My heart pounded wildly, and my breathing grew erratic.

I forced myself to maintain a calm expression, but the corners of my lips trembled slightly.

‘Calm down! Think of an excuse!’

If I failed to answer now, Daniel’s suspicions could solidify into certainty.

Running countless simulations in my head in a split second, I finally managed to speak.

“…Ah. Is that so? I had no idea. They were still serving it when I went, so I didn’t know about such an incident.”

This was the best response I could devise after analyzing the situation.

Judging by the fact that Daniel had started working at the General Staff Headquarters immediately after graduating from the academy, it was highly unlikely he had visited Jack’s Restaurant last year.

It was, essentially, a bluff exploiting a gap in his information.

“Hmm. So you didn’t know about the incident…”

Daniel lightly tapped the table with his fingers.

That small motion and the faint sound felt deafening to me, amplifying my anxiety.

I could feel Daniel’s suspicion like a physical weight pressing against my skin.

Meanwhile, Daniel himself wasn’t actually thinking much of it.

‘…Maybe they started serving it again last year?’

It was a delicious dessert, so the owner might not have wanted to take it off the menu permanently.

Besides, the incident had occurred because a customer with an allergy mistakenly ordered it—not exactly the restaurant’s fault.

Convinced by this line of thought, Daniel gave a slight nod and looked back at me.

“So it seems they started serving apple strudel again. Of course, I’d have to check with Jack’s Restaurant to confirm. Oh, and one more thing—”

Just as Daniel began to ask another question, the hall filled with the sound of classical music from the orchestra.

Applause erupted as the gathered guests turned toward the grand staircase.

The Imperial family had begun descending slowly from the third floor, holding onto the railing as they made their entrance.

This signaled the start of the main event Philip had mentioned earlier.

As an Imperial officer, Daniel was obligated to pay his respects to the royal family, so he could no longer continue the conversation.

“Well, it seems we’re out of time. I suppose we’ll have to leave it here.”

Smiling, Daniel picked up his cap from the table and stood.

“I hope you enjoy the rest of the evening.”

Giving me a small nod, he tucked the cap under his arm and walked off toward the crowd.

Relief flooded through me as I watched him leave.

‘Thank God. If he had pushed just a little further, I might have been exposed…’

Feeling momentarily at ease, I glanced back at Daniel—only to freeze.

He was talking with what appeared to be the Head of Operations and occasionally glancing in my direction.

‘Damn it…!’

Daniel still hadn’t let go of his suspicions.

He was definitely telling his superior that I seemed suspicious.

Suppressing a curse, I quickly stood and made my way to the restroom.

After ensuring the room was empty, I raised my wrist and pressed the transmission button on the miniature radio disguised as a watch.

“Speaker, respond! This is Camera Shop!”

After a short pause, the device crackled to life.

—“What’s wrong? Is it time to report the guest list?”

I shook my head.

“No! I’ve been compromised! Security has likely been reinforced already. Abort the Mad Dog operation immediately! Spread the agents out to the old city district! We’re switching to Plan B!”

—“Compromised? The identity papers were flawless. Your disguise should have been undetectable even to Imperial officers.”

“The situation turned bad. The one suspecting me is none other than Daniel Steiner.”

Daniel Steiner.

Even through the radio, the weight of that name lingered.

The response came only after a tense silence.

—“Understood. Abandoning the current plan and switching to Plan B. We’ll notify all agents immediately. Good luck.”

The transmission cut off.

Staring at the watch for a moment, I slowly lowered my arm and pressed my fingers against my forehead.

“Damn it. Plan B…”

Unlike the original plan, Plan B had an exponentially higher chance of failure.

Even if it succeeded, most of our agents would be slaughtered, and it would practically hand the Empire the justification it needed to launch an expansion war.

But there was no other choice.

With Daniel Steiner already suspicious of me, the original plan was no longer viable.

Running my hands down my face, I clasped them together and whispered a quiet prayer.

“Dear God…”

Please, watch over us.

*****

Alistair’s frantic footsteps toward the restroom didn’t escape my notice.

“Heading to the restroom, is he? That new friend of yours,” Ernst remarked.

“Hmm. Must have been urgent.”

I shrugged, feigning indifference, and Ernst chuckled lightly.

“Let’s set aside talk of your hometown acquaintance for now and focus on the ball.”

“…The ball?”

“Ah, that’s right. This is your first time attending a royal banquet, isn’t it? Once the banquet hits its peak, the royals traditionally open the ball with a dance. It’s a way of preserving their legacy.”

I couldn’t fathom how dancing related to preserving tradition, but I wasn’t about to question the cultural practices of the Imperial Family.

Nodding vaguely, I turned my gaze toward the central hall where the royals were preparing for the dance. The first person who caught my eye was Selvia.

She wore an elegant amethyst evening gown with a daringly low-cut back. Yet, the blue-tinged necklace and earrings drew attention away, giving her an air of sophistication rather than vulgarity.

Frankly speaking, she looked completely different from the Selvia I’d met in the north.

Maybe it was the light makeup, but after observing her carefully, I quickly realized the real reason for the change in her demeanor.

‘She hates this.’

Selvia wasn’t smiling.

The playful and confident smirks she often wore in the north were nowhere to be seen.

Then again, if I were dressed up and paraded in front of strangers, forced to dance under their watchful eyes in the name of tradition, I wouldn’t be thrilled either.

But regardless of Selvia’s feelings, the banquet hall dimmed as the music announcing the start of the dance began to play.

Smiling royals paired off with their partners and started to dance.

Selvia joined in as well, but unlike the others, her expression remained cold and detached.

And yet, to me, even that stoic expression seemed captivating.

