I Was Mistaken as a Great War Commander-Chapter 184

As Selvia's misunderstanding deepened, Daniel stood outside the Grand Assembly Hall, growing increasingly anxious.

‘...Judging by the atmosphere, there’s no way that was just an ordinary conversation.’

The same lethal tension from the Christmas banquet was unmistakably present.

Anyone with half a brain could tell that the two women were engaged in a battle of nerves, harboring ill will toward each other.

‘If Selvia knows about Lucy’s identity... what happens to me? Could she move the Security Bureau to punish Lucy? And if, in the process, it’s discovered that I’ve been hiding a spy from the Allied Nations...’

In the worst-case scenario, he could end up like Duke Belvar.

Of course, Daniel didn’t believe Selvia would go that far, but even the slightest possibility was enough to unsettle him.

He wanted, more than anything, to press his ear to the door and eavesdrop on what the two were saying, but he couldn’t bring himself to do it.

No one was in the corridor now, but members of the Imperial Household or resident officials could pass by and witness him.

‘There’s nothing I can do. All I can do is pray this turns out to be nothing...’

Letting out a low sigh, Daniel leaned back against the hallway wall and blankly stared ahead.

Beyond the corridor windows stretched the imperial courtyard.

Perhaps to emphasize the majesty of the Emperor, the courtyard was designed in a perfectly symmetrical layout, where several gardeners busily went about their work.

A few birds flitted freely among them.

One bird, weary from play, perched on a branch to rest, and the light-drenched leaves gently swayed.

‘Most of spring’s traces are already gone.’

Thinking that summer was fast approaching made a wave of fatigue wash over him.

‘Because summer is the season of war.’

As far as Daniel knew, it was in the summer that the Federation and the Republic formally entered the conflict.

‘If I recall, the Republic already deployed troops to the border.’

They hadn’t declared war yet, but their preparations made it as good as official.

Thanks to that, the Empire had sensed the Republic’s unusual movements and was in the process of redeploying its own forces.

‘We’ll have to pull personnel from the Eastern Front and reinforce the North...’

But that would inevitably weaken the Empire’s hold on the Eastern Front.

Even with the strongest military in the world, they would be forced to fight just to hold off enemy attacks.

Still, there was one fortunate thing: the Federation had yet to make any significant moves.

‘By now, the Federation should be aligning its war preparations with the Republic...’

But with major and minor changes to the timeline, the Federation was currently hesitating to enter the war.

That, at least, was a small relief to Daniel—just as the doors to the Grand Assembly Hall opened.

What emerged was Lucy, her hair a brilliant white like snow.

After softly closing the door behind her, Lucy naturally spoke as soon as her eyes met Daniel’s.

“Colonel Daniel. Her Majesty says your business is concluded and you’re free to leave the palace now.”

A short silence passed between them.

Still unsettled on many fronts, Daniel broke the silence.

“...Nothing happened? I mean, between you and Her Majesty.”

“Yes. We simply exchanged a few words.”

Though quite a lot had been said, Lucy dismissed it as a mere casual conversation.

The matter had already been settled, and she didn’t want to burden Daniel by recounting what had occurred inside.

Daniel knew her words weren’t entirely true, but he chose to let it slide.

If she appeared this composed, he could trust that she had handled it well.

But there was one thing he couldn’t just overlook.

Daniel stepped {N•o•v•e•l•i•g•h•t} forward and stopped directly in front of Lucy.

“Lieutenant. Why did you show such disrespect to Her Majesty?”

At his question, a subtle flicker crossed Lucy’s usually impassive eyes.

Even she couldn’t clearly understand why she’d been so angry at the time.

She simply didn’t want to see Daniel embracing Selvia.

Unable to voice such foolish emotions, Lucy remained silent, and Daniel continued.

“Lieutenant. You must understand that Her Majesty addressing us with courtesy and listening to our opinions is an act of grace—bestowed from above. We are not her equals. We never will be. Her Majesty is the sun of the Empire, and we are merely those who live beneath it.”

