chapter_0098

97 – A Wolf That Cannot Be Leashed

97 – A Wolf That Cannot Be Leashed

Daniel’s earnest gaze revealed his sincerity.

Berthem was not a fool; he knew that those words were directed at him.

A heavy silence settled between them, more oppressive than ever.

“……”

“……”

The silence stretched on, but neither of them dared to speak first.

They both understood that a careless word could lead to disaster in this situation.

This was not just Daniel’s perspective.

Emperor Berthem was now in a position where he had to be mindful of Daniel as well.

Currently, the aged and ailing Berthem found himself in a transitional phase of power.

In his younger, more valiant days, he might have threatened Daniel to keep him on a tight leash.

However, the power within the imperial court was now divided, and Daniel was well aware of that.

Most of the ministers had sworn their loyalty not to the Emperor, but to the Princess.

When the Emperor passed away, it would be Selvia who would govern the empire for the next several decades.

In Selvia’s upcoming reign, Daniel would be treated as a true and loyal subject.

It was clear that, under Selvia’s favor, the support of countless citizens would flow toward Daniel.

‘If I were to oppress Daniel and diminish his authority in this situation…’

The citizens would not stand idly by, and Selvia’s support base would be shaken.

If he neglected the loyal subject who had helped him ascend to the throne, he would be subjected to countless criticisms.

As the acting regent, Selvia could not escape under the pretext of the Emperor’s unilateral decisions.

Of course, Selvia would not agree to oppress Daniel, but the mere possibility of it made Berthem feel a strange discomfort.

The source of his discomfort was the fact that Daniel Steiner was cleverly manipulating the situation while fully aware of everything.

‘Indeed. The blood of Blackberry flows through your veins.’

Daniel was avoiding blasphemy by framing his words as merely “a story he heard from the abbot.”

While he could demand cross-verification from the abbot who had raised him to confirm the facts, it would be meaningless.

If the abbot responded with, “I don’t remember well,” then the past would remain unknowable.

‘Even if it were a story he actually heard…’

To utter it would surely indicate a clear intention.

In any case, Daniel had revealed his intentions through a fairy tale.

And he did so in a way that caused him no harm.

‘What a cunning fox you are…’

They say that fairy tales satirize and humor reality.

Berthem, feeling that a fairy tale was being reenacted in this very moment, let out a hollow laugh.

“In a situation that confirms mutual destruction, we cannot attack each other, can we? An interesting interpretation.”

Hearing Berthem’s words, Daniel felt a sense of relief.

He had been secretly anxious that he had gambled with his reason, but Berthem was laughing it off, which put him at ease.

“I think we’ve had enough of fairy tales for now, so let’s discuss your reward.”

“…Are you talking about a reward?”

“Yes. Did I not say? If you successfully conclude the meeting with the Prime Minister of Bellanos, I will grant you a reward based on the imperial principle of reward and punishment.”

Daniel hesitated to respond.

That statement felt like a trap of sorts.

There could be no reward from the Emperor without conditions.

‘If I ask for a reward, he will surely demand something from me in return.’

Berthem had mentioned a reward, but he had not said anything about not bringing up the delay in reporting when Daniel had faced difficulties in Bellanos.

So, if he started attaching various conditions to the reward under the pretext of the reporting delay, it would be troublesome.

In a brief moment of contemplation, Daniel decided to take the initiative.

“Your Majesty, if I may request a reward, I would like to be pardoned for acting unilaterally during the incident in Bellanos. Other than that, I have no further wishes.”

Berthem’s eyes narrowed slightly.

‘Nothing you want?’

Berthem thought that the moment Daniel requested a reward, he would use that as an opportunity to suggest a formal inspection.

It was not common, but it was not unusual either to conduct an inspection to verify whether someone was deserving of a reward.

Moreover, since Daniel had a history of delaying his report during the incident in Bellanos, there was a justification for an inspection.

