chapter_0054

53 – That Guy is the King of the Wolves

53 – That Guy is the King of the Wolves

I took a deep breath while sitting in the back seat of the limousine.

The leather seat, covered in luxurious velvet, felt soft and comfortable.

It was a sensation I could never experience in a military vehicle, but I couldn’t feel any joy at all.

Because right next to me sat one of the most esteemed figures in the Empire, the princess.

‘…Even if it’s the Emperor’s summons, does the princess really need to come out herself?’

As my confusion grew, Selvia turned her gaze from the window and looked at me.

Seeing her clear blue eyes, resembling the ocean, narrowing seriously, it seemed she had something to say.

“Major Daniel.”

Selvia whispered in a tone low enough for only me to hear.

“I don’t want to say this to someone who just returned from the battlefield, but if I don’t say it now, I might not have the chance later, so I’ll take the liberty to speak.”

I had a bad feeling about this, and it was confirmed when Selvia continued.

“Right now, in the Imperial City, attacks against me are happening frequently. To be precise, they are attacks against my support base. If it were an attack using the media, I wouldn’t care…”

Selvia let out a low sigh.

“It’s getting increasingly excessive, and recently, they’ve even begun to threaten the lives of politicians who support me. It’s clearly the work of my brother.”

As I listened quietly, Selvia bit her lip.

“Their movements are organized and systematic. There must be a leadership somewhere giving them orders. But no matter how much I search within the Imperial City, I can’t find them.”

“If that’s the case…”

“Yes. They are likely issuing commands from a safe place outside the Imperial City. They are manipulating the media and trying to shake my support base while siding with my brother. Those disgusting bastards…”

Selvia frowned as if she were angry.

It seemed this was a power struggle for the throne, a fierce battle taking place beneath the surface that ordinary citizens were unaware of.

In modern political terms, it could be described as infighting between election camps.

The problem was that this era was not modern but rather a time of transition.

Given the context of the times, it was clear that they would not hesitate to resort to violent agitation.

I absolutely did not want to get involved.

However, the fact that Selvia was conveying this situation to me meant one thing.

‘She’s trying to recruit me…’

If they could recruit a figure hailed as a hero of the Empire, it would not only solidify their support base but also lend legitimacy to their claim to the throne.

Selvia’s intentions were painfully clear, but I could not accept them.

‘I’m already struggling as it is, and now you want me to make a prince my enemy?’

Accepting the princess’s proposal would be tantamount to triggering a double assassination event.

‘If I outright refuse, I would incur the wrath of Selvia, the future Empress…’

As I was calculating in my head, Selvia looked up at me, her anger contained.

The expectation in her gaze was quite burdensome.

“Major Daniel? So, I’m saying…”

No, don’t! The moment Selvia suggests holding hands, it becomes irreversible!

In a moment of desperation, I blurted out the first thing that came to mind.

“Your Highness, you’ve become even more beautiful since I last saw you.”

Caught off guard by the sudden compliment about her appearance, Selvia blinked in surprise, momentarily at a loss for words.

“Ah. Uh?”

Not understanding, she froze, and now was the perfect time to change the subject.

Sweating profusely, I leaned toward Selvia as naturally as I could.

“It seems I’ve been on the battlefield for quite a while. I didn’t realize how beautiful you had become, Your Highness.”

Selvia’s mouth slightly opened.

Perhaps feeling shy from the repeated compliments about her looks, her cheeks faintly flushed.

This was it, I thought, and I pressed on a bit more.

“Your Highness, do you remember the time we talked when you disguised yourself as a war correspondent?”

“…I remember.”

“Then I’m relieved. I was worried that our memory might fade. If you were a naive girl back then, now you’ve become a very elegant lady.”

As I spoke with a smile, Selvia turned red and averted her gaze.

After squeezing her eyes shut for a moment, Selvia opened them again and shot me a sidelong glance.

“Don’t say strange things. As I said before, you’re too close for comfort.”

“If I have been rude, I sincerely apologize.”

Selvia, who had been fidgeting with her fingers, cleared her throat and muttered.

“…I didn’t say it was rude.”

I chuckled softly at Selvia’s blunt tone, and then an awkward silence settled between us.

