Why the hell am I sharing an office with a spy from the enemy nation?
I wanted to report this chick as a spy to the Head of Operations Staff, but without evidence, I’d just look like a lunatic.
So for now, there’s nothing to do but act natural.
Taking a deep breath to calm my chaotic thoughts, I opened the office door.
As I did, I shrugged at Lucy who was giving me a weird look.
“Did you hear that? The hinges on this door are all messed up. Gonna have to call in a repairman soon.”
All I did when opening and closing the door was check the hinge condition.
With that impromptu yet somewhat logical excuse, I walked over to the desk, pulled out a chair, and sat down.
“So… what’s your name?”
After placing the bread bag on the desk and settling into position, Lucy gave a crisp salute.
“Starting today, I’m Lieutenant Lucy Emilia, assigned as the aide-de-camp to the Operations Staff of the General Staff Headquarters. It’s a great honor to serve such a busy Operations Staff sir, and I’m prepared to faithfully carry out any tasks given.”
It was a straightforward assignment report.
More importantly, she’s using her real name.
Well, only a handful of people in the Allied Nations even know Lucy’s real name, so maybe she figured there was no need for an alias.
For whatever reason, the handsome person standing before me was a spy for the Allied Nations.
Of course, spying in the Empire isn’t a huge issue for me—I don’t exactly have patriotic feelings toward the Empire anyway.
The problem is that my aide-de-camp is a spy who will one day be called the Empire’s nightmare.
I’m not patient enough to keep a ticking time bomb as my aide.
‘So I gotta get rid of her.’
Somehow, I need to make upper management think Lucy Emilia is unsuitable for the role of Operations Staff aide.
‘Then I need a good excuse…’
While tapping the desk seriously, a lightbulb idea popped into my head.
‘Wait a sec. Didn’t I see an anti-war protest group preparing outside the General Staff headquarters earlier?’
If I use this right, it might help separate Lucy from me.
Smirking inwardly, I returned Lucy’s salute.
After she relaxed her posture, I said sternly,
“Good. Lieutenant Lucy Emilia, you said you’d faithfully carry out any tasks given, right?”
“Yes sir.”
“Bold answer. Let’s test if you’re fit for the job. Go outside and disperse the protesters.”
“Huh… the protesters?”
“Right. They’re illegal demonstrators who haven’t registered with the Royal Family. We let them slide at first because they were small, but recently they’ve gotten out of hand.”
“But isn’t this the Military Police’s responsibility?”
“Protests in front of the General Staff Headquarters fall under our jurisdiction too. Under wartime security laws, Imperial officers have the authority to deal with unrest in their area.”
Lucy nodded in understanding.
“You’re absolutely correct. I’ll follow your orders.”
“Good. Now go execute your mission. Report back when you’re done.”
“Understood. Can I make one request though?”
“What is it?”
Lucy raised her hand and pointed at me with her index finger.
“Bread.”
…What? Is she implying she’ll shoot me dead?
Tension rose as I tried to figure out her meaning, but Lucy blinked and continued.
“Didn’t you say you’d share bread when you came in? If you don’t mind, I’d like to take one.”
Oh. That bread.
“Sure, take one.”
I slid the bread bag on the desk toward her, and Lucy approached to grab a croissant.
After bowing slightly to me, she turned and left the office.
Watching her go, I exhaled quietly and leaned back in my chair.
Now that the tension eased, my body felt exhausted.
‘For starters…’
I laid the groundwork for creating an excuse.
Sending someone alone to disperse a protest is impossible—anyone would agree.
How could she possibly handle those angry citizens alone?
So all I had to do was wait here, then when Lucy inevitably fails, I can use that as grounds to declare her unfit.
Even if it doesn’t work immediately, stacking these instances slowly is key.
Feeling relieved that things were going according to plan, I pulled some documents from the drawer to review.
I couldn’t just sit around waiting until Lucy came back.
Just as I reviewed a few documents…
Bang!
My shoulders twitched at the gunshot from outside.
A terrorist attack? No, if it were terrorism, the shots wouldn’t be so isolated.
Plus, the sound seemed close.
Almost like it came from right in front of the General Staff Headquarters—
Bang!
Another gunshot froze my thoughts.
‘Could it be…’
Did Lucy fire that gun?
Realizing this possibility, I quickly stood up.
This wasn’t the time to stay in the office doing paperwork.
“The leaders of the protest have all been arrested. Great work.”
Military Police Interrogation Corporal Wendelin stared blankly at the woman in front of him.
