NOVEL NEXT Chapter 77
Softly parted lips let out a breath that turned into a chill swirling around.
In the chaotic mess of her mind, memories of Daniel treating her kindly surfaced without permission.
They had spent two seasons together.
As Lucy recalled memories that had accumulated to the point where she could now call them memories, she suddenly shook her head.
‘The essence doesn’t change.’
Lucy was a spy of the Allied Nations.
No matter how lovingly Daniel treated her, he would always remain the ‘enemy.’
Espionage in the midst of war is no joke.
Emotions should not get tangled in it.
No gentle war that spares you simply because you’re a good person can exist.
‘But….’
At this moment, when doubts were knotting within her, she simply couldn’t bring herself to harm Daniel.
‘What if the contents written on that paper are true?’
If the Empire wasn’t the one conducting the human experiments, but the Allied Nations were, it meant Count Kaledra had been lying to Lucy all along.
Lucy wanted to believe that Kaledra, who was like a father to her, wouldn’t lie to her, but the content of the paper kept raising questions.
‘So until I can confirm that what’s written in this document is false…’
It was right to postpone killing Daniel.
Having made up her mind, Lucy withdrew her pistol.
Slipping the gun into the holster on her belt, she put the documents and photos she was holding back into the inner pocket of her officer’s coat.
Moments later, stepping back, Lucy bathed in the moonlight that filtered through the window and opened her eyes halfway.
After gazing at Daniel for a while, lost in inexplicable emotions, she turned to leave.
Erasing her traces of entry, she walked to the front door, glancing back at Daniel one last time.
As she observed Daniel’s silhouette, she soon activated her optical camouflage and opened the front door.
Lucy stepped out into the corridor and closed the door behind her.
Left alone, Daniel slowly opened his eyes while leaning back against the sofa.
“…Did she leave?”
When he squinted his eyes and scanned the surroundings, he couldn’t see Lucy.
Sensing that she really might have left, Daniel sighed in relief after glancing at the front door.
With his survival now assured, he felt his tension ease, and his body felt drained of strength.
“I thought Lucy’s behavior was a bit strange yesterday….”
When Daniel had changed ranks in the office, he had caught a fleeting glimpse of something akin to guilt on Lucy’s face.
Why did she feel guilt instead of suppressing her anger? While pondering this at work, Daniel arrived at the conclusion that he could be assassinated.
Even a pet grows affectionate in half a year; it’s only natural that feelings develop when spending over half a year with a person.
If he received orders from higher-ups to eliminate a target under those conditions, even the most ruthless spy would inevitably show signs of guilt as a human.
He thought the same would apply to Lucy, who hadn’t been sleeping after arriving at her lodgings, spending the night on the sofa instead.
As he draped his officer’s coat over the backrest, he made the “Lucy Project” document protrude just enough from the inside pocket.
If Lucy was coming to assassinate him, she would inevitably have to check the coat.
While killing time sitting on the sofa, he heard someone pick the lock at the front door.
Thinking it was Lucy, Daniel pretended to be asleep against the sofa.
There was an option to hand the paper to her directly, but if he did that, Lucy would likely conclude he was ‘forging documents to survive.’
“Being a test subject for the Allied Nations, she’s been brainwashed unconsciously into being loyal.”
So Daniel feigned sleep, aiming for the situation where Lucy would “accidentally” discover the documents.
That way, Lucy’s trust in the documents would naturally increase.
If Lucy’s emotions were in turmoil and she entertained the thought that the content might be true, her chances of survival would rise exponentially.
Lucy’s adherence to the Allied Nations’ commands stemmed fundamentally from her belief that ‘the Allied Nations have nothing to do with human experimentation.’
Thus, if even a slight crack formed in that steadfast belief, doubts about her judgment would inevitably arise.
As Lucy got closer, she fortunately acted just as Daniel had anticipated.
From a broader perspective, he had indeed protected Lucy from the Security Bureau, and knowing she was a spy, he had also turned a blind eye to it.
Moreover, it was effective since Lucy wasn’t the type to fanatically pledge loyalty to the Allied Nations without discernment.
“But…”
Whether Lucy would continue to hesitate about the assassination was honestly uncertain.
This meant that such life-threatening situations could occur again at any moment.
“Yet I can’t exactly ask the Security Bureau to investigate…”
Currently, Daniel was in a standoff with the Security Bureau after pressuring a Security Bureau inspector at the General Staff Headquarters.
