The next day, as Daniel Steiner arrived at the General Staff headquarters, he stopped by the operations office for a mission debrief and was taken aback.
"Waiting for you, Operations Officer!" "Lieutenant Colonel Daniel Steiner, welcome back!" "We heard about the negotiation results! It's just as expected of Lieutenant Colonel Steiner!"
The staff members paused their work to give him a round of applause and showered him with praises that seemed more sycophantic than sincere.
"It feels like they're lining up before a future power holder..."
Thinking about it, it wasn’t entirely incorrect.
The war hero thought dead had not only survived but also successfully concluded negotiations with the Prime Minister of Vellanos.
And he had a private meeting with the Emperor immediately upon his return? It was natural to see him as the rising star of an empire transitioning power.
However, Daniel, who had a near-death experience in his private meeting with the emperor, couldn't very well discuss that publicly and merely nodded in response.
After exchanging pleasantries, the door to the Chief of Operations' office opened.
Ernst emerged from the office and beamed at Daniel.
"Daniel Steiner!"
Ernst approached Daniel closely.
"Welcome back! Do you know how worried I was? I'm truly thankful you've returned safely!" "Ah, Chief of Operations."
Daniel started to salute, but Ernst waved it off.
"No salutes between us! Go on, head back now." "Head back?"
"Direct orders from above stipulate that you take a rest immediately after debriefing on your mission. So, take the day off."
It was unclear whether it was the Emperor's or Selvia's influence attempting to accommodate him, but the intention was clear.
Leaving as soon as he arrived felt strange, yet he couldn't refuse nor needed to refuse the orders from above.
As Daniel was about to nod, Ernst added,
"Ah, and tomorrow you’re not to come to the General Staff but to the palace." "The palace? Is His Majesty summoning me again?" "No, not this time. Her Highness the Princess wants to see you. She probably has questions about the Vellanos negotiation."
It was somewhat relieving news that it was not the emperor but the more amicable Princess Selvia.
Of course, given their statuses, meeting either was daunting.
But facing Princess Selvia was significantly preferable to dealing with Emperor Bertham.
"I will keep that in mind. But..."
Looking around, Daniel asked curiously,
"I don’t see my aide. Is he handling tasks in my personal office?" "Your aide? Ah..."
Ernst hesitated as if he had forgotten.
"Actually, your aide is currently on leave." "On leave?"
"Yes. He seemed quite shaken by the shipwreck incident, so I recommended he take extended leave. It's necessary rest, considering his direct superior was thought dead. Though you're alive now!"
Ernst playfully nudged Daniel’s waist, trying to lighten the mood.
However, Daniel’s expression remained stern, causing Ernst to deflate a bit.
"Well... he's resting at the barracks. And that’s why I suggest you should personally check on your aide’s condition."
Daniel frowned at Ernst’s suggestion.
'Go visit the quarters of the woman who tried to assassinate me?'
It was akin to putting one's head in a crocodile’s jaw—a perilous act.
Unwilling as he was, Daniel was about to refuse when he hesitated.
'There are too many eyes watching.'
If he showed no concern for an aide reportedly distressed enough to be confined, his reputation could plummet.
Especially with the Emperor already scrutinizing him, providing fodder for gossip was out of the question.
Ultimately, Daniel gritted his teeth and forced a strained smile.
"Thank you for the advice. I will take your suggestion and visit my aide's quarters."
The lack of choice was more painful than he expected.
"Exactly! Our empire’s hero, Lieutenant Colonel Daniel, is generous indeed! What are you doing? Give him a round of applause!"
Dealing with a clueless superior was just as painful.
Meanwhile, in the quarters of Lucy Emilia.
In a room darkened by blackout curtains, Lucy lay curled up on her bed, staring blankly downward.
Days without showering had left her hair dry, her eyes lifeless, and dried tear streaks on her cheeks.
Since her leave was approved, she hadn’t stepped out of her quarters, looking utterly disheveled.
But Lucy could pay no mind to such things.
Her mind was plagued with guilt and remorse.
'Because of me...'
Lucy's thoughts drifted to a distant past.
Specifically, to the horrific memories of that past.
─ What's your name? Mine is Specimen 96. That's what people here call me.
Lucy's earliest memory was always Specimen 96.
That girl was the only source of color in Lucy’s colorless childhood.
The friendly child managed to befriend the cold Lucy, gradually opening her up enough to become friends.
The girl had promised that if they ever escaped, they would eat delicious food together.
In a research facility devoid of dreams and hope, Lucy had grown fond of her.
But the trivial dream sworn on pinkie promises would never come true.
─ Specimen 96 has been disposed of. If you don’t want to be disposed of, do your best.
One day, Specimen 96 disappeared.
As if she had never existed at all.
In an age when Lucy didn’t even fully understand what parting meant, she came to grasp the concept of death.
‘And then...’
