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Translator: Vine
Chapter Title: It's Not Always Best to Be Wary and Hostile
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A breath escaped her slightly parted lips, dissipating into the cold air.
Memories of Daniel's kindness surfaced in her chaotic mind, unbidden.
They had spent two seasons together.
As Lucy recalled these accumulated memories, enough to be called 'recollections' now, she suddenly shook her head.
'The essence hasn't changed.'
Lucy was a spy for the Federation.
No matter how kindly Daniel had treated her, he remained 'the enemy.'
Espionage in wartime was no game.
She couldn't afford to get entangled in emotions.
There was no such thing as a gentle war where you spared someone just because they were a good person.
'However…'
With doubts swirling in her heart, she couldn't bring herself to harm Daniel at this moment.
'What if the information on the paper was true?'
If it was the Federation, not the Empire, that had conducted human experiments, then Count Khaledra had effectively been lying to Lucy all along.
Lucy wanted to believe that Khaledra, who was like a father to her, wouldn't lie, but the contents of the paper kept raising suspicions.
'So, until the information in this document is proven false…'
It was right to postpone killing Daniel.
Having made her decision, Lucy holstered her pistol.
Lucy, who had put the pistol back into the holster on her belt, returned the document and photo in her hand to the inner pocket of the officer's coat.
Immediately after, Lucy stepped back, half-closing her eyes as moonlight streamed through the window.
After gazing at Daniel for a while, lost in inexplicable emotions, Lucy turned to leave.
After erasing any traces of her intrusion, Lucy walked to the front door and looked back at Daniel one last time.
Lucy, who had been watching Daniel's back, lost in thought, soon activated her optical camouflage and opened the front door.
Lucy stepped out into the hallway and closed the door.
Left alone, Daniel slowly opened his eyes, leaning back against the sofa.
'…Is she gone?'
He squinted, looking around, and Lucy was nowhere to be seen.
Daniel, wondering if she truly was gone, only let out a sigh of relief after checking the front door.
As his survival was confirmed, tension drained from him, and he felt all the strength leave his body.
'Lucy's demeanor yesterday felt strange…'
When she had changed his rank insignia in his office, Daniel had caught a fleeting glimpse of Lucy's guilt.
Why had she felt guilt instead of suppressed anger? Pondering this while working, Daniel came to the conclusion that he might be assassinated.
It was natural to grow fond of a pet after half a year, let alone a person; if you spent over half a year with someone, feelings were bound to develop.
In that state, if ordered by superiors to eliminate a target, even the most ruthless spy, being human, couldn't help but show guilt.
Believing Lucy was no different, Daniel had stayed awake on the sofa all night after arriving at his quarters.
He then placed his officer's coat on the sofa's backrest, making sure the 'Lucy Project' document protruded from its inner pocket.
This way, if Lucy came to assassinate him, she would inevitably have to examine the officer's coat.
Later, while sitting on the sofa, killing time, he heard someone picking the lock on his front door.
Thinking Lucy had arrived, Daniel leaned back on the sofa and pretended to be asleep.
He could have stayed awake and directly handed her the paper, but then Lucy would very likely conclude that Daniel 'forged the document to save his life.'
'Seeing how she's loyal to the Federation despite being their test subject, she must have been subtly brainwashed.'
Therefore, Daniel pretended to be asleep, aiming for a situation where Lucy would 'accidentally' discover the document.
Only then would Lucy's trust in the document increase.
If Lucy, thinking the document's contents might be true, felt confused, his survival chances would exponentially increase.
Lucy's loyalty to the Federation and obedience to its orders fundamentally stemmed from her belief that 'the Federation had no involvement in human experiments.'
Thus, even a small crack in that steadfast belief would make Lucy question her judgment.
Fortunately, Lucy, approaching him, moved exactly as Daniel had anticipated.
From a broader perspective, it was true that Daniel had protected Lucy from the Security Bureau, and it was also true that he had tacitly condoned her being a spy, even knowing it.
Furthermore, the tactic worked because Lucy wasn't someone who blindly and fanatically pledged loyalty to the Federation.
'But…'
Honestly, whether Lucy would continue to hesitate with the assassination was unknown.
This meant his life could be threatened like this again at any time.
'And I can't exactly ask the Security Bureau for an investigation…'
Currently, Daniel was at odds with the Security Bureau due to his actions pressing the Security Bureau Inspector at the General Staff Headquarters.
