Chapter 70

Half a month later.

Though Daniel had been promoted to the rank of colonel, his actual duties hadn’t changed much. Aside from having access to more classified information than usual, his role as part of the Operations Staff remained unchanged. For Daniel, who had feared getting entangled in some strange incident, this was truly fortunate. With a sense of relief that peace would continue, Daniel thought to himself: “For now, I’ll live as quietly as possible.”

But unfortunately for Daniel, this resolution came to nothing when contact arrived from the Royal Family. More specifically, it came from Princess Selvia, the next in line to become Emperor. The message read: “If you have any free time, please visit the Imperial Palace.” It was delivered by a maid from the Inner Court just as Daniel was about to leave work.

Despite feeling taken aback, Daniel realized it must be urgent since she had come personally. He replied that he’d visit immediately and followed the maid. Outside the General Staff Headquarters, Daniel spotted a high-class sedan waiting. It was sent by Selvia, knowing full well Daniel wouldn’t refuse. Letting out a dry chuckle, Daniel climbed into the car, which then headed toward the Imperial Palace.

Upon arriving at the palace, Daniel exited the vehicle and entered one of the side palaces under the guidance of the maid. The building was almost as grand as the main palace, so without her guidance, Daniel might have gotten lost. After navigating several corridors, they reached an enormous indoor garden. Warm air filled the space, where lush green plants and colorful flowers bloomed in vibrant hues, while lavender and rosemary gently perfumed the atmosphere. This place was undoubtedly a terrestrial paradise crafted with immense effort and wealth.

As Daniel moved further inside, admiring the extravagance of the royal family, he paused. In the open area of the garden, Selvia knelt, playing with a puppy.

“Good boy! That’s right,” she said softly, stroking the sharp-eyed dog’s head. The pup was a Doberman, its glossy black fur and sturdy build impressive. Did Selvia keep dogs? As Daniel approached, the Doberman turned its head.

Grrr…

It bared its teeth, growling cautiously at Daniel. Noticing this, Selvia glanced sideways and saw him.

Smiling faintly, she continued petting the Doberman and spoke, “Don’t worry, he’s my friend.”

Miraculously, the Doberman stopped growling as if understanding her words. Intrigued, Daniel finally spoke.

“He listens to you very well?”

“Of course, these are loyal dogs. Plus, they’re intelligent, sleek, and handsome—qualities making them popular nowadays. So I decided to get one too.”

Selvia chuckled lightly and playfully pinched the Doberman’s cheek.

“This little guy doesn’t seem to mind being sold to the royal family. After all, there’s plenty of food, and every day he gets pampered by countless maids. Moreover, his owner is destined to become the Emperor of the Empire—it could even be considered good fortune!”

After releasing the Doberman’s cheek, Selvia stood up and turned slightly, allowing Daniel to notice the striking red cloak draped over her left shoulder. Embroidered with gold thread, the majestic eagle crest on the fabric symbolized power and authority, marking her as the future emperor.

Aware of Daniel’s gaze, Selvia softened her expression.

“What do you think, Colonel Daniel?”

“…About what exactly?”

“Whether this Doberman is satisfied with his situation.”

Daniel sensed that Selvia wasn’t merely asking about the dog but perhaps testing him.

‘Hmm… Is this what they call probing?’

Recalling similar tactics used by the Emperor, Daniel responded hesitantly.

“It depends on what the Doberman values and pursues.”

At this cryptic answer, Selvia fell silent for a moment before nodding and gesturing toward a nearby table. On it were expensive pastries and two steaming cups of coffee.

“Enough about dogs. Would you care for a cup of coffee?”

“I’d be delighted to accept your offer.”

Placing his hand over his chest in gratitude, Daniel walked over to the table alongside Selvia. She took her seat first, followed by Daniel across from her. Adjusting his attire unnecessarily, Daniel briefly studied Selvia’s face.

‘She’s wearing makeup…’

The application was subtle enough to go unnoticed by most, but Daniel detected the difference.