I liked to think of myself as a rational man, but it seemed my rationality wasn’t enough to overcome my shallow preference for appearances.

Had it been anyone else wearing such a sullen look, I would’ve told them to cheer up. But with Selvia, her beauty made even her indifference look like art.

Truly, this was the dangerous power of beauty. A reminder to remain cautious.

I crossed my arms and watched as the dance ended and the lights brightened.

As if rehearsed, the crowd burst into applause, showering the royals with admiration.

Selvia, caught in the wave of applause, shifted her gaze around the room, clearly uncomfortable.

Her eyes suddenly met mine.

Her eyes widened slightly, and just as I was about to clap—

—Don’t.

Selvia’s lips formed the word, stopping me in my tracks.

Frozen mid-motion, I quickly dropped my hands, feeling slightly ridiculous as others continued clapping.

Meanwhile, nobles began to approach the royals, engaging them in polite conversation.

Selvia wasn’t spared, forced to greet each one with a practiced smile.

I stared blankly at her, still wondering if I’d done something wrong earlier.

Was clapping after making eye contact some sort of breach of etiquette?

Before I could make sense of it, Selvia politely excused herself from the nobles and began making her way toward me.

I stepped aside to let her pass, but she kept coming straight for me.

Stopping just a step away, Selvia looked up at me with a faint smile.

“It’s been a while, Daniel… Or should I call you Captain now?”

So she really did come to see me.

Still processing her sudden approach, I nodded.

“Yes, I’ve been promoted to Captain.”

“I see. Well, considering all the merits you’ve earned, it’s no surprise. By the way, you changed your hairstyle?”

“Yes. I didn’t want to, but my superior insisted…”

Selvia let out a soft laugh.

“You should thank that superior. It suits you—it makes you look more mature.”

“I’ve always been an adult.”

“Age alone doesn’t make someone an adult. Especially when you look at those people.”

Selvia glanced at the nobles she’d been speaking with earlier.

“They all think the Empire should start another expansion war. None of them have even considered what kind of consequences that would bring to the international community.”

Well, to be fair, this mindset wasn’t unusual for the times.

In this era, colonizing so-called “lesser civilizations” was often seen as a business opportunity—or even an act of salvation.

Rather than calling them ignorant, it was more accurate to say Selvia was ahead of her time.

“It’s inevitable. With the Empire gaining momentum, advocating for war is only natural. Not everyone can be as wise as—”

I stopped mid-sentence.

Alistair—the “hometown friend” who’d gone to the restroom—was now running toward us.

His face was deathly serious.

Before I could process the situation, he reached into his coat.

Sensing danger, I unlatched my holster and drew my revolver.

He made a throwing motion, and I pulled the trigger.

Bang!

The shot rang out, and his head burst open.

But the object he’d thrown was still hurtling toward us.

“Your Highness!”

Acting on instinct, I grabbed Selvia’s wrist and pulled her into my arms, shielding her with my body.

I turned away and shut my eyes tightly.

Then—

Flash—

A blinding light consumed everything.

*****

I took a slow, steady breath and cautiously opened my eyes.

Darkness.

This wasn’t the banquet hall I had been in just moments ago.

I waited, letting my eyes adjust to the dim light.

Moving carelessly and making noise would be a bad idea.

“Daniel…”

“Quiet.”

I silenced Selvia, who was fidgeting beside me, and continued observing my surroundings.

‘A hotel?’

We were in a spacious living room adorned with luxurious furnishings.

Glancing behind me, I saw a glass wall that overlooked the cityscape.

That’s when I pieced it together—the object that man had thrown.

‘An Etherium Displacement Grenade.’

It was a high-end tactical device designed to displace the targets it struck, effectively teleporting them to random nearby locations.

Expensive and unreliable due to its lack of precise targeting, it was more of a gimmick than a widely used weapon.

I’d heard of it being employed in special operations, but I never imagined I’d be on the receiving end of one.

“Um…”

“I said be quiet.”

“It’s not that…”

Selvia squirmed slightly, pushing against me.

It was only then that I realized I was still holding her tightly.

Caught up in the tension, I hadn’t even noticed my improper actions.

“Ah.”

I quickly released her, and she took a step back.

Selvia looked at me with mild irritation, but her ears were noticeably flushed red.

Her breathing seemed slightly uneven too.

“My apologies.”

As I offered a brief apology, Selvia tucked her hair behind her ear and replied.

“I understand you were trying to protect me. But next time, be more careful. And…”

Her tone shifted as she suddenly ducked behind the nearby sofa.

“They’re coming. I hear footsteps—seven… no, eight of them.”

Footsteps?

I crouched beside Selvia and listened carefully.

Sure enough, footsteps echoed nearby.

It seemed they didn’t know our exact location, but they were searching the area.

I let out a quiet sigh.

“…This just keeps getting worse. For now, I’ll do my best to keep you safe.”

“That won’t be necessary.”

Selvia lifted the hem of her evening gown.

A holstered pistol was strapped to her thigh.

I stared at it, momentarily speechless, before exhaling in disbelief.

“You carry a pistol with you at all times?”

“You never know what might happen.”

“It seems that between the two of us, Your Highness is the more mature one.”

Selvia smirked faintly as she drew the pistol from its holster.

“Let’s just say we both are.”

“Fair enough. Now then…”

The footsteps drew closer.

I glanced toward the door and spoke.

“Let’s act like adults and protect ourselves.”

Click—

Selvia cocked her pistol, her expression brimming with confidence.

“Exactly what I had in mind.”

So this is what they meant by ‘Iron Princess.’

Honestly, I couldn’t have asked for a better ally in this situation.