Watch Your Tongue, Asleep or Awake
Watch Your Tongue, Asleep or Awake
Selvia's lips parted slightly.
Selvia, who had frozen as if she had just heard a shocking truth, glanced around.
After confirming no one was eavesdropping, Selvia lowered her voice and spoke.
"Why is that?"
"......What do you mean?"
"I'm asking because I don't understand why you're going to such lengths for me."
At Selvia's question, Daniel felt a sense of bewilderment.
'Me?'
Daniel had merely been desperately searching for a breakthrough for his own self-preservation.
However, from Selvia's perspective, all of Daniel's actions were altruistic.
First, Daniel had already saved Selvia twice.
Furthermore, when she was racking her brain over the issue of succession rights to the throne, Daniel had provided significant help.
And that wasn't all.
This time, during a period when imperial authority was being shaken by discord among the nobles, Daniel had brought information indicating that some nobles were acting as collaborators.
And at a most timely moment, just before the coronation ceremony, no less.
Thanks to this, Daniel, having received orders from the Imperial Household, was able to carry out an inspection of the nobles using a clear and justifiable cause, which had a profound impact on elevating the Imperial Household's authority.
Thus, to Selvia, who was soon to become Empress, Daniel was practically an irreplaceable loyal subject.
On the other hand, Daniel hadn't done it for Selvia, so her grateful gaze felt nothing but burdensome to him.
Still, thinking there was no need to reveal the truth, Daniel forced an awkward smile.
"Because I judged that assisting Your Highness the Princess is the path for the good of the Empire."
"A path for the Empire......"
It was a somewhat vague answer, but Selvia didn't find it disagreeable.
Because she had once again confirmed that Daniel was acting for her sake.
"I also see placing you in a key post as the path for the good of the Empire. So, what I mean is, after the coronation ends, I intend to promote you, Lieutenant Colonel Daniel, before all the ministers."
Promoting Daniel to colonel before the high-ranking dignitaries gathered at the coronation was equivalent to declaring that Daniel was now the Emperor's man.
Daniel found that extremely burdensome, but he couldn't bring himself to refuse.
Not only did he lack a justifiable reason to refuse given his many meritorious deeds, but in the grand scheme of things, becoming Selvia's trusted aide would be more advantageous for his survival.
"If you do so, I shall accept it as the greatest joy of my life."
As Daniel placed a hand over his heart and gave a slight bow, a smile spread across Selvia's lips.
She had worried about what to do if he refused, so Daniel's ready acceptance put her in a good mood.
"I'm glad you're satisfied. However......"
Selvia lightly lifted the teacup filled with black tea.
"What are your future plans?"
She was asking how he intended to spend his time while the investigation remained postponed and he gauged the nobles' reactions.
If it were up to him, Daniel would have liked to while away the time eating desserts, but he had no such luxury.
"I intend to go down to the southern part of the Empire."
"The south? Do you plan to visit your hometown?"
"Not that. I am going down to fulfill a promise I made to my subordinate's father."
The subordinate in question was Frien, and her father was the head pastor of the Church of the Holy Flame of Glory.
As might be expected, the Church of the Holy Flame of Glory's financial support for the Melbaroten Newspaper, provided at Daniel's direction, was not purely out of goodwill.
*
A few days later, near the Church of the Holy Flame of Glory.
Cradle of Peace Orphanage.
Kiiiik─
A luxury sedan pulled in through the orphanage entrance.
As the sedan gradually slowed and came to a complete stop, the driver's side door opened.
The person who emerged from the open door was Frien, her light brown hair braided back.
Frien glanced once at the orphanage grounds, then smiled faintly and opened the rear door.
"We've arrived, Lieutenant Colonel Daniel, sir."
Daniel, who had been reading an inspection report, turned his head at the sound of her voice.
Children playing ball in the empty lot next to the orphanage came into view.
Confirming they had arrived, Daniel tossed the report aside and got out of the car, straightening up.
His body felt stiff from the long drive, and the harsh sunlight made him frown unintentionally.
'So this is the orphanage run by Frien's father. Looking at how few people are around besides the children, I suppose I understand why they suggested meeting here......'
Daniel's thoughts didn't continue.
Tuk─
A ball flew in from somewhere, hit Daniel's stomach, and fell to the ground.
Wondering what had hit him, he lowered his gaze and saw a child running hurriedly to retrieve the ball.
"I'm sorry. I......"
The child, having come close and picked up the ball, raised his head to apologize but froze on the spot.
"Uh, uek......"
Because a man in an Imperial officer's uniform was staring down at him with cold eyes.
Under the uniform cap, the expressionless, dry gaze held a sense of terror that was hard for an innocent child to bear.
"Hie, hiiiek......"
Unable even to scream, the child's shoulders merely flinched. Just then, Daniel knelt on one knee.
