LIGHTNOVELWORLD Chapter 70
Two weeks later.
Captain Daniel had been promoted to Colonel, but his work didn’t change all that much.
Aside from having a few more classified documents to deal with, he still had the same role as Operations Staff.
For Daniel, who feared getting caught up in some bizarre incident, this was quite a relief.
With a sense of comfort in his peaceful routine, Daniel thought to himself.
For now, let’s live like a mouse hiding from cats.
But just when Daniel’s resolution seemed fruitful, a message arrived from the Royal Family.
Specifically, it was a message from the next Emperor, Selvia.
‘If you have time, please visit the Imperial Palace.’
It was the note handed to him by a lady-in-waiting with a bow, having come to him right as work was wrapping up.
Daniel was baffled, but it seemed urgent, so he agreed to go see her and followed the lady-in-waiting.
Stepping outside the General Staff Headquarters, Daniel spotted an elegant sedan parked out front.
This was a royal vehicle sent by Selvia, knowing he wouldn’t refuse.
With a hollow laugh, Daniel got into the car, and off they went to the Imperial Palace.
Upon arrival, Daniel disembarked and followed the lady-in-waiting into a separate palace, which was just as grand as the main one, requiring her guidance to navigate.
After wandering through a few corridors, they finally arrived at a gigantic indoor garden.
Warm air flowed through the enclosure, where lush green and colorful plants flourished, filling the space, with herbs like lavender and rosemary wafting their subtle fragrances.
It was practically a paradise built on human effort and wealth.
As Daniel admired the royal splendor, he suddenly halted in his tracks.
He spotted Selvia, kneeling in an open space of the garden, playing with a puppy.
“Good boy. Well done!”
She lightly petted the head of the puppy, which was a sharp-eyed Doberman with shiny black fur and a strong build.
Did Selvia get a dog? As Daniel approached, the Doberman turned its head toward him.
Grrr~
It growled, baring its teeth as it eyed Daniel warily.
Thanks to that, Selvia, who had momentarily glanced aside, caught sight of Daniel.
With a delicate smile, she continued petting the Doberman while speaking.
“No need to be on guard. He’s my friend.”
As if it understood her words, the Doberman ceased its growling.
This struck Daniel as amusing, and he decided to speak up.
“It obeys commands very well, doesn’t it?”
“That’s the nature of loyalty in this breed. Plus, they’re quite intelligent and agile, not to mention good-looking, so I’ve heard they’re popular these days. That’s why I brought one home.”
Selvia chuckled softly and pinched the Doberman’s cheek.
“I doubt this little one minds being sold to the Royal Family. He has plenty of food, and he’s pampered by countless ladies-in-waiting. And it’s not just anyone’s master, but a future Emperor!”
As Selvia released her grip on the Doberman and lightly turned around, Daniel’s eyes caught something.
It was the red cape draped over her left shoulder.
It looked like it was made from luxurious fabric, boasting an eagle pattern done in gold thread, proudly displayed.
This shoulder cape was a type of ceremonial attire bestowed on future Emperors, a symbol of power.
Noticing Daniel’s gaze, Selvia narrowed her eyes softly.
“What do you think, Colonel Daniel?”
“…What do you mean?”
“I’m asking whether you think this Doberman is content with its situation.”
Daniel felt an odd sensation, as if she was assessing him.
‘Is this another test like the Emperor…?’ he thought.
Feeling reminiscent of the Emperor’s demeanor, Daniel cautiously replied.
“I suppose it depends on the personality and preferences of the Doberman.”
Selvia fell silent for a moment, considering his somewhat enigmatic answer, before nodding.
She then gestured toward a nearby table.
On the table were expensive treats and two steaming cups of coffee.
“Let’s save the puppy talk for later and enjoy some coffee, shall we?”
“I will gladly accept your hospitality.”
Expressing gratitude with a hand on his heart, Daniel walked with Selvia to the table.
After Selvia took her seat, Daniel sat across from her.
Fidgeting with his attire for no reason, he discreetly glanced at Selvia’s face.
‘She put on makeup…’
Though it was hardly noticeable, Daniel could see the difference.
‘Well, with the acting of a deputy regent starting, she must be presenting a more polished appearance…’
A modest bit of makeup would be practical for public appearances, after all.
