaps give me just a little hint?"
Thanks to his sly request, I could see why Ernst had waited here.
Holding a deputy chief position at the General Staff Headquarters meant, in other words, that he had distinguished himself not only in practical work but to some extent in politics as well.
So it was natural that he would want to gain an informational advantage regarding the news that 'Her Imperial Highness came to the General Staff Headquarters in person.'
Ernst was fundamentally a trustworthy person, so I didn't want to refuse, but this wasn't something to go around blabbing about.
"I would like nothing more than to tell you, but since it's not a settled matter yet, it would be best to keep it confidential."
"Confidential, eh... I understand. But, if you don't mind, could you sign an autograph? It's because my daughter is a fan of yours."
An autograph? I stood there dumbfounded, and Ernst extended the hands he had been holding behind his back forward.
He was holding two sheets of paper and a fountain pen.
"I've bragged about having Daniel Steiner as my subordinate every chance I got, so if I can't bring home even one autograph, my reputation will be a joke. Think of it as keeping me alive and help me out."
Could this have been his real goal?
Letting out an involuntary hollow laugh, I took the paper and fountain pen Ernst handed over.
I figured it was a superior's request, so it wasn't something I couldn't do.
"...But why two sheets?"
Ernst, who had been glancing nervously at Lucy for no reason, whispered just loud enough for me to hear.
"Actually, my wife is a fan of yours too. Yesterday at dinner, she scolded me, saying if I had time to collect useless stamps, I should at least get Lieutenant Colonel Daniel's autograph... that damn old hag."
Letting out a deep sigh, Ernst spoke with a serious look in his eyes.
"Never get married. A person who was like an angel when we were dating turned into a demon after marriage. Frankly, every single day is tough. I live because my kid is pretty and cute, otherwise I might have run away a long time ago."
A sense of pity arose from somewhere unknown.
"You have a hard life."
Agreeing with Ernst's words, I signed both sheets of paper and handed them back.
Ernst, who received the autographs, smiled with satisfaction, then raised his hand as if a thought had just occurred.
"Ah. Look at me, losing my mind. There was a letter I meant to deliver to you."
Ernst fumbled inside his jacket and pulled out an envelope.
"It's a letter that came to the Operations Staff Office, addressed to you. It's from the military academy. Can you guess who it might be from?"
"The military academy, you say...."
Could it be Frien?
Feeling somewhat uneasy, I took the letter.
"I'll read it for now."
When I broke the seal on the envelope and took out the letter, unfolding it revealed sentences written in neat handwriting.
『Dear Lieutenant Colonel Daniel.
Lieutenant Colonel Daniel, whom I respect and look up to.
I am deeply sorry to trouble you with a letter amidst your busy schedule.
However, as I am on the verge of early graduation from the military academy, I judged it right to send a letter to report this.
It is thanks to the Dean's acknowledgment of my excellent academic performance along with my achievements in the North.
It has turned out really well, hasn't it?
Just a little while longer, and I will be able to slaughter all the Allied Nations and the beasts who try to join hands with the Allied Nations under Lieutenant Colonel Daniel's command.
I'm sure Lieutenant Colonel Daniel feels the same way as I do.
Since you showed your true feelings about the beasts of the Allied Nations without reserve in your total war speech.
Lieutenant Colonel Daniel cannot know how many tears I shed, so moved I was upon hearing the total war speech.
Thanks to that, my faith and loyalty to the Empire have grown a bit more.
Ah. I have many things I want to tell you, but it's almost lights-out, so I think I must stop writing now.
I will end this letter by telling you that I would gladly sacrifice my life for Lieutenant Colonel Daniel.
Looking forward to the day we meet again, from Frien Remilliart.』
Having finished reading the letter, I looked back at Ernst, feeling a certain fear.
"...Deputy Chief. Don't tell me Frien is being assigned to the General Staff Headquarters."
Ernst nodded.
"Frien has also applied to the Headquarters Direct Command Unit, and the Chief and Vice Chief of Staff are reviewing it favorably, so she will likely become a member of the Headquarters."