Additionally, it could be framed as an “inspection to grant a reward” rather than one based on unilateral pressure, so it would not provoke public backlash.

‘So…’

If Daniel had wanted a reward, he would have had no choice but to accept the proposal for an inspection, as he could not retract his words.

However, Daniel was currently sidestepping Berthem’s expectations.

He was only stating that he wished to be pardoned for his unilateral actions.

Thanks to this, cracks appeared in the subtle smile that Berthem wore.

He felt an inexplicable awe at Daniel’s eloquence, which seemed to pierce through his thoughts and evade him.

‘Is this really just a mere officer?’

It felt as if he were conversing with a seasoned politician who had experienced the ups and downs of life.

It even reminded him of the time he had met with Caledra, who led the International Union.

He could not even fathom what hidden intentions lurked behind the expression of feigned loyalty.

Swallowing dryly, Berthem feigned calmness and spoke.

“I will ask again. Is there truly nothing you wish for besides the pardon of your crime?”

“Indeed. I deeply regret having troubled Your Majesty, and I consider Your Majesty’s pardon of my crime to be the greatest reward.”

Since he was pretending to be a loyal subject on the surface, Berthem could not scold him.

Only then did Emperor Berthem have to acknowledge the truth.

‘At this moment, I cannot put him on a leash…’

Daniel Steiner was evading all the traps that Berthem had set.

Even the wolf that had avoided the traps slowly approached, baring its teeth at the hunter, Berthem, and warned him that if he tried to kill him once more, he would not remain still.

Berthem, with a self-deprecating smile, nodded.

“Very well. If that is all you desire, I will not stop you.”

The wind blowing through the terrace dispelled the effects of the alcohol.

“The night breeze is chilly. I should head inside. You must be tired after all the recent events, so you should return now.”

“I will obey your command.”

As Daniel rose from his seat, he bowed politely to Berthem.

Before Daniel turned to leave, Berthem casually remarked.

“Do you think my daughter could become a wise ruler?”

Daniel paused for a moment before responding.

“She will be a person worthy of the great empire.”

Having delivered a significant remark, Daniel bowed once more and turned to leave.

As the soldiers of the Imperial Guard opened the door upon hearing his footsteps, Daniel exited into the corridor.

The head of the Inner Court, who had been staring blankly at Daniel’s retreating figure, approached Berthem.

“Your Majesty, did the conversation go well?”

Berthem let out a dry laugh as he poured whiskey into a glass.

“If understanding each other’s intentions is the essence of conversation, then I suppose it went well.”

As he watched the glass slowly fill, Berthem continued.

“Head of the Inner Court, it seems I have a hatred for Daniel Steiner.”

“…Your Majesty?”

“However, would you believe me if I said that he is also the one I care for the most?”

Berthem, unable to comprehend his own feelings, stood up with the glass in hand.

“I wish he were my son… then I could have been free from this tiresome passion and turmoil.”

Berthem muttered to himself as he approached the terrace.

As the Emperor stepped out onto the terrace to feel the wind, citizens enjoying the festival began to look up one by one.

When they shouted something, the citizens all raised their heads to look at Emperor Berthem.

Berthem smiled at them, and as he raised his glass high, a cheer erupted.

The voices of “Long live the Emperor!” and “Long live Daniel Steiner!” mixed together in the wind.

For Berthem, those voices could not simply be dismissed as cheers.

It sounded as if there were two masters in the empire.

‘Of course…’

This thought might be a suspicion arising from a heightened sensitivity that prevented him from intuitively accepting the world.

‘If Daniel Steiner is a loyal subject who will never exist again…’

The empire would undoubtedly prosper.

A great nation would be born, just like the one ruled by his grandfather in the past.

In that place, Selvia would be a wise ruler, and Daniel would be a loyal subject, recorded for generations to come.

‘But if Daniel Steiner is a wolf consumed by political ambition, seeking power…’

This empire would fall into a hell that would never be seen again.