Chapter 22

My heart starts pounding like crazy and my breathing goes haywire.

Even though I tried to keep a calm expression, the corner of my mouth was trembling ever so slightly.

‘Pull yourself together! Think of an excuse!’

If I don’t answer now, Daniel’s suspicion might turn into certainty.

In the briefest moment, Alistair ran countless simulations in his head before finally managing to speak up.

“Ah. So that happened? When I went there, they were selling it just fine, so I had no idea about any incident.”

This was the response Alistair came up with after numerous considerations.

Judging from the fact that Daniel started working at General Staff Headquarters right after graduating from Military Academy last year, he probably didn’t go to Jack’s Restaurant.

It was essentially using the gap in information as a deception technique.

“Hmm…you had no idea such an incident occurred…”

Daniel casually taps the banquet table twice.

That small gesture and the faint sound makes Alistair, who is already on edge, feel even more uneasy.

Alistair could sense that Daniel was suspicious of him.

Meanwhile, Daniel wasn’t really thinking much of it.

“…Did they start selling it again since last year?”

It could be that the owner decided not to give up because the dessert was so delicious.

Besides, mistakenly serving a customer with allergies isn’t really the restaurant’s fault either.

Thinking it over, Daniel nodded once and looked at Alistair.

“It seems they’ve started selling apple strudel again. Though, we’d have to ask Jack’s Restaurant directly to be sure. Ah, and one more thing…”

Just as Daniel was about to ask another question, classical music from the orchestra filled the banquet hall.

Simultaneously, everyone in the banquet hall began clapping, causing both of them to turn their attention.

From the third floor of the banquet hall, members of the royal family were slowly descending while holding onto the railing of the staircase.

This meant that the main event Philip mentioned would soon begin.

Since Daniel, as an Officer of the Empire, had the duty to show respect to the royals, he couldn’t continue the conversation.

“Oh dear. Time’s almost up. I suppose our chat will have to end here.”

Smiling, Daniel picks up his military cap from the table and stands up.

“I hope you enjoy your time.”

With a slight nod, Daniel tucks his cap under his arm and walks toward the crowd.

Thanks to this, Alistair felt a sense of relief.

‘Phew. If he had continued questioning me, I might have been exposed…’

Relieved by this fact, Alistair glanced back at Daniel and hesitated.

Daniel was talking to someone who looked like the Head of the Operations Staff while occasionally looking back at him.

‘Dammit…!’

Apparently, Daniel still hadn’t dropped his suspicions.

He was definitely telling the Head of the Operations Staff something along the lines of “this guy is suspicious.”

Cursing under his breath, Alistair quickly stood up and headed toward the restroom.

After entering the restroom and confirming that no one else was around, Alistair raised his wrist and pressed the transmission button on the miniature radio disguised as a watch.

“Speaker, respond! This is Photo Studio!”

After waiting for a moment, a reply came through the radio.

– What’s the matter? Is it time to report the list?

Alistair shook his head.

“No! I’m currently under suspicion! They’ve most likely increased security. Cancel Operation Mad Dog immediately! Disperse the agents to the old town! We need to switch to Plan B!”

– You’re under suspicion? The identity forgery was perfect, and your disguise was beyond what the Imperial Army could detect.

“The situation turned bad. The person suspecting me is none other than Daniel Steiner.”

The weight carried by the name Daniel Steiner was considerable.

After a short pause, the radio responded.

– Understood. We’ll cancel the original operation and switch to Plan B. I’ll relay this to all agents. Good luck.

The radio communication abruptly cut off.

Alistair, who had been staring at the watch, placed a hand on his forehead.

‘Damn it. We have no choice but to go with Plan B…’

Compared to the original plan, Plan B drastically increases the failure rate.

Even if the operation succeeds, it’s practically the same as giving the Empire justification to start an expansionist war, and it’s highly likely that the agents will be wiped out.

But there was no other way.

Since Alistair was being suspected by Daniel Steiner, the original plan wouldn’t work.

After wiping his face once, Alistair clasped his hands together and murmured devoutly.

“O Lord…”

Please protect us.

*

“He’s going to the restroom. That new friend of yours.”

“Hmm. He seemed to be in a hurry.”

Watching Alistair enter the restroom, I shrugged my shoulders once.

Seeing this, Ernst chuckled.

“Let’s leave the talk about your hometown here and focus on the ball.”

“…The ball, you say?”

“Ah. Now that I think about it, this is your first Royal Banquet, isn’t it? Usually, when the banquet gets lively, the royal family comes out and dances. It’s about preserving tradition from the past.”

Though I wondered what the connection was between dancing and tradition, I didn’t feel like nitpicking about royal culture.

After nodding vaguely and turning my gaze to the central hall where the royal family was preparing for the dance, the first person I saw was Selvia in a deep purple evening gown.

The dress had a daringly low back, but the blue-tinted necklace and earrings diverted attention, giving it an elegant rather than risqué impression.

To be honest, she felt very different from the Selvia I met in the north.

Was it because of the makeup? Carefully observing her, I quickly realized why Selvia’s aura was different from usual.

‘She doesn’t like being here.’

Selvia wasn’t smiling.

Meaning, the playful or confident smiles she showed in the north were nowhere to be seen.

Come to think of it, if I had to dress up extravagantly in the name of royal heritage and dance in front of people I didn’t want to see, I’d dislike it too.

But regardless of Selvia’s feelings, the lighting in the banquet hall dimmed further as the music signaling the dance began.