The child, meeting Daniel's eyes, was on the verge of tears.
Daniel slowly reached his hand toward the child.
Unable to endure the fear, the child squeezed his eyes shut.
Daniel's hand settled gently upon the child's head.
"No need to apologize. It's my fault for not dodging the ball."
Contrary to his appearance, his voice was warm and his touch was gentle.
The child, gathering courage to open his eyes, saw Daniel smiling kindly.
Thinking that he might not be a bad person after all, the child hesitated. Daniel withdrew his hand and showed his empty palm.
"Now. Look closely."
Daniel clenched his fist, pretended to strain hard, and then opened his hand again.
In his wide-open palm lay a single coin.
The child's eyes widened in amazement.
"Wow! How did you do that!?"
"Well. I suppose God made a coin appear in my hand and told me to give a present to a good-hearted child like you."
"Really?"
At the child's innocent question, Daniel chuckled and held out the coin.
"Really and truly. Buy yourself some tasty snacks with this."
Only then, realizing Daniel wasn't a bad person, the child took the coin and bowed his head deeply.
"Thank you!"
As the child turned and scampered off, Daniel straightened up with a faint smile.
Lightly dusting off his hands, Daniel turned to look at Frien and paused.
Because Frien was gazing at him with shining eyes.
'I won't ask why......'
Not wanting to hear more strange praise, Daniel cleared his throat.
"Where is your father?"
"Ah. I'll show you to him."
Having come to her senses, Frien led Daniel inside the orphanage.
After weaving through the building, which was quite spacious for an orphanage, they finally arrived at a reception room.
"I'll wait here."
Daniel nodded at Frien's words as she opened the reception room door, and he stepped inside.
Inside, Head Pastor Velaf, who had been sitting on the sofa, rose from his seat.
Velaf let out an exclamation as if deeply moved, and extended his hand toward Daniel.
"I am Velaf, father of Frien and head pastor of the Church of the Holy Flame of Glory."
"Pleased to meet you. I am......"
"Aren't you Lieutenant Colonel Daniel Steiner, the hero of the Empire! Anyone who doesn't know you is a spy! I cannot express what an honor it is to see you in person, up close like this!"
Behind Velaf's boisterously laughing voice, the sound of the door closing could be heard.
Daniel took Velaf's hand and gave it a light shake.
"Since you granted my request, isn't it only natural for me to grant the pastor's request?"
"I'm overwhelmed that you think so. Ah! First, won't you have a seat and enjoy some coffee? I've brought a top-tier coffee just for you, Lieutenant Colonel Daniel."
"Let's do that."
Having amicably concluded the handshake, the two sat down naturally on the sofa.
Blinking several times as if fascinated to see Daniel in person, Velaf soon spoke with a hint of laughter in his voice.
"At first, I thought my daughter was playing a prank. After all, isn't my daughter famous for using black mana? So to speak, she's a child closer to the Empire's shadows......"
Velaf clicked his tongue openly.
"It was hard to believe that a child like that was acquainted with Lieutenant Colonel Daniel, who is akin to the Empire's light. But now that I see you in person, I've come to realize my daughter's words were not false."
"It seems you'll have to offer Frien an apology for that. Suspicion is a breach of faith, after all."
"Pardon? Ah. Hahaha! I suppose so. More importantly, has my daughter caused you any trouble, Lieutenant Colonel? It's not just the mana issue, but she also has some character defects."
"Defects, you say?"
"I'm not sure if there were problems with her upbringing, but my daughter tends to think in extremes about everything. That can never be seen as a good sign."
Extreme, he said.
Considering Frien's actions and remarks so far, it wasn't entirely wrong.
"I also agree with what you just said......"
Daniel stopped mid-sentence and shut his mouth.
He had unconsciously glanced sideways at the door and noticed it.
The sight of Frien peering into the reception room through the slightly open door.
Her gaze fixed on them, filled with ominous and unsettling energy in her eyes, was chillingly terrifying.
He wasn't sure if it was just his imagination, but it also seemed like black mana was wafting faintly around her.
'......She didn't close the door, she just pretended to?'
A cold sweat trickled down his back before he knew it.
Because it felt like if he badmouthed Frien here, his life wouldn't be guaranteed.
How could he predict what that ultranationalist-crazy woman would do?
After a brief silence, Daniel revised his answer.
"I do not agree. I won't concern myself with how you view your own daughter, but Frien is one of the people I cherish most, and she is a subordinate more devoted and capable than anyone."
After speaking, Daniel subtly observed Frien's reaction.
Frien, having heard Daniel's words, widened her eyes as if startled, then soon smiled bashfully, tinged with embarrassment.
She looked like a girl in love, but to Daniel, it only seemed spine-chilling.
'Still......'
It was a relief that he seemed to have avoided the worst situation.