Besides, a single piece of unverifiable document held no weight as evidence, and if her aide was a spy, their superior would also become subject to investigation, making it akin to an act of suicide.
If it came to light during the investigation that he had known Lucy was a spy but concealed it, it would spiral out of control.
“Then…”
Daniel’s only viable option at this point was to gather evidence that the Allied Nations had conducted biological experiments on Lucy.
“If I can secure proof of the ‘Lucy Project’ and show it…”
Lucy would no longer follow the commands of the Allied Nations, freeing him from the assassination threat.
Not only that, but he might even have a one-man weapon capable of taking on a battalion as an ally.
“But how do I…?”
Lost in thought about how to sway Lucy, Daniel shook his head.
Worrying wouldn’t yield any sharp solutions.
Then suddenly, an old spy movie popped into his head.
It was about a spy who fell in love with their target and ultimately betrayed their home country’s orders.
Recalling the film’s plot, Daniel chuckled at how absurd it seemed.
“That heartless woman could never fall in love with me.”
It would be faster to subdue Lucy by force.
Thinking this was nonsense, Daniel extinguished his musings and stood up.
Having survived, he figured it was worth celebrating with a glass of whiskey.
*
*
Meanwhile, at the Empire’s Eisenkrone Palace.
In Princess Selvia’s bedroom.
“Let’s see. The budget proposal for the National Propaganda Department next year…”
Selvia, dressed in luxurious silk pajamas, was reviewing various documents.
Having recently taken on the role of regent, she now had the same reports as the current Emperor coming to her, forcing her to sacrifice her sleeping hours to handle them.
Just as she was engrossed in reading the documents, there was a knock at the door.
Curious about who it might be, she turned her head, only for the door to open without permission.
On the other side of the door stood a woman with golden hair and blue eyes, smiling at her.
Mariant von Amberg.
She was Selvia’s mother and the Empress, the wife of the Emperor who ruled the Empire.
“Working hard until dawn, I see. You still rely on your father, you know.”
Mariant approached as she spoke, but Selvia shook her head.
“You can’t become an Emperor simply by will. If I don’t get used to it from now on, I won’t be able to manage the country’s affairs properly later, so it’s right to put in the effort.”
“Just like my daughter, I’m proud of you.”
Mariant chuckled softly as she sat beside Selvia.
Seeing her mother slip into the seat, Selvia discreetly pushed the documents aside and looked at her.
“…But mother, do you have something to say?”
“Well, I actually came to give you advice after hearing your conversation with that man.”
“Advice?”
When Selvia questioned, Mariant nodded.
“Yes. His name was Daniel Steiner, right? The young officer who successfully led the recent speech. I was curious, and from what I’ve gathered, he has ambition and talent, so it seems he’ll continue to rise high.”
Mariant lightly grasped Selvia’s hand.
“Daughter, while they say you should be cautious and antagonistic toward Daniel, my perspective differs. Should you want to rein him in, there are more humane methods.”
“…Humane methods?”
“A man who has much to lose and honors his reputation knows he can’t escape responsibility. So if Daniel becomes a prominent figure in the Empire and does not listen, use the weapon only a woman possesses.”
Confused, Selvia furrowed her brow.
“A weapon only women possess? That can’t exist.”
“Oh, it exists. I captured your father with it and then bore you.”
“What…?”
As Selvia trailed off, her eyes widened in shock.
Watching her daughter flabbergasted, Mariant withdrew her hand.
“Though I am not well-versed in politics, I know that being cautious and antagonistic isn’t the only solution. Of course, one must never be rash. I’m merely presenting options.”
Selvia remained frozen in shock.
Mariant, smirking at her daughter’s bewilderment, stood up from her seat.
“Selvia, remember this: No matter how exceptional a man may be, he becomes a fool before his lust.”
Deliberately leaving those cryptic words, Mariant exited the bedroom.
Finally able to let out an unknown groan, Selvia felt her cheeks heat up.
She couldn’t comprehend her mother.
‘Why did she come suddenly to spout such outrageous things…?’
Shaking her head, Selvia picked up the documents again.
Trying once more to concentrate on her duties, she found Mariant’s words swirling in her mind uncontrollably, making it impossible to focus.
Then, unbidden, as strange thoughts rushed in, Selvia covered her face with both hands.
Her hands trembled, shaking involuntarily despite her will.
‘Get a grip, Selvia. Please…’
Honestly, she felt like she could die from embarrassment.