As the music started, the royals smiled at each other and began dancing with their partners.

Selvia was no exception, though unlike the other royals, she remained expressionless throughout.

Of course, that expressionlessness was quite charming to me.

I tend to consider myself a fairly rational person, but apparently, my level of rationality isn’t high enough to transcend superficial standards.

If anyone else had such a blank expression, I might have told them to cheer up, but with Selvia’s striking appearance, even that felt like admiring a painting.

Truly, superficialism can be frightening. It’s something to be wary of.

So, standing with my arms crossed trying to remain as nonchalant as possible, the dance ended, and the lighting brightened again.

Immediately afterward, everyone applauded as if they had agreed beforehand.

Among those receiving applause, Selvia, looking annoyed, moved her gaze around until our eyes met just as I was about to clap.

Selvia’s eyes widened slightly. Realizing my mistake, I stopped mid-clap.

– Don’t.

Selvia’s lip movement halted my applause.

Because of this, I awkwardly froze in place as senior officials approached the royals and began conversing with them.

This included Selvia as well.

Looking blankly at Selvia chatting with senior officials, I tilted my head.

‘What did I do wrong?’

Was applauding when our eyes met considered a breach of royal protocol?

Amidst the growing curiosity and confusion, Selvia politely excused herself from the senior officials and pushed through the crowd.

Thinking she was heading elsewhere, I stepped aside to make room.

However, Selvia continued walking straight toward me.

Realizing she was indeed coming to me, I nodded slightly after a moment of surprise.

“Yes. I’ve been promoted to Captain.”

“That’s good. Well, given how much you’ve accomplished, it’s only natural. By the way, did you change your hairstyle?”

“Yes. My superior was particularly insistent, even though I didn’t want to…”

Selvia giggled.

“You should give that persistent superior an award. It suits you well. You look even more mature.”

“But I’ve always been mature…”

“Growing older doesn’t automatically make you an adult, does it? Especially looking at those people over there.”

Selvia glanced at the men approaching her.

“They all think the Empire must pursue expansionist wars. Without even considering the repercussions on the international community…”

Hmm. In this era, such thinking was actually quite common.

Back then, many people viewed colonizing less advanced civilizations as some sort of business or salvation.

It’s not that Selvia is enlightened and the others are ignorant; it’s just that the times are like this.

“It’s inevitable. With the Empire gaining the upper hand, advocating for war is a natural trend. Not everyone can be as wise as Her Highness the Princess…”

I stopped mid-sentence.

Because the fellow from my hometown, who had gone to the restroom, was running towards me with a grave expression.

Before I could wonder what was happening, he reached into his coat.

Instantly sensing danger, I drew my revolver from its holster.

At the moment he was about to throw something, I pulled the trigger.

Bang!

The bullet shattered his skull.

However, the unknown object thrown by the man was flying toward me.

“Her Highness the Princess!”

Sensing the impending danger, I grabbed Selvia’s wrist and pulled her close.

Holding Selvia in my arms, I instinctively turned my body and closed my eyes.

And then…

Flash─

Blinding light engulfed everything.

*

…Regulating my breathing, I slowly open my eyes.

It’s dark. This isn’t the banquet hall I was in moments ago.

Waiting quietly for my eyes to adjust to the darkness.

Moving recklessly and making noise would be troublesome.

“Daniel…”

“Quiet.”

After silencing the stirring Selvia, I waited for a moment, and the interior of where I am became visible.

‘A hotel?’

I found myself in a spacious living room decorated with luxurious furnishings.

Glancing behind me, I see the cityscape spread out below through the glass walls.

Only then did I realize what the man had thrown.

‘Etherium Conversion Grenade.’

A disruption device that literally teleports the target to a random location.

Expensive and unpredictable due to lack of control over the destination, it’s not in high demand.

Though occasionally used for special occasions, I never expected it to happen to me.

“Over here…”

“Be quiet.”

“It’s not that…”

Selvia’s hand moves as if trying to push me away.

Only then did I realize I was still tightly hugging her without letting go.

Due to the tension, I belatedly recognized the rudeness of my actions.

“Ah.”

Releasing my grip, Selvia takes a step back.

Her ears are noticeably red, and her breathing seems slightly labored.

“I apologize.”

Accepting my apology, Selvia brushed her hair behind her ear and spoke.

“I understand you were trying to protect me, but please be more careful next time. And…”

Changing her gaze, Selvia hides behind a nearby sofa.

“They’re coming up. I can hear footsteps. Seven, no… eight maybe.”

Footsteps, you say? Hiding beside Selvia and listening carefully, I could indeed hear footsteps approaching.

They seem to be searching nearby, unsure of our exact location.

I let out a sigh.

“…Things have gotten complicated, but I’ll do my best to protect you.”

“There’s no need.”

Selvia lifts the hem of her evening gown.

A pistol strapped to her thigh becomes visible.

Seeing this, I exhaled in exasperation.

“Do you always carry a pistol like that?”

“You never know when something might happen.”

“Looks like maturity belongs not to me, but to Her Highness the Princess.”

Selvia armed with the pistol on her thigh gave a wry smile.

“Let’s just say both of us.”

“Agreed. Then…”

The footsteps are getting closer.

Examining the door, I said,

“Protect yourself properly as an adult.”

Click─

With the pistol cocked, Selvia replied confidently.

“That’s exactly what I intend to do.”

Indeed, the Iron Blood. Honestly, there couldn’t be a more reliable companion.