Daniel Wants to Rest, the Princess Won't Let Go
Daniel Wants to Rest, the Princess Won't Let Go
As soon as day broke, Daniel began preparing to return to the imperial capital.
He had drunk quite a lot, but not enough to show visible aftereffects the next day; outwardly, he looked no different.
If there was one, it was just that his dark circles had deepened slightly.
At any rate, thanks to the consideration of Lieutenant Colonel Kalpren, the corps commander's adjutant, all of Daniel's headquarters direct command company were able to board military vehicles in good condition.
Thus, departing from the corps headquarters, Daniel was able to arrive in the imperial capital after roughly ten days of driving.
As soon as the military jeep carrying Daniel entered the capital, citizens erupted in cheers and scattered flower petals they had personally prepared.
This was thanks to the news that Daniel had concluded negotiations with the Kingdom, which had already spread widely throughout the capital.
Daniel, who found this displeasing, made no response, using fatigue as an excuse.
Of course, Daniel's lack of response did not mean the citizens' welcome died down.
Citizens had even camped out at the entrance of General Headquarters, waving placards inscribed with all sorts of praise, so much so that Daniel felt dizzy.
Still, once he entered General Headquarters, a restricted area for civilians, the citizens could follow no further, which gave him some relief.
"Huh? Isn't that Her Highness the Imperial Princess standing over there?"
That was, until he heard Frien's words.
Daniel, who had been resting with his eyes closed, opened them to look out the window and let out a low groan.
Just as Frien had said, the Imperial Princess Selvia was standing before the main gate of General Headquarters alongside Lieutenant Colonel Hartmann, the chief bodyguard of the Imperial Guard.
'I have a rough idea why she came, but still....'
Was it really something that warranted the Imperial Princess coming out to greet him personally?
The moment Daniel felt puzzled, the jeep leading the convoy slowly came to a halt.
As Daniel opened the door and stepped out, Selvia, who had been talking with Hartmann, turned her head.
Selvia was wearing an Imperial officer's dress uniform, but the fabric was different, and it was pure white instead of black.
Furthermore, where the rank insignia should have been was an eagle emblem symbolizing the Imperial Household instead.
Including various ornate decorations, it was a dress uniform that only the Imperial family could wear.
They said dignity came from one's attire.
As Selvia, clad in the uniform symbolizing Imperial royalty, approached, not only Frien but also Lucy appeared tense.
Daniel was equally tense, but his fatigue from the long drive slightly outweighed it, so he wasn't trembling much.
"Your Highness the Imperial Princess."
As Daniel raised a salute, Selvia approached with an innocent, bright smile.
"What took you so long? I waited for you so...."
Selvia stopped mid-sentence and gave a dry cough.
She felt it was beneath her dignity in front of so many watching eyes.
"Major Daniel? I have heard plenty about your battlefield merits. You are aware that my father wishes to see Major Daniel regarding them, yes?"
"Yes. I am aware."
"Then the conversation will be brief. Since my father wishes to see Major Daniel, let us go to the Imperial Palace. It isn't very far, so we can arrive shortly."
Now? Taken aback, Daniel spoke after a brief silence.
"Your Highness. Do you mean at this very moment?"
At Daniel's question, Selvia exhaled softly with an apologetic air.
"I know. This is hardly proper. However, my father is currently critically ill. To the point where he has only a few days a month when his mind is lucid. That is why my father wishes to see Major Daniel now, while his mind is intact."
Daniel was aware that the Emperor's illness had deepened.
'But I didn't know it was severe enough that he couldn't keep his wits about him....'
Thinking it couldn't be helped, Daniel nodded.
"Understood. I shall accompany Your Highness."
"Thank you. And I have something urgent to discuss with you... no, we can talk about this on the way. Follow me."
Selvia moved her steps toward the limousine positioned on one side of General Headquarters.
There, a chauffeur in a suit held the rear door open, his head deeply bowed.
It was almost burdensome, but he couldn't ignore the Imperial Princess's suggestion.
Following Selvia, Daniel boarded the limousine, and the chauffeur, who closed the rear door, got into the driver's seat and gently pressed the accelerator pedal.
Watching the limousine slowly depart from General Headquarters, Frien sighed and folded her arms.
"I thought we could at least have a party with the Major to celebrate his military merits, but he was snatched away by Her Highness the Imperial Princess the moment we arrived at General Headquarters."
Lucy, who was beside Frien, just stared silently at the back of the limousine, neither affirming nor denying.
Then, as if a sudden, novel thought occurred to her, she looked back at Frien.
"Cadet Frien. Were you perhaps quite popular with men?"
"Hmm. I wasn't entirely unpopular. I've received a few confessions, after all. Though I never dated anyone."
"Then what do you think the reason for your popularity was?"
"Well. Maybe I looked gentle? Back when I lived at the church, I was quite timid. They might have wanted to protect me. Or...."