Thanks to that, a sigh automatically escaped me, but at least today I could bear it.
'If there's good news, bad news is bound to follow.'
Thinking about the happiness I would enjoy being dispatched to Bellanos as a diplomatic ambassador, the misfortune of Frien joining the General Staff Headquarters was sufficiently offset.
'So for right now...'
Don't dwell on future misfortune, and let's savor the happiness of the present.
*
That evening, the banquet hall of the Edria Royal Palace.
"Daniel Steiner is being dispatched to Bellanos as a diplomatic ambassador?"
At Count Kaledra's words, Deputy Director Bek of the Central Intelligence Department nodded his head.
"That is correct. According to intelligence, Imperial Princess Selvia, who is acting as regent, has ordered the Foreign Ministry to appoint Daniel Steiner as the diplomatic ambassador to Bellanos."
The banquet hall, which had invited dignitaries from other countries, was bustling with voices and music, but the area around Count Kaledra was quiet.
He had intentionally distanced himself from people to receive the report.
"Sending Daniel, the Empire's hero who succeeded in the total war speech, to a sinecure post as the Bellanos diplomatic ambassador..."
As Kaledra fell into thought, Bek cautiously opened his mouth.
"From what I see, it appears there has been friction with the Imperial Household. Don't you think they viewed the concentration of public support on an individual named Daniel Steiner as a decline in the Imperial Household's authority?"
Historically, war heroes who had accumulated too many merits were bound to fall into the role of a thorn in the side of the Imperial Household.
Bek had said this thinking Daniel was following a similar path, but from Kaledra's perspective, it was a preposterous notion.
"Wrong. The bastard has led us to the misconception that 'Daniel Steiner has fallen out with the Imperial Household.' His appointment as the diplomatic ambassador to Bellanos was probably Daniel Steiner's own will as well."
If he were an ordinary war hero, you could say he had fallen out with the Imperial Household, but Daniel Steiner was a genius staff officer who had been pressuring the Allied Nations daily with all sorts of bizarre and unconventional methods.
Therefore, it was more reasonable to view this also as a deception tactic to fool the Allied Nations.
"He's using a disgusting ploy to divert our attention. Deputy Director. Did you find out how the Imperial Foreign Ministry plans to send Daniel Steiner to Bellanos?"
When Kaledra cast his gaze, Bek hurriedly picked up the document and examined it.
"Yes. He will board a diplomatic vessel and travel for two days. We understand that no escort ships will be placed, as the distance is short and they are concerned about diplomatic friction arising."
That was welcome news.
"Good. Then contact the commander of the 12th District of the Bellanos Naval Defense Force. Tell him the Allied Nations will send a submarine, so he should open his territorial waters during the time frame when the Empire's diplomatic vessel sets sail."
Bek, upon hearing Kaledra's words, blinked blankly.
The commander of the 12th District of the Bellanos Naval Defense Force was a figure the Allied Nations had swayed to our side over a long period of time.
Telling him to open the territorial waters was, in other words, the same as saying they would use a submarine to destroy the ship carrying Daniel Steiner.
"...Your Excellency, the Count. Even if the plan succeeds, it might mean we have to cut off the tail we planted in Bellanos. Is Daniel Steiner worth that much?"
Kaledra shot a glare at Bek once, then answered immediately.
"Yes."
I didn't know what the reason was, but currently, Lucy was not obeying the Allied Nations' orders.
It meant that the bastard who should have been a corpse by now was walking around unscathed.
That in turn meant he had somehow thwarted Lucy's assassination.
What would happen if that Daniel returned to the Empire after completing his mission in Bellanos?
'He will obviously become an adversary several times more troublesome than he is now.'
So, before Daniel became a figure even more dangerous than he currently was, he had to nip him in the bud.
No matter what damage had to be endured.
'Daniel Steiner...'
The audacity to try and deceive this side was laughable.
Kaledra, gripping the head of his cane tightly, narrowed his eyes sharply.
'Keep in mind that your petty tricks...'
Will ultimately drive you to your death.