Did You Do It?
Did You Do It?
Arno was dead.
【Prince Arno, upon the exposure of his collusion with the Labor Union Party, took his own life.】
The news spread across the entire Empire, led by the Imperial Daily.
Naturally, the people fiercely condemned the Labor Union Party, claiming they had not only committed crimes but also driven a member of the Imperial family to suicide.
The Labor Union Party, unable to withstand public opinion, began the process of dissolution, and around the same time, the National Crisis Unification Law was promulgated to the world after receiving Selvia's approval.
Originally, it was anticipated that there would be considerable opposition to the National Crisis Unification Law, which signified parliamentary control by a single party, but what was feared did not come to pass.
With the criminal acts of the congressmen exposed to the light of day and Arno's death added on top, the cause of 'powerful state governance by a single party under His Majesty the Emperor's protection' gained force.
Thus, as the one-party system was established, the Central Nationalist Party, which Daniel had selected, seized parliamentary power.
On the day the Central Nationalist Party became the sole party of the Empire, its leader, Elerkar, stood at the assembly podium and led the chant: 'For the nation, the people, and His Majesty the Emperor!'
At first glance, it seemed that Selvia's power as Emperor had been strengthened, but the reality was different.
This was because those with sharp ears or keen intuition knew that Daniel Steiner lurked behind all of these events.
Those among them with loose lips informed their acquaintances of this fact, and those who heard it began to spread the stories around, boasting as if it were crucial information.
─ Daniel Steiner stands shoulder to shoulder with His Majesty the Emperor.
Daniel Steiner's stature had risen to the point where such words were openly circulating.
Everyone in the Empire both respected and feared Daniel Steiner.
The name Daniel Steiner itself had become nothing short of a symbol of power.
So much so that not only officers but also high-ranking officials, upon seeing Daniel Steiner, would avert their gaze in terror or bow their heads.
Daniel Steiner, who had literally been reborn as the Empire's peerless authority, thought to himself.
'...I want to go home.'
In the General Headquarters lounge, Daniel stared vacantly out the window.
Perhaps because quite some time had passed since Arno's death, the leaves were falling from the roadside trees.
Daniel, who had been admiring the panorama of the Imperial Capital, let out a low sigh without warning.
'Everyone seems to look at me like I'm some kind of ghost...'
Daniel recalled what had just happened.
He had entered the lounge to drink some coffee and take a break, but the officers who were chatting suddenly coughed as if choking on their own saliva and snapped to a salute.
When he returned their salute, they all rushed out, saying they had work to do.
So now Daniel had the spacious lounge all to himself.
'How solitary.'
It was a rule that power, as it approached its peak, grew lonelier.
The problem was that Daniel Steiner had never wanted power.
He had only arrived at his current position because he had done his best to survive.
'If I told my past self about the current situation, he wouldn't believe it.'
If he said that in less than two years he had not only risen to the rank of Brigadier General but had also become the de facto ruler of the Empire, it was obvious he'd be told he was out of his mind.
'It would be nice if Kelly were here at times like this...'
Holding that innocent, naive kid always used to make all his worries and troubles disappear.
As he was sipping his coffee and reminiscing about childhood memories, he heard footsteps from behind him.
He turned to see who it was, and there stood a face he hadn't seen in a long time.
It was Colonel Ernst, the Deputy Chief of Operations Staff.
"...Deputy Chief?"
Daniel addressed him, somewhat bewildered, and Ernst smiled, raising his coffee cup.
"I heard you were here, so I came to see you. Would you mind if I had a cup of coffee beside you?"
Of course, he didn't mind at all.
"Absolutely. But..."
Daniel, noticing that Ernst had become somewhat gaunt, asked with concern.
"Have you been having a tough time lately? You seem to have lost some weight?"
"Ah. It's like this. Please listen to this as well, Brigadier General Daniel. Didn't that damn wife of mine threaten to throw away all the stamps I've collected just because we had a little argument?"
"...You mean stamps?"
"Yes! I don't know how she found out, but she's threatening to throw away even the limited edition stamps I recently bought, and I'm really so angry I can't stand it! Even as we speak, I'm worrying myself sick that she might be throwing out my stamps..."
Ernst, who had been talking about recently losing weight, glanced at Daniel's expression and let out a dry cough.
"I'm sorry about this. I had no intention of rambling about my own stories."
Thanks to this, Daniel let out a low laugh.
"Not at all. Honestly, it's reassuring to see that you, Deputy Chief, haven't changed."
"Is that so?"
Ernst, who shared a laugh with him, sipped his coffee and then spoke.
"However, it seems to me, Brigadier General Daniel, that you have changed quite a lot."
Daniel gave a bitter smile at Ernst's words.
He couldn't bring himself to deny it.
"I've been through a great deal."
"Your worries must have multiplied just as much. And you must be concerned about public perception as well."
"I can't afford not to be."
Ernst nodded as if he understood.
"When I rose to this position, the pressure from those who judged my qualifications was severe. How much worse must it be for you, Brigadier General Daniel? However, it seems you don't need to worry too much."
"May I ask why?"
"Of course. Even just recently, you, Brigadier General Daniel, occupied Penbark and counterattacked and devoured the Allied forces that had launched a surprise attack. After that, you captured evidence of the Allied Nations' human experimentation."
Ernst looked out the window.
