The next morning, early.
Inside the imperial palace garden.
“Hmm…”
Princess Selvia, her red cloak fluttering as she paced back and forth, glanced to the side.
“What do you think? Does it look okay?”
Seeing Princess Selvia’s restless demeanor, the head of the palace ladies gave an awkward smile.
“Your Highness, you’ve already asked three times now.”
“I can’t calm down. It’s been so long since we’ve met… So, how do I look?”
Selvia was asking about her makeup.
She had risen at dawn today and requested the palace maids to do her makeup, which was quite unusual. The maids poured their hearts into the task.
But it wasn’t overly dramatic.
They used light foundation and powder for a subtle, elegant beauty.
The lipstick was a nude tone close to her natural skin color.
From a distance, one might not even notice she was wearing makeup – that’s how delicate it was.
Which meant it had blended beautifully with her natural features.
“To me, Your Highness looks absolutely stunning. I believe Colonel Daniel Steiner would naturally praise such beauty upon seeing you.”
Praising her beauty?
Selvia giggled softly at the thought of Daniel complimenting her appearance – it didn’t seem like him at all.
“But I hope he does. By the way, is the Christmas banquet preparation going well?”
The Christmas banquet was an important annual event hosted by the royal family.
Though its scale has been reduced since the empire entered wartime, it remains a prestigious gathering attended by royalty, nobles and upper-class citizens.
Normally overseen by the emperor, this year it fell under Selvia’s responsibility during her regency.
Despite usually being frugal with expenses, Selvia didn’t hesitate to allocate funds from the treasury this time.
After all, the guest of honor was none other than Daniel Steiner.
She planned to celebrate the war hero’s return through this Christmas banquet.
With such clear justification, no one objected, allowing Selvia to prepare smoothly.
Looking at Selvia’s excited expression, the head lady-in-waiting smiled gently and nodded.
“As you requested, we’ve prepared the banquet according to Colonel Daniel’s preferences. We’ve also imported ingredients from around the world for desserts. The premium whiskey intended as a gift for Colonel Daniel will be arriving soon, so there’s no need to worry.”
Hearing this, Selvia nodded in satisfaction.
With everything perfectly arranged, the head lady-in-waiting cautiously spoke up.
“Your Highness, Her Majesty the Empress sent a gift through the palace administration. Shall I show it to you now?”
“My mother? What did she send?”
Checking Selvia’s reaction, the head lady-in-waiting bowed apologetically.
“Her Majesty personally selected several pieces of lingerie for Your Highness, instructing you to wear them on ‘important occasions.'”
A nearby maid stepped forward and slowly opened the lid of the lingerie box.
Selvia froze the moment she saw the contents.
“What nonsense is this…”
Not only were they revealing, but the designs were absurdly provocative.
It looked like something someone driven by lust would wear.
If anyone else had given this as a gift, she probably would have lost her temper.
Feeling her face heat up, Selvia waved her hand dismissively.
“Have them put away.”
“Understood. However, Her Majesty said ‘My daughter will likely reject the first gift, so I prepared another one.'”
“…What is it?”
Curiosity often overpowered discomfort.
As Selvia questioned, another maid stepped forward and opened another box.
Inside was an elegant crystal bottle containing an unknown pinkish liquid.
‘If it’s pink… could it possibly be…’
Watching the suspicious liquid with a cold gaze, veins popped out on Selvia’s forehead in a grid pattern.
“Get rid of it immediately.”
Following the order, the maids closed the box and retreated.
The head lady-in-waiting wasn’t surprised that Selvia rejected it, knowing her reaction beforehand. She simply followed Her Majesty’s orders.
“Please tell my mother that if she sends gifts like this again, I won’t greet her for at least half a year.”
Seeing how truly angry Selvia seemed, the head lady-in-waiting bowed deeply.
“I’ll convey that message to Her Majesty.”
Just as Selvia was about to say more, she stopped and shook her head.
‘They just couldn’t refuse Mother’s request.’
What fault could they possibly have?
In that moment of enlightenment, Selvia sighed softly.
“Colonel Daniel Steiner has arrived!”
