chapter_0063

62 – I Didn’t Mean to Help

62 – I Didn’t Mean to Help

Imperial General Staff Headquarters.

Daniel Steiner’s private office.

Rustle—

Lucy was working in Daniel’s office, while Daniel was away.

Lucy, who was reviewing documents and organizing them according to their importance as usual, raised her head.

‘Footsteps…….’

Footsteps were approaching from the hallway.

‘Is it Daniel?’

Today was the day Daniel was supposed to return after giving up his vacation.

The thought that she wouldn’t have to work overtime anymore when Daniel came made her feel good for no reason.

Lucy, who was perking up her ears with anticipation, soon shook her head.

‘No.’

It wasn’t Daniel’s footsteps.

Judging by the sound, the stride of the foot and the weight on the ground were different.

‘Then who on earth…….’

Just as she was wondering if it was Ernst, the Chief of Staff for Operations, the office door opened.

A man in a navy blue police uniform slowly entered through the door that opened without a knock.

Lucy’s hand trembled slightly at the sight.

Because the middle-aged man was someone Lucy knew well.

‘Katman Schultz…….’

He was a Senior Inspector belonging to the Security Agency.

She couldn’t possibly not know him, since she had eaten with him at a restaurant in disguise before.

“Hmm?”

Katman, who was looking at the empty office desk with a puzzled expression, turned his head.

When his eyes met Lucy’s, Katman was silent for a moment before giving an awkward smile.

“Ah. Are you Major Daniel’s adjutant?”

Lucy hesitated to answer.

If Katman, a Security Agency police officer, suspected her, it could be a big problem.

‘But back then, I clearly…….’

She had not only disguised her appearance with a wig and sunglasses, but also did not make a sound.

Thinking that a short conversation would be fine, Lucy got up from her seat and opened her mouth calmly.

“Yes. What brings you from the Security Agency to the General Staff Headquarters?”

“Well. There are many reasons, but to put it simply…….”

Katman, who was scratching his head, suddenly stared at Lucy.

“It’s about rooting out spies.”

Silence fell between them for a moment.

The suspicion in Katman’s sleepy eyes was chilling.

However, being suspected was a familiar thing for Lucy.

Lucy accepted Katman’s words without the slightest change in expression.

“Are you saying there’s a spy in the General Staff Headquarters?”

Katman chuckled at Lucy’s words.

Usually, people would say something like, ‘Are you suspecting me?’ and trap themselves, but Lucy cleverly turned Katman’s suspicion to the entire General Staff Headquarters.

Katman, thinking that she was not an easy opponent, shrugged his shoulders.

“Well, it’s true. I don’t want to suspect those who are working hard for the empire at the General Staff Headquarters. But after doing some research on my own, I’ve noticed some suspicious circumstances regarding Major Daniel.”

“Suspicious circumstances?”

“Well, you see. I used to have a meal with Major Daniel at a restaurant. It was a great honor. But there was a woman who accompanied Daniel at that time.”

She was an unusual person. Katman, pretending to be lost in thought while stroking his chin, snapped his fingers.

“Ah! I heard that she was working as a medical officer on the Eastern Front and was injured in the eye by enemy soldiers. I couldn’t see her eyes because she was wearing sunglasses, but she had beautiful brown hair.”

Katman looked at Lucy and smiled slyly.

“She was close to my ideal type. So I secretly did some research. How many people have worked as medical officers on the Eastern Front and been injured in the eye by enemy soldiers?”

Katman, who erased his smile, raised his hand and spread his fingers.

“Five. There were five relatively young medical officers who were still alive despite being injured in the eye. Then I thought again. How many of them have brown hair?”

Katman folded three fingers.

“Two. There were only two with brown hair. Then, among the brown-haired medical officers who were injured in the eye, who is the one who has aphasia and can’t speak at all?”

Katman clenched his fist.

“There wasn’t. Unfortunately.”

Katman, who was staring at Lucy, lowered his hand.

“Isn’t it strange? The medical officer that Major Daniel mentioned doesn’t exist in reality? That means it’s a lie. Why would he lie?”

Katman tilted his head once and raised his eyes.

“Could it be that the woman at that time was a spy, so he was hiding her from me, a Security Agency police officer?”

It was an accurate guess for something he had jumped to conclusions about, but Lucy didn’t even blink an eye.

Rather, she frowned with an unpleasant expression.

“Are you trying to accuse my superior, Major Daniel, of colluding with a spy?”

Katman, who was silent for a moment at Lucy’s strong reaction, chuckled and shook his head.

