Chapter 63: An Act for Survival
After leaving the Staff Headquarters, Daniel headed straight for the Imperial Palace.
Since he had already received permission from Princess Selvia, he was able to enter the palace after a simple identity check.
Afterwards, with the help of a palace maid, Daniel arrived at the princess's office and knocked on the door.
“Your Highness! It is Major Daniel Steiner!”
As he called out loudly, the door opened from the inside.
Lieutenant Colonel Hartmann, the head of her Imperial Guard security detail, stood holding the doorknob.
“Major Daniel. We’ve been waiting for you.”
Daniel nodded once, walked to the center of the office, and saluted.
At this, Selvia’s face, seated at her desk, lit up.
“Major Daniel! I was wondering when you’d arrive…!”
Selvia, who had raised her voice without realizing it, paused and let out a dry cough.
Even though she was happy to see him, she felt she had to maintain her dignity as a princess.
“What brings you here?”
Her now considerably calmer voice settled gently within the office.
At this, Daniel lowered his hand and stood at ease.
“I’ve come because I have something urgent to discuss.”
While Daniel spoke, Hartmann closed the office door and went to stand beside Selvia.
With both of them looking at him, Daniel said:
“Before I explain the situation, I must state that I was not the one who attacked and neutralized the Prince's private organization, The Dawn. I feel I must correct this before we proceed.”
At Daniel's words, Selvia and Hartmann blinked for a moment, then nodded as if they understood.
“I understand. If we get any outside questions about it, we’ll use that as the official story for now.”
“I’ll make sure to keep my mouth shut as well. I wouldn’t want you to get into any trouble.”
Judging by their reactions, it seemed his sincerity hadn't gotten through at all.
Daniel wanted to plead with them that it really wasn't him, but he doubted they would believe him, and there was no time for that now.
So, he decided to get straight to the point.
“Your Highness. Then I will explain the reason for my visit. First, are you aware that Security Bureau officers are roaming the Staff Headquarters?”
For a moment, the atmosphere grew heavy.
Selvia narrowed her eyes sharply and said, “This is Duke Belvar's doing. That old man maintains a good relationship with the Director of the Security Bureau. But to unleash Security Bureau officers in the Staff Headquarters means…”
Her quick understanding was a relief.
Daniel nodded, confirming her suspicion was correct.
“Duke Belvar intends to frame me for colluding with a spy.”
“…Why?”
“He's trying to turn public opinion around. It was I, Daniel Steiner, who discovered the prince's private organization plotting a rebellion. But what would happen if it were revealed that Daniel Steiner was, in fact, colluding with a spy?”
Hartmann, who had been listening, let out a low groan.
“They could frame it all as a fabrication by Daniel Steiner, a member of the princess's faction. They could even condemn Major Daniel as the true traitor, and we'd have no way to refute it.”
Inwardly impressed by the old fox's scheme, Hartmann looked at Daniel.
“I see what you're worried about. The Security Bureau is full of bastards who can fabricate evidence out of thin air. One wrong move, and an innocent man like you could be ruined.”
In truth, Daniel was staying silent despite knowing his adjutant was a spy due to complicated circumstances, but since it was a truth he couldn't speak aloud, he simply nodded quietly.
“It's only a matter of time now. The moment the Security Bureau issues a warrant for internal security surveillance, I'll be captured.”
At Daniel's words, Selvia shot up from her chair in anger.
“That’s unacceptable! I will stop such an outrage, no matter what!”
Seeing her like this, Daniel gave a faint smile.
“I would be truly grateful if you did. However, a better way is to strike first before the worst-case scenario comes to pass.”
“Strike first?”
Hartmann asked again, his expression intrigued.
“It seems you have a way to break through this situation?”
“That's right. Duke Belvar is currently hell-bent on taking me down, even if it means borrowing the power of the Security Bureau. What do you think this implies?”
After a short silence, Selvia answered.
“That old fox is afraid of you. The fact that he's pushing forward despite the risk of backlash if he fails to find evidence of you colluding with a spy proves it.”
“Exactly. Therefore, I intend to use the fear Duke Belvar has of me. Furthermore, I will propose a deal of sorts, using information that only we currently possess.”
“Major Daniel, I don't quite understand. What exactly do you mean by ‘using Duke Belvar's fear’?”
The last question came from Hartmann.
Daniel paused for a moment before speaking.
“I'm going to act.”
A resolute look entered Daniel's eyes as he looked at Hartmann.
“I'm going to become the ‘worst possible Daniel Steiner’ that Duke Belvar imagines.”
*
After explaining the gist of his plan, Daniel asked Selvia to arrange a meeting with Duke Belvar.
Selvia accepted Daniel's request and immediately contacted Belvar, who agreed without much hesitation, and so the meeting was set.
