Mistaken for a War Hero

Chapter 64
If You’re Going to Deceive, Do It Properly

『 Translator – Divinity 』

Although he didn’t show it, Belvar’s breathing became erratic.

Moreover, I could see his eyes trembling slightly as our gazes met.

This confirmed my suspicions.

‘He’s shaken.’

The expression Belvar was wearing was that of someone desperately trying to hide their fear.

‘This is good.’

If Belvar had scoffed and dismissed me, I would have been in trouble.

‘If Belvar thought I was just some insignificant staff officer, that’s probably what would have happened.’

But Belvar was genuinely wary of me.

My assumption that he held me in high regard was correct.

‘In that case…’

The best course of action for me was to continue playing the role of the ‘worst possible Daniel Steiner’ that Belvar could imagine and succeed in this negotiation.

‘If the negotiation fails, I’ll be the one who dies.’

Steeling myself, I feigned composure and took out a document from my pocket.

Belvar gulped at the sight.

“That is…”

I nodded and said,

“It’s a copy of the document I collected after capturing the prince’s private organization, the Dawn of the New Day. You understand what this document means, don’t you, Duke?”

I handed him the document for him to confirm.

Belvar received it and checked the contents.

The date and outline of the operation were meticulously recorded, so it wasn’t fabricated evidence.

Belvar’s hand trembled slightly.

“Duke Belvar.”

I spoke slowly,

“What do you think will happen if this document is made public? The prince’s path to becoming Crown Prince will become distant, and the people of the Empire will demand the execution of the rebels.”

Belvar gritted his teeth.

He knew what I was going to say next.

“Then we will announce to the citizens of the capital, ‘Before punishing the rebels, we investigated and found a family connected to them. And that family is…'”

I placed my hand on the top of the document Belvar was holding.

Gently pushing it down, I whispered, just loud enough for him to hear,

“The Bahtranth family, led by you, Duke Belvar.”

Belvar’s eyes widened as he glared at me from across the table.

He was displeased that a mere orphan, a nobody, was threatening a high-ranking noble family of the Empire.

With a face full of anger, Belvar threw the document he was holding onto the table.

“You scoundrel…! The rumors I’ve heard about you are all true. I can’t understand how someone so vulgar and wicked could be by Her Highness’s side!”

Despite Belvar’s outburst, I only wore a troubled expression.

“I will humbly accept any evaluation you have of me, Duke. However, I’d like you to understand that this is a place for making choices, not for criticizing me.”

“Choices? What choices are you asking me to make!?”

“I believe a wise man like Duke Belvar would already know…”

Belvar was about to shout something but closed his mouth.

Judging from what I had said, he seemed to understand the conditions of the negotiation.

“Don’t tell me…”

“Yes, that’s right. If you withdraw from the succession struggle, Duke, we will guarantee your secrecy. Then, the Bahtranth family will have nothing to do with this matter.”

Belvar groaned softly.

Although I was speaking indirectly, it was no different from asking him to betray the prince.

However, it was a tempting offer, one he couldn’t easily refuse.

“Duke, it’s not difficult. Just nod your head here, and you and the Bahtranth family will be able to maintain your honor and position in the capital. Why would you refuse?”

For Belvar, who was in a disadvantageous position, the offer of “we won’t hold your past actions against you even if we seize power” was enough to sway his heart.

As I said, all he had to do was nod his head, and his family would be safe.

‘But he pledged his loyalty to the prince…’

He couldn’t be swayed by such wicked words.

“Don’t test my loyalty. I will never join forces with you.”

Belvar spoke with determination, but I only blinked impassively.

Then, I smirked and stood up.

“You won’t join forces with me? I respect your decision, but I don’t understand it. Have you forgotten what I said earlier?”

I walked past Belvar casually.

“I said that if you refused, it wouldn’t end with just one life. Oh, you have a whiskey cabinet in your reception room.”

In the heavy atmosphere, I let out an exclamation of admiration and opened the cabinet.

Taking out a bottle of Johnnie Walker, I looked at it and continued,

“Perhaps my explanation wasn’t clear enough, so I’ll say it again. This time… about the future you will face, Duke.”

He couldn’t understand what I was trying to say.

As Belvar broke out in a cold sweat, I casually called for the nearby servant.

When the servant approached, I asked him to prepare some ice.

The servant, who had been frozen in place, bowed his head and hurriedly left the reception room.

After confirming that the servant had left, I took a glass from a nearby shelf.

“Let’s see, I heard that your eldest son runs Ridesharp Company. It’s a solid company leading the automobile industry in our Empire. It’s also famous for being the first to introduce an automated assembly line.”

I took out a handkerchief from my pocket as I spoke.

“Thanks to that, mass production became possible, and many citizens of the Empire were able to purchase cars at affordable prices. He’s truly an admirable person.”

I casually held the handkerchief and gently wiped the glass.

“If I were to compare him to a finger, he would be the thumb. People always use their thumbs when expressing something as the best. Wouldn’t you agree?”

Belvar didn’t answer and just stared straight ahead.

He didn’t have the courage to turn around.

“I also agree that your eldest son is the best in the automobile industry. However, I wonder if Her Highness would agree.”

I finished wiping the glass and continued in a worried tone,

“If Her Highness becomes Empress, I’ll have no choice but to advise her to thoroughly investigate the Ridesharp Company. He’s a member of the rebel Belvar’s family, isn’t he?”

Belvar’s breathing quickened.

Noticing this, I continued softly,

“If, during the investigation, any evidence is found that your eldest son funded the rebels, things will get complicated. It would be truly terrible.”

Just as I clicked my tongue, the servant who had gone to the kitchen to get ice returned.

I gestured to him, and he approached and put ice in my glass.

After thanking him, I opened the bottle of Johnnie Walker and poured the whiskey into the glass.

As I lifted the glass, Belvar finally spoke with difficulty,

“…My eldest son has nothing to do with this. It’s true.”

I took a sip of the whiskey and shrugged.

“Well, I think he’s involved.”

“Don’t slander him! Daniel Steiner…!”

“Ah, my apologies. I misspoke. It’s not that I think he’s involved…”

I walked behind Belvar and gently placed my hand on his shoulder.

“I’ll make sure he’s involved.”

Belvar’s eyes widened at my chilling words.

I walked back to my original seat, looking down at Belvar’s pale face.

“Just so you know, don’t expect help from the Security Bureau. When the time comes, they will also be loyal to the orders of the new Empress.”

I sat down on the sofa and placed my glass on the table.

“And it won’t end with your eldest son. I’ll also implicate your second son, who works in the electronics industry, and your third son, who runs an oil company.”

“S-Such…”

Belvar’s breathing became increasingly ragged, as if he was hyperventilating.

I smiled gently at the terrified old fox.

“Oh dear, it seems you’ll lose three fingers at once. Would you be able to shake hands with others in that state? I think they’ll all avoid you.”

Belvar gasped, then suddenly closed his eyes tightly and let out a groan that was close to a scream.

“D-Duke!”

Seeing this, the servant hurriedly approached him with medicine and water.

Belvar hastily took the medicine and swallowed it with water.

His breathing gradually calmed down.

However, his eyes were still closed.

I watched him for a moment, then leaned forward and snapped my fingers.

Snap—

Startled by the sound, Belvar opened his eyes and saw me offering him a handshake.

He couldn’t sense an ounce of humanity in his smile.

“What are you waiting for?”

I lightly shook my extended hand.

“Now that you’ve returned to the present, you need to make the right choice this time.”

Take my hand before it’s too late.

That’s what I was clearly telling him.