Are you jealous even though you don’t like me?
While I was lost in thought, Masera, wearing a serious expression, said,
“Major Rodriguez is affiliated with the Federal Army Headquarters.”
“Wow.”
What’s the problem with that? He’s not a spy.
He added in the same serious tone,
“And I am affiliated with the Joint Headquarters.”
“Wooow.”
I reacted a little more enthusiastically, just in case he got sulky again.
He stared at my face, which clearly showed I didn’t understand anything, and sighed. It was a look of resignation, as if he was giving up on explaining.
“Just… do as you please.”
“Aww, why are you acting like you’re giving up on me?”
Actually, I had a feeling I knew what he was trying to say.
The three countries that played the leading roles in the Federation’s victory had established the Joint Headquarters, which was in political opposition to the existing Federal Army Headquarters.
Brigadier General Steve, who attended the banquet, nitpicked everything, withdrew investments, and left, was a staff officer of the Federal Army Headquarters, and naturally, he was on bad terms with Masera, the Chief of Staff of the Joint Headquarters.
And it seemed he meant that Major Rodriguez, Brigadier General Steve’s direct subordinate, was also part of the same group, so I shouldn’t associate with him.
However, ‘Cynthia’ was already a suspicious person, and if I pretended to be smart and acted like I knew things here, it would only make me more suspicious.
Truly, masters in hiding know when to pretend to be ignorant.
“Oh my, are you perhaps jealous? I never thought such an emotion existed in Brigadier General’s vocabulary.”
I showed him the sneer of a villainous young lady. Plus, I could say something that would torment Masera, so it was a win-win.
He smiled calmly.
“Indeed. Because I can’t have Major Rodriguez stolen away from me by a ‘Princess’.”
But Masera was not an easy man to deal with either.
Damn it, is he turning this into a competition for the handsome major?
He added seriously,
“Don’t be friendly with him. He’s my man.”
Wow! How childish!
Leaving behind such an absurd warning, he left with measured steps. His ears were red, as if he himself was embarrassed.
“Cute.”
I muttered at the arrogant man, tilting the corners of my lips upward.
Even so, I felt strangely frustrated, as if I had lost to him.
Just then, Diego came running from afar.
“Princess, we need you to confirm the list of people to send wedding invitations to. We plan to send them out tomorrow…”
He said, panting, as if he had been searching for me all this time.
Diego, even you have started calling me Princess.
“Chief Aide, what will my title be after the wedding?”
Surely, I won’t be called Princess even when I become a grandmother, will I?
At my question, Diego adjusted his glasses and pondered for a moment.
“Since you won’t have a separate rank, you’ll be called Countess, Madam, or Lady.”
Countess was a bit embarrassing, but Madam and Lady sound strong and I like them.
But I need something unique…
“Isn’t there anything else? Something that sounds domineering and powerful.”
Diego gave me an unnecessarily serious answer to my unnecessary concern.
“If you enlist and earn a rank again, or enter politics and become a member of parliament, you might look a bit stronger.”
For a member of the royal family who ruined the country to step forward and do politics, it was something only a truly powerful person could do.
“Perhaps, do you dislike being called Princess?”
The capable and perceptive aide, Diego, asked.
“I want to be called by my name. I like what’s most like me.”
“Then, from now on, I will call you Cynthia.”
Diego said with a rare smile.
Most of the people in the residence seem kind. Except for Masera.
* * *
Major Rodriguez arrived at the temporary residence where Brigadier General Steve was staying.
Since Brigadier General Steve was his direct superior, he had to respond to his summons even on a holiday.
“Did you deliver the documents?”
“I delivered them to the aide without any problems.”
In contrast to the major, who stood rigidly at attention, Brigadier General Steve sat with his legs crossed, acting haughty.
“Even if it’s a holiday, isn’t not wearing your uniform in front of your superior against military spirit?”
“I will correct that.”
Major Rodriguez, who was dressed in civilian clothes, lowered his head.
Brigadier General Steve gave him a disapproving look.
“You’re only being treated as a soldier because you joined the Federal Army and risked your life to perform well, you know.”
He was one of those who discriminated against and despised the destroyed Esatain.
