I Was Mistaken as a Great War Commander-Chapter 96

I apologize for any discrepancies. Here's a more literal translation of the provided text:

Daniel had wished to stay in Vellanos for a few more days if not months, but unfortunately, his dream did not come true.

The following day, by noon, a private jet sent by the imperial household had arrived in Tentarbachem.

It was only natural that an immediate order for his return had been issued, and Daniel had no choice but to board the private jet reluctantly.

Escorted by Hartmann, Daniel boarded, and the jet soon took off towards the archipelago.

The private jet freely flying over the archipelago soon landed at an airport near the Imperial Palace.

Stepping off the jet, Daniel saw the personnel of the Inner Court against the backdrop of the setting sun.

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The head of the Inner Court, standing among them, told Daniel that 'His Majesty the Emperor is waiting,' and escorted him onto the imperial ceremonial vehicle.

Daniel honestly wanted to rest, but he could not refuse the Emperor’s order.

The vehicle took Daniel to the Imperial Palace, and under the guidance of the head of the Inner Court, he headed towards a room called 'The Golden Rest.'

Daniel, unaware of what kind of room it was, cautiously asked and was told it was a room where 'His Majesty sometimes drinks alone or reflects.'

Essentially, Daniel had been invited to a personal space of the Emperor.

Feeling a sense of foreboding, Daniel remained tense as he moved and only stopped upon reaching the top floor of the palace.

"His Majesty the Emperor is beyond this door," said the head of the Inner Court as he pointed to the door.

The door, richly decorated with gold, justified why the room was called 'The Golden Rest.'

"The Emperor dislikes it when he is not answered promptly, so it would be best to respond as quickly as possible," the head of the Inner Court advised.

Daniel nodded after adjusting his attire, and the head of the Inner Court, confirming he was ready, knocked lightly on the door.

"Your Majesty! Lieutenant Colonel Daniel Steiner has come to see you!"

From inside, a voice allowed entry.

The head of the Inner Court gave a respectful nod, and the guards by the door opened it, revealing the Emperor’s back as he looked out from the terrace of the room.

Inside, the room boasted large wall paintings adorned with gold, and the ceiling was a glass dome allowing moonlight to shine through directly.

An expensive carpet covered the floor, and one side of the room was lined with a glass liquor cabinet filled with once-in-a-lifetime whiskies.

It was a veritable paradise of luxury that naturally made one shrink.

Daniel took a brief look around and then walked naturally to the center of the room and saluted Emperor Bertham.

"Your Majesty! Lieutenant Colonel Daniel Steiner, operations officer of the General Staff, has returned from his diplomatic mission..."

Daniel stopped mid-sentence.

Bertham waved his hand, signaling to stop the formalities.

As Daniel lowered his saluting hand, Bertham quietly said,

"Come here. There is something I want to show you."

Daniel nodded and approached Bertham.

As the distance closed, Bertham glanced sideways at Daniel and then pointed down to the ground.

"Do you see that? Those are my citizens."

Daniel looked in the direction Bertham was pointing.

On the streets, numerous crowds were waving and shouting.

The exact number was indeterminate, but it was a crowd of at least ten thousand.

Daniel, taken aback by the view of the cityscape, stood still, and Bertham chuckled.

"All these people have come out to celebrate your return. It’s almost like a festival. Though half of them are probably using it as an excuse to enjoy the festivities," Bertham said.

"I had no idea so many people would gather."

"For a war hero's return, this is modest. Watching this reminds me of my return after my first victorious war. Everyone praised my deeds then."

Bertham's eyes narrowed slightly as he continued to look down at the crowd.

"Now, they praise your deeds. So let me ask. Are these my citizens, or are they yours?"

It was a calm question, but for Daniel, it was not easy to answer.

It was the first time the Emperor had openly shown such wariness towards him.

Feeling the crisis, Daniel immediately knelt on one knee.

"Your Majesty! The citizens' praise for me ultimately praises your achievements! I am merely an officer, a servant following the Empire’s commands. And since the Empire is you, Your Majesty, how could they possibly be my citizens?"

At Daniel's defense, Bertham let out a low laugh.

"You've become accustomed to handling power. Your voice trembles much less now."

If the initial encounter had Daniel anxiously trying to read the room, now he managed to maintain a composed demeanor, whether consciously or not, showing he had become accustomed to interacting with the powerful.

Bertham, watching Daniel carefully, nodded.

"If that's what you say, then so be it. Rise. Let's have a drink," Bertham said, moving deeper into the room as Daniel stood up.

Bertham walked to the mahogany table set in the center of the room, where two crystal glasses and a bottle of fine whiskey were placed.

