Ah. You Mean Your Family?
Ah. You Mean Your Family?
Three days later.
Morning in the Imperial Capital.
Wuuuung─
The deep, low exhaust note of a limousine gently blanketed the roads of the Imperial Capital.
On the side of the limousine, advancing nobly amidst its escort vehicles, a small national flag symbolizing Bellanos was attached to the flagstaff.
This meant it was the official limousine carrying the diplomatic ambassador from Bellanos.
Nevertheless, there were barely any crowds to welcome them.
This was because the dispatch of a diplomatic ambassador from Bellanos was strictly confidential, and the general public had no way of knowing.
Of course, even if they knew, the welcoming party likely wouldn't have been very large.
Today was the execution day of Duke Belvar, the leader of the collaborators, so all attention was focused on that.
Inside the limousine, a girl observing the passersby on the street rested her chin on her hand and muttered.
"......Just when are we arriving? Is it still far?"
At the girl's words, Ambassador Worain, seated beside her, gave a subtle smile.
"We will arrive shortly. As we are scheduled to meet at the plaza, it should take about ten more minutes."
The reason he answered so respectfully, despite the casual speech of a girl much younger than himself, was simple.
It was because the girl before his eyes was Ref, the daughter of Bellanos's Cabinet Minister.
"Is that so? More importantly, this hat is terribly uncomfortable. Annoying."
Ref, who had let her beautiful black hair grow long, was wearing a wide-brimmed hat with a long mesh veil.
Though the outline of her face was visible, her appearance could not be properly discerned unless one looked closely.
This was a hat prepared by the Cabinet Minister of Bellanos out of concern for his daughter's personal safety.
"Young lady. Even if the hat is a little uncomfortable, as it was specially arranged by the Cabinet Minister, I hope you will endure such a minor inconvenience."
"I know that much. That the old man is looking out for me. But isn't this overprotection too excessive? If it was going to be like this, I'd rather......."
Ref, who let out a low sigh, half-opened her eyes.
"Fine. Attire like this isn't bad for today. If I keep my head down, Rivelard...... no. That bastard Daniel won't be able to recognize me, right?"
"Unless you reveal your identity first, he will not. But is there a need to hide your identity in front of Colonel Daniel Steiner?"
"Yeah. Since that guy hid his identity in front of me before, I'm paying him back in kind. Of course, hiding my identity isn't just for such a childish reason."
Taking her chin off her hand, Ref turned to look at Worain.
"You know. Who do you think will hold the real power of the Empire in the future?"
"......That seems to be a matter too sensitive for a diplomatic ambassador like myself to judge."
"Boring. Then I'll let you hear my opinion, for what little it's worth. I already believe the Empire has fallen into Daniel Steiner's grasp to some extent."
"Don't play dumb when you think the same thing. Regardless, if Daniel Steiner holds the real power of the Empire, we need to figure it out."
Ref narrowed her eyes sharply.
"Whether that bastard is truly capable of leading this war to victory."
Worain also nodded, as he somewhat agreed with Ref's words.
"The Republic has finished its war preparations. They will declare war soon and invade the Empire. If that happens, it's not just the Empire whose situation will become precarious."
"Right. Because of that fucking son of a bitch Daniel, we've been put in a position that's practically an ally of the Empire. The fate of a nation without power. But this could also be an opportunity."
"You must be referring to the scenario where the Empire is not a sinking ship."
If the Republic entered the war, the Empire would certainly be placed in an unfavorable war situation.
However, the Emperor of the Empire did not accept the disadvantage and fought on.
He persuaded the Cabinet Minister of Bellanos that the moment the Empire first developed the atomic bomb, the war situation would be reversed in an instant.
It was in the midst of such a scientific technology agreement progressing in secret that a military rebellion broke out in the Empire.
The credibility of the Emperor, who failed to prevent the rebellion, plummeted, and Bellanos had plans to scrap the agreement and reconsider its relationship with the Empire.
It was then that Daniel Steiner appeared like a comet.
Like a predator waiting for its chance, Daniel Steiner had marched the 7th Armored Division back to the capital, seized control of the Imperial Capital, cleaned up the collaborators in an instant, and stabilized the Empire.
Thanks to this, Bellanos could find no justification to scrap the agreement and consequently dispatched a diplomatic ambassador to the Empire as planned.
Ref, having watched it all unfold, had come to a conclusion.
As long as Daniel Steiner was in the Empire, the Empire might not be defeated.
"To be honest, the Emperor of the Empire is too soft. If it were me, I wouldn't have even entertained the thought of seeking harmony with the nobles. I would have fabricated justifications and buried the ones raising their banners against me first."
"Young lady."
Worain wore a troubled expression, but Ref continued speaking.
Since she had no listeners besides Worain anyway, there was no need to mince her words.
"Why? Spouting idealistic theories is fine, but if you lack the ability to execute them, you're not qualified as a sovereign. It's a relief that Daniel Steiner was there, but what would have happened if he wasn't? Duke Belvar would have handed the Empire over to the Allied Nations with his own hands, wouldn't he?"
The flustered Worain let out a low sigh as if he couldn't stop her.
"So, what is it you are trying to say?"
"I'm saying we need to place our bets on Daniel Steiner, not the Emperor of the Empire. Let's see whether he's a man holding good cards or not."
"From a macroscopic view, you are not wrong. However, I would ask you to refrain from excessively radical remarks. It could damage your dignity......."
While Worain was speaking, the limousine gradually came to a halt.
"It seems we have arrived at the plaza."
Ref nodded her head.
