As morning arrived, Daniel stood before the door to his personal office at General Staff Headquarters, taking a deep breath.

    The thought of facing Lucy, who had tried to assassinate him in the early hours of the day, left him inexplicably tense.

    "Calm down, Daniel."

    From Lucy’s perspective, Daniel had been "asleep" during the early morning hours.

    If she discovered that he had actually been awake, it would create unnecessary complications.

    To avoid suspicion, it was essential to act as naturally as possible.

    Reassuring himself internally, Daniel turned the doorknob and stepped inside.

    Within the office, Lucy, who had arrived earlier, stood from her seat and saluted.

    "You’ve arrived, Lieutenant Colonel Daniel."

    Her expression was the same as ever—calm and devoid of emotion.

    "...It’s hard to believe this is the same person who came to kill me early this morning."

    Daniel was struck again by how skilled Lucy was as an intelligence agent, sending a chill down his spine as he nodded and walked toward his desk.

    Taking a seat, Daniel placed his briefcase on the desk and spoke.

    "By the way, Lieutenant. May I ask you a personal question?"

    Lucy, now seated, turned to look at him.

    "Yes. Is there something you’re curious about?"

    "Yes. Do you remember the conversation we had two days ago?"

    "Two days ago... Are you referring to the one we had at the General Staff Headquarters entrance?"

    Daniel nodded.

    "That’s right. At the time, you mentioned the Golden Rose Bakery’s Christmas-exclusive stollen. I looked into it, and it seems they get quite busy during the season, requiring reservations in advance. If your schedule is free, I was thinking of making a reservation. Also..."

    Avoiding her gaze, Daniel busied himself rummaging through his briefcase.

    "It feels a bit empty to just eat stollen and part ways, so I thought we might look into other activities for Christmas. As you know, many places operate on a reservation basis during the holiday season, so it’s best to prepare now. Let me know your thoughts."

    Pulling out the items he needed from his briefcase, Daniel glanced at Lucy.

    "If she agrees to the reservation..."

    He could interpret it as a sign that no assassination attempt would occur before Christmas.

    If she declined, it would suggest another attempt might come before the holiday.

    Of course, she could lie, but any change in Lucy’s expression, laden with guilt, would make it easy to discern.

    While Daniel kept a wary eye on her, Lucy was interpreting his suggestion in an entirely different way.

    "Not just eating together but enjoying other activities as well..."

    No matter how she looked at it, it felt like a date proposal.

    "...Could Daniel possibly have feelings for me?"

    Thinking back, his actions—saving her from the Security Bureau and concealing her identity as a spy—were things only someone with affection would do.

    "But..."

    Lucy had no experience with dates, let alone receiving a proposal for one.

    Unsure of how to respond, she felt her heartbeat quicken as she fidgeted with her pen. Finally, she gave a small nod.

    "...I don’t have anything planned for that day, so making a reservation should be fine."

    Her response was honest, albeit reserved.

    Relieved, Daniel placed his briefcase aside and spoke.

    "Good. I’ll make the reservation, so no changing your mind later. And..."

    "Are you certain? You mean... you genuinely wish to be sent to Vellanos as a diplomatic envoy?"

    "I am, Your Highness. I’m entirely serious."

    Daniel, in truth, wanted to "flee" to Vellanos.

    The domestic situation was a nightmare: politicians and nobles were eager to bring him down, the Emperor eyed him with suspicion, and his adjutant, Lucy, was gunning for his life.

    He felt trapped in the eye of a storm.

    Feigning a diplomatic mission abroad seemed like the perfect way to catch his breath.

    Unaware of Daniel’s inner thoughts, Selvia couldn’t discern his motives.

    After a moment of deliberation, she nodded.

    "If you’re so resolute, I’ll consider it positively. You may return for now."

    "Understood, Your Highness."

    Daniel bowed respectfully before turning to leave.

    Selvia watched his composed retreat in silence, then glanced at Cedric, seated across from her.

    "...What do you make of this?"

    Cedric, who had been quietly listening to their exchange, finally spoke.

    "In my opinion, it’s a very shrewd move."

    He offered a rare smile.

    "Daniel Steiner humiliated Duke Velbar under the banner of Your Highness’s authority. That alone was enough to incite the ire of both the nobility and the politicians funded by them."

    Cedric picked up a sugar tong and dropped a cube into his coffee.

    "His Total War speech has likely pushed that anger to its peak. They see Daniel Steiner as a threat to their positions. Among the more extreme factions, there’s probably talk of politically isolating him."

    Stirring his coffee with measured motions, Cedric continued.

    "There are even rumors that His Majesty the Emperor regards Daniel Steiner with suspicion. If he were to take charge of a national project now, claiming it as a bid to expand his influence, what do you think would happen?"

    "...The politicians and nobles might unite to attack him."

    "Exactly. By requesting the post of envoy to Vellanos—a relatively inconsequential role—he’s attempting to disappear from the political scene temporarily, diffusing their dissatisfaction."

    The sugar cube dissolved completely into the coffee.

    "When their anger subsides, some may even start to view him as a man of integrity, one who acts for the good of the Empire rather than personal gain. If that happens..."

    Cedric set down his spoon and wiped the coffee splashes from the table with a napkin.

    "It will inevitably spark factional conflict. The Central Nationalist Party and the Free Society Party, with their opposing ideologies, will clash. It’s a classic example of using discord to one’s advantage. For Daniel Steiner, it’s akin to blowing one’s nose without lifting a finger."

    Cedric took a sip of his coffee and placed the cup down with a satisfied expression.

    "Of course, this is merely speculation. Still, I can’t think of any other reason why he’d volunteer for such an insignificant role."

    Having heard Cedric’s analysis, Selvia found herself breaking into a cold sweat.

    If Cedric’s deductions were accurate, then Daniel truly was the dangerous figure her father had warned her about.

    Yet it was too early to jump to conclusions.

    "...In your opinion, does Daniel’s loyalty to the Imperial family seem false?"

    Cedric blinked once and shook his head.

    "From what I can tell, his loyalty is genuine. It doesn’t seem like he’s acting purely for personal gain. However, whether that loyalty is directed at the Imperial family or the Empire itself, I cannot say."

    If Daniel Steiner’s loyalty was to the Imperial family, there was no issue.

    But if his loyalty lay solely with the Empire—the nation’s progress—what would happen if he deemed the Imperial family incompetent?

    "Your Highness."

    Cedric fixed Selvia with his intense, pale gaze, offering a heartfelt warning.

    "You must win Daniel Steiner’s allegiance as soon as possible. If you fail..."

    He paused briefly, then concluded with weighty deliberation.

    "You’ll find yourself facing an opponent far more challenging than the Allied Nations—one within our own walls."