Dangerous Man, Daniel Steiner
Dangerous Man, Daniel Steiner
The escort troops formed up around the armored vehicle carrying Daniel and moved out.
The sight of a battalion-sized force of about five hundred men escorting Daniel alone was truly a spectacle.
It was hard to fathom using a battalion to escort a single general, but if the subject was Daniel Steiner, anyone would have no choice but to nod in agreement.
Daniel Steiner was, to the Empire, practically the symbol of victory itself.
So, a battalion considered elite had been assigned as his escort in case of any potential threat.
Thus, Daniel, thoroughly showered with the affection of Selvia and the General Staff Headquarters, was breaking out in a cold sweat inside the armored vehicle.
'Isn't this a bit excessive.'
Not only were light tanks flanking him on either side, but troops armed with submachine guns and light machine guns were sticking close with a ferocious air.
Mobile troops on military motorcycles could also be seen moving about, conducting reconnaissance.
'It feels like they're escorting not a general, but even a member of the imperial family...'
At this rate, he was bound to attract a great deal of unwanted attention on the way back to the Imperial Capital.
Daniel, letting out a sigh, turned his gaze and pulled out a small box from his chest and a four-leaf clover tucked inside a semi-transparent piece of paper.
The citizens' hearts and Rabi's affection seemed contained within them, and an unconscious smile spread across his face.
'I've received countless medals so far, but...'
Small gifts like these had a way of bringing a greater sense of fulfillment than those.
'She said she'd come find me in the Imperial Capital when the war ends. What a bold child. She acted as if she knew the war would end soon.'
At the point when the Republic's general offensive had been stopped and nuclear weapon development had succeeded, it was as good as the Empire having secured a certain advantage.
'However...'
The question was whether Count Kaledra could accept his defeat as it was.
As Daniel's expression grew grave, Lucy, who had been watching him from the side, abruptly spoke up.
"Division Commander. Are you alright?"
Only then did Daniel, shaken from his thoughts, turn to the side.
He met eyes with Lucy, whose expression was as impassive as ever.
Others might not know, but Daniel understood that Lucy was worried about him right now.
Perhaps a little embarrassed about having worried over a future that hadn't even happened, Daniel gave an awkward smile.
"Yes. I was just lost in thought for a moment."
"I see. That's a relief, then. However..."
Lucy's gaze shifted to the small box and four-leaf clover held in Daniel's hand.
"It seems you've taken quite a liking to the citizens' gifts."
"Ah. You mean these? It's the first time I've received presents like this, so I ended up paying them attention without realizing."
"Then how about wearing it instead of just looking at it."
Since there was nothing to do on the way anyway, she was asking how about putting on the tie pin.
As Daniel nodded indifferently, Lucy naturally reached out her hand.
"Allow me."
"Alright. I leave it to you."
Daniel placed the box onto Lucy's hand.
Lucy, opening the box and taking out the tie pin, looked at Daniel.
"Would you turn your body a little towards me."
Daniel did so.
Holding the pin, Lucy leaned forward and lightly grasped Daniel's tie.
As the back of her hand touched Daniel's chest, their skin pressed close with only a shirt between them.
Paying no mind to that fact, Lucy inserted the gold pin into the tie.
"Now..."
Lucy, having fixed the pin, raised her head and was involuntarily startled.
Their faces were close.
Close enough to hear breathing.
It was a precarious distance, as if their lips would touch if they narrowed the gap just a little more.
Both of them were flustered, and a silence formed.
If one of them crossed the line here, things could spiral out of control.
Though desire welled up from deep within Lucy's heart, she soon shook her head.
There was no way she could commit such a shameless act in front of the driver.
"...It's done."
"Ah. I see."
After that awkward exchange, the two returned to their original positions.
While they both looked out the window, Lucy secretly shut her eyes tightly.
'Why did I just stand there blankly. Like a fool...'
She felt ashamed, as if she had only made the mood strange.
Worrying that Daniel might think her strange, she even felt anxious.
In the end, unable to bear it, Lucy glanced at Daniel and was a little surprised.
Because, however faintly, Daniel's face was also flushed.
Thinking that Daniel had felt similar emotions to her own, it somehow didn't feel bad.
Just as she was wondering if she should try to say something, Daniel spoke first.
"...It feels a little hot. Come to think of it, the Imperial Capital must be nearly full summer by now, no? Isn't that right?"
It was a change of topic to clear the air.
Finding that side of Daniel somehow endearing, Lucy gave a subtle smile.
"Yes. It seems we will need to change clothes once we return to the Imperial Capital."
Though she didn't quite understand it, Lucy was happy, feeling as though she and Daniel had shared a connection.
*
Ten days later, in the bedchamber of the Inner Palace.
"How is it? Does it look alright in the eyes of the Inner Court Office Chief?"
