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Translator: Vine
Chapter Title: Hope and Defiance
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When pushed into a corner, one tends to become more defiant.
While a large-scale search operation was underway in Bellanos, Princess Selvia was spending time in the vast indoor garden of the detached palace.
"..."
Selvia's steps, as she walked along the path lined with red and white poinsettias, lacked any strength.
Her blue eyes, which usually sparkled with intelligence, were devoid of life, and though she gazed down at the poinsettias, her focus was absent.
From a distance, the maids, watching Selvia lost in thought, whispered anxiously among themselves.
"Isn't she going to collapse at this rate?"
"I'm so worried I could die. She's been skipping meals lately, saying she has no appetite…"
"It's not just the meals. Even today, the head maid advised Her Highness to rest, saying she'd been focused on state affairs all day, but she insisted on going to the detached palace, claiming she wasn't sleepy."
One of the maids sighed deeply and said.
"It must be because of Lieutenant Colonel Daniel Steiner, right? She's been listless ever since the sinking of the official vessel."
"You think so too, don't you? I wish she'd cheer up soon…"
The maid stopped speaking mid-sentence and fell silent.
This was because Yovenf, the Empire's Minister of Foreign Affairs, was approaching.
As the maids hastily bowed their heads, Yovenf began to speak in his characteristic polite tone.
"Ladies. Where is Her Imperial Highness?"
"Her Highness is on the path where the poinsettias are planted."
Hearing the maid's words, Yovenf turned his head.
There, he saw Selvia, lost in thought as she gazed down at the poinsettias.
Yovenf, who had thanked the maids with a nod, approached Selvia.
"Your Imperial Highness."
Selvia turned her head at the voice from beside her.
Confirming that it was Yovenf, Selvia blinked blankly.
"…What brings you here at this hour? I believe the meeting is tomorrow."
"My apologies, but I came to inform you of news from Bellanos."
"Bellanos, you say. Yes. Did the fleet arrive safely?"
Yovenf nodded.
"The Prime Minister of Bellanos accepted the Empire's notification to open the borders. It was a natural choice, as refusing would not only worsen diplomatic relations with the Empire but also make it impossible to avoid accusations of supporting terrorists."
A smile played on Yovenf's lips.
"Thanks to that, the Imperial fleet safely arrived in Tentarbaham, Bellanos's port city, at eight o'clock this evening. The disembarked troops are conducting a large-scale search operation as per Your Highness's orders, and the Bellanos government has also stepped forward to cooperate with the Empire's search."
Despite the situation progressing favorably, Selvia's expression remained unchanged.
This was already expected, and what was important to Selvia now was not the process, but the outcome.
Yovenf, who was well aware of this, cleared his throat and spoke.
"Regarding this, I believe I have some joyful news for Your Highness."
"…Joyful news?"
"Yes. A telegram has arrived from Lieutenant Colonel Hartmann, chief bodyguard of the Imperial Guard, who participated in the search. He states that the possibility of Lieutenant Colonel Daniel Steiner not being dead is very high."
Selvia's eyes, which had been lifeless throughout, widened.
Frozen in surprise, Selvia took a deep breath before speaking.
"What are you talking about? Please explain more precisely."
"Understood. The disembarked troops, according to the fleet commander's orders, first searched the coastline. This is because if one considers the possibility of Lieutenant Colonel Daniel Steiner surviving after being carried by ocean currents, searching the coast is the top priority."
"And?"
"There, Lieutenant Colonel Hartmann reportedly found Daniel Steiner's military uniform. It is presumed that he changed clothes in a nearby hut and left his uniform behind to conceal his identity."
Selvia swallowed hard and asked urgently.
"Injuries? Are there no injuries?"
"Yes. Since there were no torn parts on the uniform and no bloodstains, it is believed he sustained no injuries. Furthermore, it is presumed he changed clothes and walked to Tentarbaham, so there appear to be no physical disabilities resulting from the accident."
In short, it meant there was a high probability he was active in Tentarbaham, unharmed and in full health.
'Thank goodness.'
Life returned to Selvia's eyes.
Selvia, breathing a sigh of relief, placed a hand on her chest as if a great weight had been lifted.
'Oh, thank goodness…'
Unconsciously, tears welled up in her eyes.
The thought that she might see Daniel again made her heart swell uncontrollably.
Selvia, who had been breathing deeply to calm her trembling body, suddenly thought of something strange.
Why would he abandon his uniform and change clothes?
If he had gone to the Tentarbaham city hall in his uniform, he could have received help.
Selvia, pondering deeply, came to a shallow realization.
'Daniel must have concluded that there was a traitor within Tentarbaham, colluding with the enemy.'
If he tried to conceal his identity because he couldn't trust Tentarbaham city hall, everything made sense.
'Poor man…'
In Selvia's eyes, Daniel Steiner was fighting alone in a distant foreign land, unsure who was an ally and who was an enemy.
'He must be wandering the streets, trembling even now.'
The thought brought tears to her eyes.
Selvia raised an arm, wiped her eyes with the back of her hand, and turned back to Yovenf.
"Convey this to the fleet commander who landed in Tentarbaham."
Selvia, having regained her regal demeanor, narrowed her eyes sharply.
"Tell him to secure Lieutenant Colonel Daniel Steiner's safety, no matter what."
*
"Hahaha! Is that true?"
Despite Selvia's worries, Daniel was happily chatting at Lef's mansion.
He had been flustered upon hearing that Lef's father was the Prime Minister, but what did it matter?