“Of course not. It’s just my foolish delusion so far. I sincerely hope it’s a delusion. But there’s no harm in being sure, is there? In that sense…….”

Katman rummaged through his arms and took something out.

It was a sunglasses case.

When Katman opened the case, there were sunglasses inside that were the same shape as the ones Lucy had worn at the time.

“Could you wear this once? I’m not particularly suspecting Lieutenant Lucy, but if the woman I met at that time is definitely a spy, I think she might be active inside the General Staff Headquarters.”

It meant that he had made others wear sunglasses one by one, so he wanted her to try it on too.

Thanks to this, Lucy was secretly sweating.

Because the moment she picked up and wore the sunglasses that Katman handed over, the suspicion would increase.

She could just say that they had similar appearances, but if Katman’s persistent investigation started after that, she wouldn’t be able to hold out for long.

It would also be strange to say that she wouldn’t wear sunglasses.

Lucy, who was trapped in a dilemma, took a deep breath and reached out for the sunglasses.

She thought that it was best to respond to Katman’s request because there was no other way at the moment.

It was then.

“What the hell are you doing?”

Daniel’s voice made Lucy stop her hand.

Lucy, who reflexively turned her head, could see Daniel looking at her from the entrance of the office.

Lucy, who had forgotten to salute at the unexpected appearance, blinked her eyes silently.

Katman also turned his head at the voice and found Daniel.

“Ah. Major Daniel. It’s not that I…….”

Katman’s words, which he had been saying calmly, gradually became blurred.

Because Daniel, who had approached, was looking down at Katman as if he was going to devour him.

The pressure from his tall height and sharp eyes was considerable.

“Explain what this is all about.”

The voice filled with hostility was intimidating Katman.

However, Katman, who was in a position where he could not back down here, opened his mouth.

“Explanation? I’m just doing what I have to do. The higher-ups have given me access to the General Staff Headquarters, so…….”

“Then did you get an internal security surveillance warrant?”

Katman had no choice but to shut his mouth.

The internal security surveillance warrant is a document that is above the access authority.

No matter how much it is the Security Agency, they will not issue a warrant unless there is solid evidence.

Daniel frowned when Katman was silent.

“Don’t tell me you barged in here without a warrant. Moreover, you’ve made my adjutant difficult.”

“Major Daniel. It’s a misunderstanding. Besides, this is all for the sake of national interest. So I didn’t make your adjutant difficult, but-”

“Katman Schultz.”

Daniel, who cut off Katman’s words, bowed his head slightly.

“I don’t think you understand, so I’ll say it again.”

Katman, who met his eyes, could see it.

Daniel was growling like a ferocious wolf.

“Get out of here right now.”

Cold sweat flowed.

Katman, who felt a kind of fear, nodded and ran out of the office as if he was running away.

Only after confirming that Katman had left did Daniel sigh in relief.

‘I knew Duke Belvar would take action, but I didn’t know he would send someone so soon.’

It was Belvar who gave Katman access to the General Staff Headquarters no matter how he looked at it.

‘Seeing the Security Agency police officers wandering around the General Staff Headquarters…….’

It could be interpreted as being desperate to find evidence.

‘It’s a relief for now. If Lucy had worn sunglasses, things would have become complicated.’

If Lucy was suspected of being a spy, Daniel, her superior, could not be safe either.

In the worst case, he could be charged with colluding with a spy and executed.

That’s why he tried so hard to kick Katman out.

But this was only a temporary measure.

‘Belvar will continue to pressure me. Then…….’

He had to eliminate the will to fight itself so that he could no longer be pressured.

Daniel currently had the power and ability to do so.

“Adjutant.”

Daniel, who had finished thinking, turned to Lucy.

“I’m going to meet Her Highness the Princess from now on, so you stay and protect the General Staff Headquarters. Also, don’t even go near the Security Agency today. Do you understand?”

Lucy, who was staring blankly at Daniel, nodded slightly.

Daniel, who saw this, hurried away and left the office.

Lucy, who was staring blankly at the place where Daniel had left, let out a long breath.

‘Why…….’

She didn’t understand Daniel, who had turned against the Security Agency police who were pressuring her.

From Lucy’s point of view, it was as if Daniel had risked his life to save her, who was suspected of being a spy.

Lucy, who had been lost in thought for a while, opened her eyes halfway and placed her hand on her chest.

“…….”

The beating of her heart was being transmitted through her fingertips.

A word from the author (Author’s Note)

Today is the last day of 2024!

I hope everyone finishes the year well and achieves a beautiful ending!

Then let’s meet again in 2025!