The next morning.
Emperor Bertham's bedroom.
“Your Majesty! Please, have mercy!”
In front of the bed, Duke Belvar knelt and shouted.
“Daniel Steiner must not be granted inquisitorial authority! Allowing him to hold such power under the pretext of investigation would threaten the Empire’s nobles and directly challenge the power of the imperial family!”
Belvar’s outburst rang in Bertham’s ears like a sharp piercing sound.
Bertham, feeling a headache, pressed his forehead and exhaled softly.
“...You disturbed my rest for such a trivial reason?”
“Your Majesty! This is far from trivial! How can it not be a serious issue that Daniel Steiner, a mere orphan, would investigate nobles?”
“So, you wish for me to overturn my daughter’s decision?”
Belvar fell silent.
From his silence, Bertham read the confirmation and blinked his tired eyes.
“Look up and see my condition.”
Belvar slowly raised his head and saw Bertham’s face.
Under disheveled hair, a face marked with dark spots showed no trace of vitality.
His lips were dry, and one of his eyes couldn’t even open fully.
Even without being a doctor, it was clear what state Bertham had reached.
Death loomed ahead of him.
“I’m going to die soon. Perhaps today will be the last day I can speak with you while still in my right mind. And soon, my daughter’s coronation will take place. Yet, in such a situation, you want me to take action to reverse my daughter’s decision?”
Even if Selvia were to be empowered, Bertham questioned whether they should let the public see a family conflict, openly rejecting her order.
Only then did Belvar realize his mistake and lowered his gaze quietly.
Bertham, looking down at Belvar, continued.
“Also, my daughter told me that Campbell, the leader of the Free Society Party, has been working with the enemy. If that is true, wouldn’t my daughter have made the right decision?”
“Your Majesty, I believe what matters more than the result is the legitimacy of the process. It would be more proper to investigate through the Security Bureau rather than entrusting it to Daniel Steiner.”
“Legitimacy, you say? According to the laws of the Empire, granting temporary inquisitorial authority to military officials who discover evidence of collaboration with the enemy is not illegal.”
Though an exceptional case, it did not violate legitimacy.
Since Belvar could not refute this, Bertham added, “I don’t quite understand why you are so hostile, Duke. If Daniel Steiner obtained inquisitorial authority to oppress the nobles, wouldn’t it be a fortunate opportunity for you? The moment he fails to present legitimate findings, you’ll have the grounds to punish him.”
Whether your claim or Daniel Steiner’s claim is true, we’ll see.
Though Bertham’s neutral stance displeased Belvar, he could not show his dissatisfaction outwardly.
Even if he was an ailing lion, Bertham was still the Emperor of the Empire.
“… Truly wise judgment, Your Majesty.”
For now, there was nothing to do but lower his head.
****
Meanwhile, at the residence of Campbell, leader of the Free Society Party.
“Grab the cash and jewelry first! We can send someone to fetch the rest later!”
“…Darling? Why are you doing this?”
“I’ve told you countless times, there’s no time for explanations! Just do as I say!”
Campbell, shouting irritably at his wife, grabbed a travel bag and entered his room, opening a drawer.
He hurriedly stuffed expensive watches and tie pins into the bag he had brought.
“Damn it! Damn it…”
He had just received a report from his informant, Platt.
Daniel Steiner had requested inquisitorial authority from Princess Selvia, and it had been granted.
The fact that the inquisitorial authority had been approved meant that Daniel Steiner had uncovered who was behind Crown Prince Blef’s ambush.
If that was the case, Daniel Steiner’s target was none other than Campbell.
“Get it together! Hurry!”
Campbell was frantically preparing to leave the country.
He needed to escape before Daniel Steiner arrived. Only then could he buy himself some time.
After gathering a few more valuables from his room, Campbell emerged into the living room with his travel bag.
“Damian! Have you packed everything? We need to leave immediately… Damian! Where are you!?”
Hearing Campbell call for their son, his wife looked up from gathering clothes.
