Why Me Too?
Why Me Too?
Selvia was slightly taken aback.
She had never expected Ref to confess her love so directly.
In truth, it was nothing more than a lie for survival, but Selvia, who had no way of knowing that, could only think highly of Ref's courage.
She knew it was no easy thing to declare love for the man the Emperor of the Empire cherished.
But this was not a matter she could simply let pass just because the other party had shown sincerity.
"......I understand your feelings well. But the reality is not so easy for me to simply grant your heart's desire. You do know, don't you? The Empire's supreme law does not permit polygamy."
Selvia took hold of her cup of black tea.
"The final destination of any bond is marriage. I, too, love Daniel, and so I wish to hold a ceremony. This is something I cannot yield to anyone. And yet, you have still not given up on Daniel."
Lifting the cup, Selvia sipped her black tea and continued.
"You couldn't possibly have intended to have an affair with the Emperor's husband, so you must have been aiming for polygamy. But how? Even though I am the master of the Empire, I cannot simply change the law for the sake of one man. I am sure you are well aware of that."
It was not an incorrect statement, but Ref had absolutely no intention of asking her to change the law.
Ref, who had opened her mouth to explain her plan, hesitated for a moment.
'Should I just let this go?'
Perhaps it would be an easily resolved matter if she just played along, saying 'Now that I hear it, you're right?', and then left.
'But in that case.......'
Daniel would end up tied to Selvia, and Lucy and Frien would be forced to separate from the man they loved.
Could Lucy and Frien accept that?
Even if it didn't lead to a civil war, it would surely cause serious internal conflict.
Moreover, trapped among three women wielding immense power, Daniel would certainly suffer all manner of torments.
If Daniel became isolated in that process, the damage would reach even Ref.
'Daniel is Bellanos's crucial diplomatic partner. I can't stand by and watch his power weaken.'
In Ref's estimation, if the Empire won the war, its de facto ruler should not be the three women, but Daniel Steiner.
Only then would the Empire be stable, and smooth exchanges would be possible from Bellanos's perspective as well.
Though half meant as a joke, telling Daniel to get permission for polygamy from the Emperor had also been said entirely with Bellanos's future in mind.
'Therefore, I cannot run away.'
As Ref wanted to make Bellanos a powerful nation in the future, she could not think only of her own personal safety.
'And.......'
Even if she took a submissive stance here, it didn't seem like Selvia would simply let her go scot-free.
It was certain to arouse even greater suspicion, so she needed to play along with Selvia's misunderstanding to some extent.
"Your Majesty. There is a way to permit Lieutenant General Daniel's polygamy without changing the law."
A question mark floated above Selvia's head.
"......There is such a way?"
"Yes. Did Your Majesty not, in consultation with the General Staff Headquarters, additionally award the White Dragon Order of Military Merit to Lieutenant General Daniel? As I understand it, Lieutenant General Daniel is the first person in history to receive the White Dragon Order that many times."
"I know that as well. But what connection does that have to the situation at hand......."
Selvia stopped mid-sentence and closed her mouth.
Her expression turned grave as she set down her cup.
"That's right. There was the Wish Petition Right."
Receiving the White Dragon Order of Military Merit twice meant one was a hero who had saved the nation.
If such a hero were born, the ancestral principle that their wish should be granted had given birth to the Wish Petition Right.
Ref, having observed Selvia's reaction, spoke somewhat smugly.
"If Lieutenant General Daniel exercises that right and demands polygamy, would there be any reason not to grant it? Not only would it not violate the law, but the majority of the populace would also find it understandable."
Certainly, if that method were used, Daniel's polygamy could be permitted without changing the law.
However, there were many things holding her back from giving a definite answer right now.
She opened and closed her mouth repeatedly.
Selvia, who had been hesitating to answer for some time, finally spoke after a deep breath.
"I clearly understand what you are saying. This seems to be a matter that requires time and consideration. I have learned your thoughts, so you may withdraw now."
At Selvia's dismissal order, Ref rose from her seat, grasped both sides of her dress, and bowed her head lightly.
Showing immaculate imperial etiquette, Ref turned and walked out without another word.
Selvia's eyes, watching Ref's retreating figure, narrowed slightly.
"Chief of the Inner Court Office."
The Chief of the Inner Court Office, having been summoned, approached and bowed her head.
In the silence, Selvia organized the thoughts in her head and then spoke.
"......I feel selfish."
