Chapter 101 - Two Women Meet
『 TL – Divinity 』
『 PR – Vein 』
Christmas Day.
Golden Rose Bakery.
"Lieutenant Colonel Daniel Steiner and First Lieutenant Lucy Emilia, is it? It's a great honor to have you visit our establishment. Could you please wait a moment while I confirm your reservation?"
Daniel nodded, and the employee picked up a binder to check the list.
Meanwhile, Daniel looked at Lucy, who was standing next to him.
'This is the first time I've seen her in civilian clothes...'
Lucy was currently wearing a white blouse with a coat draped over her shoulders.
Her pencil skirt, a soft brown color, subtly accentuated her figure.
Her sophisticated and elegant attire was reminiscent of a modern woman of this era.
'However...'
She seemed somewhat nervous, perhaps because she wasn't used to wearing such clothes.
'I understand. I know how that feels.'
It was probably the feeling of self-consciousness that came with dressing up according to the latest trends and then going out in public.
"Lieutenant Colonel Daniel Steiner, First Lieutenant Lucy Emilia."
The employee's voice interrupted his thoughts.
Daniel turned his head, and the employee greeted them with a professional smile.
"Your reservation has been confirmed. Please follow me to your table."
The employee left the counter and gestured for them to follow.
Lucy and Daniel followed without a word, and he led them to a window seat.
"Please have a seat here, and I'll bring your food and coffee."
The employee bowed his head and left, and Lucy and Daniel sat down.
Facing each other across the table, they naturally made eye contact.
Lucy blinked with an impassive expression, and Daniel chuckled.
Lucy, finding this strange, spoke first,
"...Lieutenant Colonel? Why are you laughing?"
"Just... seeing you in civilian clothes after always seeing you in that stiff uniform makes you look different. You look like, what should I say... a successful actress."
At the sudden compliment, Lucy was speechless and her mouth fell open slightly.
She had dressed up to receive compliments, but now that it was actually happening, she didn't know how to react.
As a spy, she never hesitated when interacting with Daniel, but trying to face him as a woman filled her mind with confusion.
Daniel, gazing at her intently, took off his leather gloves.
"By the way, you know we have to visit the Imperial Palace this evening, right?"
"Ah, yes, I know about the banquet."
There was no way she wouldn't know, as Daniel had informed her via phone a few days prior.
'I'm not sure why she invited me as well, but...'
She couldn't refuse a direct invitation from the Empire's princess.
"There's no need to be nervous."
Daniel took off all of his gloves and placed them on the side of the table.
"It might seem like a grand event because it's an Imperial banquet, but it's ultimately just a social gathering. Just be mindful of your words, be careful with the alcohol, and enjoy the dinner..."
Daniel stopped mid-sentence.
The waiter was approaching with their stollen.
"Here's the Christmas special, stollen! Please enjoy!"
The waiter announced cheerfully and placed the stollen in the center of the table.
Then, he placed two steaming cups of coffee in front of Lucy and Daniel and stepped back.
"This is..."
Lucy looked at the stollen in the center of the table with sparkling eyes.
"It really does look like snow has fallen on the bread. It's beautiful."
"It tastes as good as it looks. I'll cut it for you, so wait a moment."
Daniel picked up the bread knife and smoothly sliced the stollen.
After cutting a few slices, he put down the knife.
"Try it first."
Daniel offered her a piece, wanting to hear her impressions.
Lucy nodded slightly, picked up a piece of stollen with her fork, and brought it to her mouth.
Her eyes widened as she took a bite.
'Delicious...'
The moment it entered her mouth, the stollen boasted a burst of sweetness.
Then, as she chewed the soft and moist bread, a savory flavor spread through her mouth.
The raisins added a touch of refreshing sweetness.
Lucy savored the flavor and swallowed the stollen, then hesitated before expressing her honest opinion.
She found Daniel's smug grin somewhat irritating.
It was as if he was saying, "See? It's delicious, isn't it? There's no way something I recommend would taste bad."
Wanting to be contrary, Lucy hid her true feelings and picked up a napkin to wipe her mouth.
"...It's edible."
Of course, it didn't work on Daniel.
'She's playing it cool again, even though she clearly enjoyed it.'
Her expression when she took the first bite said it all.
Thinking that she was putting up a cute resistance, Daniel smiled and raised his hand.
"I'm glad it's edible. Then let me try..."
Daniel looked for his fork, his hand hovering aimlessly in the air.
There was no fork to be found.
"Huh? It seems the waiter forgot my fork."
He considered just eating it with his hands, but the thought of getting sugar on his fingers made him hesitate.
Just as he was about to call for the waiter,
"In that case, I'll feed you."
Lucy picked up her fork, scooped up some stollen, and leaned forward.
"...Feed me?"
