Chapter 14

After Lieutenant Daniel joined forces with Princess Selvia, the tide of battle completely turned.

Following Daniel’s orders, the squad disembarked and spread out, linking up with reinforcements sent by the Forward Operating Base’s special task force. Together, they absolutely annihilated the Prince’s army disguised as Allied Nations soldiers.

Things got even better when Captain Heinz requested additional support, bringing in reconnaissance helicopters and fighter jets from a nearby air squadron. The Prince’s army stood no chance.

To begin with, they were a small unit deployed for a quick strike mission. Even dealing with the special task force reinforcements was tough for them, so once the air squadron joined in, their defeat was all but guaranteed.

Cornered, the Prince’s soldiers almost like clockwork chose to take their own lives, wrapping up the situation.

And now…

Lieutenant Daniel and his squad stood at attention in an open forest clearing, taking a breather.

At the center of the clearing, where a transport helicopter had landed, Princess Selvia blinked her blue eyes as she looked at them.

“Hmm… They say excellent soldiers follow a great commander…”

Daniel and his squad members were all covered in blood and grime.

That meant they didn’t hesitate to fight against the Prince’s men.

Of course, aside from Daniel himself, none of them knew that the enemies they fought were actually part of the Prince’s forces.

“Second Lieutenant Daniel.”

Princess Selvia, who had been surveying the squad, made eye contact with Daniel and beckoned him over. Daniel quickly approached.

“You called?”

With a nod, Selvia leaned in close and whispered into Daniel’s ear.

“Keep what you’ve seen and heard today to yourself. It must not be known that my brother is involved in this matter.”

“…Understood. Without evidence, rashly accusing the Prince could backfire.”

“Indeed. It’s always a pleasure talking to someone who gets it.”

Her voice carried a sweet tone, resonating straight from the battlefield.

Selvia stepped back slightly.

“Well then, I’ll head back to the capital. Though I’d love to keep chatting with you until the General Staff Headquarters, things have escalated more than expected, so I need to return quickly.”

Things did escalate. By now, the military high command in the capital would surely be buzzing with news that the princess had been attacked.

It was thanks to Captain Heinz’s quick judgment in requesting air support that the situation was contained.

Still, delaying her return could result in displeasure not only from the current Emperor but also from the nobles serving the royal family. Thus, Selvia had no choice but to leave.

Fully understanding her position, Daniel bowed.

“It was an honor meeting you. I look forward to serving you again.”

Moved by Daniel’s respectful words, Selvia offered a faint smile.

“We’ll meet again soon.”

A meaningful statement.

Before Daniel could respond, Selvia turned and boarded the transport helicopter.

Once she was safely inside, the Imperial Guard members followed with precise discipline and closed the door.

One of the guards signaled to the pilot that everyone was aboard, and preparations for takeoff began.

The helicopter blades whirred to life, creating a deafening roar as they pushed against the air—or rather, the ground itself.

Snow scattered in every direction as the helicopter lifted off and headed straight toward the capital.

Inside the helicopter, Selvia sat in her seat, gazing down through the window at the ground below.

There, Daniel and his squad were still saluting the departing helicopter.

Watching them quietly, Selvia turned her gaze to one of the Imperial Guards checking his weapon.

On his shoulder was the insignia of the Chief Bodyguard of the Imperial Guard—a golden wing—marking Colonel Hartmann Edelstein.

Colonel Hartmann Edelstein, the man renowned as a killing machine who wielded a sword amidst gunfire on the battlefield, cutting down enemies with ease.

This legendary killer had one weakness: the very person now staring at him with an unreadable expression—Selvia von Amberg.

Normally, Selvia seemed like a cute and adorable granddaughter figure, but when she stared intently like this, it sent shivers down anyone’s spine.

Ignoring her wasn’t an option, so Hartmann set aside the weapon he was cleaning and removed his gas mask.

A bead of cold sweat formed on the weathered face of the seasoned veteran.

“Your Highness the Princess. Is there something you wish to discuss with me?”

“Yes. Why didn’t you immediately come to Lieutenant Daniel’s aid?”

“What do you mean?”

“Don’t play dumb, Hartmann. You must’ve arrived before Daniel engaged the enemy. So why didn’t you help right away? Answer me.”

Ah, just as suspected.

Hartmann glanced around nervously, hoping for some kind of SOS signal to work.

But the other Imperial Guards were busily pretending to clean their weapons, avoiding any involvement.

“They’re such cowards…” Hartmann muttered under his breath.

Turning back to Selvia, he forced a polite smile.

“To my knowledge, Your Highness’ order was to ‘rescue Lieutenant Daniel without harm.’ Since Lieutenant Daniel wasn’t injured, we can consider the mission successfully executed.”

“Are you calling that an excuse?”

“Your Highness, while I understand your anger, we needed time to assess the nature of the person you favor. That too is part of our duty.”

Not doubting Selvia’s judgment, it was still necessary for the Imperial Guard to evaluate anyone approaching the princess—both their abilities and ideologies.

“To add a bit more context, our observation yielded some interesting results.”

Lieutenant Daniel Steiner possessed a rare ability to accelerate neural activity.

Though it consumed immense mana and only lasted for a short period, technological advancements and firearms had changed the battlefield. Now, even the lowliest soldier could kill the most noble with proper aim.

In such a scenario, gaining even a few seconds of advantage could provide tremendous leverage.

Thus, Lieutenant Daniel Steiner was a highly coveted talent.

Had he not been affiliated with the General Staff Headquarters, Hartmann might have already offered him a transfer to the Imperial Guard.

“Lieutenant Daniel Steiner displayed remarkable combat skills. With a bit more luck, he could’ve taken out six soldiers single-handedly.”

“…”

Selvia narrowed her eyes, clearly unimpressed.

Having served her for a long time, Hartmann knew exactly what this look meant.

She was silently asking, “Isn’t that missing the point?”

This was dangerous territory.

Offending Selvia would cause significant trouble for Hartmann, who genuinely cared for her like a granddaughter.

He needed to reveal another piece of information.

Clearing his throat, Hartmann continued seriously.

“If Your Highness truly wishes to recruit Lieutenant Daniel Steiner as an ally, there’s no need to test his loyalty.”

Suddenly confused, Selvia blinked.

“During the battle, Lieutenant Daniel Steiner reportedly said, ‘An incompetent prince will never become emperor.’ Furthermore, he declared, ‘Only the princess can ascend the throne.'”

Selvia’s eyes widened in surprise.

She hadn’t heard this before, having arrived late to the scene.

“Is that true? Did Lieutenant Daniel really say that?”

“Yes. Everyone here heard it.”

The other guards, busy cleaning their weapons, nodded in agreement.

Seeing this, a faint smile appeared on Selvia’s lips.

“I see. So Lieutenant Daniel said that…”

Trailing off, Selvia turned her gaze to the window, looking down at the ground far below.

Though the clearing was long out of sight, her eyes unconsciously searched for Daniel.

“Hmph. To think he said something like that…”

While unclear, it seemed his words pleased her greatly.

‘The discovery of new talent has cheered her up?’

She seemed more animated than usual.

‘Could she possibly see Lieutenant Daniel romantically…?’

No, that was unlikely. Selvia was notoriously disinterested in romance due to constant harassment from her brother.

Regardless of the reason, seeing Selvia express emotions appropriate for her age was a delightful sight for Hartmann.