"Do you mean the daughter of the Bellanos Cabinet Minister?"
"No. I mean myself."
Just as the Chief was blinking blankly, wondering what she meant, Selvia continued.
"I know that what that woman said is the answer. Because Daniel is loved by other women besides me. If I try to monopolize Daniel all by myself, very bad things are sure to happen. And yet, why do I feel this desire to have him all to myself?"
A smile touched the lips of the Chief of the Inner Court Office, who had been listening quietly.
"Your Majesty. Love is inherently selfish. Therefore, Your Majesty's thoughts are natural and not at all wrong."
"Is that so. But if I consider it from their perspective, the other women must be in the same situation as I am. In that I have the power to choose, perhaps I am blessed beyond what I deserve."
The image of Ref confessing her love before the Emperor of the Empire, desperate to remain by Daniel's side somehow, still seemed to flicker before her eyes.
'Was it called the Wish Petition Right.......'
Countless emotions swirled within her deepening, thoughtful eyes.
*
Late evening.
Sarak─
The light in Daniel Steiner's office within the General Staff Headquarters still showed no sign of going out.
Having been unintentionally assigned to handle the negotiations with the Allied Nations' leader, Count Kaledra, he was reviewing documents to prepare in advance.
'Given Count Kaledra's personality, proposing a conditional truce rather than a complete surrender seems more likely to succeed.......'
How could he succeed in persuading Count Kaledra and bring an end to the war?
Just as he was agonizing over it again and again, a knock sounded from beyond the door.
'......At this hour?'
Puzzled, Daniel set down the files he was reviewing and looked toward the door.
"Who is it?"
Instead of an answer, the door gently opened.
At the sight of the person visible through the crack, Daniel let out a low sigh.
"It's Ref. I'm not sure what brings you here, but come in for now."
Ref nodded, opened the door, and stepped inside.
He grew curious because she was holding a paper box in her hands.
Before he could even ask what it was, Ref approached Daniel and held out the box.
"You're working hard so late. Eat this and cheer up."
Daniel, who had been eyeing Ref with suspicion, accepted the box and opened it.
Inside, he saw an assortment of colorful candies wrapped in a cloth pouch.
"This is......."
"I heard you like sweet things, so I prepared some. So? Do you like it?"
"I was just in the mood for something sweet, but......."
Closing the lid of the box, Daniel spoke without hiding his suspicion.
"I don't take you for the type of person who shows me kindness without any reason. No matter how I look at it, this seems like a bribe."
"......Th-there's no way."
"Ref. We've known each other for long enough, so don't lie. I heard from the Chief of the General Staff. That you went to the Imperial Palace today. Seems like something bad happened there."
His perceptiveness was top-notch.
Sweat beading on her brow, Ref lowered her voice as she gauged Daniel's reaction.
"Can I be honest?"
"Yeah. I need to know what happened so I can deal with it too."
"Can you promise you won't get mad?"
"It depends on what I hear, but I'm not the type to anger easily."
"You won't curse at me, right?"
She was being cautious in ways that were unlike her usual self.
Unable to guess what she was about to say to make her so nervous, Daniel found himself growing involuntarily anxious.
"......Did you, by any chance, cause some sort of incident?"
Ref gave a slight nod.
His head throbbed, but thinking it couldn't be helped, Daniel leaned back against his chair.
"It's fine, so tell me. We have to put our heads together to find a way out, don't we?"
"Uh-huh. Then I'll tell you? The situation has gotten very tangled, but to give you the conclusion first......."
Taking a deep breath, Ref squeezed her eyes shut, her face stained with shame.
"......I ended up telling the Emperor that I love you."
Daniel froze solid.
Literally, every action came to a halt as if even the sound of his breathing had been sealed away.
Not knowing where to even begin interpreting Ref's words, Daniel's mind was already a crucible of chaos.
"......You said you love me?"
"Well...... I had no choice if I wanted to live. She had this air about her that said she'd kill me if I told her it was all a joke."
Though he heard Ref's excuse, nothing changed.
Daniel, who had been frozen while swallowing dryly, suddenly shot up from his seat.
Daniel, raising a hand to his chin, paced restlessly around the desk.
Then he folded his arms, paused for a moment, and let out a low laugh.
Daniel, who had been repeating this behavior for a while, could no longer hold back and yelled in a fit of anger.
"Are you trying to kill me!? Ref!"
It was the first time in his life Daniel had felt fury toward a woman.