I Was Mistaken as a Great War Commander

After leaving the General Staff Headquarters, Lucie activated her optical camouflage in a deserted alleyway.

Proceeding while cloaked, Lucie arrived at a textile factory located on the outskirts of the capital.

Entering through the gate, she saw operatives disguised as diligent workers inside.

‘No…’

It would be more accurate to call them intelligence operatives in disguise.

As Lucie observed them, she deactivated her optical camouflage.

Causing the operatives walking around the factory to stop in their tracks, startled.

After a momentary pause, one of them drew a concealed pistol and aimed it at Lucie.

For a person to appear out of nowhere in that empty space, dressed in an Imperial officer’s uniform no less, warranted caution.

“Identify yourself! How did you get in here!?”

At the frontmost man’s shout, Lucie opened her mouth with an air of annoyance.

“The soaring eagle can never discern the affairs underground.”

This was a code used within the Allied Nations Intelligence Agency.

Realizing Lucie was an ally, the man lowered his pistol.

“…What brings you here? I didn’t hear about any scheduled reports at this hour.”
“I need to see the branch director. Please guide me.”
“What nonsense are you spouting… Do you think the branch director will see just anyone you request?”

With a low sigh, Lucie half-opened her crimson eyes.

“Tell him ‘Hong Sa’ has come. Then he will grant permission.”

At the mention of ‘Hong Sa,’ the man gulped anxiously.

As far as he knew, there was only one woman in the Allied Nations who used that codename.

‘The legendary figure who has carried out countless assassination orders, known as Count Calredra’s confidant…’

Unable to believe such a prominent figure had arrived, the man retrieved a radio from his pocket.

“Wait a moment.”

Thinking he needed to verify her identity, the man exchanged words over the radio.

During the conversation, the man’s expression grew slightly bewildered before nodding to the unseen person on the other end.

“Yes. Understood.”

After respectfully responding, the man turned to Lucie.

Blinking his dazed eyes several times, he cleared his throat and spoke.

“The branch director requests your entry. I will guide you.”

Lucie nodded, and the man walked towards a fabric dyeing machine.

After operating a few buttons and pulling a lever, a loud ‘thud’ resonated.

Accompanied by the whirring sound of rotating gears, the dyeing machine slid sideways.

With the machine fully retracted, a staircase leading underground was revealed.

“Please descend through here.”

Lucie, offering a nod in lieu of a salute, went down the stairs.

At the end of the staircase was an iron door, which she opened, revealing a concrete exterior wall.

In this vast, bunker-like space, the first thing visible was a map of the capital hung on one wall.

On either side of the map were rows of radar screens and surveillance equipment, manned by numerous operatives operating electronic devices.

‘This is the Pallentia branch…’

While she knew they had established a base in the heart of the Empire for operations, this was her first visit.

Surveying the larger-than-expected scale, Lucie noticed a man approaching from afar, accompanied by a secretary.

Sensing his presence, Lucie turned her gaze and recognized the man.

Theobalt Verno, the Pallentia branch director of the Allied Nations Intelligence Agency.

Though her first visit to the branch, she had met Theobalt a few times before on business.

However, she did not wish to acknowledge their acquaintance.

As Lucie stood still and waited, Theobalt approached and stopped nearby.

“Lucie Emilia. What brings you here? Time is short, so state your purpose.”

His businesslike tone stripped away any hint of familiarity.

Deeming pleasantries unnecessary, Lucie stated her intent.

“I’ve come to ask a question. Was the attack on the diplomatic vessel carrying Daniel Steiner perpetrated by the Allied Nations?”

Theobalt fell silent for a moment.

He was contemplating whether to disclose this information to Lucie.

Ultimately, concluding that Lucie would inevitably uncover the truth, Theobalt nodded.

“Yes. It was a necessary action deemed appropriate by the Allied Nations.”

Upon receiving the confirmation, Lucie’s hand trembled slightly.

After a prolonged silence, overwhelmed by indescribable emotions, Lucie met Theobalt’s gaze.

“…Was sinking a vessel carrying civilians truly a necessary action for the Allied Nations? Furthermore, I cannot comprehend why headquarters concealed all of this from me.”

The subtle anger underlying Lucie’s words grated on Theobalt’s nerves.

Theobalt openly frowned.

“If you had eliminated Daniel Steiner earlier as ordered, this tragedy would not have occurred. Moreover, why must headquarters disclose everything to you? Do you think you are entitled just because you enjoy Count Calredra’s patronage?”

Lucie clenched her fist tightly.

