Flowers Bloom Even in Wartime
Flowers Bloom Even in Wartime
Daniel narrowed his eyes sharply, like a predator closing in on its prey.
Because of that, Keltrak's breathing grew ragged.
He felt as though an invisible hand were crawling up his body, tightening around his throat.
Keltrak's eyes darted around, hoping to call for help somehow, but the senior officials gathered at the command table were all looking the other way or simply remaining silent.
They had all judged that, rather than defending Keltrak—who had failed to properly manage his subordinates and consequently handed over the Intelligence Bureau to Duke Belvar—it was the right course to side with Daniel Steiner.
Among them, the Chief of the General Staff, Arman, who had been watching the two men's dispute, let out a low laugh.
'A complete defeat for Keltrak.'
Politics was a numbers game where the victor was decided by how many cards one held.
In that respect, Keltrak held few cards, while Daniel held relatively many.
'And he was far too hasty, as well.'
Keltrak had likely underestimated Daniel, who had seized power in a short span of time.
He had probably assumed Daniel's political acumen was not particularly sharp.
'He must have thought that if he pushed him with sheer momentum, Daniel Steiner would take a step back.'
But judging by the confident attitude he displayed now, Daniel was fully aware of what cards he held.
He had instinctively sensed there was no need to back down.
In Arman's eyes, this was a remarkable talent.
'When the Abandoned Station Incident was mentioned, if Daniel Steiner had flinched or offered some strange excuse, he could have been cornered and pressured...'
Yet the moment the Abandoned Station Incident was brought up, Daniel Steiner had burst into laughter and shifted the atmosphere.
Immediately after, he had dismissed it, asserting that the Intelligence Director must be joking and that he had nothing whatsoever to do with the incident.
'And yet, when the Intelligence Director did not back down...'
He had cornered Keltrak with the logic that slandering an innocent man was itself an act of insurrection and collaboration.
It was tantamount to drawing a line: if you intend to attack me, be prepared to suffer an attack in return.
With an irreversible catastrophe ready to unfold the moment that line was crossed.
'Extraordinary. Truly masterful rhetoric.'
Daniel Steiner's rhetoric was like a dish presented by a chef keenly aware of the ingredients available to him.
Knowing he was not at a disadvantage, he did not retreat; and because he did not retreat, he could boldly corner his opponent.
'On top of that...'
Whether it was innate talent or not, Arman could not say, but Daniel had acted so naturally that it seemed the Abandoned Station incident had nothing to do with him.
So much so that anyone unaware of the affair's true details would have genuinely believed Keltrak was slandering him.
'So this is why Daniel Steiner was always able to secure victory in countless negotiations.'
While Arman inwardly admired him, Keltrak ground his teeth.
"I..."
Would he cross the line and wage a blood-soaked fight?
Or would he take a step back and ensure his own safety?
Standing at that crossroads, Keltrak, after agonizing over it, decided not to cross the line.
It was because he had realized that opposing Daniel any further than this would be to his own disadvantage.
"It seems my joke went a little too far. If I caused offense, please forgive me."
Acknowledging defeat, Keltrak lowered his head in humiliation.
Though he had not cooperated with Duke Belvar, Keltrak was also of noble birth.
And yet here he was, bowing his head to Daniel Steiner, an officer of orphan origins.
Daniel, believing that raising his voice here would do little good, accepted the apology.
"It's quite all right. Anyone can make a mistake in life. However..."
Having recovered his smile, Daniel quietly continued.
"I do hope there will be no such mistake next time."
His lips were smiling, but his eyes were not.
When Keltrak raised his head, he perceived Daniel's true intent and, after a brief hesitation, opened his mouth.
"...I will keep that in mind."
It was just as the two men's dispute had settled down.
"His Imperial Majesty the Emperor enters!"
As the voice of the Inner Court Office director resounded, the officials at the command table all rose from their seats.
Soon after, Selvia—dressed in the pure white uniform symbolizing the imperial family and draped in the crimson mantle that marked her as Emperor—appeared within the Grand Conference Hall.
While everyone expressed their respect in silence, Selvia walked to the imperial throne and took her seat.
"You may all be seated."
Only after Selvia's command did the officials once again settle into their seats.
"Very well. Then, starting now, reports will be made in order..."
As she examined the faces of the officials, Selvia tilted her head in puzzlement.
"How odd. Now that all collaborators have been rounded up, today should indeed be a day of celebration—so why do your lords' faces remain so hardened?"
The Emperor had asked, but no one volunteered an answer.
Watching them, the Chief of the General Staff, Arman, let out a sigh and lightly bowed his head toward Selvia.
"A minor verbal dispute occurred, Your Majesty. It is nothing over which Your Majesty should greatly concern yourself."
"I suppose so. It is hardly a day or two since my lords have engaged in quarrels under the guise of debate. At any rate, has it been resolved satisfactorily?"
