Chapter 97 - The Untamed Wolf
『 TL – Divinity 』
『 PR – Vein 』
Daniel's unwavering gaze held sincerity.
Bertram wasn't a fool; he knew those words were directed at him.
A heavy silence, heavier than ever before, fell between them.
"......"
"......"
Despite the prolonged silence, neither of them spoke first.
They both knew that saying the wrong thing in this situation could lead to disaster.
This wasn't just from Daniel's perspective.
Even Emperor Bertram was now in a position where he had to be mindful of Daniel.
Bertram, old and ill, was in the process of transferring his power.
If he were still young and vigorous, he might have threatened Daniel and put him on a leash.
However, the power within the Imperial family was currently divided, and Daniel knew this.
He knew that most of the ministers were now pledging their loyalty to the princess, not the Emperor.
After all, it was Sylvia who would rule the Empire for the next few decades after the Emperor passed away.
In Sylvia's upcoming reign, Daniel would be treated as a hero and a loyal subject.
It was clear that Sylvia's favor and the support of countless citizens would be directed towards Daniel.
'In this situation, if I were to persecute Daniel and diminish his authority...'
...the citizens wouldn't stand for it, and Sylvia's support base would crumble.
If he mistreated the hero who had helped him secure his position as Emperor, he would face severe criticism.
Even with Sylvia acting as regent, she wouldn't be able to escape responsibility by using the excuse that it was the Emperor's order.
Of course, Sylvia would never agree to persecuting Daniel, but the fact that there wasn't even a slight possibility of it happening made Bertram feel strangely uneasy.
The source of his discomfort was that Daniel Steiner was cleverly exploiting this situation, fully aware of everything.
'Indeed, the blood of blackberries flows through your veins.'
Daniel was avoiding blasphemy charges by claiming that his words were merely "a story he heard from the head priest."
Although Bertram could demand confirmation from the head priest who raised Daniel, it would be pointless.
If the head priest simply said, "I don't remember clearly," there would be no way to verify the past.
'Even if it was a story he actually heard...'
...there had to be a reason why he brought it up.
Either way, Daniel had used the fable to express his intentions.
And he did so without harming himself in any way.
'What a cunning fox...'
They say fables are satires and allegories of reality.
Bertram, sensing that the fable was being reenacted here, chuckled.
"So you're saying that in a situation of mutually assured destruction, they can't attack each other. That's an interesting interpretation."
Daniel, hearing his words, felt a sense of relief.
He had been worried that his emotions had gotten the better of him and he had made a reckless gamble, but seeing Bertram laugh it off calmed his nerves.
"I think we've had enough of the fable. Let's discuss your reward now."
"...My reward, Your Majesty?"
"Yes. Didn't I say that if you successfully concluded the meeting with the Prime Minister of Bellanos, I would reward you according to the Empire's principle of reward and punishment?"
Daniel hesitated to answer.
Bertram's words felt like a trap.
There was no way the Emperor would offer a reward without any conditions.
'If I ask for a reward, he'll surely demand something in return.'
Bertram had said he would give him a reward, but he didn't say he wouldn't mention the delayed report about the incident in Bellanos.
So it would be troublesome if he started adding various conditions to the reward, using the delayed report as an excuse.
After a moment of quick thinking, Daniel decided to take the initiative.
"Your Majesty, if there's a reward I desire, it would be forgiveness for acting independently during my distress in Bellanos. Other than that, I have no other wishes."
Bertram's eyes narrowed.
'No other wishes?'
If Daniel had asked for a reward, Bertram would have offered a formal inspection as a condition.
Conducting an inspection to determine whether someone deserved a reward wasn't common, but it did happen occasionally.
And since Daniel had a history of delaying his report while stranded in Bellanos, there was a valid reason to conduct an inspection.
Moreover, since it could be framed as an inspection "to grant a reward," not a unilateral investigation, there wouldn't be any public backlash.
'So...'
If Daniel had wanted a reward, he wouldn't have been able to refuse the inspection, as he couldn't take back his words.
However, Daniel was now deviating from Bertram's expectations.
He was saying that all he wanted was to be pardoned for his independent actions.
The faint smile on Bertram's face faltered.
He felt an inexplicable sense of awe at Daniel's ability to dodge his questions and see through his intentions.
'Are you truly just an officer?'
It felt like he was conversing with a seasoned politician who had experienced all sorts of hardships.
It even reminded him of the time he had a meeting with Caledra, the leader of the United Nations.
It was difficult to gauge the true intentions hidden behind the seemingly loyal expression.
Bertram, feigning composure, swallowed and asked,
"I'll ask you once again. Are you sure there's nothing else you want besides a pardon for your transgressions?"
"That is correct, Your Majesty. I deeply regret causing you concern, and I consider your forgiveness to be the greatest reward."
He couldn't reprimand Daniel, who was acting like a loyal subject.
Bertram finally had to admit it.
'I can't put a leash on him now...'
Daniel Steiner was blatantly avoiding all the traps Bertram had set.
Moreover, the wolf, having escaped the trap, was slowly approaching the hunter, Bertram, baring its fangs and saying, “If you try to kill me one more time, I won't stay silent either.”
Bertram smiled wryly and nodded.
"Alright, if that's all you desire, I won't stop you."
The wind blowing in from the terrace cleared his head.
"The night air is chilly. It's time for me to go back inside. You must also be tired after all the recent events, so you should head back as well."
"As you command, Your Majesty."
Daniel stood up and bowed deeply to Bertram.
Before Daniel could leave, Bertram said casually,
"What do you think? Will my daughter make a good ruler?"
Daniel paused for a moment, then answered,
"She will become a worthy leader for the great Empire."
Leaving those meaningful words behind, Daniel bowed his head once again, turned, and left.
The Imperial Guards, hearing his footsteps, opened the door, and he stepped out into the hallway.
The Chief of the Imperial Household, watching Daniel leave, approached Bertram.
"Your Majesty, did your conversation go well?"
Bertram let out a dry chuckle and picked up the whiskey bottle, filling his glass.
"If the essence of a conversation is to understand each other's intentions, then it went well."
He continued as he watched the glass slowly fill up,
"Chief of the Household, I believe I hate Daniel Steiner."
"...Your Majesty?"
"But would you believe me if I said that the one I cherish the most is also Daniel Steiner?"
Bertram, unable to understand his own heart, picked up his glass and stood up.
"I wish he were my son... Then I could be free from these agonizing emotions and worries."
Muttering to himself, Bertram walked towards the terrace.
As he stepped out and enjoyed the breeze, the citizens who had been enjoying the festival looked up at him one by one.
As they cheered, the citizens raised their heads and looked up at Emperor Bertram.
Bertram smiled at them and raised his glass high, and a cheer of "Wahaha!" erupted.
Carried by the wind, the chants of "Long live His Majesty!" and "Long live Daniel Steiner!" mingled together.
To Bertram, those cheers weren't simply a celebration.
It sounded as if they were proclaiming that there were two masters of the Empire.
'Of course...'
This thought might stem from his paranoia, his sensitive mind unable to perceive the world objectively.
'If Daniel Steiner is truly a loyal subject...'
...then the Empire would surely prosper.
A great nation would be born, just like the Empire ruled by his grandfather in the past.
Sylvia would be remembered as a wise ruler, and Daniel as a hero, their names recorded in history for generations to come.
'But if Daniel Steiner is a wolf consumed by political ambition and a lust for power...'
...then this Empire would fall into an unprecedented hell.