A soft breath escaped her slightly parted lips, dissipating into the cold air.

    Unbidden, memories of Daniel''s kindness toward her surfaced in Lucy''s chaotic mind.

    Two seasons they had spent together.

    As she recalled the accumulation of memories, now significant enough to be called nostalgia, Lucy suddenly shook her head.

    "The essence doesn’t change."

    Lucy was a spy for the Allied Nations.

    No matter how kind Daniel had been, the fact that he was the "enemy" remained unchanged.

    Spy activities in war were not a game.

    She couldn’t afford to let herself be swayed by emotions.

    A war that spared good people just because they were kind didn’t exist.

    "But still..."

    At this moment, with a knot of doubt weighing on her heart, she found herself unable to harm Daniel.

    "If what’s written on the document is true?"

    If it wasn’t the Empire but the Allied Nations conducting human experiments, then Count Kalendra had essentially been lying to her all along.

    Though Lucy wanted to believe that Kalendra, a figure akin to a father to her, wouldn’t deceive her, the contents of the document relentlessly sowed doubts in her mind.

    "Until I can confirm that the information in this document is false..."

    Killing Daniel had to be postponed.

    Having made her decision, Lucy put away the pistol.

    Sliding it back into the holster at her belt, she carefully returned the document and photograph in her hands to the inner pocket of Daniel’s officer coat.

    Stepping back, she stood bathed in the moonlight streaming through the window, her eyes half-closed.

    Amidst a swirl of inexplicable emotions, Lucy gazed at Daniel for a while before turning away.

    After erasing any trace of her intrusion, she walked toward the front door, giving Daniel one last glance.

    Her gaze lingered on his back, lost in thought, before she activated her optical camouflage and opened the door.

    Lucy stepped out into the corridor and quietly shut the door behind her.

    Left alone, Daniel slowly opened his eyes, leaning back against the sofa.

    "...She’s gone?"

    Squinting, he glanced around the room but saw no sign of Lucy.

    Only after checking the front door did he breathe a sigh of relief.

    Now assured of his survival, the tension drained from his body, leaving him feeling utterly exhausted.

    "Lucy’s behavior yesterday was strange..."

    While pinning the new rank insignia on his uniform in the office, Daniel had noticed a fleeting expression of guilt on Lucy’s face.

    Why had she shown guilt instead of suppressing her anger? Mulling it over during his work, Daniel had reached the conclusion that he might be assassinated.

    Even with a pet, affection could develop within half a year. How much more so when spending more than half a year with another person?

    Given that, receiving an order to eliminate someone would naturally evoke guilt, even in a cold-hearted spy.

    Daniel believed Lucy was no exception. Upon arriving at his quarters, he had stayed awake, sitting on the sofa throughout the night.

    He had deliberately placed his officer coat over the sofa’s backrest, ensuring that the "Lucy Project" document peeked out of its pocket.

    "Let’s see... The budget proposal for the National Propaganda Department next year..."

    Dressed in luxurious silk pajamas, Selvia was poring over various documents.

    Since taking on the responsibilities of regency, reports identical to those presented to the current Emperor had started arriving for Selvia, the crown princess and future ruler. Managing them left her unwilling to spare even a moment for sleep.

    While immersed in reading, a knock suddenly came at the door.

    Turning her head to see who it might be, she was surprised as the door opened without permission.

    Standing in the doorway was a noblewoman with golden hair and blue eyes, smiling warmly.

    Mariante von Amberg.

    She was Selvia''s mother and the Empress, wife of the Emperor who ruled the Empire.

    "Burning the midnight oil, I see. You could still rely on your father for a while longer, you know."

    As Mariante approached, her words prompted Selvia to shake her head.

    "Relying on others isn’t the way to become an Emperor. If I don’t get used to this now, I won’t be able to properly govern in the future. It’s only right to put in the effort."

    "As expected of my daughter—how admirable."

    With a soft laugh, Mariante seated herself beside Selvia.

    Noticing this, Selvia quickly gathered the documents and set them aside, turning her gaze to her mother.

    "...Mother, is there something you wish to say?"

    "Of course. I came to offer some advice after overhearing your conversation the other day."

    "Advice?"

    Selvia echoed, and Mariante nodded.

    "Yes. It’s about Daniel Steiner, isn’t it? The young officer who successfully delivered that speech. I was curious and did a bit of digging. He’s ambitious and capable—he’s bound to rise to greater heights."

    Mariante gently placed her hand over Selvia’s.

    "My dear, while your father may advise you to be wary of and hostile toward Daniel Steiner, I have a slightly different perspective. If you wish to keep him on a leash, there are more humane methods."

    "...Humane methods?"

    "You know as well as I do that men who have much to lose and value their honor are rarely free from the weight of responsibility. If Daniel were to become a key figure in the Empire and refused to follow orders, you could always resort to a weapon unique to women."

    Selvia frowned, clearly puzzled.

    "A weapon unique to women? There’s no such thing."

    "There is. I used it to captivate your father and bring you into this world."

    "What do you mean by that...?"

    Her voice trailed off, her wide eyes fixed on Mariante in astonishment.

    As Selvia stared, lost for words, Mariante withdrew her hand.

    "I may not be well-versed in politics, but I know that hostility and antagonism aren’t always the answer. Of course, you must never act rashly. What I’m offering is merely one of many options."

    Selvia remained frozen, still reeling from the shock.

    Finding her daughter’s stunned expression endearing, Mariante rose from her seat.

    "Selvia, remember this: No matter how brilliant a man may be, he becomes a fool in the face of desire."

    With those enigmatic words, Mariante left the bedroom.

    Only then did Selvia release a strangled groan, her face turning crimson.

    She couldn’t understand her mother.

    "Why would she come here out of the blue to say something so ridiculous...?"

    Shaking her head vigorously, Selvia picked up the documents.

    She tried to refocus on her duties, but Mariante’s words continued to swirl chaotically in her mind, refusing to leave her in peace.

    Before she realized it, Selvia found herself envisioning strange and inappropriate scenarios, causing her to cover her face with both hands.

    Her hands trembled uncontrollably against her will.

    "Get a grip, Selvia. Please..."

    Honestly, she felt like she could die of embarrassment.