Anyway, if he didn't meet Lef after today, he wouldn't get entangled, so it didn't really matter.
So, since he was invited, Daniel told various stories to entertain Lef, and Lef, seemingly pleased with Daniel's tales, also spoke freely about her past.
"It's true, I tell you! Otherwise, how would I escape this blasted mansion? Developing the leaping ability to clear walls is basic, and I have to bribe the servants who watch me to get them on my side."
Daniel, who had listened to Lef's 'Great Mansion Escape' to the end, waved his hand, suppressing his laughter.
"I wouldn't have been able to do all that. I might have just lived in resignation."
"You shouldn't resign yourself. I think that's losing."
"That's good advice, depending on how you hear it. But now, time…"
Daniel glanced at the wall clock and gave an awkward smile.
"It's gotten quite late. At this rate, we'll be talking until dawn."
"…I'm fine with it, though? I feel like you and I get along really well. Hey, you. Why don't you just stay at my mansion tonight? We have plenty of spare rooms. Or, you could work at our mansion. I'll create an identity for you and provide a high salary. How about it?"
It was a good offer, but Daniel had no choice but to refuse.
This was because the anxiety that something bad would happen the moment he loitered around the mansion and met the Prime Minister suddenly overwhelmed him.
"I appreciate the offer, but I'm afraid I must decline both."
At his polite refusal, Lef's eyes half-opened.
"Alright. So, unlike me, who's confined to the mansion, you're a free spirit, huh?"
"That might be a misunderstanding. I'd say the lady who frequently escapes her mansion is closer to freedom than I am. After all, freedom fundamentally stems from resistance against oppression."
Lef snickered at Daniel's words.
He was the kind of person you simply couldn't hate, as he even managed to rephrase unpleasant words in a pleasant way.
"Alright. I'll stop holding you back. There will be another chance later."
Lef raised her hand and clapped twice, and the dining room door opened, revealing Banvresh, the butler.
In his hand was the blindfold Daniel had worn when he arrived.
"I shall escort you to your lodgings."
Daniel nodded and rose from his seat.
Just as he was about to follow Banvresh, Lef grabbed Daniel's sleeve.
"Wait a minute. Don't you have anything you want to say to my damned father before you go? He's a damned father, but he's still the Prime Minister, right? It's a chance to advance your career."
Advance his career? Daniel's life had been far too eventful to be swayed by such a superficial word.
For Daniel, who simply wanted to open a bakery in some quiet countryside, this was an unnecessary opportunity.
However, since it seemed she wouldn't let him go if he said nothing, Daniel said whatever came to mind.
"Please tell him to govern justly."
"What? How bland…"
Lef clicked her tongue and nodded.
She instinctively realized she couldn't hold him back any longer.
"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 whatsoever of meeting the daughter of Bellanos's Prime Minister again.
*
Daniel, wearing the blindfold and led by Banvresh's hand, got into the car and after about an hour's drive, arrived at the inn.
"You may remove your blindfold now."
Daniel nodded and took off the blindfold.
Outside the window, he saw the familiar facade of the inn.
Banvresh opened the car door for him, and Daniel naturally alighted.
As he stepped out, Banvresh bowed deeply.
"Thank you."
The overwhelming politeness was imbued with profound gratitude.
"It has truly been a long time since the young lady laughed so much. It is all thanks to Lord Revelard."
Daniel, flustered, waved his hand.
"No, not at all. It was a meaningful time for me as well, being able to partake of such a feast. And the young lady, quite unlike a noble, possessed remarkable eloquence, so it was never boring."
"I am truly honored that you see it that way. Then…"
Banvresh straightened, gave one last polite bow, and got into the vehicle.
Daniel watched the car start and slowly pull out of the alley, then put on the sunglasses he had tucked into his vest and began to walk.
'Now…'
Daniel, thinking it would be dangerous to remain in Tentarbaham, opened the door to the inn's entrance.
At the same time, Daniel couldn't help but feel an overwhelming sense of dread.
This was because 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 man?"
"I told you, no! Why would such an important person ever come to our inn anyway?"
"Look again, slowly. Just in case…"
In the officer's hand was a flyer with a portrait drawn on it.
'That's…'
Daniel, confirming it was clearly him, broke into a cold sweat.
He had roughly guessed the Empire would send troops, but this was far too quick.
Just as Daniel, thinking he shouldn't be caught, was about to quietly back away.
"Hm?"
The officer, sensing a presence, turned around.
Thanks to this, Daniel stopped his attempt to back away and naturally stepped into the inn.
As he tried to head straight for his room, several gazes followed him.
'Please…'
He silently pleaded for them to just let him pass, but no miracle occurred.
"Hey, you."
When the officer called out, Daniel stopped walking.
The officer looked meaningfully from the portrait to Daniel and back again, then slowly approached.
"There's a large-scale search operation going on right now, and I was wondering if you could cooperate? Do you happen to know an individual named Daniel Steiner?"
Daniel secretly gritted his teeth.
If he was caught here, he would be forcibly returned to the Empire.
To an Empire where a spy adjutant was after his life, where a crazy nationalist subordinate existed, and where he was governed by an Emperor who was wary of him, and a Princess who was the spitting image of the Emperor's personality.
He absolutely did not want to go back.
He couldn't let this opportunity, hard-won as it was, slip away.
After a deep breath, Daniel turned to the officer and spoke as calmly as possible.
"Hmm. Daniel Steiner, you say…"
His deliberation was profound, but his decision was swift.
"Who is that?"
Since things had come to this, he decided to simply be brazen.