And so, now.
‘Dammit…’
Daniel was sitting on a sofa in the reception room of Duke Belvar's mansion.
Behind the sofa where Daniel sat, Hartmann was killing time with his arms crossed.
This was because Selvia, worried that an accident might occur, had asked Hartmann to escort Daniel.
Hartmann, confirming there was still some time before Belvar's arrival, whispered just loud enough for Daniel to hear.
“…But Major Daniel, do we really have to do it this way? We're not the ones at a disadvantage here.”
He was asking why Daniel was being so hasty when they could just take their time and wear the Duke down.
Daniel agreed with him.
Even with the Security Bureau running rampant, if he just held out and gave them nothing to pin on him, Belvar would likely self-destruct.
But in the process, some form of bloodshed was inevitable.
‘Most importantly…’
Lucy was actually a spy.
If the Security Bureau were to get a warrant and launch a persistent investigation, and if they found definitive proof that Lucy was a spy, Daniel would be a dead man.
The crime of colluding with a spy wouldn't end with a simple discharge.
Therefore, Daniel had to use any means necessary to make Belvar surrender here today.
Only then would the Security Bureau's investigation stop.
To Hartmann, this was a simple negotiation, but for Daniel, it was no different from a tightrope walk with his life on the line.
Of course, he couldn't explain all this, so Daniel could only offer an awkward smile.
“Wouldn't it be better for everyone if we can settle everything with today's negotiation?”
“That's true. But is there anything I can do to help?”
“No. Just stand back there quietly and play along with my lead.”
Hartmann, thinking that wouldn't be too difficult, nodded.
Creeak—
Just then, the reception room door opened, and Duke Belvar entered with an attendant.
Belvar, dressed in an expensive suit and wearing a monocle, had thick eyebrows and a tightly shut mouth that revealed his characteristic stubbornness.
Daniel rose from his seat and bowed his head, but Belvar didn't react.
He just walked over, clicking his tongue overtly, and sat on the opposite sofa.
As Daniel also sat down again, Belvar spoke.
“So. You're the one who asked to see me?”
Despite the condescending tone, Daniel remained unfazed and wore a polite, business-like smile.
“That is correct. As you know, Your Grace, the prince's private organization, The Dawn, has been completely apprehended. I've come to make a proposal regarding this matter.”
“A proposal? Ha! I don't even need to hear it! It'll be some nonsense about betraying His Highness the Prince!”
Belvar raised a hand and pointed accusingly at Daniel.
“I'm well aware of how you intimidate your opponents in negotiations to get what you want! Don't think I'll fall for your vile schemes like the others!”
Despite Belvar's threat, Daniel didn't lose his smile.
“Your Grace, you misunderstand. I am merely here to negotiate. If you would just hear my proposal—”
“I don't want to hear it!”
Belvar cut Daniel off with a roar.
“Do you think I'd be swayed by the filthy words coming out of your mouth?!”
“So you intend to break off this negotiation without even hearing me out?”
“I only agreed to this meeting because of Her Highness the Princess's request. And no matter what, I will not betray His Highness the Prince. Not even if it costs me my life!”
As expected, Belvar was taking a hard line.
Daniel, realizing he had no choice, decided to start his 'act' instead of making his proposal.
“I can't say I don't understand your feelings, Your Grace. But if you break off this negotiation now, it won't be just a single life you'll be leading to its death.”
One of Belvar's eyebrows twitched.
“…What do you mean?”
“Exactly what I said. Think about it carefully.”
Daniel leaned back against the sofa, maintaining his smile.
Belvar, on the other hand, could only swallow dryly, his fingertips trembling.
Belvar, mulling over Daniel's vague statement, lowered his voice and said, “My acquaintances and my family are innocent. Even if I lose this succession battle, you have no right to touch my people.”
Hearing Belvar's words, Daniel's lips twitched, and then he let out a laugh as if he could no longer hold it in.
The low, subdued laughter echoed throughout the spacious reception room.
Belvar, not understanding why he was laughing, frowned and broke into a cold sweat.
Even Hartmann, who had agreed to play along, felt a little creeped out and could only look down at Daniel.
After laughing for a while, Daniel waved his hand dismissively.
“Oh, my. I apologize. That was rude of me. However…”
Suddenly, Daniel's smile vanished, and he stared intently at Belvar.
His fierce yet still eyes glinted like a predator's before its prey.
“Let me ask you something, Duke Belvar. Among the people I have led to ruin…”
His chilling voice held Belvar's gaze.
In the short silence, Daniel leaned forward and said without blinking, “Do you really think there were no innocent ones?”
In that moment, Belvar felt an extreme sense of terror wash over his entire body.