Rising Infamy

Thanks to Hartmann’s consideration, I returned straight to my quarters to rest, then reported to General Staff Headquarters the next morning.

Clear skies without a cloud and a cool breeze put me in a good mood, but the moment I entered General Staff Headquarters, all that good feeling vanished.

Everyone I encountered in the corridors treated me as if I were some kind of ghost.

Those of lower rank than me often snapped to attention and saluted stiffly, while even my superiors avoided meeting my gaze when I saluted and merely returned it hurriedly.

Wondering what on earth was going on, I stopped by the break room for coffee and learned the whole story.

The personnel officers had gathered to talk about me.

“Have you heard? Operations Staff officer Daniel Steiner, I mean. Apparently, he pretended to go on leave while carrying out a mission for Her Highness the Imperial Princess.”

“I hear he even stopped by Duke Velbar’s residence this time—with Lieutenant Colonel Hartmann, Her Highness’s chief bodyguard.”

“Now that he’s a war hero, he must be thinking of entering politics. In any case, let’s not give Daniel Steiner anything he can use against us. We can’t afford to get dragged into trouble, either. And……”

Seeing the lieutenant colonel from the Personnel Planning Department, he trailed off...