A Mysterious Businessman
A Mysterious Businessman
A timid confession delivered at the late spring quietly echoed through the corridors of the Imperial Palace.
It was a sentiment Lucy had mustered her courage to convey, but Daniel felt only bewilderment.
'Hug you? All of a sudden?'
Having heard an incomprehensible request, his mind refused to function properly.
And with his mind refusing to function, he could not readily answer.
In the settling silence, Daniel posited several scenarios.
'Is she trying to make things difficult for me? Getting revenge because I scolded her in front of the Grand Conference Hall just now?'
The possibility wasn't entirely nil, but he didn't think Lucy was that petty a person.
'Is this a new assassination method? Pretending to hug me and then shattering my spine...'
This was nonsense.
Even he found it so absurd that he let out a low chuckle.
Even if Lucy harbored malicious intent, she wouldn't pull something like that inside the Imperial Palace.
'Then is it part of a honey trap? She might not have given up yet, after all.'
If it was a honey trap, Lucy's current words and actions were more than understandable.
But to conclude it was a honey trap, the expression Lucy now wore was far too realistic.
Because a hint of embarrassment could be seen in the subtle tremor of her vivid, bright red eyes.
It was such a natural surge of emotion that it was utterly impossible to perceive it as an act.
'...Could it be that she actually likes me.'
Looking back, he had been together with Lucy for over a year.
Excluding the monastery's abbot and the children, she was the person with whom he had maintained the closest bond.
Through various incidents and accidents, there were times Lucy had threatened his life, and conversely, times he owed his life to Lucy.
'In that process, the possibility that Lucy developed some personal fondness for me isn't entirely nil either.'
Of course, he didn't think the possibility was high.
'In the original work, Lucy was a biological weapon without blood or tears. She had almost no change in expression and barely spoke unless necessary.'
The one who mechanically did nothing but kill Imperial soldiers while racing across the battlefield was none other than Lucy Emilia.
Throughout the entire game, only screams, not laughter, could be heard near Lucy.
'For a woman like that to feel personal affection and follow me...'
He couldn't help but feel there was something not quite right about it.
Still, Lucy's request didn't seem to harbor any malice right now.
Whatever the intention, Daniel found no reason not to grant it and carefully opened his mouth.
"Is just that truly enough?"
Lucy's shoulders flinched.
Because the silence had grown long, she had thought Daniel would refuse, but that was not the case.
As Lucy gave a slight nod, Daniel asked again.
"Adjutant. As you know, I am currently the Emergency Security Chief commanding the Empire's Central Security Office. A man in that position is asking you what it is you wish for. This kind of opportunity is rare. So wouldn't it be better to think once more before you speak?"
Lucy shook her head.
As if she needed nothing else.
"I am confident I will not regret my choice."
Once she said that, it was a matter he could not refuse.
Nodding, Daniel stepped one pace forward and lightly embraced Lucy.
The moment their bodies pressed close, Lucy's eyes went wide.
"Ah."
The fact that she was held in Daniel's arms made her heart race wildly.
For a moment utterly at a loss, Lucy carefully raised her hands and hugged Daniel back.
As she did, she buried her face against Daniel's chest.
"...There was a time like this before as well."
Once her trembling heart had somewhat settled, Lucy continued.
"I always end up acting spoiled toward you, Colonel."
She did not know exactly what this emotion was.
But there was one thing she could be certain of.
'Just as Daniel told me that I am a precious person to him...'
Lucy, too, thought of Daniel as a precious person.
Feeling Daniel's warmth, Lucy slowly closed her eyes.
When she was held in Daniel's embrace, the worries weighing on her mind felt like nothing at all.
If it were up to her heart, she wanted to draw this moment out, but it was something she must not do.
For if personnel from the Ministry of the Imperial Household or officials of the Imperial Court witnessed this, strange rumors would certainly spread.
Not wanting to make Daniel more flustered than he already was, Lucy broke the embrace and stepped one pace back.
"...I apologize. It seems I lost my senses for a moment."
Having composed her voice, Lucy dipped her head lightly toward Daniel.
"Henceforth, I will be mindful of my conduct to ensure such a thing does not happen again. I am truly sorry for causing you concern, Colonel, due to what occurred inside the Grand Conference Hall."
Returning to her usual expressionless look, Lucy raised her head and spoke.
"Then I shall go out first and tell the driver to start the engine. I will prepare for your return, so it should be fine if you finish your business and come out at your leisure, Colonel."
