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89 – The More You Are Cornered, The More Confident You Become

89 – The More You Are Cornered, The More Confident You Become

In the midst of a large-scale search operation in Bellanos, Princess Selvia was spending time in the vast indoor garden of the Separate Palace.

“……”

Selvia walked along the path lined with red and white poinsettias, her steps lacking any strength.

Her usually sharp blue eyes were devoid of vitality, and although she looked down at the poinsettias, her gaze was unfocused.

The maids, watching Selvia from a distance, whispered among themselves with concern.

“Isn’t she going to collapse like that?”

“I’m so worried. I heard she hasn’t had an appetite lately and has been skipping meals…”

“It’s not just about meals. Today, the head maid advised Her Highness to rest in her chamber since she had been focused on state affairs all day, but she insisted on going to the Separate Palace, saying she wasn’t sleepy.”

One of the maids sighed deeply.

“It must be because of Colonel Daniel Steiner, right? She’s been looking so down ever since the incident with the naval vessel.”

“Don’t you think so? I really hope she can regain her strength…”

The maid fell silent as the Foreign Minister, Yobenf, approached.

As the maids hurriedly lowered their heads, Yobenf spoke in his characteristic polite tone.

“Ladies, where is Her Highness the Princess?”

“She is in the path lined with poinsettias.”

Upon hearing the maid’s words, Yobenf turned his head.

There, he saw Selvia lost in thought, gazing down at the poinsettias.

Nodding in gratitude to the maids, Yobenf approached Selvia.

“Your Highness.”

At the sound of the voice beside her, Selvia turned her head.

Confirming that it was Yobenf, Selvia blinked in a daze.

“…What brings you here at this hour? I thought the meeting was scheduled for tomorrow.”

“I apologize, but I have come to convey news from Bellanos.”

“Bellanos. Yes. Did the fleet arrive safely?”

Yobenf nodded.

“The Prime Minister of Bellanos accepted the Empire’s notification to open the borders. It was the obvious choice, as refusing would not only worsen diplomatic relations with the Empire but also lead to accusations of supporting terrorists.”

A smile appeared on Yobenf’s lips.

“Thanks to that, the Imperial fleet safely arrived at the port city of Tentarbahm at eight this afternoon. The disembarked troops are conducting a large-scale search operation as per Your Highness’s orders, and the Bellanos government has also agreed to cooperate with the Empire’s search.”

Despite the favorable developments, Selvia’s expression remained unchanged.

She had already anticipated this, and what mattered to Selvia now was not the process but the outcome.

Yobenf, aware of this, cleared his throat and continued.

“I believe I can bring Your Highness some good news regarding this matter.”

“…Good news?”

“Yes. We received a telegram from Colonel Hartmann, the chief bodyguard who participated in the search. He mentioned that it is highly likely that Colonel Daniel Steiner is still alive.”

Selvia’s eyes, which had been devoid of life, widened in surprise.

After a moment of shock, Selvia took a deep breath and spoke.

“What do you mean? Please be more specific.”

“Under the command of the fleet commander, the disembarked troops first searched the coastline. If we consider the possibility that Colonel Daniel Steiner survived after being swept away by the currents, searching the coastline is the top priority.”

“And?”

“Colonel Hartmann found Colonel Daniel Steiner’s military uniform there. It appears he changed his clothes in a nearby cabin to conceal his identity and left the uniform behind.”

Selvia swallowed hard and asked urgently.

“Was he injured? Is he hurt?”

“Yes. There were no tears in the uniform, and there was no bloodstain, so we believe he is uninjured. Additionally, it is presumed that he changed clothes and walked to Tentarbahm, so there should be no physical harm from the incident.”

In short, it meant that there was a high probability he was active in Tentarbahm without any injuries.

‘Thank goodness.’

Life returned to Selvia’s eyes.

As she exhaled a sigh of relief, she placed her hand on her chest, as if to signify that she could finally relax.

‘What a relief…’

Tears welled up in her eyes without her realizing it.

The thought that she might see Daniel again filled her heart with overwhelming joy.

As Selvia took a deep breath to calm her trembling body, she suddenly recalled something strange.

Why did he change his clothes and leave the uniform behind?

If he had gone to the Tentarbahm city hall in uniform, he could have received help.

After pondering for a moment, Selvia came to a slight realization.

‘Daniel must have judged that there are traitors collaborating with the enemy within Tentarbahm.’

If he couldn’t trust the Tentarbahm city hall and wanted to conceal his identity, everything made sense.

‘Poor man…’

In Selvia’s eyes, Daniel Steiner was fighting alone in a foreign land, unable to tell friend from foe.

‘He must be trembling on the streets even now.’

Thinking this made tears well up in her eyes.

Raising her arm, Selvia wiped her eyes with the back of her hand and turned to Yobenf.

“Inform the commander of the fleet that has landed in Tentarbahm.”

Selvia, regaining her regal demeanor, narrowed her eyes sharply.

“Tell him to secure Colonel Daniel Steiner’s safety at all costs.”

–

“Hahaha! Is that really true?”

Despite Selvia’s worries, Daniel was happily chatting at Leff’s mansion.

He was taken aback to learn that Leff’s father was the Prime Minister, but what did it matter?

After today, he wouldn’t be seeing Leff again, so it didn’t really concern him.

So, taking advantage of the invitation, Daniel shared various stories to entertain Leff, who seemed to enjoy them and freely opened up about his past.

