After leaving General Staff Headquarters, Daniel headed straight for the Imperial Palace.
Since he’d already received prior approval from Princess Selvia, he only had to go through a quick identity check before being allowed inside the palace.
With the help of a maid from the inner court, Daniel arrived at the Commander’s Office of the Princess and knocked on the door.
“Your Majesty! Captain Daniel Steiner reporting!”
He shouted loudly, and the door opened from inside.
Colonel Hartmann, the chief in charge of the Imperial Guard’s security detail, stood there holding the doorknob.
“Captain Daniel. We’ve been waiting for you.”
Nodding once, Daniel walked into the center of the office and saluted.
This made Selvia, seated at her desk, smile brightly.
“Captain Daniel! I was wondering when you’d arrive…”
Realizing she’d raised her voice without thinking, Selvia hesitated and cleared her throat.
She believed that as a princess, she needed to maintain dignity even if she was glad to see him.
“What brings you here?”
Her now calmer voice gently filled the room.
Thanks to that, Daniel relaxed his posture slightly.
“I’ve come with urgent matters to discuss.”
While Daniel spoke, Hartmann closed the office door and moved to stand beside Selvia.
Under their gazes, Daniel continued.
“Before I explain the situation, let me clarify something: I did not attack or dismantle His Highness the Prince’s private organization, Dawn of the Morning. I felt it necessary to clear this up upfront.”
At Daniel’s words, Selvia and Hartmann blinked silently before nodding as if understanding.
“Alright. If questions arise externally, we’ll handle it by deflecting accordingly.”
“I’ll also ensure discretion. I don’t want to put you in an awkward position.”
Their reactions seemed to indicate they didn’t fully believe him.
Though Daniel wanted to protest earnestly—he really hadn’t done it—explaining further would gain him nothing, and time was short. So he decided to get straight to the point.
“Your Majesty, allow me to explain why I’m here. First, are you aware that Security Bureau officers have been roaming freely within General Staff Headquarters?”
The atmosphere suddenly grew tense.
Selvia narrowed her sharp eyes and responded.
“It’s Duke Belvar’s doing. That old man maintains good relations with the head of the Security Bureau. But what does it mean that Security Bureau police are running loose in the headquarters…?”
Good, she got it quickly.
Daniel nodded to confirm her suspicions.
“Duke Belvar plans to accuse me of colluding with spies.”
“…Why?”
“He’s trying to reverse public opinion. The private organization plotting rebellion under His Highness the Prince was discovered by none other than me—Daniel Steiner. But if it were revealed that Daniel Steiner is secretly colluding with spies, what would happen then?”
Listening intently, Hartmann let out a low whistle.
“They could paint everything as a setup by your side, implicating you as the real instigator of the rebellion. No one would blame them for condemning Captain Daniel.”
Hartmann glanced at Daniel, inwardly impressed by the cunning of the old fox.
“I understand what you’re worried about. The Security Bureau can fabricate evidence where there’s none. You might end up unjustly targeted.”
Truthfully, Daniel knew his aide-de-camp was a spy but chose to remain silent due to complicated circumstances—a truth he couldn’t vocalize. He simply nodded.
“It’s only a matter of time now. If the Security Bureau secures a warrant for internal surveillance, I’ll be caught red-handed.”
Hearing this, Selvia leaped to her feet, slamming her chair back in anger.
“That won’t do! I’ll find some way to stop such injustice!”
Seeing her fiery reaction, Daniel smiled faintly.
“I appreciate your support, Your Majesty. However, the better option would be to act first before things escalate.”
“Act first?”
Hartmann echoed, intrigued.
“Do you have a plan to resolve this situation?”
“Yes. Duke Belvar is desperate to capture me using the Security Bureau’s power. What does that tell you?”
After a brief silence, Selvia answered.
“That old fox fears you. Even knowing he might face backlash if he fails to find evidence against you, he’s still pushing ahead.”
“Exactly. I intend to exploit Duke Belvar’s fear and propose a deal based on information only we know.”
“Hmm? Captain Daniel, I still don’t quite follow. How exactly do you plan to use Belvar’s fear?”
That was Hartmann’s final question.
Daniel paused briefly before replying.
“We’re going to act.”
A resolute glint appeared in Daniel’s eyes as he looked at Hartmann.
“The worst-case scenario of ‘Daniel Steiner’ that Belvar imagines.”
Having explained the gist of his plan, Daniel requested Selvia arrange a meeting with Duke Belvar.