‘Probably because she needs to appear publicly due to her recent regency responsibilities…’

A basic touch-up would indeed be beneficial for various reasons.

However, contrary to Daniel’s guess, Selvia’s decision to wear makeup wasn’t primarily for public appearances. While pretending to savor the aroma of her coffee, she felt somewhat dissatisfied.

‘I made an effort today…’

She had asked the chief beautician to create a look that would appeal to men, choosing understated yet noticeable jewelry to enhance her appearance—but Daniel didn’t seem to notice.

‘Oh well…’

This meeting wasn’t intended to gain his romantic affection anyway. Taking a sip of her coffee, Selvia placed the cup down and spoke.

“Colonel Daniel, are you particularly interested in international affairs?”

“As part of my job, I always keep an eye on them.”

“In that case, you must know how recently both the Republic and the Federation have aligned with the Allied Nations to criticize our Empire.”

“Yes, unfortunately.”

Ever since Count Kaledra declared his stance against the Empire half a month ago, the international community had gradually turned its back on them. It was understandable; no nation desires the rise of a dominant superpower. And when that potential superpower is also embroiled in war? Other nations can only conclude that if the Allies fall, they’ll likely be next.

Fear breeds war.

The major powers had no choice but to arm themselves to suppress the Empire before it grew even stronger.

“The Empire cannot avoid a world war.”

By now, not only the military but also the royal ministers and various field ministers must have noticed the shifting global trends. This wasn’t solely an issue for the upper class; ordinary citizens too had learned through news reports that the Empire was slowly becoming isolated. Most people were still reeling from the shock of impending war against the entire world.

Yet Princess Selvia, the future Empress, maintained her composure amidst these developments, thanks to Daniel’s earlier warnings about the looming world war.

“So…”

Selvia fixed Daniel with a serious gaze.

“We need to prepare for this world war now, before the Republic and Federation join the battle—it will be too late otherwise.”

“Do you have any brilliant strategies?”

“No brilliant strategies, but we must try everything within our means. First, we need to increase taxes to boost our budget, though we can’t raise them excessively.”

With the war already dragging on, citizen fatigue was steadily rising. Raising taxes too high at this point risked eroding trust in the state. At worst, riots or civil war could erupt, requiring extreme caution.

“With limits on tax increases, I plan to issue war bonds. The problem is convincing civilians to buy them.”

“Many citizens don’t want the war to drag on longer.”

“Exactly. That’s why I’m considering appointing a skilled orator to explain to the citizens why we must continue the war while issuing these bonds. What do you think, Colonel Daniel?”

Without objection, Daniel nodded.

“That’s a sound approach. Building public trust ties closely to bond issuance. Selecting the right speaker will be crucial.”

“I share that concern. Who would make the best candidate for this role?”

“If I may humbly suggest, someone with recent military or political achievements would be ideal. Someone easily recognizable to the populace.”

Selvia agreed.

“And?”

“A person with a pleasant appearance would help. Not necessarily handsome, but someone whose demeanor inspires goodwill. People tend to trust those who look polished more readily than others.”

Leaning forward, Selvia rested her hands on the table.

“Hmm… Any other conditions?”

“Using authority and charisma effectively, selecting someone from the military would be advantageous. Actual battlefield experience would be even better. Even if the speech contains some exaggerations, citizens won’t doubt their words…”

Trailing off mid-sentence, Daniel suddenly realized something unsettling. By laying out the ideal traits for the speaker, he had inadvertently identified the most suitable person for the job.

‘Surely not…’

Had Selvia planned this all along when inviting him here?

Feeling her gaze intensify unnaturally, Daniel broke out in cold sweat.

“Colonel Daniel.”

Her voice became sticky sweet, making Daniel question his hearing.

Opening her eyes halfway, Selvia leaned forward with a mischievous smile.

“You seem to fit all the criteria perfectly, don’t you?”

And thus, Daniel wanted to scream.