I Was Mistaken as a Great War Commander-Chapter 185

A quiet confession, timidly spoken at the edge of spring, echoed softly through the halls of the Imperial Palace.

Though Lucy had mustered all her courage to express her feelings, Daniel was simply stunned.

She wants... a hug? Just like that?

His mind froze at the incomprehensible request.

Unable to process it, he couldn’t respond immediately.

In the heavy silence, Daniel ran through multiple scenarios in his head.

Is she trying to put me in a difficult position? Revenge for the scolding I gave her earlier in front of the Assembly Hall?

Not impossible, but he didn’t think Lucy was that petty.

Some new assassination technique? Pretend to hug me and crush my spine...?

Ridiculous.

Even he found the thought absurd and let out a faint chuckle.

Even if Lucy bore ill will, she wouldn’t pull such a stunt inside the Imperial Palace.

Then is this a seduction tactic? She might not have given up yet.

If it were a honey trap, her current behavior would make sense.

And yet, Lucy’s expression was far too real for him to believe it was an act.

Her vibrant red eyes trembled ever so slightly with embarrassment—an emotion too raw to be faked.

...Could she possibly like me?

Looking back, they had been together for over a year.

Aside from the head of the orphanage and the children, she was the person Daniel had spent the most time with.

Through numerous incidents, she had threatened his life—and saved it more than once.

In the process, maybe it wasn’t so far-fetched that she developed some human attachment to me.

Not that he believed it was likely.

In the original game, Lucy was a cold-blooded living weapon. No facial expressions. Hardly spoke unless necessary.

She was a machine of death, mowing down imperial troops on the battlefield.

Throughout the playthrough, all that echoed around her were screams—not laughter.

For someone like her to feel something human for me...

It felt off. Too contradictory.

Still, Daniel couldn’t sense any malice in her request.

And regardless of her motives, there was no real reason to deny her.

He carefully opened his mouth.

“If that’s truly what you want... is that enough?”

Lucy’s shoulders gave a small jolt.

She’d thought he would reject her after the long silence—but he hadn’t.

When she gave a small nod, Daniel asked again.

“Lieutenant. You know that I am currently the Emergency High Commissioner of Public Security, overseeing the entire Central Security Bureau. Someone in my position is asking you what it is you want. This is not a common opportunity. You might want to think carefully and answer again.”

Lucy shook her head.

As if to say she needed nothing else.

“I am confident that I won’t regret my choice.”

With her saying that much, Daniel couldn’t bring himself to refuse.

He nodded, took a step forward, and gently pulled Lucy into an embrace.

The moment their bodies touched, Lucy’s eyes widened.

“Ah.”

Being held in Daniel’s arms made her heart pound out of control.

Flustered and unsure of what to do, Lucy slowly raised her hands and wrapped them around him in return.

Then, she buried her face into his chest.

“...There was a time before, something like this happened.”

Her voice was steadier now, the shaking inside her quieted.

“I always end up acting childish with you, Colonel.”

She didn’t know exactly what this feeling was.

But there was one thing she was certain of.

Just like when Daniel said I was someone important to him...

Lucy, too, now considered Daniel someone important.

Savoring the warmth of his embrace, Lucy slowly closed her eyes.

While held in Daniel’s arms, all the worries swirling in her head seemed to fade to nothing.

She wanted to hold onto this moment a little longer—but knew she couldn’t.

If someone from the Imperial Household or a court official saw them like this, strange rumors would surely spread.

And Lucy didn’t want to put Daniel in an even more awkward position.

So she gently released the hug and took a step back.

“...Forgive me. It seems I lost control of myself for a moment.”

Regaining her composure, Lucy bowed lightly toward Daniel.

“I’ll be more mindful in the future so that nothing like this happens again. I’m deeply sorry for worrying you over what happened inside the Assembly Hall.”

Returning to her usual impassive expression, Lucy raised her head and continued.

“Then, I’ll go ahead and tell the driver to start the engine. I’ll have everything ready for departure, so you can take your time wrapping up your business, Colonel.”

With that, Lucy passed Daniel and walked down the corridor.

Her heels clicked softly as she moved, and the tips of her ears were faintly flushed red.

