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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Wjin
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After that, I was able to meet quite a few people.
Count Ferdinand’s exhibition was only a week-long, but the people gathered there were all influential. Just because the exhibition was over didn’t mean they were all going home.
Every other day, parties and meetings of bigwigs were held in Deoronto, the central city of Count Ferdinand’s territory.
And I, thanks to the prestige surrounding Archmage Sony Zeppelin, was able to meet not only people from the Reinhardt Empire but also many people from other countries.
“I’ve heard a lot about you from Sony Zeppelin. I am Laurent Dominique, the ambassador of the Free Democratic Republic of Pry to Reinhardt.”
He was an acquaintance of Sony Zeppelin whom I met by chance at a party. As an ambassador, he would be very well-versed in the diplomatic affairs of the Free Democratic Republic of Pry.
I gladly exchanged addresses with him. It was so inconvenient. Without KakaoTalk, email, or even phone numbers, we still had to communicate by letter.
As someone who had enjoyed the conveniences of modern civilization just a few months ago, it was hard to get used to.
“I am Brigadier General Vianne of the Polish Republic Army. I am the commander of the Polish elite Hussar Cavalry Regiment. It’s my first time seeing a Ukrainian soldier, and you are quite handsome. Are you perhaps a cavalryman?”
And next was a general from a neighboring country. Not a field officer, but a general-grade officer. And the commander of the Hussar Cavalry Division, which was considered the elite force of the Polish Republic.
Since he was a general from the Polish Republic, which was also a neutral country, I thought that establishing a connection with him in advance would be a very useful connection for my future plans.
The Polish Republic was a neighboring country that would play a very important role in my plans.
And then, after the diplomat and the soldier, the person who came to see me was none other than…
“I am Sarah Ronald, a senior reporter from the Wilson Times of the American Federation Republic. If you have a good story, please be sure to contact me. I will definitely repay you.”
A blonde woman suddenly handed me her mailing address. She had approached me while I was rinsing my mouth with fruit juice in a corner of the banquet hall.
“The Wilson Times…?”
I checked her business card. The Wilson Times of the American Federation Republic. I had heard of it.
Wasn’t it a newspaper company that could be considered almost the only global media outlet at the moment?
Of course, even though Ukraine was quite underdeveloped compared to other countries, I knew that several small media outlets published journals in the capital, Kyiv. But that was only information within Ukraine.
It couldn’t be compared to the Wilson Times, which covered events from all over the world and made them into newspapers.
Why did this media outlet suddenly appear? Weren’t they usually not interested in small countries like Ukraine?
As I looked at her with a puzzled expression, Sarah Ronald answered first.
“Our headquarters has been expanding its foreign branches recently. And it’s difficult to enter the Imperial Alliance, which is relatively closed compared to the Liberal Union, right?”
“So, in Ukraine…?”
“Yes! There’s no better country to use as a forward base for the media than Ukraine! Most importantly, it’s a neutral country that doesn’t belong to either the Liberal Union or the Imperial Alliance, right?”
She added with a fresh smile. Even if she hadn’t revealed that she was a reporter, anyone would have been convinced that she was a journalist due to her tension.
“Don’t you think so, Captain Enoch Levandal?”
“How did you know my name?”
“Are you kidding me right now?”
She tilted her head and asked again.
“No, I’m not. I was just wondering how you really knew.”
“…Isn’t it weirder not to know? You’re meeting all sorts of people on behalf of Archmage Sony Zeppelin, aren’t you?”
“Hmm.”
She was right. Considering her position as an Archmage, it was only natural that many people would request an audience with her, regardless of her Ukrainian nationality.
But was our Brigadier General someone who would listen to all those requests?
She didn’t even bother to meet people unless she found them interesting, so in the end, it was up to me and Lumia to handle them.
In the process, it seemed my name had been sold to a reporter who was also meeting with this person and that.
“I keep hearing a name I’ve never heard before from here and there, so I couldn’t help but be curious.”
Sarah snapped her fingers. A journalist. I couldn’t say it was a bad connection. In fact, I should be grateful that she approached me first. In the end, it was a war of public opinion.
People hadn’t yet paid attention to the power of the media, but in fact, the most suitable means to sway the public was the media.
I carefully put her business card in my pocket and took out my business card from the front of my uniform and handed it to her.
“I see. Let me formally introduce myself. Captain Enoch Levandal of the Ukrainian Army.”
“Oh my, so polite. There are many people who look at me as if to say, ‘What’s that?’ when I say I’m a reporter.”
“I’m personally interested in the American Federation Republic. Especially in that ‘freedom.’”
“Hmm~ This is a completely unexpected reaction. I guess the word ‘pioneer’ wasn’t wrong after all?”
“Pioneer?”
“I have sharp ears and good eyes. There’s no story I can’t hear or anything I can’t see.”
Sarah Ronald replied with a playful voice, her eyes crinkling. She was like a reporter character straight out of a novel or a drama.
“Captain?”
It was then that another person’s voice was heard. A familiar but strangely cold tone. As she took a step closer, her silver hair, which was a complete contrast to Sarah’s, swayed gently.