That awkward silence felt like a blessing to me.

Because the conversation had come to a halt.

‘I’m alive…’

I had almost been caught up in the power struggle, so I felt relieved.

However, I couldn’t help but worry that I had thrown unnecessary attention at someone who would one day be Empress.

–

After arriving at the Imperial Palace, Daniel underwent a brief body search before heading to where the Emperor was.

Since Selvia seemed to have another appointment, she did not accompany him, and a direct attendant of the Emperor took over the guidance.

Following the attendant, Daniel arrived not at the audience chamber but at the Emperor’s bedroom.

The reason was that His Majesty did not have the strength to dress and go to the audience chamber.

“Your Majesty, Major Daniel Steiner has arrived.”

As the attendant knocked and announced, a response came after a moment.

“Come in.”

Upon hearing the response, the attendant opened the door.

The Emperor’s bedroom, visible beyond the open door, was simpler than expected.

Aside from the luxurious furniture and bed, the room didn’t have many extravagant items.

The Emperor was sitting at a table in the center of the room, playing chess, and when Daniel saw the rank of the person sitting opposite him, he was taken aback.

There were four stars on the shoulder insignia.

With impressive mustaches extending on either side, he was Johannes Kunz, the highest-ranking general and commander of the Imperial Guard.

He was also the person the current Emperor trusted the most.

After confirming Johannes’s face, Daniel turned his gaze to the Emperor.

Though he looked emaciated to the point where one could say there was hardly any flesh clinging to his bones, his spirit had not diminished.

Berthelm von Amberg.

He was the undisputed ruler of the Empire and the advanced monarch who had established the current Empire.

Standing before these two giants made Daniel tense up unnecessarily.

He approached with a nervous demeanor and saluted.

“Your Majesty! I have arrived in response to your summons—”

“Enough, come here.”

As Daniel’s words were cut off, he awkwardly nodded and walked closer to Berthelm.

Berthelm looked down at the chessboard, stroking his short beard.

“Do you play chess?”

“…I’ve learned a bit over the shoulder.”

“Is that so? Then what do you think of this situation? I feel like I’m at a disadvantage.”

After glancing over the chessboard, Daniel cautiously replied.

“Your Majesty, in my humble opinion, it’s not you who is at a disadvantage, but the commander of the Imperial Guard.”

“Hmm? I have far fewer pieces, yet you say the commander is at a disadvantage?”

“That’s correct.”

Berthelm playfully glared at Johannes, the commander of the Imperial Guard.

“Is that so?”

“Haha, that might be true.”

As Johannes laughed it off, Berthelm turned to Daniel.

“Alright, Major Daniel. Then explain to me why I am at an advantage.”

“Understood. First, I will have Your Majesty’s rook capture the pawn on the left. That will put you in check. Since Your Majesty’s queen is diagonal to it, the commander’s king must escape to g8.”

“Hmm, yes, that’s right.”

“At this point, if the rook returns, it will be check again. The king will have no choice but to escape to h8, as it will be attacked the moment it captures the rook. If this is repeated…”

As Daniel explained, Johannes raised his hands in disbelief.

“Oh dear, it seems I’m destined to lose. It’s clear that all my pieces will be captured. Victory for Your Majesty.”

“To be precise, it’s Major Daniel’s victory. That’s an incredible strategy. I’m in awe.”

“Indeed. You would have succeeded as a chess player.”

After shrugging his shoulders, Johannes stood up.

Seeing this, Daniel stepped back and then knelt on one knee.

He knew that now that the chess game was over, it was time to get to the main topic.

As Johannes began to tidy up the chessboard, Berthelm turned to Daniel.

“Major Daniel. You not only conquered Nordia but also negotiated a peace settlement with the kingdom. On behalf of the Empire, I express my gratitude for your hard work.”

“I am honored.”

“It’s too early to be honored. I have something to give you. Johannes?”

At Berthelm’s words, Johannes, having finished tidying up the chessboard, lifted a box that had been placed beside the table.

When he opened the box, a medal appeared.

It was the Golden Cross Medal, the Empire’s first-class diplomatic medal.

Since the merit was clear, I couldn’t refuse it.

“Stand up.”

Hearing Johannes’s words, Daniel rose from his seat.

