There's Always Someone Above You
There's Always Someone Above You
No sooner had Daniel finished speaking than grenadiers split left and right and swarmed into the grand conference hall, occupying it.
Every time the orderly tramp of the grenadiers' boots echoed, the nobles instinctively shrank back.
Only Duke Belvar remained utterly motionless, silently glaring at Daniel.
Amidst their exchange of murderous stares, Belvar was the first to speak.
"......Congratulations. You have won. Colonel Daniel Steiner."
Belvar leaned back in his chair.
Though defeat was certain, the gesture was leisurely.
"Seeing as soldiers have stormed even the grand conference hall, securing the imperial capital must only be a matter of time. You even have the justification of overthrowing the Noble Union that attempted to subvert the state—so we have essentially given you wings."
Belvar let out a self-deprecating laugh and shrugged his shoulders once.
"So, how is it? The feeling of having the Empire in your grasp."
For Daniel, that was a highly unpleasant question.
Because Belvar was speaking as if 'what you desired has come to pass.'
At that subtle sneer, Daniel furrowed his brow.
"You are speaking sophistry. It is not I who will take the Empire, but His Majesty the Emperor."
"Ohoho. So you intend to hand back everything you have achieved to His Majesty the Emperor."
"You presume far too much. It is not a matter of handing anything back; the Empire has always belonged to His Majesty the Emperor."
"That is not incorrect. However, do you truly think others will see it that way?"
"Duke Belvar."
Daniel said his name as a warning to stop, but Belvar did not.
"Even if you return everything to His Majesty, the people will remember this day. The fact that Daniel Steiner exercised full authority by leading roughly twenty thousand troops into the imperial capital to overthrow the Noble Union."
"......What exactly are you trying to say?"
"It is simple. From now on, whether you desire it or not, the way people look at you will be filled with awe. That sort of awe will include submission to power and heartfelt loyalty. I consider this a kind of 'privilege.'"
Belvar's eyes narrowed.
"A man's position creates privilege, and privilege imparts the power to dominate others. The reason I was able to rally the Noble Union and usurp power from the Emperor was because I possessed the privilege that comes with the title of Duke. Have you ever heard this saying?"
Belvar leaned forward.
"One who holds privilege is bound to become corrupt."
If Belvar had enjoyed privilege through the power and influence of his ducal lineage, then for Daniel Steiner, the countless achievements he had amassed were a privilege in and of themselves.
For it was clear that Daniel Steiner, now hailed as more than a war hero—a great commander—would enjoy popularity even greater than the Emperor's.
Popularity makes people follow you and pledge loyalty.
That would soon become power and privilege, and an inevitable fate awaiting Daniel Steiner.
"Far away, Count Kaledra, the head of the Allied Nations, turned his own king into a puppet, and I, blinded by power, incited a rebellion. Then let me ask you this. Colonel Daniel Steiner. Do you think your own end will be any different?"
You are not fundamentally different from me.
Therefore, you too will meet a miserable end just as I will.
"Do not become arrogant, drunk on this victory. Colonel Daniel Steiner."
At that curse-like pronouncement, one of the nobles shot up from his seat.
It was Baron Bentarto, whose body was adorned with all sorts of trinkets.
"What on earth are you playing at, Duke Belvar? Have you no shame?!"
Having rebuked Belvar, Bentarto turned back toward Daniel.
A smile spread across his face, but the forced expression was contorted, his cheeks trembling.
"Colonel Daniel Steiner? There is no need to listen to that wicked man. I believe that the Colonel merely did what had to be done. Furthermore, I did not voluntarily collude with that man; I was coerced, so......."
Bentarto stopped talking mid-sentence and closed his mouth.
Tchak! The grenadiers flanking the nobles had raised their rifles in unison.
The sight of them aiming at the nobles, stocks braced against their shoulders, sealed Bentarto's lips.
The other nobles also merely looked down in terror or groaned.
Seeing this, Belvar burst into a hearty laugh.
"Hahaha! This is it! Now you seem to know a little about how to use power! As expected of Colonel Daniel Steiner. I guarantee it. You will be able to become the worst and greatest dictator in history. Just like Count Kaledra far away!"