Having said that, Lucy walked past Daniel and down the corridor.
As the click-clack of her shoes echoed, both of Lucy's ears were subtly flushed red.
In the space where Lucy had passed, a faint scent of lavender wafted.
Gazing blankly at the retreating figure of Lucy, Daniel thought.
'Perhaps, more than I thought...'
There might be far more humanity remaining within Lucy.
*
Ten days later.
Central Security Office, Chief of Public Security's Office.
"Trials of the nobles are proceeding under special wartime procedures. It is reported that during the first public trial, the death penalty was handed down for major nobles including Duke Belvar. Now only the individual trials for those with comparatively minor crimes remain."
At the report from Intelligence Staff Officer Pelf, Daniel nodded.
'They're proceeding faster than I thought.'
After all, the trials were taking place simultaneously with the indictments.
Since the trials themselves were only following formal procedures, the tribunal was practically taking orders from the Emperor.
'In any case...'
His heart felt at ease at the thought that the internal enemies had been cleanly eliminated.
Having put down one burden, Daniel leaned back against his chair and spoke.
"What of the date and time of Duke Belvar's execution?"
"Ah. He is scheduled for a public execution in the city square at noon, three days from now."
"Three days from now? Is that not the day the diplomatic envoy dispatched from Bellanos arrives?"
"That is correct. Presumably His Majesty the Emperor wishes to show the Bellanos side that the Empire has fully eradicated all ringleaders who raised the insurrection."
"Is that so. Well, it makes sense. Showing that the Empire's internal situation has been stabilized would be advantageous for negotiations."
As it wasn't a bad line of thinking, Daniel was nodding when Pelf slightly lowered his voice.
"However, Chief. What do you intend to do with Duke Belvar's family?"
"They shall bear the sin of having the wrong father. Their assets will be confiscated and their noble titles stripped. Furthermore, the companies operated by Duke Belvar's family will become the property of His Majesty the Emperor."
"You mean they will become state-owned enterprises. And after that... execution? I do not know if it is my place to say this, but it is a pity. They must have lived in luxury all this time, only to lose everything in an instant."
Frankly, he wondered what sin they had truly committed, but there was no helping it.
For punishing even the families of the ringleaders increased the probability that a new insurrection would not arise.
Even so, because of the promise he had made while receiving information from Duke Belvar, he could not simply let them meet their end.
"I will not kill them. On the contrary, I will acquire a few empty houses in the capital's outskirts and let them live there. Compared to their former lives, it will be dreadful, but they will be able to keep up some human dignity."
"Pardon? No matter the promise made, there is no need for you, Chief, to honor it to that extent..."
Pelf felt a chill without quite realizing it and fell silent.
'No way.'
Confiscate the assets of the entire family who were once the owners of a thriving enterprise, strip them of their titles, and force them to live in the outskirts with only the bare minimum of food, clothing, and shelter.
This implied one thing.
Daniel Steiner wanted to have the noble house he had ruined stuffed and mounted in the capital.
'People will look at Duke Belvar's children living miserable lives and think.'
The moment you oppose Daniel Steiner, that's what becomes of you.
'Historically, they say there are cases where those in power toy with the families of their political enemies like playthings...'
He might be a great man to his allies, but to his enemies, he was truly no different from a devil.
Daniel simply pitied Duke Belvar's family, but there was no way Pelf could know that.
Just as another misunderstanding was thus heaped upon Daniel, the sound of a knock was heard.
Raising his head, Daniel ordered her to enter, and Lucy opened the door, came in, and rendered a salute.
"Chief of Public Security."
Once Daniel accepted the salute, Lucy spoke.
"I apologize for intruding while you are so very busy."
"It's fine. What is the matter?"
"A certain businessman has come saying he wishes to see you, Chief. He says he would like to make a donation concerning the establishment of the National Security Surveillance Bureau and briefly exchange words with you."
A donation to the National Security Surveillance Bureau? As this was welcome news to his ears, Daniel leaned forward.
"Not bad. But if he is someone connected to nobles or politicians, send him away. The National Security Surveillance Bureau is an institution that must maintain neutrality."
"You need not worry about that. Based on what I have looked into separately, he is a clean individual regarding such connections."
"My interest is piqued. Can I know who this businessman is?"
"For someone engaged in multiple businesses, he is unusually a black man. When stating his name..."
Lucy paused deliberately for a moment, then spoke.
"He called himself Hamtal."