“I’m telling you the truth! Otherwise, how would I escape this damned mansion? I need to develop the jumping power to scale the walls and bribe the servants watching me to get them on my side.”

After hearing Daniel’s entire ‘Great Mansion Escape’ story, he waved his hand and suppressed his laughter.

“I probably wouldn’t have gone that far. I might have just accepted reality and lived with it.”

“You shouldn’t accept it. That’s how you lose.”

“Depending on how you look at it, that’s good advice. But now it’s getting late…”

Daniel glanced at the wall clock and smiled awkwardly.

“It’s quite late. At this rate, we’ll be talking until dawn.”

“…I’m fine with that! I think you and I get along really well. How about this? Do you want to just sleep over at my mansion? I have plenty of spare rooms. Or you could work at our mansion. I’ll create a new identity for you and offer you a high salary. What do you think?”

It was a tempting offer, but Daniel had no choice but to decline.

He felt a sense of unease that something bad would happen if he ran into the Prime Minister while loitering around the mansion.

“I appreciate the offer, but I think we both have to decline.”

Leff’s eyes widened slightly at the polite refusal.

“Ah, I see. Unlike me, who’s locked up in this mansion, you’re a free spirit, right?”

“That might be a misunderstanding. I think the lady who frequently escapes from the mansion is closer to being free than I am. Freedom fundamentally arises from resistance to oppression.”

Leff chuckled at Daniel’s words.

He couldn’t help but find Daniel endearing, even when he turned unpleasant words into something nice.

“Alright, I won’t keep you any longer. There will be other opportunities later.”

Leff clapped his hands twice, and the butler, Banbreche, entered through the dining room door.

He was holding the blindfold he had worn when he arrived.

“I will escort you to your accommodation.”

Nodding, Daniel stood up.

Just as he was about to follow Banbreche, Leff grabbed the sleeve of Daniel’s arm.

“Wait a moment. Don’t you have anything you want to say to my damned father? He may be a damned father, but he’s still the Prime Minister, right? It’s an opportunity for advancement.”

Advancement? Daniel’s life had been too tumultuous to be swayed by such a superficially shiny word.

For him, who just wanted to open a bakery in some quiet countryside, this was an unnecessary opportunity.

However, he felt that if he didn’t say something, Leff wouldn’t let him go, so he spoke whatever came to mind.

“Please tell him to practice proper politics.”

“What? That’s boring…”

Leff clicked his tongue and nodded.

He instinctively realized that he could no longer hold on to Daniel.

“It was a good time. If there’s a chance, let’s meet again.”

“Yes, if there’s a chance.”

Daniel replied politely and bowed his head.

Of course, he had no intention of ever meeting the daughter of the Prime Minister of Bellanos again.

–

Wearing the blindfold and being led by Banbreche, Daniel arrived at the inn after about an hour of driving.

“You may remove the blindfold now.”

Nodding, Daniel took off the blindfold.

He saw the familiar exterior of the inn outside the window.

Banbreche opened the car door, and Daniel naturally got out.

As he stepped outside, Banbreche bowed deeply.

“Thank you.”

The overwhelming politeness was filled with gratitude.

“It’s been a long time since the lady smiled so much. It’s all thanks to Lord Libelard.”

Taken aback, Daniel waved his hand.

“No, it was a meaningful time for me to be treated to such a feast. You, too, are quite eloquent for someone from a noble family, so it wasn’t boring at all.”

“I’m honored that you think so. Well then…”

Banbreche straightened up, bowed one last time, and got into the vehicle.

As the engine started and the car slowly exited the alley, Daniel put on the sunglasses he had hung on his vest and began to walk.

‘Now…’

Thinking it would be dangerous to stay in Tentarbahm any longer, Daniel opened the door at the entrance of the inn.

At that moment, he couldn’t help but feel an overwhelming sense of fear.

An Imperial officer accompanied by soldiers was standing in the inn lobby.

The officer was arguing with the innkeeper at the counter.

“Have you seen this person?”

“I told you I haven’t! Why would such a big shot come to our inn in the first place?”

“Take another good look. Just in case…”

In the officer’s hand was a flyer with a portrait.

‘That’s…’

Daniel broke into a cold sweat as he confirmed that it was indeed him.

He had suspected that the Empire would send troops, but this was too soon.

Just as he thought he shouldn’t be discovered, Daniel quietly began to back away.

“Hmm?”

The officer turned around, sensing a presence.

Thanks to that, Daniel stopped his retreat and naturally entered the inn.

As he headed toward his room, several gazes followed him.

‘Please…’

He silently wished to just pass by, but no miracle occurred.

“Hey.”

The officer called out, and Daniel halted his steps.

The officer looked back and forth between the portrait and Daniel with a meaningful gaze, then slowly approached.

“We’re currently conducting a large-scale search operation, and I was wondering if you could cooperate. Do you know someone named Daniel Steiner?”

Daniel bit his lip in secret.

If he was discovered here, he would have to return to the Empire against his will.

With a spy lieutenant hunting him down, a crazed subordinate caught up in nationalism, and an Emperor and a princess who resembled him keeping watch, he absolutely did not want to go back.

He couldn’t afford to waste this opportunity.

After taking a deep breath, Daniel turned to the officer and spoke as calmly as possible.

“Hmm. Daniel Steiner…”

Though he was deep in thought, his decision was quick.

“Who is that?”

Having come this far, he decided to be brazen.