I Was Mistaken as a Great War Commander

After a prolonged silence, Velbar clenched his teeth so tightly that his jaws seemed to contort.

The moment he took Daniel’s hand, he would be betraying the Crown Prince.

He would be denying the dynastic legitimacy that the Bahartranté family had upheld for generations.

For the sake of the beliefs his father and ancestors had preserved, he could discard his life at any moment.

‘But what about my family? What wrong did they commit?’

For Velbar, bloodlines were as important as his beliefs.

It was only natural.

Before being the head of the family, he was a father.

He knew well the dreams his grown sons harbored and the efforts they were making.

He could not ruin their bright futures for the sake of upholding his beliefs.

‘What should I do…’

Beset by repeated anguish, a throbbing headache caused Velbar’s vision to blur momentarily.

Velbar understood. This was more than a simple threat.

The demon before him would undoubtedly commit a massacre the moment the negotiation fell through.

For Daniel Steiner’s ruthlessness shone through his callous gaze and inhuman smile.

Hence, Velbar had to make a choice at this very moment.

“I…”

However, the words wouldn’t come out.

The sounds climbing up his throat dispersed before leaving his mouth.

Beliefs and family.

He couldn’t easily discard either.

Seemingly dissatisfied by this, Daniel slowly opened his mouth.

“…Baron. Could it be that you still think this is an equal transaction and negotiation?”

Daniel let out a low, disdainful chuckle.

“This is merely a kindness and favor that Her Highness the Princess and I are extending to the Bahartranté family.”

Velbar interpreted those words as something akin to, ‘And yet you’re agonizing over this, oblivious.’

As Velbar’s body trembled, Daniel shook his head with a regretful click of his tongue.

“Even after returning to your senses, you’re committing the same error. In that case, I won’t stop you. I hope the great Baron Velbar of the Bahartranté family enjoys awaiting the impending destruction.”

It was at the moment Daniel attempted to rise from his seat.

Abruptly leaning forward, Velbar firmly grasped Daniel’s hand.

The fear that everything would become irreversible the moment Daniel left had assailed him.

“……”
“……”

A chilling silence flowed between them.

Daniel neither shook off nor held onto Velbar’s hand that had seized his own, leaving it be.

It was a gesture for Velbar to speak his true intentions.

“Cooperation…”

Tears welled up in Velbar’s reddened, bloodshot eyes.

Feeling defeated, Velbar closed his eyes and spoke in a low, sobbing voice.

“I will cooperate… as you command…”

Upon receiving his clear answer, Daniel finally reciprocated by taking Velbar’s hand.

Simultaneously, he lightly grasped Velbar’s shoulder with his other hand.

“As I expected. I knew you would make the wise choice, Baron. Since you’ve accepted our proposal, the Bahartranté family is now dissociated from this matter.”

The hand grasping Velbar’s shoulder gradually applied more force.

“Furthermore, you have never sided with the Crown Prince. Not only until now, but from this point forward as well. Do you understand my words?”

Clenching his teeth and sobbing, Velbar could not properly open his mouth.

Regarding Velbar’s pitiful state, Daniel removed his hand from his shoulder and spoke.

“If you understand, nod your head.”

Ensnared by indescribable emotions, Velbar nodded his head almost tremblingly.

Seeing this, Daniel concluded the handshake with a satisfied expression and rose from his seat.

“Very well. I shall properly convey your intentions to Her Highness the Princess.”

After straightening his attire, Daniel turned towards the nearby Hartman.

“Colonel Hartman. Now that the matter is settled, we should take our leave. We shouldn’t impose further on the Baron by staying here any longer.”

Hartman, who had silently observed everything from behind, nodded dazedly.

Only then did Daniel turn and exit the receiving room.

Hartman, too, followed Daniel out and surveyed his surroundings.

Confirming the hallway was deserted, Hartman observed Daniel’s profile.

The demon-like demeanor from earlier had vanished, replaced by a weary countenance.

Having loosened his tension, Daniel let out a low sigh.

“It’s a relief. If Baron Velbar had refused the proposal, it could have led to a difficult struggle.”

This elicited a sense of dissonance within Hartman.

After an awkward pause, Hartman spoke.

“Remarkable. To be honest, I didn’t think Baron Velbar would accept the proposal.”
“I, too, had my doubts. It’s fortunate the acting worked well.”

Upon hearing Daniel’s words, Hartman’s brow furrowed.

‘Acting?’

Could it truly be called acting?

To Hartman, it seemed more apt to describe it as Daniel’s inner thoughts slipping out.

However, from Daniel’s perspective, it was indeed acting.

Of course, the qualifier ‘performed desperately to survive’ would undoubtedly apply.

