The next morning.
The Emperor Berthelm’s bedroom.
“Your Majesty! Please show mercy!”
In front of Berthelm, who was sitting on the bed, Duke Belvar knelt down and shouted.
“We must not give Daniel Steiner the authority to conduct inspections! If he uses inspections as a pretext to threaten the nobles of the Empire, it will undermine its very foundation and directly challenge the power of the Royal Family!”
Belvar’s cries pierced his ears.
Feeling a headache, Berthelm pressed his forehead and sighed deeply.
“…So you’re disturbing my rest just for this trivial reason?”
“Your Majesty! This is no trivial matter! How can the fact that Daniel Steiner, an orphan, is inspecting the nobility not be a serious issue!”
“So, what you’re saying is that you want me to revoke my daughter’s decision?”
Belvar remained silent.
Reading his silence as agreement, Berthelm blinked his weary eyes.
“You should look up and see my condition.”
Belvar slowly raised his head and saw Berthelm’s face.
Under his tousled hair, his face was pale with dark circles, devoid of any vitality. His lips were dry, and one of his eyes barely opened.
Even someone who wasn’t a doctor could tell what state Berthelm was in.
Death loomed on his horizon.
“I will die soon. For all I know, today may be the last time I can have a coherent conversation with you. Moreover, my daughter’s coronation is coming soon. Do you still expect me to intervene and revoke her decision, thus making it appear to our people that the royal family is at odds?”
At such a critical time, when Princess Selvia needed more support, publicly opposing her orders would be akin to exposing an internal conflict to the public.
Realizing his blunder, Belvar quietly lowered his gaze.
Watching Belvar silently, Berthelm continued.
“Besides, according to my daughter, it seems Kemball, the leader of the Free Society Party, has been collaborating with traitors. If that’s true, wouldn’t Selvia’s command then be justified?”
“Your Majesty, the legality of the process is more important than the result. The Security Bureau should investigate this matter, not Daniel Steiner.”
“Legality, you say. According to Imperial law, assigning temporary inspection authority to a military official who has uncovered evidence of treason is not illegal.”
Though this was an exceptional case, it did not violate legal procedures.
Unable to counter, Belvar was silenced, prompting Berthelm to add:
“I fail to understand why you’re so opposed. If Daniel Steiner does indeed intend to oppress the nobility through these inspections, wouldn’t it actually benefit us? After all, if he fails to produce proper inspection results, we’ll have grounds to punish him.”
Berthelm was essentially saying that they would wait to see whose version of the truth prevailed.
Though dissatisfied with Berthelm’s neutral stance, Belvar dared not show it outwardly—it still wasn’t wise to provoke a sick but dangerous lion. After all, Berthelm was still the Emperor of the Empire.
“…Your wisdom is truly commendable, Your Majesty.”
Thus, Belvar had no choice but to bow his head.
*
On the other hand, at Kemball’s residence, the leader of the Free Society Party.
“Start packing cash and jewelry! The rest can be sent for later.”
“But dear… why are we doing this?”
“I’ve told you repeatedly there’s no time to explain! Just do as I say!”
Annoyed, Kemball snarled at his wife, grabbed a travel bag, and entered his room, opening the drawers.
Expensive wristwatches and tie pins were hastily stuffed into the bag.
“Damn it, damn it all…!”
Minutes ago, Informant Pla had contacted him. It was confirmed that Daniel Steiner had requested and been granted inspection authority from Princess Selvia.
If the inspection authority was indeed granted, it meant Daniel Steiner had uncovered the truth behind Crown Prince Bleve’s surprise attack. That made Kemball Daniel Steiner’s next target.
“I must hurry! Hurry!”
That’s why Kemball was making a rush departure from the city. If he could escape before Daniel Steiner arrived, he might be able to buy some time.
After securing a few more valuables, Kemball returned to the living room with his travel bag.
“Demian! Are the bags packed? We need to leave immediately… Demian! Where are you?”
