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Translator: Vine
Chapter Title: He Has the Look of a Wolf
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He has the look of a wolf.
I took a deep breath, sitting in the back seat of the limousine.
The luxurious velvet-covered leather seats felt soft and comfortable.
It was a sensation I would never experience in a military vehicle, but I couldn't feel glad at all.
Because sitting right next to me was the Princess, one of the most revered figures in the Empire.
'…Even if it's His Majesty the Emperor's summons, was it necessary for the Princess to come in person?'
As my bewilderment grew, Sylvia turned her gaze from the window and looked at me.
Her clear, sea-blue eyes narrowed thoughtfully, and it seemed she had something to say.
"Major Daniel."
Sylvia lowered her voice, whispering just loud enough for me to hear.
"I hate to say this to someone who has just returned from the battlefield, but I don't think I'll have another chance, so I'll take the liberty of speaking my mind."
I had a feeling, and it was indeed true.
Just as I instinctively sensed a bad atmosphere, Sylvia continued.
"Attacks against me are constantly occurring in the capital right now. To be precise, they are attacks on my support base. If it were just attacks through the media, I wouldn't even care…"
Sylvia let out a low sigh.
"It's been getting out of hand, and recently, they've even started threatening the lives of politicians who support me. Anyone can see it's my brother's doing."
As I listened silently, Sylvia gritted her teeth.
"Their movements are organized and systematic. There must be a command center somewhere, giving them orders. But no matter how much I search within the capital, I can't find it."
"In that case…"
"Yes. They must be issuing orders from a safe place outside the capital. They're siding with my brother, manipulating the media, and trying to shake my support base. Disgusting bastards…"
Sylvia frowned, as if enraged.
From what I heard, this was a succession struggle, a battle to become Emperor.
A fierce back-and-forth was continuing beneath the surface, unknown to the common citizens.
In modern political terms, it could be described as a power struggle between election campaigns.
The problem was that this era was not modern, but early modern.
Based on the historical context, it was clear that not only radical incitement but also violence would be unhesitatingly employed.
I absolutely did not want to get involved.
However, the fact that Sylvia had informed me of the situation meant only one thing.
'She must be trying to recruit me…'
If she could enlist a figure called the Empire's hero, it would not only solidify her support base but also lend legitimacy to her claim to the throne.
Sylvia's intentions were crystal clear, but I could never accept.
'I'm already struggling to survive, and now I'm supposed to make the Prince an enemy too?'
If I accepted the Princess's proposal, it would be tantamount to inviting double the assassination attempts.
'But if I openly refuse, I'll incur the future Empress Sylvia's displeasure…'
Just as I was running calculations in my mind, Sylvia, having composed herself, looked up at me.
The hopeful look in her eyes was incredibly burdensome.
"Major Daniel? So, what I'm saying is…"
No…! The moment the words "let's join hands" leave Sylvia's lips, there'll be no turning back!
In a hurry, I blurted out the first thing that came to mind.
"Your Royal Highness. You've become much more beautiful since I last saw you."
Having unexpectedly received a compliment on her looks, Sylvia blinked blankly, at a loss for words.
"Ah. Huh?"
With her frozen in incomprehension, now was the opportune moment to change the subject.
Sweating imperceptibly, I leaned towards Sylvia as naturally as possible.
"It seems I was indeed away at the battlefield for quite some time. To think I didn't know Your Royal Highness had become so beautiful."
Sylvia's lips parted slightly.
Perhaps embarrassed by the repeated compliments on her appearance, her cheeks faintly flushed.
Thinking this was it, I pressed a little further.
"Your Royal Highness. Do you remember the time Your Royal Highness, disguised as a war correspondent, and I spoke?"
"…I remember."
"Then that's a relief. I was worried our shared memory might fade. If then Your Royal Highness was an innocent girl, now you have truly become a refined lady."
As I spoke, even smiling, Sylvia blushed and averted her gaze.
Sylvia closed her eyes tightly once, then opened them again and shot me a sidelong glance.
"Don't say strange things. I told you before, you're too familiar."
"If I have been impolite, I humbly ask for your forgiveness."
Sylvia, fidgeting with her fingers for no reason, cleared her throat and mumbled.
"…I didn't say you were impolite."