A delicate scent of lavender lingered in the air where she had passed.

As he watched Lucy’s retreating figure in a daze, Daniel thought:

Maybe... just maybe...

There’s more humanity left in her than I realized.

****

Ten days later.

Central Security Bureau, Office of the High Commissioner.

“The noble trials are currently underway, in accordance with wartime special procedures. At the first hearing, it’s reported that Duke Belvar and several key nobles were sentenced to death. Only the individual trials of the lesser offenders remain,” Intelligence Officer Phelp reported.

Daniel nodded.

They’re moving faster than expected.

The indictments and trials were occurring almost simultaneously.

And the trials themselves followed only the most basic formalities—the courts were, in truth, little more than executors of the Empress’s will.

Either way...

Knowing that the internal enemies had been neatly eliminated brought a sense of relief.

Relaxing into his chair, Daniel spoke.

“When is ◈ Nоvеlіgһт ◈ (Continue reading) Duke Belvar’s execution scheduled?”

“Ah. He’s set to be executed publicly in the plaza at noon, three days from now.”

“Three days... Isn’t that the day the diplomatic envoy from Vellanos arrives?”

“Yes, sir. Her Majesty seems intent on demonstrating to Vellanos that the Empire has purged the ringleaders behind the insurrection.”

“That makes sense. Showing internal stability would definitely give us the upper hand in negotiations.”

It wasn’t a bad plan. Daniel nodded in agreement—when Phelp lowered his voice.

“But, High Commissioner... what do you plan to do about Duke Belvar’s family?”

“They must pay the price for having the wrong father. Their property will be confiscated, and their noble titles stripped. The companies operated by the Belvar family will become property of Her Majesty.”

“So they’ll be nationalized. And then—execution as well? Pardon me if I speak out of turn, but... it’s a shame. They lived in luxury until now, and suddenly they’re about to lose everything.”

To be honest, it wasn’t entirely clear what crimes they had committed—but it couldn’t be helped.

Punishing even the families of the ringleaders significantly lowered the chances of another rebellion breaking out.

Still, Daniel couldn’t allow them to meet their end just like that—not when he had once made a deal with Duke Belvar for information.

“They won’t be killed. In fact, we’ll prepare a few abandoned houses on the outskirts of the capital and let them live there. Compared to their old lives, it’ll be hell—but they’ll still be able to exist as human beings.”

“Excuse me? Even if you made a promise, sir, you don’t need to go that far...”

Phelp fell silent, instinctively unnerved.

No way...

Stripping a once-powerful noble family of all wealth and titles, then forcing them to live on the margins of society with only the bare necessities provided...

It could mean only one thing.

Daniel Steiner wanted to preserve the image of a ruined noble family as a living warning within the capital itself.

People will see the Duke’s children living that wretched life and think—

This is what happens when you defy Daniel Steiner.

So the rumors were true... that powerful men in history would turn the families of their enemies into playthings...

To allies, he might have seemed like a great man—but to his enemies, he was nothing short of a demon.

Daniel felt pity for Duke Belvar’s family—but there was no way Phelp could’ve known that.

And so, another layer of misunderstanding toward Daniel Steiner settled in Phelp’s mind.

Just then, a knock echoed through the office.

Daniel looked up and gave permission to enter, and Lucy stepped inside and offered a crisp salute.

“High Commissioner.”

As Daniel returned the salute, Lucy spoke.

“Apologies for disturbing you during your busy schedule.”

“It’s fine. What is it?”

“A businessman has come requesting an audience. He says he wishes to make a donation in support of the newly established National Security Oversight Bureau and would like to speak with you briefly.”

A donation to the Oversight Bureau?

That was the best news Daniel had heard all day. He leaned forward with interest.

“I don’t mind, but if he has ties to any noble houses or political figures, send him away. The Oversight Bureau must remain neutral.”

“You needn’t worry. I looked into it myself—he’s clean.”

“Now you’ve piqued my interest. Do we know who this businessman is?”

“Strangely enough, despite managing several ventures, he’s a Black man. He introduced himself as...”

Lucy paused briefly, then finished,

“...Hamthal.”

Would you like to continue with the meeting with Hamthal?