An imperial guard loudly announced from the entrance of the garden.
Startled, Selvia quickly sat down at the table to avoid showing she had been eagerly waiting.
Picking up a teacup filled with tea was just a bonus to hide her anticipation.
Then she saw Colonel Daniel Steiner walking confidently toward her in his imperial army uniform, showing slight signs of fatigue on his face, which only made him more attractive to Selvia.
“He looks even better than before.”
She stared blankly, forgetting to pretend drinking tea.
Though objectively, his appearance hadn’t changed much from before he went to Belanos.
“Your Highness.”
Approaching, Daniel bowed according to palace etiquette, judging it more appropriate than a military salute for this private meeting.
Staring at Daniel silently, Selvia cleared her throat and put down her cup.
“You don’t need to stand while listening. Please take a seat.”
Nodding, Daniel sat across from Selvia.
Though thrilled to see Daniel alive after believing he was dead, Selvia maintained proper royal decorum.
“Congratulations on your safe return.”
“Thank you. It’s all thanks to His Majesty and Your Highness.”
After Daniel’s customary response, an awkward silence fell between them.
Uncertain where to continue the conversation, Selvia finally spoke amidst her anxiety.
“Do you know why I summoned you, Colonel Steiner?”
Are you testing me? Tensing involuntarily, Daniel replied as naturally as possible.
“I assume you called me to hear detailed reports about the peace talks.”
“I’ve already heard enough through the Foreign Ministry to make my ears hurt. I summoned you today for personal reasons.”
“Personal reasons, you say?”
Selvia fidgeted with her teacup, stalling for time.
Inviting him to the banquet felt strangely like asking him out on a date.
After careful consideration, Selvia finally spoke.
“Do you know, Colonel Steiner, that we’re hosting a grand Christmas banquet at the palace?”
“Ah, yes. I’ve heard they’ve already begun preparations.”
“Then we understand each other. I formally wish to invite you to this banquet.”
Now came Daniel’s expected response of gratitude and acceptance.
Selvia waited, but Daniel hesitated to reply.
Choosing his words carefully with an awkward smile, Daniel finally spoke.
“I do have prior commitments, but adjusting my schedule shouldn’t prevent me from attending the banquet.”
At “prior commitments,” question marks appeared above Selvia’s head.
“With whom?” she asked.
“Well…”
Pausing briefly, Daniel explained.
“There’s Lucy Emilia, my aide-de-camp. We agreed to spend Christmas together since neither of us had any particular plans.”
Lucy Emilia – Selvia vaguely recognized the name of the woman who contributed to stabilizing Nordia.
But she never expected this woman to be cozying up to Daniel.
“Hmm…”
Selvia forced a thin smile as if it didn’t bother her.
“That’s wonderful. I’ll extend an invitation to Colonel Steiner’s aide-de-camp for this year’s Christmas banquet as well. Then there’s no need to adjust your schedule, right?”
Though the atmosphere grew slightly tense, Daniel, unaware, nodded.
“If you arrange that, my aide-de-camp will surely feel honored. I’ll pass along the message.”
“Good. You may leave then.”
“Understood.”
Standing up, Daniel bowed properly according to protocol before turning to leave.
Watching his retreating back, Selvia’s previously excited demeanor completely disappeared.
Lucy Emilia.
Repeating the name Daniel mentioned, Selvia picked up her cup and took a sip of tea.
Clang –
Setting down her cup, Selvia subtly moved her lips.
“Head Lady-in-Waiting.”
Sensing the ominous atmosphere, the head lady quickly approached and bowed.
“Listen carefully. I’ll say this only once.”
The maids standing behind stiffened as they listened to Selvia’s frosty voice.
“Contact the intelligence bureau and thoroughly investigate Lucy Emilia’s background. Education, date of birth, political leanings, hometown, social connections, family background – everything.”
“Yes, understood.”
Hearing the head lady’s response, Selvia’s blue eyes narrowed sharply.
‘I need to know.’
Exactly who this woman is who’s getting close to Daniel Steiner.
‘If it’s not pure affection but rather some ulterior motive…’
She would stop it using every power at her disposal.