Major Rodriguez’s war achievements were so great that it wouldn’t have been strange for him to be promoted to colonel, but he remained a major due to Brigadier General Steve, who held the power to make key appointments.
It was an unfair measure, but it was nearly impossible to object in the strict military that followed the chain of command.
“Major, have you seen the Princess? I’m talking about the woman who will become Brigadier General Vicente’s wife.”
“I have not had the pleasure of meeting her yet.”
Since he hadn’t obtained any information, he didn’t even know what the Princess looked like or what her name was.
Due to the jealousy of his fellow officers, who envied his outstanding abilities, he rarely received information that wasn’t essential.
“For a baseborn, lowly person to covet the wife of a royal just because they earned a few stars, the result is a princess who’s nothing but a facade. It’s laughable.”
Brigadier General Steve would call Major Rodriguez and rant and complain about all sorts of things.
Since the major had no backing or connections, he was a bamboo forest where he could shout to his heart’s content, and an emotional trash can.
“You were a noble too, weren’t you? The descendant of some illustrious family.”
“That is in the past.”
“That’s right. It’s a world where nobles are worse off than commoners, and commoner war orphans suddenly rise to become war heroes.”
Major Rodriguez listened to his superior’s nonsense with his hands politely clasped. His eyes were counting the patterns on the floor.
‘A pitiful person who confirms his own value and finds comfort in the misfortune of others.’
The Brigadier General, despite being from a wealthy aristocratic family and lacking nothing, always had a childish side that acted immaturely.
And the major, who was the representative of the misfortune that Brigadier General Steve used to fill his sense of superiority, had never really thought of himself as unhappy.
People around him would arbitrarily interpret him as a ‘poor man’ and pour out sympathy or insults, but he didn’t really care about what others said in the first place.
But the woman named Cynthia, whom he saw at the residence, felt different from other trivial people.
She didn’t try to judge him based solely on his appearance.
The major found that quite impressive.
He thought that perhaps she could be someone with whom he could reveal his true feelings for the first time, instead of a fake smile and kindness.
Beyond his thoughts of counting the floor patterns while thinking of Cynthia, he heard Brigadier General Steve’s condescending mockery.
“I heard you canceled your application for assignment to the Autonomous Region. Did you become greedy after being promoted? Do you know that I was looking out for you?”
“I am always grateful.”
Major Rodriguez gave Brigadier General Steve the words he wanted to hear, as he always had.
Brigadier General Steve frowned as he looked at his subordinate, who reacted tepidly to whatever he said.
‘Esatains are all gloomy and inscrutable.’
Thinking that, Brigadier General Steve took out a wedding invitation and threw it at the major.
The major lightly caught the wedding invitation while keeping his gaze on the floor.
“Go in my place. And pay the congratulatory money in my place too.”
Major Rodriguez’s blue eyes, which had been fixed on the floor, turned to the wedding invitation. Soon, his eyes, which had been as calm as a lake, rippled as if a wave had formed.
Bride, Cynthia Queensguard of the Bariessa Royal Family
“Cynthia Queensguard…”
Brigadier General Steve stared intently at the major’s face as he mumbled blankly.
He was exceptionally good at grasping changes in people’s feelings, as he used the misfortune of others as his foundation.
“What?”
“Nothing.”
Major Rodriguez erased the momentary agitation and lowered his head.
‘She was Brigadier General Vicente’s Princess.’
The favor she showed was clearly not a signal between a man and a woman. But somehow, he felt a sense of emptiness in his heart.
“You know that the Princess is hated by everyone, right? She should be treated as a capital offender.”
Brigadier General Steve was a man who had risen to this position through slander and schemes.
The Brigadier General, who had keenly read the agitation that had flashed across the major’s face a moment ago, said,
“I heard she’s being despised even at the residence. It’s obvious she’ll live an unhappy life, unloved by anyone.”
The Major, who had lowered his head, was no longer counting the patterns on the floor.
His darkly sunken blue eyes were tracing Cynthia’s bright smile.
The Brigadier General smiled slyly at the major, who was lost in thought, and opened his mouth.
“I feel sorry for the Princess, who will be used and abandoned.”