Her drifting consciousness shifted slightly into the future.
A mansion appeared before her.
It was the grand mansion of Count Kaledra.
There, Lucy was able to start a new life.
Everything was abundant; there was nothing she couldn’t have, and everyone treated her kindly.
Living in a world that seemed like a dream, Lucy encountered a maid of her age.
The maid was cheerful and talkative, which allowed Lucy to quickly become friends with her.
The usually reticent Lucy could learn about the outside world through the maid’s stories, imagining the coziness of the wheat fields at sunset and the refreshing breeze from the sea at noon.
After a long time, Lucy managed to open her heart again and became close friends with the maid.
Elated to have a close friend, Lucy once whimsically asked Count Kaledra.
"Father! Can I go on a trip with my friend? It would just be for a day!"
Count Kaledra smiled kindly and asked for the friend’s name.
Innocent Lucy told him the name straight away, and the next day, the maid did not come to work.
Rumors suggested she had suffered a major accident and died.
From that day on, Lucy never called Kaledra 'father' again.
“.......”
Lucy’s eyes slowly closed.
She clenched her teeth.
Unexpressed emotions were festering inside her, and feelings overwhelmed her reasoning.
With a dying breath, Lucy thought,
Because I liked her, Specimen 96 died.
Because I liked her, the maid died.
‘Because I liked...’
Daniel Steiner died.
They say if a coincidence happens three times, it becomes inevitable.
Her reason screamed no, but her emotion-engulfed heart was already tainted black.
It was easier to deny herself than to affirm.
‘If everyone I come to care about dies...’
Why continue living?
What glory is there in such a life?
She didn't want to think or suffer anymore.
She was tired of doubting Count Kaledra.
Lucy wanted to end everything.
It was just then that she heard a knock at the door.
A familiar voice followed.
"Aide! I heard you were here...”
It was Daniel Steiner’s voice.
Startled, Lucy’s eyes widened, then she shook her head.
No, that couldn’t be. Daniel Steiner was dead.
“Aide? Why haven’t you locked the door? What if a burglar comes in?”
The voice, which she initially thought was a hallucination, grew louder.
Her breathing quickened.
Considering the possibility, Lucy forced herself up.
Her body, stiff from days of immobility, protested with creaks.
“Ugh...”
Tinnitus rang in her ears, and her vision flickered.
Her breathing grew more labored, and her body refused to cooperate.
Yet, Lucy managed to slowly control her limbs and finally made it out of the bed.
“Aide! If you’re not in your quarters, I’ll be leaving!”
No, she couldn’t let that happen.
Desperate, Lucy reached for the doorknob.
After a deep breath, she opened the door and stepped out.
There he was.
Daniel Steiner.
Her superior and the man foolishly fond of desserts.
“......Aide?”
Seeing Lucy's disheveled state, Daniel’s face registered confusion.
Lucy stared at him for a long while before she moved.
She wanted to run to him, but her body, weakened by days without food, barely moved.
“Daniel...”
Her voice barely emerged, hoarse and breaking.
Trying to steady her voice, Lucy took a few steps closer and looked up at Daniel.
Her tousled hair fell forward, slightly obscuring her vision, but it didn’t hinder her view of him.
“Daniel Steiner...”
Lucy uttered his name as if it was hers to use, slowly raising her hand.
It moved lethargically as if caught in a net, eventually touching Daniel’s cheek.
Surprised, Daniel did not pull away, allowing Lucy to feel the warmth of his skin, confirming he wasn’t an illusion.
Daniel Steiner had not died.
Uncertain of how it was possible, but recognizing the truth brought tears to her eyes unexpectedly.
Lucy had thought she couldn’t cry anymore.
Not wanting to show her weeping face, Lucy bowed her head.
Her hand also dropped, clutching Daniel’s red tie.
This chapt𝒆r is updated by frёewebηovel.cѳm.
“Lieutenant Colonel. Your tie is...”
Trying to switch topics more naturally, Lucy could no longer hold back her sobs.
The tears she thought were exhausted streamed silently, and the whimpering sound filled the space between them.
Unable to resist, she pulled gently on the tie and buried her face in Daniel’s chest.
Her shaking shoulders, ragged breathing, and faint whimpers spoke of her overwhelming emotions.
Lucy, sobbing foolishly, gathered her strength and finally spoke.
“Well...”
In the midst of profound emotions, Lucy restrained herself as much as she could to express her feelings.
“...welcome back. I...”
But then, her mind seemed to white out, like a drop of white paint spreading through water.
Without a word, Daniel suddenly raised his hand to pat Lucy’s back gently.
That small gesture made Lucy burst into tears.
It was as if she had returned to her childhood when she had missed the time to cry.
Deeply emotional, Lucy let out all the grief she had suppressed for so long, held in the embrace of her bewildering yet gentle superior, Daniel Steiner.