Lucy’s gaze slowly dropped.

She had indeed forgotten her place and acted wrongly—there was no room for argument.

“So if you ever find yourself speaking with Her Majesty again, bow your head and listen respectfully. And if you have something to say in disagreement, don’t say it directly—convey it through me. This is advice for your sake, no one else’s. Understood?”

Lucy bowed her head humbly.

“I was certainly careless. I will keep your words in mind.” ƒгeewebnovёl.com

Having admitted her mistake and accepted his advice without resistance, Daniel couldn’t reprimand her further.

Deciding to end it here, he looked down at Lucy with a trace of coldness.

“...To be honest, I’m disappointed in you. Don’t ever let this happen again. I have no need for an incompetent adjutant.”

With that, Daniel turned and walked away.

After a brief delay, Lucy followed him.

She kept two steps behind him.

As they walked in silence through the vast halls of the palace, Lucy caught a faint whiff of a cherry scent.

‘This is...’

The scent Selvia had worn today lingered faintly in the air.

‘No... not just similar...’

It was Selvia’s perfume.

Lucy had been wondering why its fragrance still clung to the edge of her senses—until she realized.

The scent was coming from Daniel.

When Selvia had tightly embraced him, a trace of her perfume must have rubbed off onto his officer’s coat.

It was faint—subtle enough to go unnoticed by others—but Lucy, a former test subject with heightened senses, had caught it immediately.

And she didn’t like it.

But that wasn’t the only thing that bothered her.

‘...That woman knew about Kelly, too.’

All this time, Lucy had thought it was a secret shared only between her and Daniel. But that wasn’t true at all.

That realization shook the trust and closeness she felt toward Daniel.

‘I thought I knew so much about him. But...’

It had only been a delusion.

Daniel had never truly opened up to her—not about himself.

But Lucy wanted to know.

She wanted to know more than just his taste for desserts—what kind of past he had, what made him happy, what landscapes he liked, what he hated, what his ideal type was, and what hobbies he enjoyed when he was alone.

Not through guesswork, but directly—from Daniel himself.

Yet Daniel, consciously or not, always hid those parts of himself.

As if to say: There’s nothing more for you to know.

Just as Lucy’s thoughts began to cloud and her eyes drooped halfway, Daniel—walking ahead—came to a stop.

“Lieutenant.”

Turning his body, Daniel looked back at her.

“What I said in front of the Assembly Hall earlier... don’t take it to heart.”

Now that his emotions had cooled, he realized he might’ve been too harsh and felt a trace of guilt.

And as someone who knew Lucy’s past as a spy from the Allied Nations, Daniel also knew that keeping a good relationship with her was crucial.

“I don’t think you’re incompetent. Honestly, the problem is that you’re too capable. Just... be a little more cautious when speaking with Her Majesty...”

Daniel continued on, but none of it reached Lucy’s ears.

She was focused entirely on her sense of smell.

The scent...

The cherry fragrance from Daniel’s coat seemed to grow stronger.

“...I heard you’ve been overworking lately with all the night shifts. I have too, but your dedication has—”

The scent of that perfume made her feel as if Selvia were laying claim to Daniel—staking ownership.

The unease turned into jealousy, and that jealousy gave rise to a thought she would never normally entertain.

That scent...

She wanted to cover it with her own.

The thought was so overpowering, so consuming, she couldn’t even call it disgraceful.

“...So if there’s anything you want, I’d like to grant it. What do you say?”

As Daniel finished speaking, Lucy slowly raised her head.

In her crimson eyes—so much like blood—there shimmered the tremble of an early spring day.

“There is one thing I’d like.”

She knew she shouldn’t do this.

She knew that making such a request of Daniel would disqualify her as his adjutant.

But just for today, she wanted to be selfish.

“Colonel Daniel.”

She wanted to cling to him.

“If you don’t mind...”

Her trembling voice grew firmer.

“Please...”

Taking a deep breath to calm her nerves, Lucy summoned her courage and moved her lips.

“Hold me... like you held Her Majesty.”