An Act to Survive
An Act to Survive
After leaving the General Staff Headquarters, Daniel headed straight for the Imperial Palace.
Since he had obtained prior permission from Princess Selvia, he was able to enter the palace after a simple identity check.
Afterwards, with the help of a lady-in-waiting from the Inner Court Office, Daniel arrived at the princess's office and knocked on the door.
"Your Highness! This is Major Daniel Steiner!"
When he called out in a loud voice, the door opened from the inside.
Lieutenant Colonel Hartmann, who served as the Chief Bodyguard of the Imperial Guard, stood holding the doorknob.
"Major Daniel. I have been waiting."
With a single nod, Daniel walked to the center of the office and offered a salute.
Seated at her desk, Selvia's face lit up with color.
"Major Daniel! I was wondering when you might arrive...!"
Selvia, who had unconsciously raised her voice, flinched and let out a dry cough.
Even if she was happy to see him, she thought that as a princess she had to maintain her dignity.
"What business brings you all the way here?"
Her voice, now quite even, settled calmly in the office.
In response, Daniel lowered his hand and assumed an at-ease stance.
"I have come to visit because I have an urgent matter to discuss."
While Daniel spoke, Hartmann closed the office door and went to stand beside Selvia.
With both of them watching him, Daniel spoke.
"Before I explain the situation, let me make one thing clear. I was not the one who attacked and neutralized His Highness the Prince's private organization, Dawn's Morning. I thought it best to correct that before we proceed."
At his words, Selvia and Hartmann blinked, then nodded as if they understood.
"I see. Should related questions come in from outside, I will deflect them in that manner for now."
"I shall also keep my lips sealed. I do not wish to put you in a difficult position, after all."
Judging by their reactions, it seemed not a shred of sincerity had gotten through.
In his heart, Daniel wanted to plead that it really wasn't him, but they didn't seem likely to believe him and he had no time for that now.
So he decided to get straight to the point.
"Your Highness. Then I shall explain the circumstances of my visit. First, are you aware that Security Bureau police are swaggering about the General Staff Headquarters?"
The atmosphere sank in an instant.
Selvia narrowed her eyes sharply and spoke.
"It is the doing of Duke Belvar. That old man maintains good relations with the Security Bureau Chief. But the talk of Security Bureau police being set loose in the General Staff Headquarters..."
It was good that she was quick to understand.
Daniel nodded, confirming that her speculation was correct.
"Duke Belvar intends to frame me on charges of colluding with a spy."
"......For what reason?"
"He is trying to reverse public opinion. I was the one who discovered the Prince's private organization plotting an insurrection. But what would happen if it were revealed that I was, in truth, colluding with a spy?"
Hartmann, who had been listening, let out a groan.
"Everything could be twisted into a self-staged plot by Daniel Steiner, who belongs to the Princess faction. Even if they condemned the insurrectionist as none other than Major Daniel himself, there would be nothing left to say."
Inwardly impressed by the old fox's scheme, Hartmann looked at Daniel.
"I can see what you must be worried about. The Security Bureau are the kind of bastards who fabricate evidence where there is none. At this rate, an innocent man like you will be harmed."
In truth, due to complicated circumstances, Daniel was keeping silent despite knowing his adjutant was a spy, but since it was a truth he could not speak aloud, he simply nodded quietly.
"It is now only a matter of time. The moment the Security Bureau issues an Internal Security Surveillance Warrant, I will be captured by them."
At Daniel's words, Selvia bristled and leapt up, shoving back her chair.
"That cannot be allowed! I will do whatever I can to block such an outrage!"
At Selvia's display, Daniel offered a faint smile.
"I would be truly grateful if you did so. But a better method is to strike first before the worst situation arrives."
"Strike first?"
Hartmann asked again, looking intrigued.
"It seems you have a way to break this situation?"
"That is correct. Currently Duke Belvar is hell-bent on locking me away, even if he must borrow the power of the Security Bureau. What do you think that implies?"
After a short silence, Selvia answered.
"That old fox is afraid of you, judging by how he is pressing forward despite the backlash he will face if he fails to find evidence that you, Daniel, colluded with a spy."
"That is the correct answer. Therefore, I intend to use the fear Duke Belvar holds toward me. In addition, I will propose a kind of deal using information only we currently know."
"Major Daniel. I am having trouble following. What exactly do you mean by 'using Duke Belvar's fear'?"
The last question came from Hartmann.
Daniel paused briefly before speaking.
"I will act."
Daniel's gaze, directed at Hartmann, settled with resolve.
"The 'worst possible Daniel Steiner' that Duke Belvar is imagining."
*
Having explained the gist of the operation, Daniel requested that Selvia arrange a meeting with Duke Belvar.
Accepting Daniel's request, Selvia immediately contacted Belvar, and Belvar accepted without much trouble, so the meeting was arranged.
Thus, now.
'Damn it...'
