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Translator: Vine
Chapter Title: Battle of Nerves
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The atmosphere shifted dramatically.
Having served as a spy for many years, Lucy instinctively knew.
Though Selvia wore a playful smile, her true intentions were cold and calculating.
'Dangerous.'
A sense of crisis washed over her, the realization that a single wrong word could cost her life.
As Lucy tensed, Selvia slowly rose to her feet.
"Let me be frank. I had the Intelligence Bureau conduct a small background check on you. And some strange circumstances were uncovered, you see?"
Selvia's smile vanished, replaced by a look of bewilderment.
"Why did Lieutenant Lucy not interact with the local villagers? Curiously enough, the villagers seemed to have no idea who Lieutenant Lucy was."
"That's…"
Stay calm.
If she explained it as she'd been taught, there would be nothing to incriminate her.
"As a child, I was afraid of people. I was abandoned by my parents and raised by my grandfather. Furthermore, my grandfather always advised me not to go outside the cabin."
"Why?"
"There were many wild animals outside the cabin, and my grandfather didn't get along well with the villagers. He was very worried they might harm me too."
Lucy naturally explained her reasons, avoiding the trap Selvia had laid.
But Selvia wasn't about to let it go that easily.
"Is that so? How strange. Why do the things I've heard not align with Lieutenant Lucy's current claims? Why is Lieutenant Lucy…"
Selvia's eyes, narrowed sharply, gazed down at Lucy.
"Trying to hide the truth from me?"
Lucy's hand twitched.
Her heart raced, wondering if she had truly been caught.
However, Selvia held the cards.
Since she couldn't reveal her hand at this point, Lucy feigned composure.
"I apologize, but I don't quite understand what you mean. What is it you believe I'm hiding?"
As Lucy probed, Selvia paused for a moment before speaking.
"You would know best, wouldn't you? I'm not interrogating you right now; I'm offering you a chance. Remember, this is your first and last opportunity."
In short, she was telling her to confess because she had evidence.
Though Selvia was threatening her, Lucy found a sense of calm in those words.
'She has no evidence.'
If she had evidence, there would be no need to urge a confession.
She's trying to induce a confession because she lacks evidence.
This was one of the interrogation methods frequently used by the Allied Nations, and Lucy was well aware of it.
'Of course…'
It's unlikely Selvia is well-versed in Allied interrogation methods and is threatening her like this because of it.
From Lucy's perspective, Selvia merely seemed to be using interrogation techniques instinctively, without even realizing it.
In any case, knowing Selvia had no evidence, there was no need to shrink back.
Lucy placed her hand on her chest and bowed her head in accordance with proper etiquette.
"Your Highness. I am a person born in this Empire, resolved to serve it. I do not understand why you suspect me, but I have never, in my life, done anything to harm the Empire."
One of Selvia's eyebrows twitched almost imperceptibly.
She instantly realized her bluff had been called.
"…So you refuse to confess to the very end? Let me add that the Intelligence Bureau is still continuing its investigation into you. Know that if not now, you won't get another chance."
"I apologize, but…"
Lucy lifted her head and stared directly at Selvia.
"I cannot understand what you are saying."
If you can find evidence that I am an enemy spy, then by all means, try.
Selvia gritted her teeth at Lucy's seemingly defiant stance.
In her heart, she wanted nothing more than to dishonorably discharge Lucy and banish her from the Empire.
Even without evidence, not many would object to the expulsion of a mere lieutenant.
But the problem was Daniel.
Would Daniel truly view a princess who banished his aide based solely on suspicion, without any evidence, in a favorable light?
It was clear he would view it negatively.
For Selvia, who wished to win Daniel's favor, it would be a self-defeating move.
'Therefore…'
Even with Lucy acting so brazenly, Selvia couldn't do much to stop her.
Lucy, too, understood Selvia's thoughts to some extent, which allowed her to act so confidently.
It was truly no exaggeration to call it a battle of spear and shield.
After glaring at Lucy for a while, Selvia finally decided to back down.
"Is that so? Hearing Lieutenant Lucy's words, it seems I may have been overly sensitive. As an apology, I'd like to share a meal with you. Would that be acceptable?"
"If Your Highness grants me the opportunity to dine with you, I would, of course, be honored to accept."
The two faced each other with smiles, but the thoughts they harbored in their hearts were vastly different.
'Don't think you can keep getting away with this. I will uncover your true identity eventually.'