Even while the soldiers were aiming their rifles, Belvar did not stop running his mouth.
As if he had no fear of death.
'Conversely, that means.......'
He was acting outrageously arrogant as if he had to die here.
More precisely, as if he 'had to be killed by Daniel Steiner.'
Daniel, who had seen through Belvar's intention, let out a low laugh.
At that, not only the nobles but even Belvar looked at Daniel with puzzlement.
"I see. I understand now. Duke Belvar. You wish to become a martyr."
A flicker of perplexity instantly crossed the eyes of Belvar, who had been acting completely superior the whole time.
Noticing that, Daniel spoke, not bothering to erase his smile.
"You must have judged that the best course of action was to provoke Daniel Steiner here today and die. Daniel Steiner, unable to control his anger, impulsively kills Duke Belvar. Even though Duke Belvar was the leader of the collaborators, public opinion would not be favorable."
"......."
"The backlash would not be significant, but some media outlets would persistently attack me. Of course, that would not last long either. His Majesty the Emperor would deal with the press first. Still, why would Duke Belvar hope for that brief chaos?"
Daniel slowly moved his steps.
"I suspect it is because you need to cause even brief chaos with your own death to tie Daniel Steiner's feet for a few days. If so, then for what, exactly?"
Daniel, who had been stroking his chin as if deep in thought, walked over to stand beside Belvar.
Looking down at Belvar, who was staring straight ahead, Daniel spoke in a whisper.
"You are trying to protect your family. Duke Belvar."
Belvar felt a sensation as if every hair on his body was standing on end.
Daniel, watching Belvar break out in a cold sweat without realizing it, quietly continued speaking.
"Unfortunately, I had no intention of killing you from the start. Did I not tell you? That I would not send you to hell, but make you experience hell. Ah. Do you happen to remember?"
Daniel placed his hand on Belvar's shoulder.
"I am talking about the conversation we had at your Grace's mansion. I clearly told you back then that if I had returned to the past, I would make a wise choice, and Your Grace agreed."
Daniel lightly brushed the dust from Belvar's shoulder.
"Yet you have insisted on stepping onto the threshold of hell. Since you ignored my warning, I have no choice now. Then shall I ask you something?"
Daniel leaned down and whispered into Belvar's ear.
"Is your family heading for the Allied Nations right now?"
Belvar sucked in a sharp breath and gripped the armrests of the chair tightly.
Because he felt he could not possibly endure otherwise.
The moment he realized Daniel Steiner had found out, his heart began pounding wildly on its own.
'Calm down. Even if Daniel Steiner has noticed, he won't be able to catch up. It has already been several days since they departed the imperial capital.......'
Yet contrary to his thoughts, his breathing grew intermittently choked.
It was the thought that Daniel Steiner might have prepared another scheme.
Daniel, having caught Belvar's irregular breathing, straightened his upper body.
"Do not think about dying and becoming free. Because it would not be too late to die after witnessing the downfall of your family and hearing the resentment of your kin."
Having said that, Daniel turned to look at the soldiers.
"Grenadier battalion! Bind all of them and then escort them to the Central Plaza!"
At Daniel's order, several grenadiers stepped forward.
When they moved to bind them with rope, several nobles rebuked the soldiers for their impertinence in daring to act above their station, but as expected, it was of no use.
Belvar was also forcibly pulled up by a soldier and restrained with rope.
It felt ironic.
Because the master of a prestigious house that had served three emperors was now being manhandled by a mere soldier.
"Move! Right now!"
When the soldier shouted loudly and yanked him, Belvar stumbled.
Immediately after, he trudged along like a cow being led to the slaughterhouse.
It was a truly unseemly end for someone who had briefly enjoyed the pinnacle of power.
But there was no time to be lost in sentiment.
"All remaining troops, follow me!"
Now, only one matter remained to be dealt with in this imperial palace.
"We are heading to the highest floor of the imperial palace!"
It was rescuing His Majesty the Emperor, who was confined in a room called the Golden Rest.