I let out a low chuckle at Sylvia's curt tone and leaned back.
After that, an awkward silence settled between Sylvia and me.
That awkward silence felt truly fortunate to me.
Because the conversation didn't continue.
'I'm saved…'
I had almost gotten entangled in the succession struggle, so I felt relieved.
However, I couldn't help but worry if I had flirted needlessly with the future Empress.
*
Afterward, Daniel arrived at the Imperial Palace and, after a brief body search, headed to where the Emperor was.
Sylvia seemed to have another engagement and did not accompany him, so the Emperor's personal attendant took over as guide.
The place they arrived at, following the attendant, was not the audience chamber, but the Emperor's bedchamber.
The reason being that His Majesty the Emperor lacked the strength to dress and go to the audience chamber.
"Your Majesty. Major Daniel Steiner has arrived."
When the attendant knocked and spoke, the reply came a moment later.
"Enter."
Hearing the answer, the attendant opened the door.
Beyond the open door, the Emperor's bedchamber was surprisingly simple.
Aside from the luxurious furniture and bed, and the room being larger than imagined, there weren't many extravagant items.
The Emperor was sitting at a table in the center of the room, playing chess, and Daniel was startled when he saw the rank of the person sitting opposite him.
Four stars were emblazoned on his shoulder insignia.
He was Johannes Kuntz, the highest-ranking general and Commander of the Imperial Guard, with an impressive mustache that spread out on both sides.
He was also the person the current Emperor personally trusted the most.
After confirming Johannes's face, Daniel turned his gaze to the Emperor.
Though his appearance was gaunt, with little flesh on his bones, his spirit remained undiminished.
Bertram von Amberg.
He was, in name and in fact, the master of the Empire, and also an enlightened monarch who had made the Empire what it was today.
Facing these two giants, I found myself tensing up unnecessarily.
Daniel, feeling nervous, took a step forward and saluted.
"Your Imperial Majesty! I have arrived in response to your summons—"
"That's enough. Come here for a moment."
Daniel, his words cut off, nodded awkwardly and walked closer to Bertram.
Bertram looked down at the chessboard, stroking his short beard.
"Do you play chess well?"
"…I've picked it up by observation."
"Is that so? Then what do you think of this situation? It seems I am at a great disadvantage."
Daniel quickly scanned the chessboard and replied cautiously.
"Your Majesty. In my humble opinion, it is not Your Majesty who is at a disadvantage, but rather the Commander of the Imperial Guard."
"Oh? I have far fewer pieces, yet the Commander of the Imperial Guard is at a disadvantage?"
"That is correct."
Bertram playfully glared at Johannes, the Commander of the Imperial Guard.
"He says so."
"Haha. Perhaps so."
As Johannes laughed it off, Bertram turned back to Daniel.
"Good. My Major Daniel. Then explain why I am at an advantage."
"Understood. First, let us assume His Imperial Majesty's rook captures the pawn on the left. That would be a check. Since His Imperial Majesty's queen is on the diagonal, the Commander of the Imperial Guard's king must retreat to g8."
"Mm-hmm. Exactly."
"At this point, if the rook returns, it will be another check. The moment the king captures the rook, it will be attacked by the queen. The king will have no choice but to retreat to h8 again. If you repeat this…"
Johannes, who had been listening to the explanation, threw up his hands as if dumbfounded.
"Oh, I concede defeat. It's clear all my pieces will be captured. Victory goes to His Imperial Majesty."
"To be precise, it's Major Daniel's victory. A brilliant strategy. Truly admirable."
"Indeed. You could have become a great chess player."
Johannes shrugged his shoulders once and rose from his seat.
Seeing that, Daniel took two steps back and knelt on one knee.
Because he knew they would now get to the main point, as the chess game was over.
As Johannes began clearing the chessboard, Bertram turned his body and looked down at Daniel.
"Major Daniel. I hear you not only captured Nordia but also negotiated the peace treaty with the Kingdom. On behalf of the Empire, I express my gratitude for your efforts."
"I am deeply honored."
"It's too early to be honored. I have something to give you. Johannes?"
At Bertram's words, Johannes, who had finished clearing the chessboard, picked up a box that had been placed next to the table.
When the box was opened, a medal was revealed.
It was the Golden Cross Medal, a First-Class Imperial Order.