Selvia complied and contacted Belvar right away. Since Belvar accepted without hesitation, the meeting was set.
So now…
“Damn it…”
Daniel sat on a sofa in the reception room of Belvar’s manor.
Behind him, Hartmann leaned casually with his arms crossed, killing time.
This was thanks to Selvia, who insisted Hartmann guard Daniel in case anything went wrong.
Confirming that Belvar would take a little more time to arrive, Hartmann whispered quietly enough for only Daniel to hear.
“Captain Daniel, is it really necessary to choose this method? The disadvantage isn’t ours—it’s theirs.”
He questioned why Daniel was rushing when they could wait and counterattack gradually.
Daniel agreed with that sentiment.
Even if the Security Bureau started throwing its weight around, avoiding giving them any leverage and holding out would likely lead to Belvar’s self-destruction.
But bloodshed was inevitable during that process.
“More importantly…”
Lucy is* a spy.
If Katman Schultz, armed with a warrant from the Security Bureau, conducted an obsessive investigation and uncovered decisive evidence of Lucy’s espionage, Daniel would be doomed.
Collaborating with a spy was no light offense—if convicted, losing his rank wouldn’t be the end of it.
Thus, Daniel had to secure Belvar’s surrender today, by any means necessary.
Only then would the Security Bureau’s investigation halt.
What Hartmann saw as a simple negotiation was, for Daniel, a high-wire act risking his life.
Unable to explain all this, Daniel merely gave an awkward smile.
“If today’s negotiation resolves everything, wouldn’t that be best for both sides?”
“True. Is there anything I can do to help?”
“No. Just stay behind and follow my lead quietly.”
Thinking that wasn’t too difficult, Hartmann nodded.
Creeeak—
At that moment, the reception room door opened, and Duke Belvar entered with his attendant.
Dressed in expensive attire and wearing a monocle, Belvar’s thick eyebrows and tightly shut mouth exuded his stubborn nature.
When Daniel bowed slightly upon standing, Belvar ignored him, walking over and sitting on the opposite sofa with a loud scoff.
“So, you summoned me, eh?”
His condescending tone didn’t faze Daniel, who flashed a polite smile.
“Yes, Your Grace. As you may know, all members of His Highness the Prince’s private organization, Dawn of the Morning, have been apprehended. I’ve come here to make a proposal regarding this matter.”
“Proposal? Ha! I don’t need to hear it! It’s undoubtedly a suggestion to betray His Highness the Prince!”
Belvar gestured rudely toward Daniel with his hand.
“And I’m well aware that you bully your opponents into submission during negotiations to achieve your goals! Don’t think I’ll fall for your schemes like others!”
Despite Belvar’s threats, Daniel kept smiling.
“Your Grace, you misunderstand. I’m merely here to negotiate. If you hear my proposal—”
“I refuse to listen!”
Interrupting Daniel, Belvar roared.
“Will I be swayed by your deceitful words?! Never!”
“Then you intend to break off negotiations without hearing me out?”
“I agreed to meet solely because Her Highness the Princess requested it. Regardless of what happens, I will never betray His Highness the Prince—even if it costs me my life!”
As expected, Belvar was taking a hardline stance.
Accepting this, Daniel decided to switch from making a proposal to putting on an “act.”
“Your Grace, I understand your loyalty. But breaking off these negotiations will cost far more lives than just yours.”
One of Belvar’s eyebrows twitched.
“What do you mean?”
“Exactly what I said. Think about it carefully.”
Leaning back on the sofa while maintaining his smile, Daniel watched as Belvar nervously swallowed dryly.
While pondering Daniel’s cryptic statement, Belvar finally muttered cautiously.
“My associates and family are innocent. Even if I lose in the succession struggle, you have no authority to harm them.”
Upon hearing this, Daniel smirked slightly before letting out a low chuckle that echoed through the spacious reception room.
Confused by his laughter, Belvar frowned deeply, beads of cold sweat forming on his forehead.
Meanwhile, Hartmann, who had agreed to play along with Daniel’s act, merely stared down at him uneasily.
After laughing for a while, Daniel waved dismissively.
“My apologies. I digressed. But tell me…”
Suddenly sobering, Daniel fixed Belvar with an intense stare.
His fierce yet calm eyes gleamed like those of a predator eyeing its prey.
“Among the people I’ve brought down in the past… weren’t there any innocents?”
In that moment, Belvar felt an overwhelming wave of terror wash over him.