However, to Daniel’s surprise, Selvia’s main reason for wearing makeup wasn’t that.
As she pretended to sip the coffee while sizing up Daniel’s face, she felt a twinge of dissatisfaction.
‘I made sure to look good today…’
She had asked the head lady-in-waiting for tips on popular makeup among men, aiming for something that stood out without being too flashy, even accessorizing with earrings, but it seemed Daniel remained oblivious.
‘Well…
The purpose of this meeting wasn’t to charm Daniel, so it wasn’t too important.
After sipping her coffee and placing the cup down, Selvia spoke.
“Colonel Daniel, do you have much interest in international affairs?”
Taking a sip of his own coffee, Daniel set the cup down.
“Due to my profession, I’m always keeping an eye on things.”
“Then you know recently, the Republic and the Federation have aligned with the United Nations to criticize the Empire?”
“Indeed. Regrettably, so.”
Since Count Kaledra had declared two weeks ago that the Empire must fight back, international society had slowly begun to turn against the Empire.
This was hardly surprising.
No nation in the world wanted to see a hegemonic power emerge that far surpassed them.
Yet, the Empire, a potential hegemon, was currently embroiled in a war? If the United Nations crumbled, they would undoubtedly be next.
Fear breeds war.
The great powers had no choice but to take up arms before the Empire grew any stronger.
“The Empire won’t be able to avoid a world war.”
By now, the military, as well as the ministers and various officials of the Royal Family, must have recognized that the world situation was turning odd.
This wasn’t something confined to just the upper class.
The common citizens, too, had heard the news of the Empire slowly isolating itself.
It was likely that they were still reeling from the shock of needing to go to war against the world.
But Selvia, the future Empress, managed to stay calm amid all this turmoil.
Thanks to Daniel, she was already aware that a world war was looming.
“So then…”
Selvia looked at Daniel with a serious gaze.
“We need to start preparing for the world war now. Waiting until the Republic and Federation join the fray would be too late.”
“Do you have any sharp strategies?”
“No sharp strategies as of now. But we should do everything we can. Increasing the tax rate for budget expansion is the first step… but we can’t raise it too high.”
Considering how the war was dragging on, the citizens were already feeling fatigued.
If they raised the tax rate excessively now, it could lead to growing mistrust in the government.
In the worst-case scenario, riots or civil wars could break out, so caution was essential.
“Since there are limits to the tax rate, I’m thinking of issuing war bonds. The problem is it won’t be easy for the public to buy them.”
“A lot of citizens don’t want this war to drag on any longer than it has.”
“Exactly. So what I’m considering is to have a speaker explain why the war must continue at the time of bond issuance. What do you think, Colonel Daniel?”
Daniel nodded without any reservations.
“That’s a good idea. Because gaining public trust is tightly linked to the issuance of bonds and the speech. So the selection of the speaker becomes quite important.”
“That’s what I’m worried about. Who would be a good fit for the podium?”
“If I may offer a piece of advice, look for someone who has recently made military or political achievements. They should be an individual who’s easily recognizable to the citizens when their names are mentioned.”
Selvia nodded in agreement.
“And?”
“Ideally, they should have an appealing appearance. Not necessarily extremely good-looking, but they should have a face that most people find likable. People tend to trust the words of someone who looks well-groomed over someone who doesn’t.”
With her upper body leaning forward, Selvia placed her hands on the table.
“Hmm, any other criteria?”
“To leverage authority and charisma, it would be wise to present a figure from the military. Ideally, someone with a combat history would be even better. Even if they had to distort reality a bit, citizens wouldn’t believe what they say is a lie…”
Mid-sentence, Daniel sensed something odd and fell silent.
As he laid out the logic, he began to realize who would be the most suitable speaker in this context.
No way…
Did Selvia summon him here with this plan from the very start?
As Daniel felt an odd intensity in Selvia’s gaze, he started to break out in a cold sweat.
“Colonel Daniel.”
Her sultry voice made him question his ears.
With her eyes half-closed, Selvia spoke with a hint of intrigue in her expression.
“It seems to me that you fit all the criteria perfectly.”
At that moment, Daniel felt an urge to scream.