Worain, who had cut off his words, was adjusting his attire when the driver, having already gotten out, opened the rear door.
After expressing his thanks and disembarking from the limousine, Worain could see the massive crowd gathered in the plaza.
It was a relief that those who appeared to be Imperial soldiers were preventing the crowd from crossing a certain line; otherwise, he would have been swept away.
"Ah! Mister Ambassador! You have arrived!"
As he was observing the crowd, a grave voice rang out from not far away.
Turning his head, he spotted a colonel wearing a neat uniform adorned with several medals.
It was Daniel Steiner.
Accompanied by a few soldiers, Daniel Steiner approached and offered a handshake.
Worain, with a smile, accepted the handshake.
"Colonel Daniel, the hero of the Empire. Thank you for coming out to greet us amidst your busy schedule."
"Please, take back your words. I am not in a position to receive thanks. I should have met you in a proper reception room, not in a plaza like this......."
"Please do not mind. It was we who wished to confirm the capital's stability firsthand."
Since both sides had agreed to meet at the execution grounds, there was no need to debate it.
"More than that, the crowd is quite large. I didn't expect so many people to gather."
"The downfall of the powerful is more entertaining than any amusement. Especially if the person in question started a rebellion and was captured. But the person next to you is......?"
When Daniel cautiously pointed at Ref, Worain shrugged his shoulders as if it was nothing.
"She is my attendant. She is quite shy, so please understand that she is a woman of few words."
"Ah, I see. I apologize."
It was the moment Daniel withdrew his attention from Ref and put on a hospitable smile.
Waaaahhh─
The roar of the crowd was deafening.
Wondering what was happening, Worain followed the crowd's gaze and learned the cause.
Duke Belvar, the leader of the collaborators, was being dragged out by the soldiers.
As Duke Belvar climbed onto a wooden execution platform hastily erected in the plaza, his usual authoritative air was nowhere to be found.
He trudged out, haggard, a placard reading 'Traitor' hanging around his neck.
─ Kill him! Kill him! Kill him!
As the crowd chanted, Daniel opened his mouth.
"Would you like to go closer to see? Of course, it's not a pleasant sight......."
"I must gladly do so. I need to witness Duke Belvar's death with my own eyes and report it to the Cabinet Minister."
"Then that's good. Please follow me."
As Daniel led the way, Ref and Worain followed behind.
They followed closely beside Daniel as he climbed onto the execution platform.
As Daniel revealed himself, the voices of the crowd gradually quieted.
Daniel, who was looking down at the crowd from the execution platform, waited for the silence to settle before opening his mouth.
"Fellow countrymen! The person you see now is Duke Belvar! He is the head of a respected noble family and served three emperors! Everyone here will know that he was truly a man of honor!"
When Daniel suddenly spoke in defense of Duke Belvar, a long silence followed.
"However!"
Amidst the exchanged glances of incomprehension, Daniel shouted.
"The honor Duke Belvar accumulated was ultimately nothing but a stepping stone for rebellion! Having received the country's stipend, he acted solely out of personal greed! He imprisoned His Majesty the Emperor and drove soldiers fighting for the people to their deaths!"
Flashes from cameras burst out from here and there.
As the atmosphere of the crowd became heated, Daniel continued speaking.
"The only honor left to this man now is less than the lies spun by a vagrant on the street! Therefore, I! No! We, the people, demand of Duke Belvar! That the only way to wash away your sins is through death!"
The moment Daniel's speech ended, cheers rose like a wave.
─ Kill him! Kill him! Kill him!
Seeing this, Daniel glanced back at Belvar.
"......Do you have any last words to leave?"
Belvar, who had been on his knees, let out a low laugh.
"At a point where I've lost everything, what meaning is there in leaving last words?"
Having understood Belvar's feelings to some extent, Daniel looked at a soldier.
"Carry out the sentence."
The soldier, who nodded, drew a pistol from his chest.
Just as the soldier aimed the pistol, Belvar suddenly looked up at Daniel.
"......Colonel Daniel. Though I am nothing more than the defeated, I trust you kept your promise. Is my family safe?"
"Your family, was it?"
Before answering, Daniel became aware of the diplomatic ambassador beside him.
He thought he could score some points by showing a humane appearance.
After a brief thought, Daniel gave a thin smile.
"They should be in a good place by now, so don't worry."
He was referring to the house arranged for Duke Belvar's family in the suburbs.
However, Duke Belvar interpreted it as meaning 'your family members have all been killed.'
Especially, that fishy smile felt like a hideous deception.
Belvar, who had frozen with his eyes wide open, finally cried out.
"Daniel Steiner! You fucking demon bastard─!"
The rest of his words did not follow.
Bang!
A single bullet lodged itself in Duke Belvar's head.
Belvar, who collapsed onto the floor with his eyes open, ended his life with the unfinished words still on his lips.
Ambassador Worain, who had been watching this scene from the side, was unknowingly gripped with horror.
'He promised to spare their families, and then killed them?'
Involuntarily, his hands began to tremble.
Appalled by Daniel's cruelty, Worain swallowed hard.
'I can more than understand why the Cabinet Minister referred to Daniel Steiner as a demon.'
While Worain broke out in a cold sweat, Daniel wiped his face with a handkerchief.
Then, turning to look beside him, Daniel hesitated.
This was because both the diplomatic ambassador and the attendant were staring at him with rigid postures.
'Why are they looking at me with those eyes? I'm sure I showed a humanitarian side.......'
From Daniel's standpoint, it was simply bewildering.