Mistaken for a War Hero

Chapter 79 - Deception Doesn't Work

『 Translator – Divinity 』

Leaving the reception room and walking down the hallway, I inwardly cheered.

'Yes!'

I had been worried that some misfortune awaited me when Sylvia summoned me, but it was just a groundless fear.

The offer Sylvia made was closer to a blessing than a misfortune.

'I've been feeling uneasy staying in the capital...'

I couldn't help but be happy to be given a chance to legally stay in another country.

Moreover, since Sylvia, who was acting as regent, said she would consider it favorably, my appointment as ambassador to Bellanos was practically guaranteed.

'As they say, there's always a way.'

The proverb "Even if the sky falls, there will be a hole to escape through" felt real at this moment.

'Moreover...'

If I was dispatched to Bellanos as an ambassador, I would surely be treated well.

As a neutral country, they wouldn't want to antagonize the Empire, which possessed the world's strongest military force.

Therefore, being sent to Bellanos as an ambassador was practically a vacation for me.

I was already grateful to be able to escape the threats lurking in the capital, but the thought of being treated well and staying in a foreign country made me smile.

Unable to hide my joy, I returned to my private office and opened the door, then paused.

Ernst, the Chief of Operations Staff, was waiting for me inside.

"...Sir? You haven't left yet?"

I asked in confusion, and Ernst, who had his hands behind his back, cleared his throat.

"I was curious about what you discussed with Her Highness. Could you perhaps give me a hint?"

His sly request revealed why he had been waiting here.

Holding a director-level position in the General Staff Headquarters meant that he was a prominent figure not only in practical affairs but also in politics.

So it was natural for him to want to gain an informational advantage regarding the news that "Her Highness personally visited the General Staff Headquarters."

Ernst was generally trustworthy, so I didn't want to refuse him, but this wasn't something I could go around talking about.

"I'd love to tell you, but since it's not a finalized matter yet, I think it's best to keep it confidential."

"Confidential... I understand. But if it's alright, could you give me an autograph? My daughter is a fan of yours."

An autograph? I stared at him blankly, dumbfounded, and Ernst brought his hands forward from behind his back.

He was holding two pieces of paper and a fountain pen.

"I've been bragging to everyone that Daniel Steiner is my subordinate, so it would be a blow to my pride if I couldn't even get an autograph from him. Please help me out, just this once."

Was that really his intention?

I couldn't help but chuckle and took the paper and fountain pen from Ernst.

I couldn't refuse a request from my superior.

"...But why two sheets?"

Ernst, glancing at Lucy, whispered to me,

"Actually, my wife is also a fan of yours. Yesterday, during dinner, she nagged me, saying that if I had time to collect useless stamps, I should get an autograph from Lieutenant Colonel Daniel... That damn woman."

Ernst sighed deeply and said with a serious look,

"Never get married. She was like an angel when we were dating, but after marriage, she turned into a devil. Honestly, it's exhausting. I'm only living for my children; if it weren't for them, I might have run away."

I felt a pang of sympathy for him.

"I can only imagine your struggles, sir."

I agreed with Ernst and signed both sheets of paper, handing them back to him.

Ernst smiled with satisfaction, then suddenly raised his hand as if he had remembered something.

"Ah, look at me. I had a letter to give you."

He rummaged through his pockets and took out an envelope.

"It came to the Operations Staff Office, addressed to you. It's from the Military Academy. Do you have any idea who it might be from?"

"From the Military Academy..."

Could it be Frienne?

Feeling a sense of foreboding, I received the letter.

"I'll read it now."

I opened the envelope and unfolded the letter, revealing neat handwriting.

『 To my dearest Lieutenant Colonel Daniel.

My respected and admired Lieutenant Colonel Daniel.

I apologize for making you read this letter during your busy schedule.

However, I thought it was right to inform you that I'm about to graduate early from the Military Academy.

It's thanks to the headmaster acknowledging my excellent academic performance and my contributions in the north.

Isn't it wonderful?

Soon, I'll be able to join you, Lieutenant Colonel, and exterminate all the beasts of the Allied Nations and those who dare to join hands with them.

I'm sure you feel the same way.

After all, you expressed your true feelings about the Allied beasts in your recent all-out war speech.

You wouldn't believe how many tears I shed after being moved by your speech.