Moreover, a single document with unproven contents had no evidentiary value, and if his adjutant was a spy, her superior would also be investigated, which was tantamount to suicide.
If during the investigation, it was discovered that he knew Lucy was a spy but concealed it, things would become extremely difficult.
'Then…'
The only method Daniel could currently employ was to gather evidence that the Federation had conducted human experiments on Lucy.
'If I can secure evidence to prove the Lucy Project and show it to her…'
Lucy would no longer follow the Federation's orders, and he would be free from the threat of assassination.
Not only that, he might even gain a human weapon capable of facing an entire battalion alone as an ally.
'But how…?'
Daniel, deep in thought about how to make Lucy defect, shook his head.
Worrying wouldn't magically produce a solution.
Then, a spy movie he had seen long ago suddenly came to mind.
It was a movie about a spy who fell in love with their assassination target and ultimately defied their home country's orders.
Recalling the movie's plot, Daniel let out a hollow laugh, finding it absurd even to himself.
'As if that cold-blooded woman would ever fall in love with me.'
It would be faster to subdue Lucy by force.
Thinking it was preposterous, Daniel dispelled his thoughts and stood up.
Since he had preserved his life, he planned to have a celebratory glass of whiskey.
*
At the same time, Imperial Eisenkrone Palace.
Princess Selvia's bedroom.
"Let's see. The budget proposal for the National Propaganda Department next year is…"
Selvia, dressed in luxurious silk pajamas, was reviewing various documents.
Having recently taken on the role of regent, Selvia, as the next emperor, was receiving the same reports as the current emperor, and processing them made her begrudge even her sleep.
Just as she was reading through the documents, a knock sounded.
Wondering who it was, she turned her head, and the door opened without her permission.
Beyond the door stood a noblewoman with golden hair and blue eyes, smiling.
Mariant von Amberg.
She was Selvia's mother and the Empress, wife of the Emperor who ruled this Empire.
"Working diligently until dawn, I see. You could still rely on your father for now, you know."
As Mariant approached and spoke, Selvia shook her head.
"I can't become Emperor by relying solely on him. It's right to put in the effort now, otherwise, I won't be able to properly manage state affairs later."
"Just like my daughter, how commendable."
Mariant let out a soft laugh and sat down next to Selvia.
Noticing the hint, Selvia gathered the documents and moved them aside, then looked at Mariant.
"…By the way, Mother. Is there something you wanted to say?"
"Indeed. Actually, I came to offer some advice after overhearing your conversation with him the other day."
"Advice?"
Selvia questioned, and Mariant nodded.
"Yes. Daniel Steiner, wasn't it? That young officer who successfully led the speech this time. This mother, being curious, looked into him a bit, and it seems he has ambition and capability, so he'll likely continue to rise to great heights."
Mariant lightly took Selvia's hand.
"My daughter. He says you should be wary and hostile towards that officer Daniel, but my thoughts are a little different. If you truly wish to put a leash on Daniel Steiner, there's a more humane way."
"…A humane way?"
"You know well that the more a man has to lose and the more he values his honor, the less free he is from responsibility. So, if Daniel doesn't listen when he becomes a central figure in the Empire, use the weapon only a woman possesses."
Selvia, who hadn't understood, frowned.
"A weapon only a woman possesses? There's no such thing."
"There is. I used it to captivate your father and bore you, after all."
"What are you…"
Selvia's voice trailed off as her eyes widened.
Mariant, who had been quietly watching the speechless and surprised Selvia, withdrew her hand.
"This mother may not know much about politics, but I know that being wary and hostile isn't always the best approach. Of course, you must never be hasty. I am merely suggesting one of several methods."
Selvia remained frozen.
Mariant, gazing cutely at her daughter who couldn't recover from the shock, stood up.
"Selvia. Remember this. No matter how brilliant a man is, he becomes a fool in the face of lust."
Having delivered her significant words, Mariant simply walked out of the bedroom.
Only then did Selvia let out an inaudible groan, her face flushing red.
She couldn't understand her mother.
'Why did she suddenly come here and say such disgraceful things…'
Selvia shook her head vigorously and picked up the documents.
She tried to focus on state affairs again, but Mariant's words kept swirling uncontrollably in her mind, making it impossible to concentrate.
Then, without realizing it, Selvia found herself imagining something strange and indecent, and she covered her face with both hands.
The hands covering her face trembled uncontrollably.
'Pull yourself together, Selvia. Please…'
Honestly, she felt like she could die of embarrassment.