Daniel was seated on a sofa in the reception room of Duke Belvar's mansion.
Behind the sofa where Daniel sat, Hartmann was biding his time with his arms crossed.
It was at Selvia's request that Hartmann escorted Daniel, as she feared some unforeseen accident might occur.
Seeing that there was still a little time before Belvar would arrive, Hartmann whispered so that only Daniel could hear.
"......But, Major Daniel, must you choose this method? It is they, not us, who are at a disadvantage."
He was questioning why Daniel was being so impatient when they could simply take their time and pressure him slowly.
Daniel agreed with that.
Even if the Security Bureau was running rampant, as long as he gave them nothing to use against him and held out as long as possible, it was highly likely that Belvar would self-destruct on his own.
But it was clear that bloodshed would occur in the process.
'More than anything...'
Lucy was actually a spy.
If Kartman received a warrant from the Security Bureau and pursued the investigation relentlessly, and if decisive evidence proving Lucy was a spy was uncovered because of it, Daniel's life was forfeit.
Because if a charge of colluding with a spy was established, it would not simply end with him taking off his uniform.
Therefore, Daniel had to obtain Belvar's white flag here today, by any means necessary.
Only then would the Security Bureau's investigation stop.
In Hartmann's eyes, this was merely a negotiation, but for Daniel, it was no different from a life-or-death tightrope walk.
Of course, since he could not explain all of this, Daniel simply offered an awkward smile.
"Would it not be good for everyone if everything is resolved through today's negotiation?"
"That is true. More importantly, is there nothing I can help you with?"
"There is nothing. All you need to do is silently play along with my tune from behind."
Thinking that much would not be difficult, Hartmann nodded.
Kiiiik─
At that moment, the reception room door opened and Duke Belvar entered with his attendant.
Belvar, dressed in an expensive suit, wore a monocle, and his thick eyebrows and tightly shut lips displayed his characteristic obstinacy.
Daniel rose from his seat and bowed deeply, but Belvar did not react.
He merely clicked his tongue openly, walked over, and sat on the opposite sofa.
As Daniel also sat back down on the sofa, Belvar spoke.
"Well. You wretch asked to see me?"
It was a contemptuous tone, but Daniel did not waver and offered a welcoming smile.
"That is correct. As you must know, Duke, His Highness the Prince's private organization, Dawn's Morning, has been completely rounded up. I have come to make a proposal in relation to that."
"A proposal? Ha! There is no need to hear what kind of proposal it is! It will surely be a demand to betray His Highness the Prince!"
Belvar raised his hand and pointed a finger at Daniel.
"I also know well how you achieve what you want at the negotiating table by threatening your opponent! Do not think I will be swayed by your wicked schemes like the others!"
Despite Belvar's bluster, Daniel did not lose his smile.
"Duke. There is a misunderstanding. I have simply come to this place to negotiate. If you would listen to my proposal—"
"I do not wish to hear it!"
Cutting off Daniel's words, Belvar let out a roar.
"Do you think I might be seduced by the filthy words coming out of your maw!"
"Then you are saying you will break off this negotiation without even listening to what I have to say."
"I agreed to negotiate only because it was a request from Her Highness the Princess. Furthermore, no matter what happens, I will not betray His Highness the Prince. Even if it means giving my life!"
As expected, Belvar was taking a hard line.
Thinking it could not be helped, Daniel resolved to 'act' instead of making a proposal.
"I cannot say I do not understand Duke's feelings. However, if you break off this negotiation now, the lives that will be lost will not be your own alone."
One of Belvar's eyebrows twitched.
"......What do you mean by that?"
"It is exactly as I said. Think about it slowly."
Daniel leaned back against the backrest of the sofa, maintaining his smile.
On the other hand, Belvar merely swallowed dryly, his fingertips trembling.
Ruminating on Daniel's ambiguous statement, Belvar asked, his voice subdued.
"My acquaintances and family are innocent. Even if I were to lose in the succession struggle, a wretch like you has no authority to touch my people."
Hearing Belvar's words, Daniel's lips twitched, and soon he let out a laugh as if he could no longer hold it in.
The low, subdued laughter echoed, resonating through the wide reception room.
Belvar, unable to understand why he was laughing, furrowed his brow and broke out in a cold sweat.
Hartmann, who had said he would play along with the act, also felt a somewhat chilling sensation as he simply looked down at Daniel.
After laughing for a while, Daniel gave a light wave of his hand.
"Oh dear. My apologies. I committed a discourtesy. However..."
Daniel suddenly wiped the laughter from his face and stared fixedly at Belvar.
Those fierce yet static pupils glistened like a predator eyeing its prey.
"Let me ask you one thing. Duke Belvar. Among the people I have led to ruin...."
The haunting voice captured Belvar's gaze.
Within the short silence, Daniel leaned his upper body forward and spoke without even blinking.
"Was there ever a single innocent person?"
In that instant, Belvar felt extreme terror envelop his body.