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Translator: Vine
Chapter Title: Temptation is Never Easy
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The next day.
Daniel, reporting to the General Staff Headquarters, entered the Chief of Staff's office to report on operational support and spoke with Ernst, the Deputy Chief of Staff.
After the formal report concluded, Ernst, with a satisfied smile, informed Daniel that he could now conduct his work from a private office.
The reason given was that a talented individual like him had no need to rub shoulders with the rest of the staff in the General Staff office.
Daniel vehemently refused, but it seemed the decision had already been made by higher-ups, as Ernst firmly insisted, even adding the word "order."
Thanks to this, even as the workday moved into the afternoon, Daniel found himself working from his private office.
As an added bonus, Lucy was reviewing documents not far from him.
Daniel, observing Lucy engrossed in her work at her desk, felt a wave of fatigue and leaned back in his chair.
'I'm back in the capital, but...'
Unfortunately, this wasn't the situation Daniel had hoped for.
Thanks to accumulating an almost burdensome amount of military achievements on the battlefield, he was now at greater risk of getting caught up in the succession struggle between the Crown Prince and Princess.
For now, he had managed to temporarily hold them off, but there was no telling when their influence might reach even here.
'And it seems His Majesty the Emperor doesn't trust me either...'
To Daniel, the Emperor's attitude yesterday felt like he was testing the waters, probing his intentions.
He wasn't sure what conclusions had been drawn from that interaction, but it certainly wasn't anything positive.
'Even the people at General Staff Headquarters seem to be subtly avoiding me.'
When Daniel entered the Chief of Staff's office for his report today, he couldn't help but be taken aback by the awkward silence.
He had expected a welcoming reception for his return, but instead, the staff members seemed somewhat intimidated, busy trying to gauge Daniel's mood.
A few individuals did approach to greet him, but even their greetings felt stiff.
— M-Major Daniel! It truly is a relief to see you return safely!
— Please, if you have any orders for us, don't hesitate to speak!
— The Golden Cross Medal...! H-His Majesty the Emperor personally awarded it to you, didn't he?
The distinct fear in their voices and expressions was still vivid to him.
'Have the rumors spread? That I ruthlessly blackmailed the enemy nation's foreign minister to secure the negotiation...'
It was a clear misunderstanding, but he was in a position where he couldn't even explain it, making it incredibly awkward.
It was like trying to untangle one knot only to end up tying several more in the process.
Daniel, letting out a silent sigh, looked at Lucy as if grasping at straws.
"Adjutant. Do I seem intimidating to you too?"
Lucy, looking up, blinked a few times before replying.
"I'm not entirely sure of the intent behind your question, but in my opinion, Major, you are not a frightening person."
Can't you just be a little afraid of me? Daniel, carefully concealing his true thoughts, gave a perfunctory nod and pretended to resume his work.
At that, Lucy also turned her attention back to reviewing documents.
Daniel, glancing at Lucy, shuffled through a few documents before setting them down.
He simply couldn't focus on work today.
"I suppose I should go to the officers' club after work, for the first time in a while..."
At Daniel's muttered words, Lucy's ears perked up.
'...The officers' club?'
As far as Lucy knew, the officers' club at the Imperial General Staff Headquarters was a social gathering place, a bar serving drinks and cocktails.
Thinking this was an opportunity, Lucy subtly glanced at Daniel and slowly formulated a plan.
*
After work, Daniel headed straight for the officers' club without a moment's hesitation.
Lucy, having witnessed this, loitered in the vicinity for about an hour before entering the officers' club herself.
She had waited an hour to give the impression that their encounter was purely coincidental.
'Alright. Let's begin.'
Upon entering the officers' club, Lucy took a moment to survey her surroundings.
Elegant lighting softly illuminated the interior, while wooden panels and velvet sofas added to the classic ambiance.
Seeing junior and field-grade officers mingling and sharing drinks, it was certainly deserving of being called a social hub.
'But Daniel Steiner is...'
Lucy, her eyes scanning for her target, spotted Daniel sitting alone at the bar table.
Taking a deep breath to calm her nerves, Lucy went and sat in the seat next to Daniel.
"Major? So you were here."
She spoke naturally, but no reply came from Daniel.
She glanced over to see Daniel gripping a glass on the table with one hand, while the other was pressed to his forehead, his eyes closed.
He appeared to be deep in thought.
Lucy wasn't sure what he was pondering, but thinking it best not to disturb him, she looked up at the bartender.
"Excuse me..."
"Yes? Ah. Madam. What can I get for you?"
At the bartender's polite voice, Lucy hesitated for a moment before speaking.
"I'd like the same as Major Daniel, please."
"Ah, you enjoy Scotch whisky? And Johnnie Walker, no less. It's light yet has a sophisticated taste. An excellent choice, indeed."