Thanks to this, my faith and loyalty to the Empire have grown even stronger.

Ah, there's so much more I want to tell you, but it's almost lights out, so I should stop writing.

I'll end this letter by saying that I'm willing to sacrifice my life for Lieutenant Colonel Daniel.

Looking forward to the day we meet again,

Frienne Remilliarde. 』

After reading the letter, I looked at Ernst with a sense of dread.

"...Sir, don't tell me Frienne is being assigned to the General Staff Headquarters."

Ernst nodded.

"Frienne applied to the General Staff Headquarters Direct Unit, and the Chief of Staff and the Deputy Chief of Operations are considering it favorably, so she'll probably be assigned here."

I couldn't help but sigh, but I could endure it today.

'With good news, there's bound to be bad news as well.'

Considering the happiness I would experience as the ambassador to Bellanos, Frienne joining the General Staff Headquarters was a misfortune I could easily offset.

'So for now...'

Let's not dwell on future misfortunes and enjoy the happiness of the present.

✧✦✧✦✧

That evening, in the banquet hall of the Edrian Royal Palace.

"Daniel Steiner is being dispatched to Bellanos as an ambassador?"

Count Caledra asked, and Beck, the Deputy Director of the Central Intelligence Agency, nodded.

"Yes, sir. According to our intelligence, Sylvia, who is acting as regent, has ordered the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to appoint Daniel Steiner as the ambassador to Bellanos."

The banquet hall, filled with dignitaries from other countries, was bustling with chatter and music, but the area around Count Caledra was quiet.

He had intentionally distanced himself from the others to receive the report.

"To send Daniel, the hero of the Empire and the one who successfully delivered the all-out war speech, to the remote post of ambassador to Bellanos..."

As Caledra fell into thought, Beck cautiously spoke up.

"In my opinion, it seems there's been friction between him and the Imperial family. Perhaps they saw the people's support for Daniel Steiner as a threat to the authority of the Imperial family."

Historically, war heroes who achieved too much often became thorns in the side of the Imperial family.

Beck said this because he thought Daniel was following a similar path, but Caledra found it absurd.

"You're wrong. He's leading us to believe that he's at odds with the Imperial family. It was probably Daniel Steiner's own will to be appointed as the ambassador to Bellanos."

If he were an ordinary war hero, it would be plausible to say that he was at odds with the Imperial family, but Daniel Steiner was a genius strategist who had been relentlessly pressuring the Allied Nations with all sorts of unconventional methods.

Therefore, it was more reasonable to see this as another deception tactic to fool the Allied Nations.

"He's using a disgusting trick to divert our attention. Deputy Director, have you found out how the Empire's Ministry of Foreign Affairs plans to send Daniel Steiner to Bellanos?"

Caledra's gaze fell upon Beck, who hurriedly picked up a document and looked it over.

"Yes, sir. They're sending him on a diplomatic vessel, and it will take two days to arrive. It's a short distance, and to avoid diplomatic friction, they're not sending an escort."

This was good news.

"Good. Then contact the commander of the 12th District of the Bellanos Maritime Defense Force. Tell him that the Allied Nations will be sending a submarine, so he should open their territorial waters during the time the Empire's diplomatic vessel sets sail."

Beck blinked his eyes in surprise at Caledra's words.

The commander of the 12th District of the Bellanos Maritime Defense Force was someone the Allied Nations had spent a long time winning over as an ally.

Telling him to open their territorial waters meant that they would use a submarine to destroy the ship carrying Daniel Steiner.

"...Count Caledra, even if the plan succeeds, we might have to cut off the tail we've planted in Bellanos. Is Daniel Steiner worth that much?"

Caledra glared at Beck and answered immediately,

"He is."

For some reason, Lucy wasn't following the Allied Nations' orders.

The man who should be dead by now was still alive and well.

This meant that he had somehow evaded Lucy's assassination attempt.

What would happen if Daniel returned to the Empire after completing his mission in Bellanos?

'He would undoubtedly become an even more formidable adversary.'

Therefore, they had to nip him in the bud before he became any more dangerous.

Even if it meant suffering some losses.

'Daniel Steiner...'

It was laughable that he dared to try and deceive them.

Caledra tightened his grip on his cane and narrowed his eyes.

'Your cunning...'

...will be your downfall.