Regaining his composure after swallowing hard, Wendelin replayed the events of just a few minutes ago.
Introducing herself as “Captain Daniel Steiner’s aide,” the woman glanced around the riot police facing off against the protesters, then pulled out a revolver and fired two warning shots into the air.
Startled by the sudden gunfire, the protesters scattered in panic. The woman then asked the riot police for assistance before swiftly subduing the five protest leaders with practiced ease.
In reality, the riot police barely did anything besides helping with the arrests.
By the time Wendelin and the rest of the force had recovered from their shock…
“What’s all this commotion?”
Startled by the voice, Wendelin turned to see Daniel Steiner approaching.
The imposing presence of Daniel marching forward with his officer’s coat billowing behind him was unmistakable.
Knowing he couldn’t afford to upset Daniel, Wendelin scanned the scene and shouted loudly.
“What are you all doing?! Attention!”
At his command, the thirty riot police officers snapped to attention.
Glancing around briefly, Daniel fixed Lucy with a cold stare.
“Explain.”
Without hesitation, Lucy saluted and responded.
“Following the Operations Staff’s orders, I fired warning shots to disperse the violent protesters. As a result, we’ve dispersed the illegal demonstrators and arrested the five leaders.”
Listening nearby, Wendelin finally understood.
“Ah, so it was Captain Daniel’s order? Makes sense.”
There’s no way a newly commissioned lieutenant would dare do something so bold.
Meanwhile, Daniel’s inner turmoil was burning hot.
“When did I tell her to fire warning shots?”
Though tempted to ask, wartime security laws meant Lucy hadn’t technically done anything wrong.
Instead of reprimanding her, Daniel held out his hand.
Understanding immediately, Lucy pulled the revolver from its holster and handed it to Daniel.
When Daniel checked the cylinder, sure enough, two rounds were missing.
Unable to hold back a bitter laugh, Daniel looked at Lucy again.
“Captain, these people violated curfew laws and wartime security measures, including attacking soldiers maintaining order without just cause. With your permission, I’ll execute them on the spot.”
Daniel froze, thinking he must’ve misheard.
Even if they led the anti-war protests, aren’t they technically on the same side?
‘Is she suggesting killing our own side? Why?’
…No. Thinking rationally, avoiding suspicion from the Empire might mean thoroughly siding with the Imperial Army.
‘This emotionless woman! Doesn’t she feel pity for these people?’
Though tempted to give a moral lecture, too many eyes were watching.
Besides Wendelin and the riot police, countless citizens had gathered to watch, and nearby journalists were snapping photos.
Here, I had to maintain the image of an Imperial officer.
“No.”
Click.
Handing the revolver back to Lucy after closing the cylinder, Daniel spoke.
“They’re not worth killing. Corporal Wendelin.”
“Y-Yes sir, Captain Daniel Steiner!”
“Interrogate them to find out why they incited this protest. Discover what seditious ideas drove them to defy the Royal Family and stir up the citizens.”
“R-Right away sir!”
Tensely responding, Wendelin began issuing commands to the soldiers.
As they efficiently rounded up the protest leaders, Daniel closed his eyes briefly.
‘Haa…’
Total failure of building a case against her.
The next morning.
Waking up to the alarm as usual, I headed to the kitchen for coffee.
After taking coffee grounds from the shelf and brewing a cup, I poured it into a mug.
Walking naturally to the entrance, I picked up the newspaper dropped through the slot and returned to the kitchen.
Sitting casually at the table, I took a sip of coffee.
Its simple yet rich flavor delighted my mouth.
‘This morning coffee really hits the spot.’
Satisfied, I unfolded the newspaper and froze.
On the front page was a black-and-white photo of me.
Specifically, me checking the revolver’s cylinder while standing before five kneeling protest leaders.
To anyone looking, it seemed like I was deciding whether or not to kill them.
Breaking out in a cold sweat, I read the headline and nearly gagged.
[Captain Daniel Steiner Arrests Illegal Protest Leaders!]
The headline was bad enough, but the content was worse.
“…Through military police interrogations, it was revealed that three of the protest leaders were paid by the Allied Nations. This confirms suspicions that the desperate Allied Nations were behind the anti-war protests. Regarding this, Corporal Wendelin mentioned that Captain Daniel Steiner was instrumental…”
Stopping there, I folded the newspaper and picked up my mug.
Trying to stay calm, I took a deep breath and sipped the coffee—but it no longer tasted good.
My head is spinning… really…