"It has."
Arman glanced at Keltrak, who, out of shame, was letting out a pointless dry cough, and with a low chuckle, he spoke.
"Seeing as the parties involved have reached a mutual agreement."
*
The conference that had commenced at 10 a.m. came to an end only around noontime.
Once the conference concluded, Selvia commanded all officials to withdraw—save for Daniel Steiner, whom she ordered to remain, stating there were additional matters to discuss.
"...So, what is it you wished to say?"
In the Grand Conference Hall, now left alone with just the two of them, Daniel quietly opened his mouth.
Confirming that the sound of the officials' footsteps echoing in the hallway had grown distant, Selvia rose from the imperial throne.
It was because, though the throne looked magnificent, its material was so hard that sitting on it for long had been a trial.
"It concerns the top-secret matter I mentioned before."
By top secret, she meant the Vargov Project.
As Daniel's expression shifted, Selvia stretched lightly and then spoke.
"Bellanos has decided to dispatch an ambassador to us. They must be scheming to demand something in exchange for handing over a talented individual related to the project."
"It's a natural transaction, since Bellanos presumably has no desire to go into a losing business."
"Indeed. That is not wrong. However, Bellanos has this time sent an official communiqué saying they would prefer it if Colonel Daniel Steiner would be present at the negotiation venue."
Daniel blinked vacantly.
"...You mean, me?"
"I am not joking. It was unmistakably written so in the communiqué from the Bellanos Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Do you perhaps have any idea what this is about?"
"What it could be... well..."
Threatening the Bellanos Cabinet Minister? Running a fraudulent gambling scheme inside Bellanos? Or inadvertently spending an enjoyable time with the Cabinet Minister's daughter?
There were so many things he could think of that he was unable to give a definite answer.
As Daniel's silence grew longer, Selvia let out a low breath.
"It's fine. If it's hard to speak of, I certainly will not press you. But more importantly..."
Trailing off, Selvia looked at Daniel with an expression mingled with guilt and gratitude.
"I heard you carried out an operation at the Abandoned Station."
The nobles who died at the Abandoned Station were among those who had routinely voiced discontent toward Selvia.
Selvia still remembered.
How they had tried to interfere with every single policy she put forward, or to outright sabotage them.
While she could execute Belvar, the ringleader of the military rebellion, it was obvious that most of those nobles, who could wield influence here and there across the imperial capital, would receive short sentences and walk free.
She had therefore been agonizing over them, in ways seen and unseen, yet Daniel had personally stepped forward to eliminate all of them for her.
As far as Selvia was concerned, she could only conclude that Daniel had acted on her behalf.
"It must not have been an easy decision. Once more, you have stepped forward for my sake."
On the other hand, for Daniel, who had only learned for the first time today that nobles had been massacred at the Abandoned Station, those words could only sound absurd.
Daniel, thinking he absolutely had to prevent this preposterous misunderstanding, hurriedly rose to his feet.
"Your Majesty! That is a slander! I do not know why such a rumor that I committed those acts is even circulating, but I am truly ignorant of it!"
Daniel felt wronged, but Selvia did not believe him.
Frankly, if it were not Daniel Steiner, there simply was no one else in the imperial capital capable of executing such an operation.
"Of course. I shall take it that Colonel Daniel had no part in it. Officially, that is."
Confirming the faint smile that touched Selvia's lips, Daniel thought to himself.
'This is hopeless.'
Looking at those affectionate eyes, it did not seem as though she would believe him no matter how much he denied it.
'I'm seriously going crazy...'
Without meaning to, had he not turned into a lunatic who would do anything for His Majesty the Emperor?
As he laughed hollowly in a mood of sheer resignation, Selvia drew closer to him.
"Colonel Daniel? Now, for your own sake as well..."
Selvia raised both arms.
Before he could even react, Selvia gently embraced Daniel.
Amid that, an unintelligible murmur reached his ears.
"So that we may..."
"Your Imperial Majesty?"
Just as the abruptly embracing Selvia struck him as strange, the sound of footsteps reached them from the corridor.
Daniel grew flustered, but Selvia, far from loosening the embrace, held him even tighter.
The footsteps seemed to draw closer, then, the moment the new arrival stepped into the Grand Conference Hall, they abruptly halted.
"...Colonel Daniel, sir?"
It was Lucy's voice.
Having wondered if something was the matter when Daniel emerged late from the conference hall, she had come looking for him.
But what met her eyes was the sight of Selvia and Daniel embracing each other.
Daniel turned only his head, his mouth opening and closing in unconcealed consternation, but his intent failed to be conveyed.
As Lucy's eyes were gradually drained of all color, Selvia's lips stirred.
"You've come."
Only then did Selvia release the hand she had wrapped around Daniel, step back a pace, and look at Lucy.
"The red-eyed killer."
As if she knew something.