Johannes patted Daniel on the shoulder and pinned the medal to his chest.

“I believe the Golden Cross Medal has never been awarded to someone as young as you. That means you have accomplished something significant.”

After giving Daniel’s shoulder another pat, Johannes stepped back.

Once Johannes retreated, Daniel knelt on one knee again.

Because the Emperor Berthelm was watching.

“The praises for your achievements must already be heard from all directions, so I won’t repeat them. Instead, I’ll ask about a more pressing matter.”

“A pressing matter, you say?”

“Who do you think is more suitable to be Emperor, my daughter or my son? To me, neither seems reliable.”

Cold sweat began to flow.

Just when I had barely shaken off the princess, now the Emperor was asking me directly.

As I racked my brain, Daniel lowered his head and spoke.

“I dare not express an opinion.”

“What? Are you saying you will ignore my question?”

As Berthelm’s voice sharpened, Daniel hurriedly exclaimed.

“Your Majesty! That is not it. I am a soldier of the Empire. It is stated in the Empire’s laws that soldiers must maintain political neutrality. Therefore, the moment I express my opinion, it would be disregarding not only Your Majesty but also the Empire’s solemn laws.”

Daniel bowed his head even deeper.

“So if you wish to hear my answer, it would be appropriate to relieve me of my military status. If you do that, I will be able to answer according to my convictions.”

Upon hearing Daniel’s response, the corners of Berthelm’s mouth subtly lifted.

‘What a cunning fellow.’

By invoking the Empire’s laws as the reason for not answering, even the Emperor could not command him to respond without shaking the very foundations of the Empire.

With a solid argument and a logical stance, even the Emperor could not say that it was wrong.

Moreover, he could not order him to take off his military uniform, putting Berthelm in a perfect predicament.

Eventually, Berthelm, waving the white flag, chuckled softly.

“I think I understand what kind of person you are. You must be tired, so you may leave for now.”

“…Yes, Your Majesty.”

Though I was suspicious of the Emperor’s words, I was in no position to refuse the order.

Rising from his seat, Daniel saluted once and turned to leave the room.

As Berthelm watched him leave, he maintained a smile.

“Do you see it? The essence of that fellow.”

“To some extent, yes.”

When he first asked for advice on chess, Daniel had pretended to be flustered but soon spoke frankly to Berthelm.

“If it were ordinary people, even if they knew the answer, they would have said they didn’t know. They wouldn’t want to put the ailing Emperor in a difficult position by helping him.”

“Indeed. It’s common for people to try to walk a tightrope. But Daniel did not do that.”

“The ability to express one’s opinion boldly without being cautious is a good attitude for a soldier. However, he maintained silence regarding the question about the prince and princess.”

Nodding, Berthelm chuckled as if he found it amusing.

“He only bows his head to those he acknowledges. I am the undisputed ruler of the Empire, but my children are not. He is probably contemplating carefully about whom to support.”

Lifting a cup of water from the table, Berthelm continued.

“In my view, he is a wolf. He only shows loyalty to the strong. But wolves typically bite when they judge their leader to be weaker than themselves.”

Johannes swallowed hard.

“Are you saying…?”

“Yes. He is capable but a double-edged sword that is hard to handle. I don’t know which of my children will end up with him, but the moment they show weakness, he will surely bite.”

To Berthelm, Daniel’s cold gaze resembled that of his grandfather, who had usurped the throne in the past.

Setting the cup down, Berthelm turned to Johannes.

“Therefore, you must protect my children well so that this wolf does not reveal its fangs. Ensure that the Empire does not fall into his hands.”

Nodding, Johannes gazed at the spot where Daniel had exited.

‘A wolf that will swallow the Empire…’

I wondered if it was an unnecessary worry from the Emperor, but recalling Daniel’s gaze sent a chill down my spine.

Unconsciously gripping the scabbard at his waist, Johannes thought to himself.

I hope all these predictions are merely the Emperor’s fears.

A word from the author (Author’s Note)

Dear respected readers! Are you enjoying your weekend?

I have poured all my effort into preparing a second part just like the first…!

I hope you are satisfied, and I will take my leave now!

Then I will see you again tomorrow! Thank you always for reading!