-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Vine
Chapter Title: Because I Have an Allergy
-----------------------------------------------------------------
After indirectly overhearing a death threat via CCTV, I headed to my office and ordered Lucy to stop working.
Afterward, I took Lucy to lunch, and once we finished, I informed her about the auxiliary facilities available to officers at the staff headquarters, then returned to my office.
I handled most of the afternoon's work.
The reason was simple.
Because the thought crossed my mind that if I piled more work on Lucy, I might genuinely die.
It was unlikely, but what if Lucy, driven mad by excessive work, pulled out the revolver from her hip holster and shot me? That would be a disaster, wouldn't it?
So, from then on, I planned to conduct my work in a way that would avoid provoking Lucy as much as possible.
"Captain."
Just as I finished all the afternoon's work, Lucy, having organized her documents, looked my way.
"It's time to go home."
Had it gotten that late already?
I looked up at the wall clock, and just as Lucy said, the hour hand was pointing to 6 PM.
As much as I wanted to hum a tune and leave the staff headquarters, going home with Lucy was out of the question. Who knew what might happen?
"You should go ahead. I'll stay behind to review some additional..."
"In that case, I'll stay behind with you and help, Captain."
"...I was going to, but it seems better to just leave. Let's go."
I cleared my throat, stood up, draped my officer's coat over my arm, and picked up my briefcase.
Lucy also finished preparing to leave and stood up.
As I opened the office door and stepped into the hallway, Lucy naturally fell in beside me.
Lucy, carrying a briefcase like mine and walking alongside me, suddenly felt puzzled and tilted her head.
"Captain? You don't look well. Is something wrong?"
It's because of you, you crazy bitch!
...The words climbed to the roof of my mouth, but I held them back with superhuman patience.
"I'm just feeling a little unwell. Nothing to worry about."
Saying that, I maintained my silence and walked out of the staff headquarters.
I walked under the eaves and then slowly stopped.
It was raining. Not a downpour, but a gentle drizzle.
Lucy, who had approached my side, spoke with a troubled tone.
"It's raining. The weather bureau said it would be clear all day today..."
"Pathetic."
Even weather bureaus in the far future occasionally get forecasts wrong, so trusting the current weather bureau and not bringing an umbrella was foolish.
"An Imperial officer must always be fully prepared for adverse weather conditions."
I took out a folding umbrella from my briefcase.
After a moment's hesitation, I held out the umbrella to Lucy.
"Take it and use it. I don't want my direct subordinate to look like an imbecile, walking home in the rain."
"Pardon? But..."
"Don't make me say it twice."
Maintaining a professional relationship while extending appropriate courtesies was the shortest path to extending my lifespan.
Lucy looked at me, seemingly surprised, then raised both hands to take the umbrella.
"Thank you, I'll put it to good use. But are you really sure, Captain? If I take the umbrella, you'll have to walk in the rain."
"I have a spare in my office. I'll just go get that."
In truth, there was no spare.
But I wanted to avoid walking under the same umbrella as a spy, so I lied.
Lucy gave me a meaningful look, then nodded and opened the umbrella.
"Then, I'll see you tomorrow."
Lucy bowed her head slightly and walked away.
Watching Lucy's retreating figure, I let out a sigh of relief.
'I'm alive.'
Sharing an office with a spy who could kill me at any moment was incredibly draining.
'Speaking of which...'
Now I was stuck in the headquarters until the rain stopped.
Just as I was thinking of getting a head start on tomorrow's work, since I was already trapped here anyway...
In the distance, a steam-powered vehicle with a long bonnet and a slim body drove in.
It was a modern-era vehicle reminiscent of a Doble Model E, but it was considered an antique, having been released more than twenty years ago even in the current age.
At a time when internal combustion engine vehicles were already widespread, only old men or misers would drive something like that.
And as far as I knew, the owner of that car possessed both of those characteristics.
Screech—
The vehicle pulled up to the building entrance and stopped cleanly.
The person in the driver's seat was, predictably, my superior, Colonel Ernst.
Ernst got out of the car and was about to enter the staff headquarters when he spotted me and immediately beamed.
"Oh! Captain Daniel! I was just looking for you—what an incredible coincidence!"
"...You were looking for me, sir?"
"Yes. Didn't I tell you I was going to speak with someone from the Imperial family? I received a very good proposal there! You'll be delighted when you hear it."
I was already feeling uneasy.
Sweating secretly, I asked again.
"A good proposal, you say?"
