I Was Mistaken as a Great War Commander-Chapter 166

After being granted the position of Emergency High Commissioner of Public Security by Selvia, Daniel requested an audience with Her Majesty through the Chief of the Inner Court the moment the Royal Council convened under the conscription order had concluded. He then made his way to the audience chamber inside the imperial palace.

He couldn't begin to understand Selvia’s decision, and so he intended to speak face-to-face and try once more to talk it through.

“I don’t really think anything will change just because we talk...”

The fact that she had awarded him the White Dragon Medal of Valor made it clear she was intent on pushing him forward. Trying to persuade her to change her mind at this point was unlikely to make Selvia nod her head.

Sitting on a sofa inside the audience chamber, Daniel let out a sigh and looked down at the newly added White Dragon Medal of Valor pinned to the chest of his uniform.

A stylized white medal engraved with a dragon’s head—around it radiated the Tae-yang Branch, symbol of national honor.

White signified the imperial family, and the dragon symbolized the defense of the Empire. In other words, the White Dragon Medal of Valor meant “a single dragon defending the Empire.”

The very use of a mythical creature made its meaning clear—the awarding of the White Dragon Medal of Valor was practically the highest honor a soldier could receive.

Of course, to Daniel Steiner, who wanted nothing more than to take off his uniform, it brought no joy whatsoever.

“On top of that...”

As if the medal alone weren’t headache enough, Selvia had bestowed upon Daniel the post of Emergency High Commissioner of Public Security.

That position, by all accounts, was typically held not by a soldier but by someone from the police.

In modern terms, it was roughly equivalent to the Commissioner-General of the National Police.

So by all logic, Daniel should not have been eligible for the appointment.

However, it was a state of emergency only recently brought on by the War of Calamity, and the previous Commissioner, burdened by responsibility for the current state of affairs, had just resigned—circumstances that made all this possible.

It wasn’t uncommon for the military to take over police duties when law enforcement had collapsed.

“They’re saying it’s only a temporary appointment until the Empire stabilizes, but...”

The fact that Selvia herself had declared the Central Security Bureau a Special Imperial Task Agency under direct command of the Emperor showed just how immense the authority of the post really was.

Carrying out the Emperor’s special orders meant the Central Security Bureau was completely free from the interference of all other institutions.

And being free from interference essentially meant that Daniel Steiner, as High Commissioner, could wield his authority across the entire Empire without restriction.

Moreover, to disobey Daniel Steiner, who was carrying out the Emperor’s special orders, was in itself considered an act of treason.

In effect, he was now standing at the very pinnacle of power.

“The problem is...”

Daniel hadn’t wanted this kind of authority, and the thought of serving as High Commissioner in the Central Security Bureau made him anxious about the kind of absurd misunderstandings that were sure to follow.

“I’ll be making enemies too.”

Just imagine it: a young officer of orphan origin not only rising to the rank of Colonel in just one year, but now wielding absolute power as the Emergency High Commissioner of Public Security.

There was no guarantee people wouldn’t start moving with malicious intent.

“The remnants of the Noble Coalition haven’t even been rooted out yet...”

The nobles gathered during the arrest of Duke Belvar at the Grand Assembly Hall were only a part of the coalition.

They were connected like a web of scattered cells, and to arrest them all, they would need to extract a confession from Duke Belvar—but that wasn’t going well.

Even with Freyen personally conducting the torture, he stubbornly refused to open his mouth.

And so, being seated as the Emergency High Commissioner meant that while he held power in his hands, he had also become a prime target for the Empire’s hidden enemies.

For Daniel, who had fought for survival every step of the way, there was nothing good about the position.

He furrowed his brow in frustration, and that was when—

“Her Majesty the Empress enters!”

At the cry of the Chief of the Inner Court, the doors to the audience chamber opened.

There, clad in a pure white uniform, Selvia walked in slowly, her long golden hair swaying behind her.

Daniel rose from his seat and gave a courteous bow as he watched her serene figure approach.

“Your Majesty.”

“Colonel Daniel.”

The two exchanged brief greetings and locked eyes.

After a short silence, Daniel was the first to speak.

“Your Majesty. This is not what we agreed upon. Why have you not dismissed me as promised, and instead awarded me the White Dragon Medal of Valor—on top of that, appointing me as High Commissioner?”

“...Do you not like the position of High Commissioner?”

“This isn’t a matter of whether I like it or not. If I wield full authority as High Commissioner, there will undoubtedly be those who begin to question the legitimacy of Your Majesty’s rule.”