"Due to this, the Allied Nations suffered a severe blow to the image they had built up over time. Amid international condemnation, the Federal States also withdrew their support for the Allied Nations."
It was, in effect, the prevention of the worst-case scenario where the Federal States would aid the Allied Nations and enter the war.
"On top of that, although the methods were a bit extreme, you neatly settled the chaotic domestic issues. What did all of these things give the Imperial citizens?"
Ernst's eyes narrowed slowly.
"Hope that we can win."
A breeze blew in.
Ernst, having sipped his coffee once more, turned back to Daniel.
"You, Brigadier General Daniel, are nothing less than the vanguard of the hope that the Empire might just be able to win this war. So, on behalf of the entire nation, allow me to express my gratitude."
Feeling somewhat awkward and ticklish, Daniel put on an uncomfortable smile.
"That's enough. Hearing such grandiose thanks would only add to the pressure."
"Is that so."
Ernst, who had been quietly watching Daniel, spoke in a slightly worried tone.
"But your complexion looks a bit off. You must be tired from all sorts of things lately. How about picking a day and getting some good rest? Taking a break is how you gain the strength to move forward into the future."
"Rest, huh."
He had been feeling fatigued lately anyway, so it was a good suggestion.
"That doesn't sound bad."
What should he do if he took a break?
While he was seriously pondering this, Ernst finished his coffee and crumpled his paper cup.
"But isn't the lounge coffee just godawful? I'd rather have chicory coffee."
Daniel let out a short laugh at Ernst's chatter.
"I agree."
*
Meanwhile, in the Imperial Dowager Mariant's bedchamber.
"Mother. I have something to tell you."
Selvia, who had entered the bedchamber alone, wore a determined expression.
Mariant, wondering what it was about, had Selvia sit on the bed and listened attentively beside her.
Thanks to this, Selvia told her everything about the past memories she had seen in the Imperial Relic Repository.
She thought that even if others could not know, her mother, Mariant, should know this truth.
Having poured out everything she knew, Selvia spoke with a guilty face.
"Now you don't have to consider me your daughter anymore. I will accept it whether you hate or despise me. So..."
Mariant, who had been looking at Selvia with pity, shook her head.
"Child. You are still my daughter. Because I resolved to think so a long time ago."
At Mariant's words, Selvia's face brightened, but it soon held a look of puzzlement.
"...A long time ago?"
"You are so innocent in this regard. My child. Did you think I wouldn't know? Is there any parent who wouldn't be suspicious when their daughter, who had an incurable disease, suddenly became fine overnight?"
A bitter smile settled on Mariant's lips.
"I knew long ago that you were not my biological daughter. Even so, the reason I treated you like a daughter was that I considered it the only atonement for the sins that man committed."
"Mother..."
"I'm telling you just in case, but I have never once thought of you as a substitute for my biological daughter. My child. Please know that even though you are different from my own daughter, you are also my beloved child."
Moisture gathered in Selvia's blue eyes.
She had come prepared to be cursed at or treated with contempt, but because Mariant was treating her as a daughter, tears welled up involuntarily.
"Selvia. My daughter."
Thinking that Selvia might burst into tears if things continued this way, Mariant changed the subject.
"But how is your love life going? With that officer named Daniel Steiner. I heard you two were alone in the outdoor garden. Did you make any progress?"
The moment Daniel's name left Mariant's mouth, her tears instantly dried up.
Selvia coughed dryly and subtly blushed.
The moment she had kissed Daniel was replaying in her head.
"...We did it."
It was a voice barely above a whisper, but the pronunciation was accurate.
Deeply surprised, Mariant clapped her hands without realizing it.
"Oh my, my. You already did it? I guess that's what they call youthful ardor. It took me a little while to get to that point with that man."
Mariant's interest was piqued, and she leaned toward Selvia.
"Can you tell this mother of yours how it felt? Because I might be able to help you in that area."
"...How it felt? I'm not sure. It was over so quickly. I can't remember anything except that my mind went blank and my heart was pounding incredibly."
"Really? Well, I suppose it's normal to be nervous and not think of anything else since your first experience was in an outdoor garden. If you get caught, even for a moment, you'd be utterly disgraced."
It would certainly be embarrassing, but wasn't disgrace a bit much? Just as she was thinking something was odd, Mariant lightly took Selvia's hand.
"But, child. Surely you didn't do it inside? No matter how urgent it was, you must use proper contraception before marriage."
Selvia blinked vacantly.
"Inside... do what?"
"What do you mean, what? I'm talking about ejaculation, of course."
"Ejaculation...?"
Selvia, who had been chewing on Mariant's words, turned bright red.
The moment she realized their words had been running on parallel tracks, a double dose of shame rushed in.
Eobeobeo─
Selvia, who had been blushing and not knowing what to do, yelled out in a fit of pique.
"What I did wasn't that kind of thing! If you're going to say such shameless things, then leave this instant!"
Mariant, who had been quietly watching Selvia close her eyes tight and shout, opened her mouth calmly.
"Child? This is my bedchamber."
"Ah. Right..."
Letting out a hiccup, Selvia hastily rose from her seat and fled the room as if escaping.
Mariant, watching Selvia go, rested her cheek on her hand and muttered.
"To be so terribly shy..."
She was needlessly worried that if Daniel didn't embrace her first, she might never dare to approach him for the rest of her life.
'As I thought...'
Mariant was convinced that Selvia needed her help.