"You've heard that the Imperial family is hosting a banquet to celebrate the Northern Front Army's victory, haven't you? Most graciously, the Imperial family has sent invitations to both you and me."
"Pardon? No... even if it's you, Chief, why would *I* be invited to a banquet?"
I was asking sincerely, but Ernst playfully poked my side as if I were joking.
Perhaps because he'd received an Imperial invitation, he seemed to be in a very good mood.
"My friend, modesty truly suits you, doesn't it? After all the merits you've accumulated, how could the Imperial family *not* invite you? So, don't worry about it, let's go together."
...This is troublesome. It wasn't a joke; I genuinely didn't want to go.
As far as I knew, if it was a banquet celebrating the Northern Front Army's victory, a terrorist attack would definitely occur.
I didn't know exactly what kind of attack would happen.
Because it was only written as a single line in the game's lore book.
In any case, I wanted to stay as far away from unknown dangers as possible.
But there was no way a mere captain could refuse an Imperial invitation.
Was there no way out? Troubled, I looked at Ernst, desperate for a lifeline.
"Chief. I'm not sure if you'll believe me, but I have an Imperial allergy. It's a condition where my symptoms worsen when I see noble and high-ranking individuals. So, I wonder if I might be excused from attending..."
Ernst frowned, a rare sight.
His gaze held a faint disgust, like a teenager hearing a dad joke for the first time.
"Captain Daniel."
"Yes, sir."
"Please, don't talk nonsense."
"...Yes, sir."
In this deflated atmosphere, it seemed I couldn't express my desire to be absent any further.
So, regrettably, my attendance at the banquet was confirmed.
*
Meanwhile, at Eisenkrone Palace in the Empire.
Second floor of the Imperial Library.
"Your Imperial Highness."
Selvia, who had been deciphering ancient documents spread across her desk, looked up.
Standing there was an old veteran in a uniform emblazoned with golden wing insignia on the shoulders—Lieutenant Colonel Hartmann Edelstein, chief of the Princess's security detail.
Identifying the person who had called her, Selvia lowered her head and turned to a later page of the ancient document.
"What is it?"
Her tone was cold. It also implied that she was engrossed in deciphering the ancient document and did not wish to be disturbed.
But this time, Hartmann couldn't simply let it go.
"The Head Lady-in-Waiting, who is in charge of attire, asked me for a favor. She said that she needs to prepare for tomorrow's banquet, but Your Highness shows no interest in adornment and remains confined to the library, which makes things difficult."
Selvia let out a low sigh.
"Then please tell the Head Lady-in-Waiting that studying tactics and strategy is many times more beneficial than spending time on adornment."
"Your Highness."
"Hartmann. I have no intention whatsoever of being a mere spectacle for those attending the banquet. Besides, we've only just succeeded in pushing back the Allied forces in the North; to celebrate so lavishly..."
Selvia, her voice trailing off, shook her head as if in exasperation.
"If it were up to me, I would have allocated the money for the banquet to national defense. What on earth is Father thinking?"
A smile formed on Hartmann's lips.
Because it was a humble attitude, almost too humble for someone born with the blood of a leader.
However, a personality that disdained social interaction could bring disadvantages in the long run.
"Your Highness. Banquets are the foundation of social interaction, and social interaction is politics. Furthermore, a nation, broadly speaking, is a gathering of communities. While excessive socializing might turn the common people against you, a complete lack of it could turn the nobility into enemies."
Historically, those who are only praised by one faction do not last long.
"To govern both factions and bring them under one's heel—that is the Emperor. A single leader who commands the most powerful army in the world. Do you understand what I am saying?"
It wasn't wrong, but she still wasn't inclined.
As Selvia resisted with silence, Hartmann spoke as if something had just occurred to him.
"Ah. Speaking of which, Captain Daniel Steiner will also be attending this banquet. He's someone Your Imperial Highness is acquainted with, isn't he?"
At the mention of Daniel Steiner, Selvia's shoulders gave a subtle tremble.
—If my death can allow the reporter to live, then that is enough. A soldier exists to protect their nation's people.
His words still lingered in her mind.
He was someone it wouldn't hurt to keep close. She wanted to make him an ally, if possible.
Selvia cleared her throat once, then closed the ancient document.
"...Very well. Call the Head Lady-in-Waiting. A little adornment might be acceptable."
She spoke indifferently, but Hartmann could see a faint blush on Selvia's ears.
'It seems she isn't very adept at hiding her emotions.'
Could it be that the talent, Daniel Steiner, had pleased her so much?
Hartmann, wearing a subtle smile, nodded.