At Daniel’s words, Selvia narrowed her eyes slightly, as though displeased.

“Then do you want me to dismiss you right now?”

Daniel did not respond.

In the silence that fell between them, Selvia spoke again, her voice rising with emotion.

“As you well know, Colonel Daniel, I was betrayed by those I trusted. Duke Belvar, who once claimed to be my teacher as a child, and Commander Johannes of the Royal Guard, who served my father with such loyalty, both revealed their true faces and turned their blades on me.”

Her clear eyes now shimmered with a mix of rage and sorrow.

“I can’t trust anyone anymore. It feels like everyone wears a mask and could betray me at any moment. But in this entire Empire, there is one person. One person I can truly trust and rely on.”

That person stood before her now.

“Colonel Daniel Steiner. You not only saved me three times—you now say you’re ✪ Nоvеlіgһt ✪ (Official version) willing to give up everything for me. Put yourself in my position. Do you really think I could cast you aside?”

Daniel opened his mouth to reply, then closed it again.

“All I wanted was to leave the military...”

Even if he tried to explain, she likely wouldn’t believe him—and he couldn’t very well stand before Her Majesty and beg, “Daniel doesn’t want this—please dismiss him.”

Realizing he could not change Selvia’s mind, Daniel finally surrendered.

He placed a hand over his chest and bowed his head lightly in a gesture of apology for his discourtesy.

“...I apologize. That was a thoughtless remark.”

As Daniel offered his apology, Selvia seemed a bit regretful, fidgeting slightly with an awkward expression.

Then, averting her gaze, she murmured—

“...It wasn’t a careless remark. I know full well that Colonel Daniel requested dismissal for my sake. And if the position of High Commissioner truly makes you uncomfortable, there is one other option.”

“And what might that be?”

At Daniel’s question, Selvia’s face flushed ever so slightly.

Ever since she’d realized that the emotions she felt toward Daniel that night were something close to love, her heart had begun to beat wildly of its own accord from time to time—so much so that it troubled her.

Uncharacteristically, Selvia clenched and unclenched her fists, bit her lower lip for no reason, and showed other odd behaviors before finally taking a deep breath.

Gathering her resolve as much as she could, Selvia looked directly at Daniel with newfound courage.

“Do you... really want to know?”

Her voice trembled ever so slightly.

In the strange silence that followed, Daniel, watching her subtle cues, felt an unfamiliar chill creep over him and shook his head.

“You seem troubled, so... there’s no need to tell me.”

The moment Daniel declined with practiced calm, Selvia—rarely seen so caught off guard—visibly faltered.

From a distance, the Chief of the Inner Court and the maids watching the exchange wore subtle expressions of regret.

“Huh? Ah... yes, of course. I suppose... it is still a bit early. I was only half serious anyway...”

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Her face still burning, Selvia raised her hand and fanned herself in an attempt to cool it.

“Still... why is it so hot? Don’t you think so? Spring these days doesn’t feel like spring at all. It’s like summer’s already on its way, don’t you think? Ahaha...”

As Selvia rambled in obvious distraction, Daniel looked at her suspiciously, then finally spoke.

“Summer’s on its way, is it... If that’s what Your Majesty says, then it certainly seems summer is approaching.”

Daniel turned his head and looked out the window of the audience chamber.

Beneath the pouring sunlight, the trees in the central courtyard were shedding their blossoms one by one and putting forth vivid green leaves.

“Before summer comes, we must stabilize the capital. Since Your Majesty has chosen not to dismiss me and placed me in the seat of High Commissioner, I suppose I have no choice but to give everything I have.”

Now, Daniel and Selvia were effectively aboard the same vessel.

And that meant Selvia’s downfall would be directly tied to Daniel’s death.

Which is precisely why, now, he had no choice but to produce the best possible results within the circumstances given.

Selvia, noticing the sharp narrowing of Daniel’s black eyes, shifted the atmosphere.

“Do you have some sort of brilliant plan?”

“I wouldn’t call it brilliant, but I do believe I see clearly how to proceed. It seems it’s time we staged a grand performance.”

“...A performance?”

Daniel nodded.

“The reason Duke Belvar dared to spark a civil war was, in the end, because His Majesty the Emperor and I were underestimated. The delusion that they could win is what emboldened them. So, this time, we’ll make sure the entire Empire understands—”

A shadow flickered in the depths of Daniel’s black eyes.

“His Majesty the Emperor...”

Daniel murmured quietly, his eyes fixed on a single point—not on the courtyard beyond the window, but as though he were staring into a distant future.

“...and those who defy my will—will meet a miserable end.”