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.

    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.