The bartender took out a clean glass, placed a large ice cube in it, and poured the Johnnie Walker.
"Here you are."
Lucy nodded and took the glass the bartender offered.
The sunset-like hue of the whisky, complementing the soft lighting, created quite an atmosphere.
Lucy gently swirled the glass, seeing her reflection in the liquid.
'Alcohol...'
It was a luxury she had always avoided, as it offered no benefit to her espionage activities.
However, to build rapport with Daniel and ultimately 'seduce' him, it was a necessary indulgence she had to partake in.
Lucy raised the glass, squeezed her eyes shut, and took a sip of the whisky.
At the same time, she couldn't help but frown.
'Ugh...'
It felt like a ball of fire sliding down her throat.
Moreover, the lingering alcoholic taste in her mouth was utterly unpleasant.
Why on earth does Daniel drink this? Lucy, unable to comprehend, turned to look at him and was taken aback to find Daniel's posture hadn't changed in the slightest.
'No way...'
Is he sleeping right now? Lucy, blinking blankly, turned back to the bartender.
"Excuse me, but I have a question."
"...What question would that be, madam?"
"Has the Major had a lot to drink?"
At Lucy's question, the bartender glanced at Daniel once, then chuckled and shrugged.
"Yes. It seems he had a rough day today; he drank seven glasses in a row. What was it he said? Something about 'life being a continuous stream of suffering'? He mumbled something philosophical, closed his eyes, and has been in this state ever since."
This left Lucy utterly dumbfounded.
"..."
She had planned to pretend to be drunk to seduce Daniel, but it turned out Daniel was already passed out, completely intoxicated.
Lucy let out a low sigh, stood up, and bowed her head to the bartender.
"I apologize on the Major's behalf for any trouble he might have caused you."
"Oh? Oh, no, not at all. Major Daniel's drunken habits are quite polite. In fact, I wish all my customers were like him."
"Thank you for saying that. As for Major Daniel..."
Lucy looked down at Daniel and continued, as if resigned.
"I will escort him back to his quarters."
Suddenly, she found herself unexpectedly tasked with taking care of her superior.
*
Upon arriving at the quarters, Lucy unlocked the door, went inside, and laid Daniel on the bed.
Lying on the bed, Daniel stirred and quietly mumbled.
"Water..."
Veins pulsed visibly on Lucy's forehead, strained from dragging Daniel all the way to his quarters.
'Should I kill him?'
If she had been given an assassination mission in this situation, it was entirely possible she would have picked up a gun and pulled the trigger without hesitation.
Lucy, looking down at Daniel with displeasure, went into the kitchen and poured a glass of water.
She figured there was no harm in giving him a glass of water.
Returning with the glass, Lucy knelt on the bed, took Daniel by the shoulder, and gently shook him.
"Major. I've brought water."
The intention was for him to sit up, as drinking water while lying down posed a risk of choking.
However, Daniel, already completely intoxicated, showed no signs of wanting to get up.
Just as Lucy, annoyed, shook his shoulder a little harder...
Daniel suddenly grabbed Lucy's arm and pulled her down.
"...!?"
Pulled down before she could resist, Lucy dropped the glass of water.
She instinctively squeezed her eyes shut, then slowly opened them to find Daniel's chest in her view.
Lucy, blankly comprehending the situation, realized she was now in Daniel's embrace.
"...!"
Her eyes widened, like a startled cat.
While she was at a loss, Daniel gently pulled her closer, holding the back of her head.
"Don't go..."
His deep voice tickled her ear.
Then, Lucy recalled something Frien had told her.
— Men are, fundamentally, wolves.
Right. No matter how cold-blooded Daniel Steiner was, he was still a man in his prime.
'Even so...'
She hadn't expected to be pulled into Daniel's arms so suddenly.
She wanted to push him away, but bound by her mission, she couldn't.
So, just as she was tensing up, Daniel's lips parted again.
"That way is muddy... The headmistress will scold you..."
Headmistress? Lucy blinked a few times, then let out a low sigh.
'Was that just sleep-talking?'
Understanding the situation, Lucy felt a quiet sense of relief as she freed herself from Daniel's arm and sat up.
Lucy, who had been looking down at Daniel, still deeply asleep, with a strange gaze, snapped back to reality, got off the bed, and practically fled the quarters.
Thud.
Lucy, having hastily closed the quarters' door, exhaled as if all the strength had left her.
Clearing her muddled thoughts, Lucy leaned her back against the door, clenching her fists.
'That was dangerous...'
Even as she thought it was dangerous, Lucy couldn't quite define what exactly had been dangerous or how.
Lucy, unnecessarily clutching the hem of her innocent uniform skirt, felt her face flush.
Soon, she half-closed her eyes and bit her lower lip.
For some reason, the pounding of her heart showed no sign of slowing down.