The Young Emperor's Drunken Truth
The Young Emperor's Drunken Truth
United Nations Permanent Member State Edria.
Royal Palace Audience Chamber.
"Your Highness! Following the success of the previous talks, the Republic has moved to accelerate its war preparations! They have declared they will reach a decision before summer, so we may look forward to it with great anticipation!"
The Foreign Minister bowed his head deeply before the King seated on the throne.
However, the person whose reaction the Foreign Minister was watching for was, ironically, not the King.
He was merely attentive to the expression of Count Kaledra, the Chancellor, who stood beside the King leaning on his cane.
The Foreign Minister swallowed hard and continued his report.
"Nevertheless, the Federal State is showing a skeptical attitude toward joining the war. The President of the Federal State asked: if the three nations wish for harmony, he is willing to accept it, but if the result leads to a global conflagration, he would like to know who will bear that responsibility."
Having heard the Foreign Minister's report, Kaledra gripped the handle of his cane tightly.
He understood perfectly well what the President of the Federal State meant by such words.
'He's sneering that the Allied Nations cannot defeat the Empire simply by joining hands with the Republic.'
The Empire had succeeded in subjugating the Kingdom of Eldreshia without significant damage, and had also succeeded in effectively incorporating the neutral state Bellanos as a de facto ally.
It was truly an unstoppable momentum.
As much as one hated to admit it, there was no disputing that the Empire was racking up consecutive victories.
On the other hand, the Allied Nations had failed to produce any notable results.
The President of the Federal State was rebuking the Allied Nations, hinting that 'if you cannot produce proper results, we will not cooperate.'
As the feared scenario drew closer to reality, Kaledra ground his teeth.
'Daniel Steiner.......'
That damned bastard was gradually shifting the balance of the world.
On top of that, he had recently heard that the Palentia Branch, located in the heart of the Empire, had been completely destroyed.
The man was no different from a malignant tumor to the Allied Nations.
He absolutely had to be cut out.
"Your Majesty the King."
After taking a deep breath, Kaledra looked down at the King.
"Promise the Federal State that our Allied Nations will bear all responsibility. Also, inform them that they will soon learn how flimsy the Empire actually is, and how festering it is internally, contrary to its outward appearance."
"...the Empire, you say?"
"Yes. According to a reliable source, there is a faction within the Empire scheming to incite a civil war. They are the Noble Union who assert the legitimacy of the Imperial Household."
Though their cause was just that, the reality was they were individuals blinded by a scramble for vested interests, but that was not what was important.
What was important was that if they could be used, the Empire could be divided.
"Although the Imperial Security Bureau's surveillance has supposedly become stringent after the Palentia Branch was destroyed, we still have operatives active within the capital. I will issue orders to them. To make contact with the Noble Union and reveal that the Allied Nations have the intent to provide assistance."
If the rebellion succeeds, they could seize absolute power, but the moment it fails, they will have to put their lives on the line.
Duke Belvar, who was leading the Noble Union in the capital, would not be unaware of that either.
Therefore, even if it was an enemy's hand reaching out, the likelihood was high that they would grab hold of it, unable to refuse.
With the complacent thought that they were merely using the enemy for the great cause.
"If they accept our proposal, we can gradually destroy the Empire from within. Furthermore, it will be possible to isolate Daniel Steiner, who is called the hero of the Empire and is winning battle after battle. Perhaps, going beyond mere isolation......."
Kaledra's two eyes narrowed sharply.
"We might be able to have him executed in the name of the Empire."
If the Noble Union succeeded in turning the Emperor into a puppet and seizing power? They would try to eliminate Daniel Steiner, who was a threat to their power, by any means.
This meant it would become possible to literally kill with a borrowed knife.
The King, who had been staring blankly at Kaledra as he coolly discussed Daniel's death, nodded his head.
It was a truly wicked plan, but he judged there was reason to it.
"......It seems it would be best to do as you say."
Also, the King, who was nothing more than a scarecrow, could not dare refute Kaledra's words.
*
Ten days had passed since the Director of the Security Bureau visited the General Staff Headquarters.
During those ten days, Daniel had kept himself relatively busy in his own way.
As Daniel was appointed Chief of Staff of the Eastern Front 7th Division, a new operations staff officer had been assigned to the General Staff Headquarters.
Daniel handed over his duties to the new operations staff officer while receiving near-infinite respect, and whenever he had spare time, he reviewed the operational situation and enemy intelligence of the Eastern Front 7th Division.
It was not about doing his best as Chief of Staff; rather, he spent the time worrying about how he could survive the eastern front without dying.
While he was savoring that brief peace, a summons was issued from the Imperial Household.
Because the sender was Selvia, the most noble person in the Empire and the current Empress, Daniel could not even think of refusing and set foot in the Imperial Palace.
Following the guidance of the Chief of the Inner Court Office, after walking down a long corridor adorned with marble, Daniel arrived at the Empress's office.
In front of the office, Lieutenant Colonel Hartmann, who was in charge of Selvia's personal security detail, stood alongside soldiers.
Hartmann, spotting Daniel approaching, gave a light salute.
Daniel, feeling burdened by it, quickly returned the salute, and Hartmann let out a good-natured laugh.
"Now, aren't you Colonel Daniel Steiner, who now outranks me. I waited until my neck got stiff wondering when you would come."