‘If I couldn’t make Baron Velbar submit, I would have died.’

Inwardly relieved that things had turned out well, Hartman cleared his throat.

“In any case, you’ve worked hard. I’ll report to Her Highness the Princess, so you should return first and rest.”

Regarding Hartman with an unexpected expression, Daniel lightly nodded.

“I appreciate your consideration. I shall do so.”

Afterward, the two walked along the estate’s hallway in an awkward silence.

To be precise, the awkwardness was solely on Hartman’s part.

For the individual named Daniel Steiner, walking ahead, seemed particularly daunting today.

After parting ways with Daniel in front of the estate, Hartman headed straight for the Imperial Palace.

Upon reaching Selvia’s office and knocking on the door, a voice from inside beckoned him to enter.

Opening the door and stepping inside, Hartman saluted as Selvia looked up from the documents she had been working on.

“…Oh? Where is Major Daniel?”
“He appeared fatigued, so I told him to go on ahead.”
“You told him to go ahead? So, you really just let him leave after telling him to go ahead?”

As Selvia persistently questioned him, Hartman lowered his hand with a hint of puzzlement.

“Your Highness? Were you perhaps waiting for Major Daniel?”
“Huh? That’s…”

Appearing flustered, as if her true feelings had been exposed, Selvia’s face reddened before she suddenly cleared her throat.

“Why would I be waiting for him? I didn’t particularly want to see him either. More importantly, how did the negotiation go?”
“It was successful. In exchange for us not holding the Bahartranté family accountable, they agreed to withdraw their support for the Crown Prince.”

Upon hearing Hartman’s words, Selvia’s mouth gaped open.

She found it hard to believe that the obstinate old fox had waved the white flag after a single negotiation.

“…Is that true? Baron Velbar submitted to me?”
“Yes. Thanks to Major Daniel’s efforts.”

At the mention of Daniel successfully concluding the negotiation, Selvia couldn’t help but inwardly admire him.

Apprehending the Crown Prince’s secret organization alone was an immense achievement, but this time, by making Baron Velbar submit, he had effectively put an end to the succession struggle.

Letting out a low chuckle, a slender smile graced Selvia’s lips.

“My brother has inadvertently lost both his arms. Poor brother. He must be howling in despair by now.”

Assured of her victory, Selvia opened the case containing her fountain pen and closed it again.

“So.”

Selvia’s sharp gaze fell upon Hartman.

“In your view, Colonel, what kind of person is Daniel Steiner?”

She was asking him to share his impression of Daniel, having witnessed him conduct the negotiation firsthand.

This was also the fundamental reason why Selvia had assigned Hartman as Daniel’s escort.

As the Princess, it was only natural for her to assess whether Daniel could be trusted as a close aide.

“Daniel Steiner is one of the most capable individuals I’ve encountered. However…”

Pausing momentarily to answer Selvia’s question, Hartman spoke.

“…he is also an uncontrollably dangerous man.”

When evaluating potential collaborators, Hartman prioritized tactics, strategy, and politics.

As a member of the Imperial Guards operating within the Empire rather than on the battlefield, Hartman placed the greatest emphasis on political acumen among those three abilities.

For those skilled in tactics could not defeat those skilled in strategy, and those skilled in strategy could not defeat those skilled in politics.

Then what about those skilled in politics? When faced with adversaries, they would refrain from using force and aim to maintain a balance.

But Daniel Steiner was different.

Had he not thoroughly subjugated Baron Velbar, who could potentially become his adversary, under the pretext of ‘assisting the Princess’?

‘He must have been unable to tolerate it. Baron Velbar’s attempt to accuse him of colluding with a spy…’

It was evident that Daniel had felt intense anger towards Baron Velbar, who had tried to implicate him by deploying the Security Police.

However, Daniel’s anger wasn’t a blazing fire but a slowly flowing venom.

Not overtly potent, yet more dangerous than it appeared, inflicting excruciating agony upon the slightest ingestion.

Before those who had ingested that venom, Daniel Steiner would smile and say:

“I have the antidote, so let’s negotiate.”

That was the Daniel Steiner that Hartman had witnessed.

“Therefore, Your Highness…”

Recalling the conversation between Daniel and Velbar, Hartman spoke.

“You must never make an enemy of Daniel Steiner.”

Offering this advice, Hartman bowed his head towards Selvia.

Simultaneously, a sense of dread caused him to break out in a cold sweat.

If.

If Daniel Steiner had truly sided with the Crown Prince instead of the Princess…

‘Today, the one who would have ingested Daniel’s venom…’

It might have been Hartman himself, rather than Velbar.