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Translator: Vine
Chapter Title: A Sweet Escape
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The Empire's Desserts are the Best in the World
Daniel, having heard the dreadful news of drawing the higher-ups' attention, decided that this time, he absolutely had to go to a dessert shop for some healing.
'It's a good thing to take care of one's mental health in a busy and tough work life.'
And so, as soon as Daniel left work, he took a shortcut and arrived in front of the Golden Rose Patisserie, a newly opened shop on the outskirts of the capital.
The strong scent of sweets and bread already wafting out suggested it was likely a proper dessert shop.
Thanks to this, Daniel was quite satisfied.
So much so that he might have hummed a tune, if it weren't for the strange woman beside him.
"This is the place you said we should go, Captain."
Lucy said, looking up at the patisserie's sign, and Daniel secretly groaned inwardly.
'…Why did she follow me, anyway?'
Recalling the past, as he was leaving General Headquarters after work, Lucy had spoken to him, and Daniel had answered her in a businesslike manner.
In the course of their conversation, the topic of dessert shops came up, and Daniel had merely hinted, as a courtesy, that she could join him if she wished.
He had naturally expected her to refuse, but Lucy accepted, saying she wouldn't refuse a superior's favor.
From Daniel's perspective, it was extremely uncomfortable.
'Is she trying to keep an eye on me?'
Lucy's intentions were obvious, but Daniel nodded without showing it.
"Let's go in."
Daniel stepped forward, opened the patisserie door, and entered, with Lucy following behind him.
At their appearance, the employee sitting at the counter immediately rose with a smile.
"Welcome! This is the Golden Rose Patisserie, bringing happiness to all! How many are in your party…?"
The employee stopped mid-sentence and closed his mouth.
Not only were two soldiers in military officer uniforms entering, but their fierce gazes staring at him created an immense sense of intimidation.
In reality, both were expressionless, but the employee had no way of knowing that.
'Scary…!'
The employee, who was crying inwardly, barely managed to compose himself and forced an awkward smile.
"There are two of you. Do you happen to have any menu items in mind?"
"Ah, yes, we do."
Daniel, who had taken off his uniform cap and tucked it under his arm, spoke with a faint smile.
"I heard that the Dream Parfait is famous here. Even though it just opened recently, so many people come to eat it, so it must be delicious. Two, please."
"Ah…"
He was scary when expressionless, but seeing him speak softly with a smile revealed a subtle, captivating charm.
An unexpected side, perhaps? The employee, momentarily dazed, soon nodded.
"I-I'll prepare it right away! If it's alright, please take a seat by the window!"
Daniel, who answered with a slight nod, went to an available window seat and sat down.
Lucy also sat opposite Daniel and placed her briefcase on the empty seat beside her.
As she did, she observed Daniel intently.
He looked around with a languid expression, as if he were quite familiar with dessert shops.
'So, his words yesterday about going to a dessert shop weren't a lie after all?'
If it had been a lie, it would mean Daniel had known her identity from the start and tracked her.
He would have fabricated a hobby like 'going to dessert shops' to hide it.
But he seemed so natural. As if he had visited similar shops many times.
'Could it really have been a coincidence?'
Lucy was deep in thought, making various deductions in her mind, when she suddenly made eye contact with Daniel.
"…Why are you staring so intently? Is there something on my face?"
Oh, right. She hadn't managed her gaze properly while lost in thought.
Just as Lucy let out a cough and opened her mouth to make an excuse, it happened.
"Your two Dream Parfaits are ready!"
The employee, calling out in a clear voice, brought two parfaits and placed them in front of Lucy and Daniel.
"Then, I hope you have a delicious day!"
With those words, the employee bowed politely and returned to the counter.
Daniel, who was naturally about to pick up his spoon to eat the parfait, paused.
Because Lucy was literally glaring at the parfait placed in front of her.
"…"
It was understandable, given that Lucy had never seen this dessert called a parfait in her life.
From birth until now, she had lived a life where she had eaten nothing but military and research facility rations.
That's why, when she was first commissioned as Daniel's adjutant, she had once inwardly marveled after eating a freshly baked croissant.
If even a croissant could evoke such a reaction, then such an elaborate dessert was completely new to Lucy.
The sight of ice cream, cookies, fruit, cream, and chocolate syrup haphazardly combined and layered in a tall glass looked almost magnificent.
'…How on earth do you eat this?'
As Lucy fretted behind her impassive expression, Daniel let out a small chuckle.