As Daniel approached, Bertham sat down and picked up the whiskey bottle.

"Sit down." "Yes, Your Majesty."

Daniel bowed slightly and took his seat, and then Bertham poured the whiskey.

The color of the whiskey pouring out was an amber mixed with gold.

Though the thought of high-quality whiskey was exciting, it was a fleeting thought.

"Your Majesty?"

A startled Daniel looked at Bertham.

Bertham had filled the glass to the brim with whiskey.

Whiskey is not typically drunk in such a manner.

Especially with high-quality whiskey, it is normal to sip slowly to savor the taste and aroma.

Bertham, knowing this, still filled the glass to the brim.

"Drink now." "But..."

"I will drink as well."

Bertham filled his own glass to the brim with whiskey.

Seeing this, Daniel exclaimed in shock.

"Your Majesty! I heard your illness had eased, but drinking like that could be dangerous."

However, Bertham just laughed it off lightly.

"I know my body best. Drinking like this won't kill me, nor will not drinking save me. So, drink up."

Bertham pushed the whiskey bottle aside after filling their glasses.

Bertham lifted his glass, and Daniel, unable to refuse, also raised his.

They briefly made eye contact before downing the whiskey in their glasses.

Bertham swallowed the liquor smoothly, but Daniel burst into a coughing fit.

For Bertham, such drinking was a frequent pastime in his youth, but for Daniel, downing a full glass of whiskey at once was a first.

Bertham watched Daniel coughing as if he were about to die and then burst into laughter.

"I heard you liked liquor, but apparently not. Can't you even drink this?" "This is... cough the first time this has... I'm sorry."

Daniel barely caught his breath, straightened up, and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand.

Bertham, looking at Daniel with significance, murmured quietly.

"Looking at you, a certain fairy tale comes to mind." "A fairy tale, Your Majesty?"

"Indeed. Do you know the fairy tale about the brave lion and the clever fox?"

It was impossible not to know.

That fairy tale was a famous story told by parents to their children in the Empire.

The story is simple.

A brave lion, having successfully protected the forest from humans, gathers all the forest animals.

The lion claims there is a traitor among them who colludes with humans and interrogates and devours them one by one.

The only animal to escape alive is the fox.

Daniel, who grew up without parents, also knew the story from the monastery head.

"If there is anyone who does not know that story, they must be a spy." "Then we can communicate. In your view, what trick do you think the fox used to not become the lion's meal?"

There's an interesting aspect to this story: interpretations of how the fox escaped vary from family to family.

So, adults make up their own versions of the story to tell children how the fox escaped.

"Of course..."

Daniel knew that Bertham wasn't truly curious but was testing him.

"...how long will he continue to test me?"

It was natural to keep a war hero who had gained enormous influence in check.

Daniel also understood that the aging Emperor's paranoia was growing.

However, understanding was one thing; accepting it was another.

As the rush from the hastily consumed liquor began, emotions started to precede reason.

"The Emperor cannot fault me for successfully negotiating a treaty in Vellanos. So, this conversation..."

Was merely nitpicking.

"Tell me. What trick do you think the fox used?"

The second question came with a sharper tone.

The head of the Inner Court's warning not to remain silent hastened Daniel's heart.

Caught in his thoughts, Daniel decided to repeat exactly what he had heard from the head of the monastery.

It seemed safer to relay what he had actually heard rather than invent something.

"Your Majesty. May I answer with what the head of the monastery who raised me told me?"

He made it clear that he was only repeating what he had heard in his childhood from the head of the monastery.

If that was the case, Bertham could hardly fault Daniel for whatever he said.

Bertham thought Daniel had managed to escape well and nodded.

"Let's hear it." "Yes. The head of the monastery first mentioned that before the lion sought the fox, he met a rabbit. You know how the rabbit died, Your Majesty."

"Of course. The rabbit, not wanting to be eaten by the lion, prepared a bribe. I believe it filled a basket with blackberries and offered it..."

"Unfortunately, the lion suffered from a severe allergy to blackberries. Thinking that the rabbit was mocking him, the lion devoured it on the spot."

"Yes, that happened."

Bertham responded as if he remembered.

"The head of the monastery said that having seen that, the fox must have eaten a tremendous amount of blackberries the day before. He even suggested that the fox had left blackberries all around its home."

Bertham looked meaningfully at Daniel.

Daniel continued.

"When the lion came to the fox's home the next day, the fox said, 'Oh mighty lion, my lord. You could swallow me in one bite, but remember this. My blood is now flowing with the juice of the blackberries, so if you eat me..."

After a brief silence, Daniel looked straight at Bertham.

"...you, my lord, must also be prepared to die."