Kemball’s wife, in the middle of packing clothes, looked up.
“Demian’s in the yard. He said he wanted to take the dog.”
“The dog?! I’ll take care of it! Just focus on packing!”
Furiously shouting at his wife, Kemball walked to the front door, trying to suppress his anger.
As he approached the door, he could faintly hear Demian laughing in the yard.
Thinking the child was playing with a neighbor, Kemball opened the door—only to freeze.
“Would you tell me something else about the princess besides her protection?”
“Of course. What story would you like to hear?”
“Hmm… Ah! Nordia! I want to hear a story about Nordia’s invasion!”
There in the yard stood Daniel Steiner.
Kneeling on one knee, Daniel was playing with a laughing Demian, while elite soldiers and officers from the General Staff Headquarters formed a formidable human wall behind him.
As if carved out of stone, the soldiers remained absolutely motionless.
Kemball could only stare at them in frozen terror.
“Nordia’s invasion, you say! As much as I’d like to tell you a detailed story, I’m afraid that won’t be possible.”
“What? Why not?”
“I would have to describe the fate of my enemies from that time, and that might be too horrifying for a child like you. You see…”
Daniel slowly raised his head and fixed his gaze on Kemball.
“…all my enemies met a most pitiful end.”
Kemball’s hand, gripping the doorknob, trembled.
Not understanding Daniel’s words, Demian turned around and grinned.
“Dad! Colonel Daniel is here with business for you!”
Demian eagerly hugged his father, thrilled to discover that his father knew the Empire’s hero.
“How did you two meet? I had no idea you knew Colonel Daniel!”
“I… I…”
Kemball struggled, trying to speak calmly but his voice betrayed his fear.
At this moment, Kemball’s wife stepped to the doorway, her hand rising to cover her mouth in shock upon realizing the presence of Daniel Steiner and his armed force.
Rising from his position, Daniel tipped his cap and placed it over his chest.
“Let me introduce myself: Lieutenant Colonel Daniel Steiner, Operations Staff of the General Staff Headquarters.”
“What brings you here, Lieutenant Colonel?”
Daniel smiled warmly.
“I’ve come to urgently discuss a matter with Mr. Kemball of the Free Society Party. Would you kindly arrange a place for us to speak?”
Though hesitant, Kemball’s wife reluctantly bowed in agreement.
Daniel raised a hand, signaling two armed soldiers forward.
“Mrs. Kemball, our precious Demian, I would kindly ask you both to spend some time at a nearby bakery. These soldiers will escort you there.”
Though confused why soldiers were needed to visit a bakery, everyone felt it was unwise to refuse Daniel Steiner’s request.
“…Understood.”
Thus, Kemball’s wife, clutching Demian, departed cautiously, flanked by two soldiers who ensured they remained under supervision.
Seeing this, Kemball’s expression shifted from shock to irritation. Despite his fear of Daniel Steiner, Kemball could not tolerate this overreach.
“What exactly do you think you’re doing?”
Summoning courage, Kemball stepped closer to Daniel and confronted him.
“You are forcefully pressuring the leader of a political party! A party that represents the voices of the people! Do you find this appropriate?”
While berating Daniel, Kemball’s voice rose. Daniel, however, only stared calmly in response, as if silently inviting Kemball to continue.
Despite his inner turmoil, Kemball raised his voice again, determined not to back down.
“I don’t fully understand your authority to do this, but dismiss your troops immediately! Otherwise, I will refuse to comply with any of your requests!”
After observing Kemball’s defiance, Daniel emitted a low chuckle.
A chilling, sticky laugh that sent shivers down Kemball’s spine.
Finally regaining his composure, Daniel locked his shadowy black eyes onto Kemball.
“You intend to refuse…”
The dark eyes, like an abyss, revealed Kemball’s unmistakable fear.
“Do you really think…”
Daniel quietly moved his lips, fixing Kemball firmly in his gaze.
“…that you have a choice?”
