chapter_0102

101 – The Meeting of Two Women

101 – The Meeting of Two Women

Christmas Day.

Golden Rose Confectionery.

“Lieutenant Colonel Daniel Steiner and Lieutenant Lucy Emilia, correct? It’s a great honor to have you visit our shop. Would you mind waiting a moment while I confirm your reservation?”

Daniel nodded, and the employee picked up a file to check the list.

In the meantime, Daniel looked at Lucy standing next to him.

‘It feels like it’s my first time seeing her in civilian clothes….’

Lucy was currently wearing a pristine white blouse with a coat draped over her shoulders.

She was wearing a black pencil skirt, which subtly revealed the lines of her body.

Her sophisticated and elegant attire was reminiscent of a modern woman of this era.

‘However….’

Perhaps because it wasn’t an outfit she wore often, Lucy seemed somewhat nervous.

‘I understand. I know that feeling.’

It must be that phenomenon where you try to dress up in the latest fashion, but once you go outside, you become subtly aware of other people’s gazes.

“Lieutenant Colonel Daniel Steiner, Lieutenant Lucy Emilia.”

Daniel’s thoughts were interrupted by the employee’s call.

Daniel turned his gaze, and the employee responded with a businesslike smile.

“Your reservation has been confirmed. I will escort you to your seats.”

The employee came out from behind the counter and began to walk, as if telling them to follow.

Lucy and Daniel followed without a word, and the employee guided them to a window seat.

“If you wait here, I will bring your food and coffee.”

The employee bowed and disappeared, and Lucy and Daniel took their seats.

Sitting across from each other at the table, they naturally looked at each other.

As Lucy blinked with an impassive expression, Daniel chuckled.

Lucy, puzzled by this, spoke first.

“…Lieutenant Colonel? Why are you laughing?”

“It’s just that I’m so used to seeing you in your stiff uniform that seeing you in civilian clothes makes you look different. Right now, you could easily pass for a top actress.”

At the sudden compliment, Lucy was speechless and slightly opened her mouth.

It was true that she had dressed up hoping to receive a compliment, but now that her imagination had become reality, she didn’t know how to respond.

When dealing with Daniel as a spy, she had no hesitation, but when trying to face Daniel as a woman, her mind was in turmoil.

Daniel, who had been gazing intently at Lucy, raised his hand and took off his leather gloves.

“More importantly, you know that we have to visit the Imperial Palace tonight, right?”

“Ah. You mean the banquet. I know.”

Daniel had told her in advance over the phone a few days ago, so she couldn’t possibly not know.

‘I don’t really know why I was invited, but….’

The Imperial Princess of the Empire had personally invited her, so she couldn’t refuse.

“There’s no need to be nervous.”

Daniel said, placing all his gloves next to the table.

“An Imperial banquet may sound grand, but it’s ultimately just a social gathering. Just be careful with your words, be mindful of your drinking, and enjoy the dinner, and….”

Daniel stopped speaking.

It was because the employee was approaching with a stollen.

“Here is your Christmas special, stollen! Please enjoy!”

The employee said brightly, placing the stollen in the center of the table.

Then, they placed two cups of steaming coffee in front of Lucy and Daniel and stepped back.

“This is….”

Lucy, who had been looking down at the stollen in the center of the table, sparkled with wonder.

“It really looks like snow has fallen on the bread. It’s beautiful.”

“The taste is as good as the appearance. I’ll cut it for you soon, so wait a moment.”

Daniel, holding a bread knife, gently sliced the stollen.

He put down the bread knife only after cutting several slices.

“Eat first.”

Daniel, who wanted to hear Lucy’s impressions, offered her the food.

Lucy nodded slightly, picked up a piece of stollen with her fork, and brought it to her lips.

Lucy’s eyes widened as she opened her small lips and put the stollen in her mouth.

‘Delicious….’

As soon as the stollen entered her mouth, it boasted a sweet taste.

Then, as she chewed the moist and soft bread, a savory flavor spread.

In addition, the raisins that were chewed in between added a refreshing touch.

Lucy, who had been savoring the taste, paused as she was about to express her honest impressions.

It was because Daniel, who was looking at her with a smug smile, seemed somehow annoying.

It was as if he was saying, ‘How is it? Delicious, right? I recommended it, so there’s no way it wouldn’t be good!’

Feeling a sudden urge to be contrary, Lucy hid her true feelings and took a napkin to wipe her mouth.

“…It’s edible.”

Of course, that didn’t work on Daniel.

‘She liked it, but she’s pretending again.’

The expression she had when she took a bite of the stollen said it all.

Thinking that she was putting up a cute resistance, Daniel maintained his smile and raised his hand.

“I’m glad you find it edible. Then I’ll have a bite….”

Daniel’s hand, searching for a fork, wandered aimlessly in the air.

No matter how much he looked, there was no fork.

“Huh? It seems the employee forgot my fork.”

He wondered if he should just pick it up with his hands, but he hesitated at the thought of getting sugar on his hands.

Just as he was about to call the employee,

“If that’s the case, I’ll feed it to you.”

Lucy picked up the stollen with her fork and leaned forward.

“…Feed me?”

He wondered if it was a joke, but Lucy’s red eyes were simply blinking, seemingly clueless.