“Who is this person?”
“Ah, Lumia. Have you heard of the Wilson Times of the American Federation Republic?”
“No.”
Lumia said, cutting me off. She was smiling, but for some reason, she wasn’t.
“It’s the first time I’ve heard of it… What kind of place is it?”
“Oh, it’s understandable. It’s proof that our Times needs to work harder in the future.”
There was a hint of provocation, but Sarah nonchalantly brushed it off and likewise handed Lumia her business card with her address on it.
“I’m Sarah Ronald, a senior reporter.”
“I’m Second Lieutenant Lumia Blue.”
“Are you Captain Enoch’s attendant? Or his direct adjutant?”
“I’m his adjutant.”
She already had a cold impression, but the current Lumia was exuding an aura that would make it impossible for a stranger to approach her.
What was it? Did something bad happen?
Since she was a very beautiful person, it was possible that some scumbags had hit on her. I looked back and forth between Lumia and Sarah and swallowed hard.
In the end, the strange confrontation between the two ended when Sarah first created a peaceful mood.
“Anyway, we might see each other in Ukraine. I’m a reporter who covers not only politics, military affairs, economics, and society, but also ‘entertainment.’ If you have any good material, please be sure to contact me.”
“Understood.”
“Then, I’m sorry for the interruption. I hope you two have a ‘good time.’”
The emphasis on ‘good time’ was probably just my imagination.
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Lumia Blue was depressed.
It was a stroke of luck that she was able to be with Enoch Levandal, beating out Belle Meyer, who had suddenly become proactive, but… the reality was completely different from what she had expected.
Since the Captain was meeting people all over the city every other day, it was almost impossible to spend time alone with him.
And it was a series of situations where she was just cleaning up after the extremely temperamental Brigadier General Sony Zeppelin. And her biggest worry was that, just like last time, all sorts of women were clinging to Enoch Levandal in the process.
According to what Belle had told her, even at the banquet hosted by Count Jacques Pedro, the honorary lord of Bialystok, beautiful young ladies had tried to talk to him at least once.
And now, such a scene was unfolding right before her eyes, so Lumia was just frustrated.
Enoch Levandal was handsome. And on top of that, he had a dignity and charisma that stemmed from his strangely cold and aloof expression and atmosphere.
It might be difficult for a superior or a subordinate to approach him, but to an outsider who had no connection to him, it seemed to act as an important point of attraction. Cold, but he would be warm to his woman.
Well, was that the kind of feeling?
‘……It suits him.’
She knew it well. Those who clung to him were probably just nobodies. And Captain Enoch Levandal was not the type to be a womanizer. Unless it was someone he thought was necessary, he always kept his distance first.
And even if it was someone he needed, he didn’t try to get closer than necessary. Was it a kind of humility? Or did he have other thoughts?
Lumia couldn’t quite guess. But she was still anxious.
Lumia Blue was not someone who was criticized for her appearance, and in fact, most people mistook her for a noble, so quite a few distinguished figures often approached her.
The son of a noble, the heir of a large merchant guild, and even influential figures who had close ties with diplomats, the imperial family, or the central government.
People who could compete with Enoch in terms of pure lineage, appearance, and ability.
But Lumia was not satisfied with them. Captain Enoch Levandal had already taken a deep place in her heart.
“I can’t take it. I need to get some fresh air.”
It wouldn’t do any good to sit alone in her room feeling depressed. Lumia stood up weakly and put on her coat. It was a cold day, so cold that she had to wear a winter coat when the sun set. It was almost winter.
She felt a little sentimental. Thinking about last winter, she felt like she had come a long way. Days of being despised, ignored, insulted, and struggling in a dark abyss with no hope.
‘But… it’s all thanks to the Captain.’
It was more than she deserved just to be allowed to be by his side. Perhaps her role was just that. As she was chewing on the bitter thought and about to leave the room…
“Oh?”
“Ack…”
She came face to face with Enoch Levandal, who was just entering her room.
“Captain?!”
“Lumia, were you planning on going out?”
“N-No! I was just going to get some fresh air, but it’s fine! By the way, what brings you here…?”
“Ah, it’s nothing.”
Enoch Levandal handed Lumia a bottle of wine he was holding.
“We don’t have much time left in Reinhardt. And Second Lieutenant Lumia has had a very hard time, but I don’t think I’ve been able to take care of you because I was so busy.”
“Ah… thank you.”
A gift. She didn’t need something like this. Although it was a high-quality wine at a glance, right now, Lumia needed time alone with him more than a gift. But she couldn’t show it.
She took the wine and was about to put it on the shelf, but Enoch was startled and stopped her.
“Why are you putting that there?”
“What?”
“Did you think I didn’t think of something like that? I’ve prepared separate gifts for Second Lieutenant Lumia and the unit members, so you don’t have to worry.”
“Then what is this for…?”
“It’s a gift just for you and me, Lumia.”
“What??”
Lumia’s eyes widened.
“How about we spend some time alone today?”
Enoch Levandal grinned. Lumia’s pale face turned red in an instant.
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