Selvia, having changed her earrings, asked while looking at herself in the mirror.
The Inner Court Office Chief, who normally would have been enthusiastically extolling the earrings' merits, was not so now.
"...Yes. It looks fine."
At the Inner Court Office Chief's curt impression, Selvia subtly puffed out her cheeks.
"What is that? That half-hearted answer?"
"Even if I wanted to show sincerity, haven't you just asked the same question ten times? The earrings alone ten times, and if you include the garments and gloves, it exceeds thirty times. Yet you still expect sincerity from me?"
Hearing that, it did make sense that she would be tired of it.
Selvia, understanding the Inner Court Office Chief's feelings, let out a low laugh.
"But I'm nervous. It's already been over half a year since I last met Major General Daniel. It's the first time we'll see each other's faces in half a year, so shouldn't I dress up as prettily as possible before going out?"
"...Your Majesty would be exceptionally beautiful even without adorning yourself."
"Still. It's human nature to want to look a little prettier."
The Inner Court Office Chief, who had been watching the excitedly chattering Selvia, let out a laugh without realizing it.
It was because Selvia, who had been exhausted to the bone from handling state affairs and cutting back on sleep ever since the Republic's general offensive, seemed to regain her vitality the day Daniel arrived.
Seen in this light, love seemed to possess a truly peculiar power.
"Do you like Major General Daniel that much, Your Majesty?"
Selvia, who had been touching up her earrings, nodded without hesitation.
"How could I not? He's the one who saved my life several times. Besides that, we have special memories together, so I can't help but be fond of him."
"What aspect of him do you like so much?"
"Should I explain briefly? Or at length?"
Since it seemed the day wouldn't end if she asked for the long version, the Inner Court Office Chief chose the former.
"Briefly, I beg you."
"Then it's simple. Major General Daniel is someone who sees me for who I am. He knows my true nature and still cares for me, so how could I dislike him? Although, in truth, there is one thing I'm a little worried about..."
"You said something you're worried about?"
Selvia, removing her hand from her earring, confirmed there was no one else around except the Inner Court Office Chief before opening her mouth.
"...Should I say his sexual tastes are a bit peculiar?"
The Inner Court Office Chief, who had been standing there blankly for a moment, opened her eyes wide.
"Don't tell me you made love before marriage!?"
Her voice was so loud that even Selvia flinched in surprise.
Selvia placed her index finger over her lips to warn her to be quiet.
Only then, realizing her voice had been too loud, did the Inner Court Office Chief clamp her mouth shut.
Seeing that, Selvia sighed.
"It's not like that. Perhaps I spoke out of turn because my heart was fluttering. Please forget it."
The Inner Court Office Chief, recovering from the shock, nodded.
Tok-tok─
Just then, a knock sounded.
When Selvia commanded entry, the door opened and a lady-in-waiting bowed her head.
"Your Majesty the Empress. Word has come that Major General Daniel has arrived in the Imperial Capital."
Upon hearing the lady-in-waiting's words, a flush of color spread across Selvia's face.
"How long until he arrives at the Imperial Palace? No. I shall go personally."
Selvia, thinking she had to go greet him immediately, made to leave the bedchamber but then looked back.
"Ah, yes. Inner Court Office Chief? I leave the tidying up to you."
As the Inner Court Office Chief nodded, Selvia went outside with the lady-in-waiting.
The Inner Court Office Chief, left alone, looked around.
She could see numerous garments and trinkets strewn about.
They were the traces of over two hours of effort put into dressing up, wanting to make a good impression on Daniel.
Deciding to clean up the simple things first, the Inner Court Office Chief walked towards the bed.
Her intention was to gather the clothes laid out on the bed.
"...Hm?"
At that moment, a book poking out from under the bed caught the Inner Court Office Chief's eye.
Bending down and picking up the book, the Inner Court Office Chief froze.
【Acting Lecture, How a Human Imitates an Animal】
Because the book's title was far from ordinary.
The Inner Court Office Chief, thinking 'no way', lay flat on the floor and checked under the bed, discovering there were two more hidden books.
Taking out those books and examining their titles, the Inner Court Office Chief could only be appalled.
【Why Men Became Prisoners of Sexual Desire?】
【57 Ways to Capture the Heart of the Opposite Sex in Bed】
Because the other books also had disconcerting titles.
Furthermore, as if studied bit by bit before sleeping, notes written on slips of paper were tucked between the pages.
'But what on earth is the connection between bed and animal acting...'
The Inner Court Office Chief, who had been looking for a connection between the books, recalled that Daniel Steiner had 'peculiar sexual tastes' and dropped the book she was holding.
'...Major General Daniel. Just what on earth have you made Her Majesty the Empress into?'
The Inner Court Office Chief was simply aghast.