The moment I take this pen, there’s no turning back.
With this, Belanos—cherished by our ancestors—will effectively become a vassal state of the Empire.
“But…”
The horrors that would unfold if I refuse to take the pen kept haunting my mind.
As Daniel said, the Empire has a solid pretext to declare war.
If they do, Belanos will turn into hell in the blink of an eye.
Citizens will scream, soldiers will die, the cabinet will fracture, and politicians will scramble for survival.
And the hatred born from all that chaos will inevitably be directed at the head of government.
The uprising masses will demand the removal of the Prime Minister.
If word spreads about the Prime Minister’s illegitimate child, the situation will spiral out of control.
“…!”
A groan escapes through clenched teeth.
If we reject becoming a vassal, the Empire will undoubtedly annihilate Belanos.
“This entire plan… it was crafted by…”
None other than Daniel Steiner standing right before me.
Despite surviving the sinking of the diplomatic vessel, he never informed the Empire of his survival.
Because if they knew, the Empire wouldn’t have sent a fleet searching for their war hero.
“So…”
Daniel must’ve been waiting, pretending to be dead, until the Empire dispatched its fleet.
In the meantime, he found my daughter.
He deliberately approached Ref, cultivating a friendship while confirming she was the Prime Minister’s illegitimate child and pinpointing her residence.
Ref played right into his hands, even inviting him to the manor.
Meanwhile, under Daniel’s orders, an organization uncovered the person responsible for allowing terrorists into our waters—Admiral Edvol, who was likely forced to confess. This was probably done to make it easier to hold the Belanos government accountable.
When everything was set, the Imperial fleet arrived in Tentarvahem.
The Empire’s army naturally occupied Tentarvahem under the guise of a search operation, and at that point, Daniel revealed himself, resuming his role as ambassador.
All to turn Belanos into a vassal state of the Empire.
From start to finish, we were all pawns in Daniel Steiner’s game.
“Daniel Steiner… Do you even have a human heart?”
What kind of mindset allows someone to act like this?
This scheme, concocted in one person’s mind, was far too meticulous and calculated.
Amidst anger and sorrow, Lowell slowly extended his hand.
There was no going back; we had to choose the lesser evil.
Lowell took the pen and looked down at the diplomatic proposal.
Before signing, he glanced at Daniel one last time.
“I have just one request.”
“Of course, anything.”
“…Since I’m about to sign, guarantee my daughter’s safety.”
Daniel nodded lightly.
“Absolutely. As long as the Prime Minister adheres to the terms of this proposal, the peace between our nations will remain unbroken.”
That was as good as saying there’d be no safety if the terms weren’t upheld.
You devil. Clenching his teeth, Lowell reluctantly signed the document.
After signing several more times, Lowell handed over the papers to Daniel.
Daniel carefully placed them into his briefcase.
“Excellent. If only we’d done things this way from the start, we wouldn’t have wasted so much time and effort. It’s truly regrettable.”
Closing the briefcase, Daniel stood up and bowed slightly to Lowell.
“Our meeting is concluded. I’ll take my leave now. May Belanos continue to shine with endless glory.”
Lowell didn’t respond.
Not that Daniel expected him to. Adjusting his attire, Daniel turned to go.
At the door, Daniel’s gaze met the Intelligence Director, flanked by guards.
Daniel’s eyes were cold.
Though technically equals, the director felt inexplicably intimidated.
After hesitating briefly, the director spoke.
“Is the meeting over?”
“Yes. I need to return to the embassy, so please don’t block my way.”
Realizing he was obstructing the path, the director stepped aside, letting Daniel pass.
The sound of his boots echoed as Daniel walked away.
Staring blankly at Daniel’s retreating figure, the director turned his attention back to the reception room where Lowell sat slumped on the sofa, head bowed.
Approaching cautiously, the director asked:
“Your Excellency… how did the meeting go?”
His steps faltered.
Lowell’s sunken eyes radiated emptiness.
“Director…”
Lowell’s voice lacked its usual strength.