‘What is it? Is it part of her charm offensive?’

He didn’t know exactly, but Daniel thought that he shouldn’t refuse and accepted the stollen.

Daniel, who had been savoring the sweet and savory taste of the stollen, looked around and said.

“Lieutenant. I appreciate your kindness, but I think it would be better to order another fork.”

“…Why is that?”

“Aren’t there too many eyes watching? It would be troublesome if they misunderstood our relationship as lovers.”

Lucy, who had handed Daniel the stollen without any special intention, blushed belatedly.

“Ah.”

She felt embarrassed at the thought that she had unintentionally acted like a lover.

“Lieutenant Colonel Daniel. I absolutely didn’t mean it that way….”

She belatedly tried to make excuses, but the atmosphere was already awkward.

After a brief silence, Lucy said in a barely audible voice.

“…I’m sorry.”

Her ears were bright red to boot.

*

After finishing their meal, Lucy and Daniel headed to the Imperial Palace in the evening.

Guided by the Inner Court personnel who had come to greet them, Lucy and Daniel soon arrived at the Separate Palace where the banquet was being held.

The place was brightly lit with all sorts of lights, as if advertising that it was the venue for the banquet, and from the parking lot, well-known figures from the political and business world were chatting.

Looking around at them, they entered the Separate Palace, and the Great Hall with its impressive giant chandelier unfolded before them.

Inside the hall, numerous dishes were laid out on the tables, and a huge Christmas tree in the center showed off its splendor.

In addition, the Imperial orchestra was playing classical music, creating a truly magnificent atmosphere.

‘I heard that Christmas banquets are different from ordinary banquets, but….’

Daniel, inwardly impressed, entered and took a seat with Lucy at a table on the edge.

He judged that there was no point in attracting the attention of others.

However, when someone as famous as Daniel was in a corner, people naturally gathered.

“Isn’t that Lieutenant Colonel Daniel?”

Not long after they sat down at the table, a familiar voice was heard.

Daniel turned his head and saw Cedric, the Chief of Staff in a suit.

Selvia was also next to him, so Daniel quickly got up from his seat.

Lucy did the same.

“Chief of Staff. And Your Highness the Princess.”

Daniel bowed according to etiquette.

Selvia glanced at Lucy once and turned her head towards Daniel.

“Lieutenant Colonel Daniel. Thank you for accepting my invitation.”

“I am grateful for the invitation. I consider it an honor.”

“It’s just that someone who deserves to be invited was invited, so there’s no honor in it. By the way, the Chief of Staff said he had something to talk to Lieutenant Colonel Daniel about.”

Cedric looked back at Selvia with a puzzled expression.

He didn’t have anything to talk to Lieutenant Colonel Daniel about separately.

However, Cedric soon understood Selvia’s intention and nodded.

“As Her Highness the Princess said. Let’s go over there and talk.”

“Yes. I understand.”

Cedric, having heard the answer, took Daniel and walked elsewhere.

Selvia, who had been watching their backs, turned to Lucy.

“Lieutenant Lucy? I believe you are Lieutenant Colonel Daniel’s aide? Am I correct?”

Selvia’s mouth was smiling, but her eyes were not.

In a strange atmosphere, Lucy nodded.

“That’s right, Your Highness the Princess.”

“Good. Then I’m going to ask Lieutenant Lucy a few questions from now on… Ah. Let’s sit down first.”

“Please withdraw your words. I cannot sit while Your Highness is standing.”

The smile on Selvia’s lips deepened.

“I said sit down.”

Only then did Lucy realize that those words were an order, not a consideration.

“…I understand.”

As Lucy sat down, Selvia casually opened her mouth.

“I’ve been interested in Lieutenant Lucy lately. If it’s okay, could you tell me about the environment you grew up in? Like your hometown or your relationship with your family.”

She couldn’t understand the intention of the question.

However, since she was in a position where she couldn’t refuse, Lucy spoke as she had been taught.

“…I was born in a village called Mühlendorf, located in the southwest of the Empire. To be exact, in a small cabin in the forest near Mühlendorf.”

“Hmph. And then?”

“I was raised there by my grandfather. Until I could be independent, my grandfather cherished and cared for me. After that, 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 neat and concise explanation.

Thanks to that, Selvia seemed to be convinced as well.

“I see. You must have had a pretty tough life. Being raised by your grandfather in a cabin without parents wouldn’t have been easy. Perhaps Lieutenant Lucy’s past can be summed up in one word.”

“…In one word?”

“Are you curious? Then I’ll tell you.”

Selvia placed her hand on the table and leaned forward.

The glossy platinum blonde hair flowed down her shoulders.

As the thread of tension was stretched taut, the blue eyes, resembling sapphires, narrowed softly.

At the moment when Lucy involuntarily flinched, Selvia smiled and moved her lips.

“Lies.”

Author’s Note

Thank you for the 20 coin donation, Earlybird! Thank you for celebrating the 100th chapter! I will continue to write hard in the future! Please keep watching!

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I’m sorry for being late…! It took a lot of time to make corrections during the review process…!

Anyway, thank you to all the readers who read it today!

The weather is very cold, so take care of your health!

Then I’ll see you again tomorrow!