He had a rough idea of what was going on.
"Alright. Shall we try it?"
Daniel, feigning a soliloquy, pressed his spoon firmly into the ice cream in the parfait.
Slowly lifting the spoon so that a halved strawberry and cream came along with it, Daniel took a bite of the ice cream.
A smooth, sweet, and tangy flavor spread richly in his mouth.
Satisfied, Daniel set his spoon down with a faint smile, and Lucy immediately copied him.
Of course, she didn't have high expectations.
Because the Empire's desserts, or whatever they were, couldn't possibly be delicious.
But the moment she put the spoonful of ice cream into her mouth.
Lucy's eyes widened.
"Gasp…!"
Lucy, letting out a strange gasp, put down her spoon and blinked blankly.
All sorts of sweet flavors blended in her mouth, tasting like something divine.
It was incomparable to military rations.
That was natural, of course. Military food tends to prioritize nutrition over taste.
Having only eaten military rations and then tasting a dessert that was 'all in' on flavor, she was shocked.
That sight felt quite satisfying to Daniel.
'Yesterday she dismissed it as junk food. Had she never even tasted it before?'
Daniel, letting out a low chuckle, said triumphantly,
"Well? Does the dessert suit your taste?"
At Daniel's words, Lucy snapped out of it, her eyes half-opened in surprise.
The belated realization that she had failed to maintain her composure over just one dessert brought a rush of embarrassment.
And not just any food, but she had been 'defeated' by the Empire's dessert.
Lucy, feeling a sense of shame, faintly blushed and mumbled,
"It's… palatable."
The slight tremor in her voice spoke volumes about Lucy's current feelings.
"Good to know it's palatable."
With those words, Daniel took out a cookie stuck in the parfait and bit into it.
The crispy texture was superb.
Daniel savored the taste of the parfait, then gazed out the window, falling into thought for a moment.
'Although his adjutant is a spy and things aren't going as planned lately…'
He might have to be grateful for the very fact that he could work in such a peaceful rear area rather than on the battlefield.
Because fierce battles were likely raging on the front lines right now.
'A parfait would be unthinkable on the battlefield, wouldn't it?'
So, Daniel hoped he could continue to work in the rear.
Because he detested battlefields where he had to risk his life.
*
Meanwhile, at General Headquarters.
The Deputy Chief of Staff's office.
Rustle—
Brigadier General Cedric Wendell, surrounded by all sorts of confidential documents, calmly turned a page of the newspaper.
His keen eyes quickly scanned the article in the newspaper.
Less than thirty seconds later, Cedric finished reading the article and put the newspaper down.
'He wiped out a mafia organization…'
The article he had just read stated that Captain Daniel Steiner had annihilated a mere mafia organization.
'Why?'
Cedric was curious about the reason.
Captain Daniel Steiner had already accumulated several achievements, placing him on the list for early promotion.
If he continued without any incidents for just two more years, he would undoubtedly be promoted to Major.
He wouldn't be unaware of that himself.
Yet, he went looking for more achievements and annihilated a mafia organization.
And he did it alone, after working hours.
Cedric, blinking slowly, fully understood Daniel's intentions.
'…He can't wait two years, can he?'
The current battlefield was such that even after just one year, existing intelligence became obsolete.
From Daniel's perspective, full of a desire to contribute to the Empire, it must have been frustrating.
No matter how much he was a hero of the capital, with merely the rank of Captain, his influence within the military would inevitably be negligible.
Therefore, by annihilating the mafia organization, Daniel was making a statement to the higher-ups.
'I understand. He can't rot away in General Headquarters like this, so he wants to be sent to the front lines.'
He must be aiming for a special promotion to Major by accumulating experience—that is, achievements—on the battlefield.
Once he became a field officer, his authority would increase incomparably to that of a company-grade officer.
Daniel clearly wanted to operate on the front lines of the Empire, wielding that authority.
'He's a courageous young man. Like a brightly burning flame, isn't he?'
At a time when the nation was in turmoil, both internally due to the succession issue and externally due to the Allied forces' offensive, a talent like Daniel Steiner was worth a fortune.
'Excellent. I was just thinking of sending operational support to the Northern Front Army.'
If a capable young man desired a special promotion, it was right to give him the opportunity.
Because it would benefit the Empire in the long run.
'Very well. Captain Daniel Steiner. I will trust you, so…'
Go on and run wild on the battlefield.