His achievements were clear, so he couldn't refuse.
"Rise."
Hearing Johannes's words, Daniel rose to his feet.
Johannes patted Daniel's shoulder once and then pinned the medal to his chest.
"To my knowledge, the Golden Cross Medal has never been awarded to a young man like you. That means you have accomplished something truly great."
Johannes, after patting Daniel's shoulder again with words of praise, stepped back.
As Johannes withdrew, Daniel knelt on one knee again.
Because Emperor Bertram was watching.
"I won't bother repeating the praise for your achievements, as I'm sure you've heard it from all sides. Instead, let me ask you about a pressing issue at hand."
"A pressing issue?"
"Among my daughter and my son, who do you deem fit to be Emperor? For I find both of them somewhat untrustworthy."
Cold sweat trickled down.
I had just managed to fend off the Princess, and now the Emperor himself was asking.
Daniel, racking his brain as much as possible, bowed his head and spoke.
"I dare not express an opinion."
"What? Are you saying you intend to disregard my question?"
As Bertram's voice turned sharp, Daniel quickly exclaimed.
"Your Majesty! That is not it. I am a soldier of the Empire. It is stipulated in the laws of the Empire that a soldier shall maintain political neutrality. Therefore, the moment I express an opinion, I would be disregarding not only His Imperial Majesty but also the solemn laws of the Empire."
Daniel bowed his head even deeper.
"Thus, if Your Majesty wishes to hear my answer, I believe it would be proper to have me relinquish my military status. If you grant that, I would be able to answer according to my convictions."
Hearing Daniel's reply, the corners of Bertram's mouth subtly curved upwards.
'What a meticulous fellow.'
By citing the Empire's laws as the reason he couldn't answer, he was implying that even if the Emperor were to command him to answer again, it would be shaking the very foundation of the Empire.
His argument was firm and logically sound, making it impossible for even the Emperor to say it was wrong.
Yet, he couldn't order him to remove his military uniform, so from Bertram's perspective, he was perfectly cornered.
Finally, Bertram, conceding defeat, let out a low chuckle.
"I think I understand what kind of man you are. You must be tired; you may withdraw now."
"…Yes, Your Imperial Majesty."
The Emperor's words seemed suspicious, but I was in no position to refuse a command.
Daniel rose from his spot, saluted once, turned, and exited the room.
Bertram, who had been quietly watching him, spoke, still with a trace of a smile.
"Do you see? His true nature."
"To a certain extent, yes."
When first asked for advice on chess, Daniel had feigned a moment of confusion, but then gave Bertram direct advice.
"Ordinary people, even if they knew the answer, would have said they didn't know much. Because they wouldn't want to put me in an awkward position by appearing to advise a weakened Emperor."
"Exactly. They usually try to walk a tightrope. But Daniel didn't."
"To be able to state his opinion boldly without being intimidated is a good attitude for a soldier. However, he maintained silence regarding the questions about His Royal Highness the Prince and Her Royal Highness the Princess."
Bertram nodded, chuckling as if amused.
"It means he only bows his head to those he acknowledges. I am, in name and in fact, the master of the Empire, but my children are not. He'll be deliberating carefully. About who to throw his weight behind."
Bertram picked up the water glass on the table, took a sip, and continued.
"In my opinion, he is a wolf. One who only pledges loyalty to the strong. But a wolf, by nature, will bite if it judges its leader to be weaker than itself."
Johannes swallowed hard.
"Are you saying…"
"Yes. He is capable, but a double-edged sword, difficult to wield. I don't know which of my children will grasp him, but the moment they show weakness, they will be torn apart."
In Bertram's eyes, Daniel's cold gaze resembled his grandfather, who had usurped the throne in the past.
Bertram set down the cup and looked at Johannes.
"So protect my children well, lest that wolf bares his fangs. So that the Empire does not fall into his hands."
Johannes nodded, looking at the spot where Daniel had exited.
'A wolf who would devour the Empire…'
He wondered if it was just the Emperor's unnecessary worry, but then again, recalling Daniel's gaze, a chill inexplicably ran down his spine.
Johannes, unconsciously gripping the hilt of the sword at his hip, thought.
He hoped that all these predictions were merely His Majesty's groundless fears.