“…Under the Allied Nations’ orders, I have carried out countless assassination missions. Therefore, I believed the Allied Nations would trust me, at least regarding assassinations.”
“Lucie.”
“I was the one meant to assassinate Daniel Steiner. It was my responsibility to assess and execute. So why did the Allied Nations not trust me?”
“Lucie Emilia.”
“Yes. Understandably, under certain circumstances, there may be a lack of trust. However, in that case, you should have at least informed me that my mission had changed! But the Allied Nations-“

Theobalt struck Lucie’s cheek.

Slap–

The sound of flesh striking flesh echoed loudly in the enclosed space.

As Lucie exhaled twice after receiving the blow, Theobalt spoke.

“Calm down and listen. The Allied Nations is simply advancing its cause. So do not raise any objections and return to standby status for your next mission.”

Ordinarily, Lucie would have nodded and walked away, but this time, she did not.

“…You told me not to raise objections.”

Lucie’s voice was barely above a whisper.

For the nation. For the cause. For the people. For the world. For peace. For vengeance. For balance.

These were the reasons the Allied Nations, Count Calredra, had always given Lucie whenever she raised objections.

Despite knowing these were not valid justifications, Lucie had silently acquiesced.

Because the Allied Nations represented good, while the Empire was evil.

But could the Allied Nations, which had led Daniel Steiner and civilians to their deaths, truly be defined as good?

The very Allied Nations that had not extended her, their most loyal servant, even a single word of explanation.

“How long must I…”

Gazing at Theobalt, Lucie clenched her teeth.

“…refrain from raising objections?”

The anger that had been festering within her began to ignite.

She knew she should not let this anger fester, but Theobalt had nothing meaningful to offer Lucie.

So he maintained his silence, prompting Lucie to turn and leave in a huff.

Theobalt did not attempt to stop her, and Lucie ascended the stairs and exited.

As a result, Theobalt let out a low sigh and turned to the secretary beside him.

“Report to Count Calredra. The sole successful specimen, Experiment 187… No.”

Gazing at the spot where Lucie had departed, Theobalt felt a headache and said:

“Lucie Emilia may have had a change of heart.”

…After leaving the branch, Lucie walked aimlessly, her steps guided by her restless heart.

She had hoped the Allied Nations would provide a proper explanation this time, but everything had turned to naught, leaving her with a sense of emptiness.

Caressing the cheek Theobalt had struck, her lifeless eyes fixed ahead as she walked, Lucie noticed the light gradually increasing in her field of vision.

The laughter-laced voices of citizens reached her ears.

Inadvertently raising her head, Lucie realized she had emerged from the alleyway onto a main street.

Amidst the refreshing breeze, Lucie’s gaze turned towards the other side of the road.

[Golden Rose Patisserie]

That flamboyant signboard belonged to the shop where Lucie had first tasted an Imperial dessert.

As if entranced, Lucie crossed the road and approached the patisserie.

As she did so, raindrops began falling one by one from the overcast sky.

Sensing the rain, the citizens opened their umbrellas, but Lucie did not.

She simply continued walking, as if reaching the patisserie were her sole purpose in life.

Upon arriving in front of the shop, Lucie spotted a couple enjoying desserts by the window.

The man was playfully laughing, while the woman, slightly embarrassed, raised her parfait to her lips.

In that scene, Lucie saw herself and Daniel projected, reminiscing about their past visit here for dessert.

“…”

As the rain intensified, soaking Lucie’s uniform cap and overcoat, passersby cast strange glances at her for standing motionlessly in the downpour.

However, Lucie remained oblivious to their gazes, lost in recollection.

– How is it? Does the dessert suit your taste?

Daniel’s words from that shop echoed vividly in her mind.

Recalling the taste of the parfait she had eaten then, a faint smile graced Lucie’s lips.

But the smile soon faded, leaving only a sense of futility.

‘He had said we would share Stollen during Christmas.’

How foolish and pitiful she had been.

And what a scoundrel he was, making promises he could not keep, unaware of when death would claim him.

‘And yet…’

He was also the kind soul who had risked his life to protect his adjutant from the Security Bureau.

But now, she could no longer see him.

For he had vanished from this world along with the diplomatic vessel.

At this absurd reality, Lucie let out a low chuckle.

Someone who seemed unlikely to shed a single drop of blood had perished in an instant, a laughable notion.

‘What a fool…’

As Lucie derided Daniel, her laughter abruptly turned to sobs.

With her eyes closed and lower lip tightly bitten, tears began welling up in Lucie’s eyes.

Amidst the pouring rain, she raised the back of her hand to wipe her eyes and exhaled a chilled breath.

Paradoxically, it was only after Daniel Steiner’s absence that Lucie could realize the truth.

‘I… had deeply…’

Cared for Daniel Steiner.