Frien shrugged her shoulders once.
"They might have thought if they treated me well, they might get a chance. Men are basically wolves, you know. Like how they say men reveal their instincts when they pretend to be drunk?"
"......Why?"
"Huh? Are you listening to me? A drunk woman becomes defenseless, right? From a man's perspective, it's the easiest time to reveal one's instincts... Wait a moment."
Why was she asking this? Frien, who was looking at Lucy with mild suspicion, furrowed one eyebrow.
"Second Lieutenant Lucy. You're not scheming to do something to Major Daniel, are you?"
At Frien's question, Lucy's shoulders flinched slightly.
She wondered if her mission had been discovered.
Hesitating, Lucy averted her gaze and muttered in a small voice.
"......No."
Seeing that, Frien thought.
'This person, she's dreadfully bad at lying.'
She didn't know the full details of the past Lucy was hiding, but Frien judged that she was definitely not a spy agent.
*
The news that a peace negotiation had been concluded by Daniel Steiner naturally reached Nordia as well.
Hearing the news, Hamtal, the leader of the secret society Black Bird, immediately convened a council, and the captains of each branch, heeding the headquarters' summons, attended without exception.
Upon the candlestick that adorned the command table, candle flames burned calmly.
In the solemn atmosphere, having confirmed that all the branch captains had gathered, Hamtal spoke.
"I thank you for attending without complaint despite the sudden summons. As you may have anticipated to some degree, the reason I have called you here concerns this peace negotiation."
The branch captains indicated their agreement through silence.
"As you all know, with the peace negotiation concluded, Nordia has been able to completely escape the tyranny of the Kingdom. The citizens cheered, saying they no longer have to watch the nobles' every move."
A satisfied smile tugged at Hamtal's lips.
"Is that all? Not only has discrimination against colored races vanished, but taxes have been astonishingly reduced. It's no exaggeration to say that a city truly for its citizens has been born."
"All of this is due to...."
To the words of the man in a black robe pulled low, Hamtal nodded.
"Indeed. It is a miracle wrought by the figure named Daniel Steiner. All of us have received grace from him. Is that not so?"
The branch captains, after a moment's hesitation, each nodded.
Because it was not an incorrect statement.
"Daniel Steiner has fulfilled our long-cherished wish. It means that the wish no one had been able to reach in the last ten years was granted not by God, but by Daniel Steiner."
Hamtal, having withdrawn his smile, narrowed his eyes gravely.
"Therefore, I now intend to repay the grace I have received from Daniel Steiner. What do the rest of you think? Shall we simply take the grace we received for granted, like beasts mired in habit?"
One by one, the branch captains shook their heads.
Seeing that, Hamtal raised his voice.
"Then, from now on, Black Bird must operate as Daniel Steiner's shadow. For preserving his life is clearly beneficial to us and to the world."
In Hamtal's view, Daniel Steiner was a prophet.
Because the evil customs that others knew about but hushed up for fear of taking the lead and suffering harm, Daniel Steiner had stepped forward and eliminated them as though it were the most natural thing in the world.
But Hamtal knew.
That prophets throughout history were always fated to face persecution from the world.
There was no guarantee that Daniel Steiner, too, would not face threats to his life.
Thus, Hamtal intended to use the power of the secret society Black Bird to secure Daniel's survival.
"As it appears everyone agrees, let me explain. From now on, the secret society Black Bird will relocate each branch to the imperial capital. Thereafter, we will thoroughly investigate whether there are any forces seeking to slander Daniel Steiner."
"If slandering forces are discovered in the process, what shall you do?"
"We will stop them, even by force."
It was an order that might have seemed radical at first glance, but the branch captains merely nodded, signifying their understanding.
A few among them were even smiling.
This was because, for these branch captains who had clashed frequently with the nobles' private soldiers over the past ten years, the use of force was not an exceptional measure.
However, not everyone agreed with Hamtal's words.
The man wearing the black robe, after pondering deeply, spoke.
"But is it possible to relocate the branches to the imperial capital? We are, after all, citizens of the Kingdom...."
The man stopped mid-sentence and shut his mouth.
It was because a quiet realization had flashed through his mind.
"......I see. Since the Kingdom ceded Nordia, we are now Imperial citizens. They would grant a change in nationality if desired."
Since the risk had vanished, there was no longer any reason to refuse Hamtal's proposal.
Hamtal nodded once to the man, then looked around at the branch captains.
"As the discussion is finished, let us proceed with the vote. Those who agree to this agenda, raise your glasses."
No sooner had Hamtal finished speaking than the branch captains raised their glasses filled with wine.
As the man in the black robe also raised his glass, the branch captains recited in unison the purpose for which the secret society Black Bird was founded.
─ For that day when the hatred and discrimination rampant in the world are erased.
Seeing the unanimous vote of the branch captains, Hamtal, too, smiled as he raised his glass.
"Also, for Daniel Steiner."