“What have I done…”
His voice trembled with moisture.
After a long pause, Lowell finally muttered:
“…Perhaps I’ve made a deal with the devil.”
Hearing Lowell’s self-deprecating tone, the director involuntarily broke out in a cold sweat.
He couldn’t fathom what words had passed between Daniel Steiner and Lowell.
After the meeting, Daniel returned to the embassy via the official vehicle.
The deputy ambassador and diplomats naturally inquired about the details, to which Daniel simply replied that the negotiations were successful.
Upon seeing the signed diplomatic proposal, they could hardly believe it—but the evidence left no room for doubt.
The deputy ambassador exclaimed that this wasn’t merely a successful negotiation but practically a pledge of allegiance from the Belanos government. The diplomats shared similar sentiments.
Word quickly spread throughout Tentarvahem’s harbor: “Daniel Steiner subdued the Prime Minister of Belanos!”
Naturally, Chief of the Imperial Guard Colonel Hartmann also caught wind of this shocking news.
“Colonel Daniel! It’s me!”
This was part of why Hartmann had come to the embassy office today.
After knocking a few times, Daniel’s voice came from inside.
“Come in.”
With permission granted, Hartmann entered.
Seeing Daniel at his desk handling diplomatic duties, Hartmann smiled.
Approaching with newspapers and dessert in hand, Hartmann watched Daniel glance up.
“Colonel Hartmann? What’s that you’re carrying?”
“I heard you like dessert, so I brought some. These newspapers are from the past few days—the Imperial Daily. I figured you might be curious. But…”
Hartmann noticed Daniel buried in paperwork and grew curious.
Setting the items on the desk, Hartmann asked:
“Why are you still working after the meeting ended?”
“Even though the treaty is technically signed, I still need to submit it for parliamentary approval. After that, I’ll need final approval from His Majesty the Emperor.”
“Hmm. Not sure what all that means, but sounds like you’re busy.”
Hartmann sighed, having hoped to celebrate the Empire’s decisive victory with a drink.
Meanwhile, Daniel finished writing and picked up the newspapers, eager to catch up on events in the Empire during his stay in Belanos.
“Especially since…”
To secure final approval, he’d need a private audience with Emperor Berthelm. Best to know the current state of affairs beforehand.
Starting with the oldest paper, Daniel skimmed the headlines:
”Diplomatic Vessel Bound for Belanos Sunk!”
”Terrorist Attack Prompts Emergency Assembly Called by Her Highness the Princess!”
”Imperial Defense Ministry Demands Border Opening From Belanos.”
Next newspaper:
”Citizens Stunned by Hero’s Death.”
”Waves of Mourning Sweep Across the Nation.”
”Her Highness: ‘This Is a Great Loss, and We Will Uncover the Truth.’”
Feeling uneasy, he opened the next one:
”Furious Citizens Blame the United Nations for Killing the Empire’s Hero.”
”Anti-War Activists Criticized as Enemies of the Empire.”
”Enraged Youth Take to the Streets, Demanding Justice for Daniel Steiner.”
Taking a deep breath, Daniel opened the latest issue:
”Daniel Steiner Returns from the Dead! Empire Celebrates in Festive Mood!”
”Survivor of Terrorist Attack Hailed as a Miracle by Some.”
”Her Highness Expresses Joy Over Daniel Steiner’s Return, Calling It Something the Entire Nation—and Herself—Had Awaited.”*
Having read the headlines, Daniel folded the paper and looked up at Hartmann.
“Colonel Hartmann, I have a favor to ask.”
“Hm? What is it?”
“I’d like to stay here in Belanos to oversee local implementation of the treaty and handle public relations. I’d prefer to delay my return to the Empire for at least a few months. Could you relay this request to Her Highness…”
But Daniel stopped mid-sentence.
Hartmann was frowning deeply.
“Do you really think that’s possible? Her Highness wishes to see you as soon as possible.”
At this, Daniel felt an unsettling fear creep over him.
Returning to the Empire like this…
Who knows what might happen?
