Side Story of 'The Mark Carved in the Dark Night': An Afternoon at the Royal Palace Restaurant

Main Text

Would a legendary Dark Night Knight sneak into a restaurant in broad daylight, wearing their uniform, just to steal a chestnut tart?
The Princess says: Yes, and that person is me.
A secret meeting sparked by dessert unveils the glimmering daily lives of girls outside the rigid system.
In the corner of the restaurant, they cast aside their duties, fighting only for the last warm piece of chestnut tart.
The same uniform, different secrets.
Those sides of themselves they never show others are perhaps only allowed to exist briefly on afternoons like this.

The afternoon at the restaurant at the end of the west corridor of the Royal Palace remained quiet, with sunlight streaming through the carved window frames onto the silver cutlery and snow-white tablecloths. The restaurant was not open to the public; only high-ranking knights and court ladies had the right to dine there. But today, a 'Dark Night Knight' dressed in a strange manner attracted quite a bit of attention.

The person was wearing a standard Dark Night uniform with a silver 'III' badge on their chest, long, smooth black hair falling from under their hood, and cream still on the corner of their mouth. They were hiding in a window seat, devouring salmon mousse and honey bread, their movements not at all like the calm and silent Dark Night Knight of legend.

'...Isn't that Her Highness the Princess?' a low gasp came from the other side of the restaurant.

Standing at the entrance was the Executioner—the black-clad girl who always walked with the Dark Night, yet whose true name no one knew. She was still wearing her jet-black uniform with red lapels, and at her waist was that familiar, forever-bulging hip pouch. Accompanying her into the restaurant was a member of the Armed Court Ladies, wearing a blue and white maid uniform with a deep purple twin-blade badge pinned to her chest. She looked even younger than the Executioner, but her eyes were as sharp as if they could see through a person's heart.

The Princess nearly jumped out of her chair, hurriedly pulling down her hood to cover her face, trying to hide her familiar features.

'No, no—please... don't tell anyone!' she whispered, rushing toward them. 'I just wanted to have a meal... You know, whether in the office or the study, whenever I have lunch, I'm stuck staring at my adjutant... I'm going crazy!'

The Executioner watched her silently, not answering, just tilting her head slightly as if weighing something.

'Besides, there's no one in the 'Dark Night 3rd Squad' anyway, right? I just borrowed the badge, and I got the uniform from the warehouse... No one will notice!'

'We noticed,' the girl from the Court Ladies said coldly.

The Princess's face fell instantly. 'Are you going to report me? Well, I also know about that time you snuck out of the palace last night to go to the casino, and you were even wearing civilian clothes.'

The girl raised an eyebrow. 'You're so boring.'

'We're all boring!' the Princess said excitedly. 'I'm only fifteen! I have to take on state affairs... meeting with ministers all day, not allowed to laugh, not allowed to play, not allowed to have friends... Only this restaurant lets me catch my breath.'

The atmosphere was silent for a few seconds. The Executioner suddenly reached out, wiped the cream off her cheek, and said, 'Corner of your mouth.'

The Princess blinked, showing an expression that was a mix of shame and a desire to laugh.

The girl from the Court Ladies sighed. 'You'd better eat faster. We're only staying here for fifteen minutes, and then we have to gather at the training grounds. No one will report you... but don't come here again.'

'Really? You'll keep it a secret?'

'Bring dessert to share next time,' the Executioner said calmly.

'Deal!' The Princess returned to her seat happily, pushing the dessert plate toward them. 'Eat up, eat up, the chestnut tart is still warm!'

Three girls sat around a table in the corner, sunlight spilling over their uniforms—the same knightly rank, yet different destinies. For this moment only, they briefly cast aside royal authority, duties, and orders to become a group of hungry girls.

Japanese Translation

This translation is based on a draft by ChatGPT, which I have personally proofread and supervised.
If there are any unnatural parts in the style or tone, I would appreciate it if you could point them out.
If you have any thoughts or questions, please let me know in the comments section. I will reply as much as I can.

Side Story: An Afternoon at the Royal Palace Restaurant

A Knight of the Dark Night munching on a chestnut tart in a restaurant in the early afternoon?
The Princess says: "I'm eating it. Because it's me."
Hidden beneath their uniforms, they are still just girls after all.
Not a mission, not an order, just a time to share a "single bite."
The Princess, the Executioner, and the Armed Lady-in-Waiting.
An afternoon where three girls of different status and positions return to being "just girls" for a brief moment.

The restaurant deep in the west wing of the royal palace remained quiet even in the afternoon.
Sunlight streaming through the sculpted windows reflected softly off the silver tableware and white tablecloths.

This establishment is not open to the public; only high-ranking knights and ladies-in-waiting are permitted to use it.

But today, one particularly eye-catching "Knight of the Dark Night" was drawing all the attention.

Clad in a standard black uniform with a silver badge engraved with "III" on her chest.

Long black hair peeking out from under her hood, and on her lips—whipped cream.

Sitting at a window seat, devouring salmon mousse and honey bread with gusto, her appearance was far from the calm and collected Knight of the Dark Night rumored in stories.

"...Wait, isn't that the Princess?"

A whisper leaked from the back of the restaurant.

Standing at the entrance was a girl in black—the Executioner.

Though she acts alongside the Dark Night Order, no one knows her real name.

She wore a uniform with a black base and red collar, with her usual bulging hip bag at her waist.

Beside her stood a young armed lady-in-waiting in a blue and white maid outfit.

On her chest was a badge featuring two deep purple swords. Though young, her sharp gaze seemed to pierce through people's hearts.

The Princess jumped from her chair and hurriedly pulled her hood deep over her head to hide her face.

"Shh, shh—please, be quiet!"

She pleaded in a whisper as she rushed over.

"I just want to have a meal! Whether in the office or the study, my lunch partners are always just adjutants... I'm going to go crazy!"

The Executioner stared at her in silence.

She tilted her head slightly, as if weighing something.

"Besides, there's no one in the 'Dark Night 3rd Squad' anyway, right?
I just borrowed the badge, and I found the uniform in the warehouse. No one will notice!"

"I noticed." the lady-in-waiting girl said coldly.

The Princess's face clouded over. "...Are you going to report me?"

Then I'll tell on you too. About how you snuck out of the palace last night to go to the gambling den. And in commoner's clothes, no less."

The girl twitched her eyebrow. "...You really are bored, aren't you?"

"Everyone is bored!"

The Princess said, almost shouting.

"Running the country at fifteen!? Meeting with ministers all day, not allowed to laugh, not allowed to have fun, not allowed to make friends...! This restaurant is the only place where I can catch my breath!"

A few seconds of silence passed.

The Executioner reached out and gently wiped the cream from the corner of the Princess's mouth.

"...Corner of your mouth."

The Princess blinked, then smiled shyly, yet happily.

The young lady-in-waiting let out a small sigh.

"We're going back as soon as you finish eating. You can only stay for fifteen minutes. We have a meeting time at the training grounds, too. ...I won't report this to anyone. But don't come here again."

……I won't report this to anyone. But don't come here again."

"Really? You'll keep it a secret?"

"Next time, bring dessert."

The executioner replied indifferently.

"Deal!"

The princess's smile returned in an instant, and she pushed the plate in front of her forward.

"Come on, eat! The chestnut tart is still warm!"

The three girls sat down around a table in the corner of the restaurant.
Sunlight fell upon their uniforms,

illuminating three shadows that, while bearing the name of the same knight, were walking toward different fates.

For just a brief moment, they forgot about royal authority, duties, and orders,
and were simply—hungry young girls.