Daniel felt quite burdened by the honorifics but decided not to bring it up.
Since the army was a place where the chain of command mattered above all else, respect according to rank was also a necessary virtue for maintaining military order.
"I apologize for making you wait. More than that, Her Imperial Majesty......."
"She is inside attending to state affairs. Except when she has to go out for meetings or events related to major national affairs, she is always working here."
A bitter smile touched the corner of Hartmann's mouth as he said that.
"She originally tended to immerse herself in work, but after ascending to the throne, she drastically reduced her sleeping hours. I am merely worried she might fall ill if she goes on like that."
She must feel a heavy sense of responsibility for having ascended to the throne.
Daniel, who could understand in his own way, nodded his head, and Hartmann stepped out of the way.
Daniel, interpreting it as a sign to enter, walked forward and knocked lightly on the door.
"Your Majesty. It is Colonel Daniel Steiner."
Before long, a voice from inside told him to come in.
Upon that, Daniel opened the door and stepped inside.
The first thing he saw was a wide window through which the starlight of the night sky streamed down.
Selvia, who had been attending to state affairs bathed in starlight, confirmed that Daniel had entered and slowly raised her head.
Beneath her glossy, platinum-blonde hair, her blue eyes tinged with fatigue blinked slowly.
"Colonel Daniel......."
Selvia, who murmured the words as if speaking to herself, rose from her seat.
"Is this the first time since the coronation? Meeting me as Empress, I mean."
"That is correct."
Having heard Daniel's answer, a meaningful smile appeared on Selvia's lips.
"How is it? The Empress you made."
It was a question difficult to answer.
As Daniel remained silent, unable to discern the true intent of the question, Selvia let out a low laugh.
"It seems a strange rumor is circulating among the nobles. A rumor that without the help of Daniel Steiner, I would not have been able to ascend to the throne."
"That is not true."
Daniel answered immediately.
"Even if it were not for me, Your Majesty would have rightfully claimed the throne."
He meant it sincerely.
Because even in the original work, Selvia ascended to the throne on her own.
However, Daniel's words did not serve as great consolation for Selvia.
"I also want to think that. But as the days go by, the rumors multiply and spread like wildfire. Do you know what some noble ladies are saying? That I am romantically involved with you, and that the Imperial Household has been cursed."
Daniel frowned.
This was, in all likelihood, a false rumor spread by the Noble Union to damage the Empress's authority.
Selvia would certainly be aware of this, yet she appeared to be under psychological pressure nonetheless.
"Your Majesty. You must root out and eliminate those who spread false rumors......."
Daniel, who had been about to give advice, paused.
Because he caught the faint scent of alcohol in the room.
Turning his gaze, Daniel spotted a bottle of whiskey on Selvia's desk with its mouth open.
About a third of its contents had vanished.
'I know she's not good at holding her liquor.......'
If even Selvia was drowning herself in drink to this extent, it seemed she had faced many difficult things lately.
Just as he thought he should calm her down first, Selvia slowly moved her steps.
Then, she spread both arms toward Daniel.
A playful smile was a bonus.
When Daniel, flustered, hesitated, Selvia waved her arms once.
"What are you doing? Are you going to just ignore your Empress when she is asking for a hug?"
"Your Majesty. It appears you have had too much to drink."
"So what? Are you saying you will not obey my orders?"
This was going too far.
He considered calling for Hartmann, but the problem was the Imperial Guards.
It was obvious that if they opened the office door and witnessed the Empress in such a drunken state, bizarre rumors would multiply.
Daniel, deciding to play along just a little, approached her, and Selvia lightly stepped into his arms.
The smell of alcohol mingled with her unique scent.
"......This is nice. I've wanted to be held like this at least once."
Selvia, murmuring as if talking in her sleep, giggled as if amused.
Selvia acting spoiled was unfamiliar, but it was not something he could not understand.
Even as Empress, Selvia was still at the young age where she had barely become an adult.
Bearing the full weight of her duties was no easy matter.
Daniel lightly patted Selvia on the back.
"It seems you have been having a very hard time. To think you are doing things you would not normally do."
At Daniel's words, Selvia's eyes drifted half-open.
Selvia hesitated for a moment before opening her mouth.
"......I thought that when I became Empress, all conflict would end."
It was a kind of drunken truth.
"But I was mistaken. The nobles, so dissatisfied for some reason, obstruct every single thing I try to do. So much so that I haven't been able to proceed with a single proper agenda since becoming Empress."
Selvia's hand holding Daniel tensed faintly.
"Even in the Imperial Council, the majority party rebels against my policies. They say they are demanding policy revisions, but I know their inner intention is to deny me."
Selvia closed her eyes and bit her lip tightly.
"I clearly promised the people that I would properly run the state as Empress. But I already feel like I've hit a wall. Honestly, these days, I even think thoughts like this."
"......What kind of thoughts are you speaking of?"
"Let's make their malicious rumors the truth. If what they want is for me to become a tyrant, then so be it. If Colonel Daniel agrees......."
Slowly opening her eyes, Selvia's lips moved.
There was a faint hint of heat in Selvia's breath.
"The rumor the noble ladies spread......."
He thought the next words must not be spoken.
But before Daniel could even stop her, Selvia spoke first.
"Shall we make it an established fact right here and now?"