[The feeling of respect is mutual. Julius thinks highly of Riza and treats her like a close comrade. She doesn't appear to be the type of person who'd disobey a direct order yo. ]

It's not too uncommon for leaders to work away from soldiers who fight. [It happened a lot back in Fenrir too. Issac rarely showed himself at the military base even though he's their main director. ]

You coordinated with the Colonel well. He must have been responsible for your actions to some extent. [He's happy to know that there's someone out there who'd watch Riza's back in a time of crisis. The battlefield is truly an awful place.]