If You're Going to ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Deceive, Give It Your All

Though he did not show it, Belvar's breathing began to ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠grow unsteady.

Moreover, as their eyes remained locked, a faint tremor flickered in his pupils.

Thanks to that, Daniel was certain.

'He's agitated.'

The expression Belvar now wore was that of a man desperately trying to hide his fear.

'That's a relief.'

If Belvar had scoffed and dismissed him right here, the one in trouble would have been none other than Daniel.

'If Belvar had thought of me as just some run-of-the-mill staff officer, that's exactly what would have happened.'

But Belvar was genuinely wary of Daniel.

Daniel's guess that Belvar would be overestimating him had hit the mark.

'In that case...'

The best move for Daniel was to keep playing the part of the 'worst-case Daniel Steiner' that Belvar was imagining and push this negotiation through.

'If the negotiation fails, I'm the one who dies.'

Having steeled his resolve, Daniel feigned nonchalance and pulled a document from his breast pocket.

Seeing ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠it, Belvar swallowed hard.

"That is..."

Daniel nodded and spoke.

"A copy of a document collected after the arrest of His Highness the Prince's private organization, Dawn's Morning. As the Duke, you know full well what this document signifies."

As if to say 'see for yourself,' Daniel handed over the document.

Belvar accepted the document and examined its contents.

With the date and outline of the operation so meticulously recorded, it was clearly not fabricated evidence.

Because of that, Belvar's hand began to tremble faintly.

"Your Grace."

To Belvar, Daniel let his words drift slowly.

"What will happen if this document is ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠made public? The path for His Highness the Prince to become Crown Prince will grow distant, and all the people of the Empire will raise their voices demanding the execution of the traitor."

Belvar bit his lip hard.

Because he knew what Daniel's next words would be.

"At that time, we will inform the citizens of the capital. Before punishing the traitor, an investigation was conducted, and it was discovered that there was a family connected to them. That family is none other than..."

Daniel took hold of the top of the document Belvar was holding.

Gently pressing it down, he whispered low enough for only Belvar to hear.

"...the Bahartrante family, which you, Your Grace, lead."

Eyes wide, Belvar glared at Daniel over the document.

It was because he did not take kindly to a mere orphaned vagrant daring to threaten a noble family of high standing in the Empire.

Belvar, his face full of rage, threw the document he was holding onto the table.

"You piece of trash...! There isn't a single lie in the rumors I've heard. How someone as vulgar and vicious as you stands at Her Highness the Princess's side is beyond my comprehension!"

Belvar raised his voice, but Daniel merely looked troubled.

"I will humbly accept whatever assessment you make of me, Your Grace. However, I would like you to know that this place is for making a choice, not for denouncing me."

"A choice? What choice in the world are you telling me to make right now!"

"I believe someone as wise as Duke Belvar already knows..."

Belvar tried to shout something, then shut his mouth.

Because from what Daniel had laid out, he could guess what the terms of the negotiation were.

"No way..."

"Yes. That very 'no way.' If you, Your Grace, withdraw from the succession struggle, we will guarantee absolute secrecy. Then the Bahartrante family will have no connection whatsoever to this matter."

Belvar let out a low groan.

Though it was said in a roundabout way, it was nothing short of telling him to betray the Prince.

Yet it was an incredibly sweet offer, to the point where he could not easily refuse.

"Your Grace. It is not difficult. If you simply nod your head once here, you and the Bahartrante family can continue to reign honorably in the capital as you have. Why on earth are you trying to refuse?"

From the perspective of Belvar, who was in a disadvantageous position, the statement 'Even if we seize power, we will not hold you accountable for your sins' was enough to shake his heart.

As Daniel said, a single nod of the head would allow the family to survive without any trouble.

'However, since I have sworn loyalty to His Highness the Prince...'

There was no way he could be played by that vicious tongue.

"Do not test my loyalty. I will have no dealings with you."

Belvar spoke with resolve, but Daniel only blinked impassively.

Then, with a slight smirk, he rose from his seat.

"You will not join hands, you say. I respect that, but I fail to understand. Have you forgotten what I told you earlier?"

Walking nonchalantly, Daniel passed by Belvar.

"I believe I told you that if you refuse, the matter would certainly not end with a single life. Oh. You've had a whiskey display case built into your reception room."