“If you’re talking about Damian, he’s outside. He said he needed to bring the dog with him…”
“The dog? Damn it! I’ll bring it myself. You pack the bags!”
Shouting at his wife in frustration, Campbell tried to control his anger as he walked toward the front door.
As he approached the door, he could hear Damian laughing outside.
Thinking that he was probably playing with a neighbor, Campbell opened the front door—only to freeze in place.
“Tell us another story besides rescuing the princess!”
“Of course. What kind of story would you like to hear?”
“Hmmm… Ah! Nordia! I want to hear about the Nordia invasion!”
In the yard stood Daniel Steiner.
On one knee, he was playing with Damian, and behind him, elite soldiers and officers from the General Staff were standing still in formation, not moving a muscle.
Like a human wall, they surrounded the residence, and Campbell froze in place.
“The Nordia invasion, huh? I’d love to tell you all about it, but unfortunately, that won’t be possible.”
“Why not?”
“To tell you stories from the Nordia invasion, I’d have to describe what happened to my enemies. That might be a bit too much for you, considering...”
Daniel slowly raised his head and met Campbell’s gaze.
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“My enemies all met a dreadful end.”
As Campbell’s hand shook on the door handle, Damian, confused by the words, turned around and immediately broke into a wide grin.
“Daddy! Lieutenant Colonel Daniel says he needs to talk to you!”
Delighted by the fact that the Empire’s hero knew his father, Damian ran up to Campbell and hugged him.
“How did you two meet? I didn’t know you knew Lieutenant Colonel Daniel!”
“I... I…”
Campbell tried to answer calmly, but his voice trembled uncontrollably.
Meanwhile, Campbell’s wife, sensing something was wrong, came out to the front door and gasped, covering her mouth in shock.
It was clear that Daniel Steiner had come with his troops, and it wasn’t a good sign.
Daniel, standing up in front of Campbell’s family, removed his uniform cap and placed it over his chest.
“Nice to meet you. I’m Lieutenant Colonel Daniel Steiner, operations officer with the General Staff.”
“Lieutenant Colonel, what brings you here...?”
Campbell’s wife hesitated as she spoke, and Daniel smiled kindly.
“I have some urgent matters to discuss with Campbell, the leader of the Free Society. If it’s alright with you, could you prepare a place for us to talk?”
Campbell’s wife, looking at her husband’s reaction, reluctantly nodded.
Seeing this, Daniel raised his hand and gave a slight nod, and two armed soldiers stepped forward.
“I’d like you and our dear Damian to spend some time at the bakery in the city. My soldiers will escort you there.”
Although Campbell’s wife didn’t understand why armed soldiers were necessary for a visit to the bakery, she couldn’t refuse Daniel Steiner’s request.
“…Understood.”
Her voice soft and resigned, she slowly walked with Damian, while the two soldiers followed close behind, watching over them as if ensuring they couldn’t escape.
Campbell furrowed his brow, feeling as if they were being watched to prevent an escape.
Though he feared Daniel Steiner, he couldn’t allow such an outrageous act to go unchallenged.
“What is the meaning of this?!”
Campbell stepped closer to Daniel, gathering his courage to speak.
“You’re pressuring the leader of a political party with force! A party that represents the voice of the people! Do you think this is reasonable?!”
Daniel merely stared at him, offering no reply, as if saying, “Say more if you have something to say.”
Campbell hesitated but, feeling he couldn’t lose face, shouted louder.
“I don’t know what authority you think you have, but disband your troops immediately! If you don’t, I will not comply with your demands!”
Daniel, quietly observing Campbell, let out a low, eerie chuckle.
The sticky, unsettling laughter sent a chill of fear creeping over Campbell.
After some time, Daniel stopped laughing and fixed his gaze firmly on Campbell.
“You say you won’t comply?”
His dark eyes were as deep as an abyss.
Campbell, reflected in those eyes, looked utterly terrified.
“Do you think you have…”
As Daniel trapped Campbell’s gaze, he spoke quietly.
“…a choice?”