He wondered if she was joking, but Lucy's red eyes simply blinked innocently.
'What's this? Is this part of a honey trap?'
He wasn't sure, but he felt like he shouldn't refuse, so he accepted the stollen from her fork.
Savoring the sweet and savory flavor, Daniel glanced around and said,
"Adjutant, I appreciate your kindness, but I think it would be better to ask for another fork."
"...Why, sir?"
"There are many eyes watching. It wouldn't be good if they misunderstood us as a couple."
Lucy, who had simply offered him some stollen without any ulterior motives, blushed.
"Ah."
She felt embarrassed, realizing that she had unintentionally acted like his lover.
"Lieutenant Colonel Daniel, I didn't mean to..."
She tried to explain herself, but the atmosphere had already become awkward.
After a brief silence, Lucy spoke in a small voice,
"...I apologize."
Her ears were burning red.
═ ⋆★⋆ ═
After finishing their meal, Lucy and Daniel headed to the Imperial Palace as evening approached.
Guided by the staff from the Imperial Household who came to receive them, they soon arrived at the detached palace where the banquet was being held.
As if advertising that it was the venue for the banquet, all sorts of lights were shining brightly, and they could see prominent figures from the political and business circles chatting in the parking lot.
They entered the detached palace, and the grand hall, with its impressive chandelier, unfolded before them.
The hall was filled with food on the tables, and a giant Christmas tree stood in the center, exuding a festive atmosphere.
Moreover, the Imperial orchestra was playing classical music, creating a truly grand ambiance.
'I heard that the Christmas banquet was different from ordinary banquets...'
Daniel, inwardly impressed, entered the hall and sat down with Lucy at a table in the corner.
He decided it would be best not to stand out and attract attention.
However, when you were as famous as Daniel, people would naturally flock to you even if you were in a corner.
"Isn't that Lieutenant Colonel Daniel?"
A familiar voice called out, and it hadn't even been that long since he sat down at the table.
Daniel turned his head and saw Cedric, the Deputy Chief of Operations, dressed in a suit.
And since Sylvia was with him, Daniel hurriedly stood up.
Lucy also stood up.
"Deputy Chief of Staff. And Your Highness."
Daniel bowed his head in accordance with Imperial etiquette.
Sylvia glanced at Lucy, then turned her gaze to Daniel.
"Lieutenant Colonel Daniel, thank you for accepting my invitation."
"Thank you for inviting me, Your Highness. It's an honor."
"There's no need to be honored when someone deserving of an invitation receives one. But the Deputy Chief of Operations said he has something to discuss with you, Lieutenant Colonel."
Cedric looked at Sylvia with a puzzled expression.
He didn't have anything to discuss with Lieutenant Colonel Daniel.
But he quickly understood Sylvia's intentions and nodded.
"Indeed. Let's step aside and have a chat."
"Yes, sir."
Cedric, after receiving confirmation, led Daniel away.
Sylvia, watching them leave, turned to Lucy.
"Lieutenant Lucy? You're Lieutenant Colonel Daniel's adjutant, if I'm not mistaken?"
Sylvia was smiling, but her eyes weren't.
Sensing the strange atmosphere, Lucy nodded.
"Yes, Your Highness."
"Good. Then I'll be asking you a few questions... Ah, please have a seat."
"Please don't stand on ceremony, Your Highness. I can't sit while you're standing."
Sylvia's smile widened.
"I said, sit down."
Lucy finally realized that it wasn't a request, but an order.
"...Yes, Your Highness."
As Lucy sat down, Sylvia spoke casually,
"I've been quite interested in you lately, Lieutenant Lucy. If you don't mind, could you tell me about your background? Like your hometown and your family."
She couldn't understand the intention behind the question.
But since she couldn't refuse, Lucy answered as she had been trained.
"...I was born in a village called Mühlendorf in the southwest of the Empire. To be precise, in a small hut in the forest near Mühlendorf."
"Hmm, and?"
"I was raised by my grandfather there. He took care of me until I could live on my own. Then, I entered the Military Academy, completed all the courses, and was assigned to the General Staff Headquarters to assist Lieutenant Colonel Daniel."
It was a concise and flawless explanation.
Even Sylvia seemed convinced.
"I see. You must have had a difficult childhood. It wouldn't be easy to grow up in a hut without parents, raised only by your grandfather. Perhaps Lieutenant Lucy's past can be summarized in a single word."
"...A single word?"
"Are you curious? Then I'll tell you."
Sylvia placed her hands on the table and leaned forward.
Her platinum blonde hair cascaded down her shoulders.
As the tension in the air thickened, her blue eyes, resembling lapis lazuli, narrowed gently.
Just as Lucy flinched involuntarily, Sylvia smiled and whispered,
"Lies."