Amid the heavy atmosphere, Daniel let out a murmur of admiration and opened the door of the whiskey display case.

Taking out a Johnnie Walker from it, he looked down at the bottle and continued.

"My explanation may have been insufficient, so I shall repeat myself. So this time... it concerns the future you, Your Grace, will experience."

What he was trying to say was impossible to grasp.

While Belvar broke out in a cold sweat, Daniel naturally called over a nearby servant.

When the servant approached, Daniel asked him to prepare some ice.

The servant, who had been frozen stiff, bowed his head deeply and hurriedly left the reception room.

Confirming the servant had left, Daniel took a glass from a nearby shelf.

"Let's see. I heard your eldest son runs Ridesharp Company. A sound enterprise leading our Empire's automobile industry. It is also famous for being the first to introduce automated assembly lines."

Having taken out the glass, Daniel pulled a handkerchief from his breast pocket.

"Thanks to that, mass production became possible and countless Imperial citizens could purchase cars at low prices. He is truly an admirable man."

Holding the handkerchief casually, Daniel gently wiped the glass.

"If one were to compare him to a finger, he would be the thumb, I suppose. Because people always use their thumb to express the best. Isn't that right?"

Belvar did not reply, staring straight ahead.

He lacked the courage to look back.

"I, too, have no objection to the view that your eldest son is the best in the automobile industry. However, I question whether Her Highness the Princess would think the same."

Having finished wiping the glass, Daniel spoke in a worried tone.

"If Her Highness the Princess becomes Emperor, I will have no choice but to advise a full investigation into Ridesharp Company. Is he not a man belonging to the family of the traitor Belvar?"

Belvar's breathing grew ragged.

Conscious of that, Daniel continued in a calm, measured tone.

"If, during the full investigation, circumstances are discovered indicating that your eldest son provided funds to the traitors, the matter will become complicated. The mere thought is truly horrifying."

Just as Daniel clicked his tongue, the servant who had gone to the kitchen for ice returned.

At Daniel's gesture, the servant approached and placed ice into the glass.

After offering his thanks, Daniel opened the Johnnie Walker and poured the liquor into the glass.

As Daniel raised the poured glass, Belvar opened his mouth with difficulty.

"...My eldest son has nothing to do with this matter. Truly."

Lifting the glass and taking a sip of the liquor, Daniel shrugged his shoulders once.

"Well, I wonder. From what I see, he seems to be involved."

"Do not frame him! Daniel Steiner...!"

"Ah. I misspoke. It's not that he seems to be involved..."

Stepping behind Belvar, Daniel lightly grasped his shoulders.

"...I will make him involved."

At that chilling voice, Belvar's eyes widened.

Looking down at Belvar's paling face, Daniel walked back to his original seat.

"Just in case, do not look for help from the Security Bureau. When that time comes, the Security Bureau will also be loyal to the orders of the new Emperor."

Seated on the sofa, Daniel placed the glass on the table.

"Furthermore, this will not end with just your eldest son, Your Grace. We will entangle your second son engaged in the electrical industry, and even your third son operating an oil company."

"Th, that..."

Perhaps from hyperventilation, Belvar's breathing grew increasingly ragged.

Watching the old fox tremble in fear, Daniel wore an amiable smile.

"Oh dear. It seems three of your fingers will be severed in an instant, Your Grace. Can you hold hands with others with three fingers cut off? From what I see, everyone will avoid you."

Gasping for breath, Belvar suddenly squeezed his eyes shut and let out a groan close to a scream.

"Y, Your Grace!"

Seeing this, the servant hastily approached and provided medicine and water.

The Duke hurriedly threw the medicine into his mouth and swallowed it with water.

Only then did Belvar's hyperventilation slowly subside.

But his eyes remained closed.

Daniel, who had been silently watching Belvar, leaned forward and snapped his fingers.

Tak─

Startled by the dull sound, Belvar opened his eyes to see Daniel reaching out for a handshake.

To Belvar, the smile Daniel wore felt utterly devoid of humanity.

"What are you doing."

Daniel gave a slight shake of his offered hand.

"Now that you've returned to the past, you must make the right choice this time."

Take my hand before it's too late.

Daniel was clearly saying that.