'You'd do well to give up. I have no intention of surrendering.'
However, neither of them had any intention of revealing the true meaning behind their masks.
*
Meanwhile, Daniel was engaged in various conversations with Cedric.
The conversation, which had initially begun with favorite foods, had somehow shifted to the state of the war. Seeing this as an opportune moment, Daniel cautiously broached a subject.
"Your Excellency. As you've said, while the Empire's situation may appear favorable on the surface, from a macroscopic perspective, we are still at a disadvantage."
"Indeed. When winter passes and spring arrives, the great powers will begin their preparations to strike the Empire in earnest."
"Yes. And that's why I'm asking, would you not grant me the opportunity to distinguish myself on the battlefield?"
Cedric looked at Daniel with surprise.
"To the battlefield? You? Why? Her Imperial Highness wouldn't wish for that, and the high command wouldn't specifically try to send you to the front either."
The military high command would likely judge that having Daniel Steiner operate in the capital as a propaganda hero would be more beneficial to national interests.
However, from Daniel's perspective, operating in the capital was not to his liking.
Because the Emperor was keeping Daniel Steiner in check.
'Though I've warned him that if he attacks me, he too will be attacked, it's too early to feel secure.'
Ironically, a person's lust for power often peaks in their later years.
Those in power were most wary of everything they had built crumbling like a sandcastle before the waves.
Daniel couldn't dare predict what the Emperor might do before his death.
Therefore, he intended to stay on the battlefield, at least until Selvia became Emperor and Bertran transferred all authority to her.
He judged that this would be more advantageous for his survival.
Unable to state his true thoughts directly, Daniel spoke with a rather serious expression.
"Even now, our nation's soldiers are dying on the front lines. How could I, merely because I am a war hero, live a comfortable life in the capital? If one truly wishes to serve the Empire, I believe they should distinguish themselves on the battlefield while they are still young."
Cedric secretly admired Daniel's plausible excuse.
'Indeed. So he is willing to sacrifice his life for the Empire, no matter the cost.'
He truly was a model soldier.
Daniel wasn't content with the present; he was looking to the future.
Cedric, feeling a sense of shame, nodded.
"Very well. I will convey your opinion to the high command. The Chief of Staff favors courageous young men, so he will surely accept your proposal."
"Thank you for your kindness."
"Yes. And speaking of which…"
Cedric merely shifted his gaze to the banquet table where Lucy was seated.
He could see Selvia sitting at that table, dining with Lucy.
Cedric, assuming their conversation was somewhat concluded, continued.
"It seems we've been away from our seats for quite a while. Let's return."
"Understood."
Agreeing with Cedric, Daniel headed toward the banquet table.
There, he saw Selvia and Lucy, chatting with faint smiles on their faces.
'Have they become friendly in such a short time?'
As he approached, puzzled, Selvia turned to Daniel.
"Ah! Lieutenant Colonel Daniel! You've come at just the right time. I was just having a meal with your aide; would you care to join us?"
Having no reason to refuse, Daniel nodded.
"It would be an honor to share a meal with Your Highness."
As Daniel pulled out a chair and sat down, a nearby waiter, noticing the situation, set out cutlery for him.
Seeing this, Selvia casually remarked.
"Now that I think about it, the Imperial family still uses silver cutlery. Do you know why?"
Her words were aimed at Lucy, who had silver hair.
Daniel, who naturally couldn't know this, replied calmly.
"Because silver is a metal that oxidizes easily. Medieval nobles believed that using silver cutlery when eating poisoned food could help detect the poison. I suspect that's how it became a tradition."
"That's right. But do you know this?"
Selvia cast her gaze at Lucy and spoke.
"Silver cutlery was of little help in detecting poison. In fact, there were frequent cases of people dying after eating poisoned food with silver cutlery."
At Selvia's words, subtly criticizing her, Lucy's eyes narrowed slightly.
Lucy paused for a moment before retorting.
"I see. However, given that silver cutlery wasn't replaced with gold cutlery despite frequent cases of death from poison, it seems it wasn't entirely ineffective."
At Lucy's natural retort, Selvia frowned, as if dumbfounded.
…
…
At the same time, an inexplicable silence descended.
Daniel, instinctively sensing the subtle battle of nerves between the two, thought to himself.
'I want to go home…'
He wanted nothing more than to escape this banquet hall right now.