Chapter 4

***

“My favorite father in the entire world! Won’t you please open the door? I swear I really, really won’t run away. I’ll get married exactly as you want, huh? Please!”

Morning at the Rosley Marquisate’s capital townhouse kicked off with Aiden’s desperate, wailing pleas. Initially, he had screamed nothing but nerve-grating insults at his father, but upon receiving zero response, he pivoted his strategy toward sickeningly sweet coaxing.

Yet, Marquis Lucen pretended not to hear a single word. Of course, a radiant smile bloomed across the older man’s face, making him look as if he had just conquered the entire world.

“My beloved fatherrrr!”

Aiden bellowed the word ‘beloved’ with immense emphasis, but his efforts ended in another spectacular failure. Exhaling a heavy, exhausted sigh, he nervously ran his hands through his hair, thoroughly messing it up as the memories of the past week flashed through his mind.

On the morning of his second day of imprisonment, Aiden had woken up fully refreshed and immediately scoured his room for a potential escape route. Unfortunately, every conceivable exit—starting with the windows—was locked tight with high-tier magic. Just as a crushing wave of despair threatened to swallow him whole, he pushed against the balcony doors on a whim. To his utter shock, they slid open effortlessly, allowing a gentle breeze heavy with the sweet scent of blooming flowers to caress his cheeks.

“Aha! Even Father has a blind spot!”

Cheering his brilliant stroke of luck, Aiden leaned over the railing to gauge the height of the drop.

“Aiden, what exactly are you doing up there?”

A voice dripping with profound amusement drifted up from below, causing Aiden to violently flinch. Looking down, he spotted his father, Marquis Lucen, standing directly beneath the balcony as if he possessed some uncanny omniscience.

“You’re not actually thinking of jumping from up there, are you? Especially with a busted leg.”

“A-Ah, Father, what do you take me for…”

“Enjoy the scenery to your heart’s content, and then go back inside.”

Having tragically failed on his first attempt, Aiden refused to surrender and decided to aggressively target the unlocked balcony. However, on the third day, the fourth day, and even the fifth day—every single time Aiden threw the balcony doors open, Marquis Lucen was standing right there on the ground below. Just in case, Aiden tried sneaking out at dawn and in the dead of night, but his father remained rooted to that exact spot without fail. The man was practically a ghost.

Utterly unable to suppress his boiling frustration, Aiden finally snapped. “Father, don’t you ever go to work?! Are you telling me a Marquis of the Empire has so much free time he can just stand around monitoring his son all day?! Huh?!”

Marquis Lucen merely scoffed, crossing his arms. “This is my work.”

That blunt declaration essentially meant Aiden shouldn’t even dream of utilizing the balcony. Left with no other choice, he drastically altered his strategy: he would seduce his older brothers, Leo and Ian, into helping him. His older sister, Amelia, would have been the absolute best accomplice for this, but unfortunately, she was currently buried under a mountain of work in the North.

On the night of his sixth day of confinement, Leo and Ian snuck up to his room to check on his condition. Aiden immediately executed his master plan.

“My dearest hyungs…”

Utilizing a sickeningly sweet, childish title he hadn’t uttered since he was eight years old, Aiden tightly grasped the edges of his brothers’ sleeves. Two sharp gasps of shock instantly echoed through the quiet room.

“Can’t you guys just let me out of here? I’m suffering so much…”

Unlike his usual sharp tone, his voice was thick with desperate affection, and his broad shoulders slumped pathetically. A faint, glistening layer of moisture even seemed to pool at the corners of his eyes.

Faced with such a devastatingly pitiful sight, the brothers felt as if they would be the lowest scum on earth if they refused to help. Right, our baby brother wants it this badly. As his older brothers, we have to save him. Just as the two men steeled their resolve and opened their mouths to agree—

“We—”

“Leo. Ian.”

A crushing, authoritative voice sliced through the heavy air, instantly freezing the two brothers in their tracks. Feeling an icy chill shoot down their spines, they creaked their heads around toward the source of the sound. Marquis Lucen stood there with his arms crossed, having likely been tipped off by the mages or the guards. He simply stared at his two eldest sons in absolute, terrifying silence.

“…I should get going. Sleep well, Aiden.”

“Y-Yeah. It’s quite late, after all. Good night, youngest.”

Completely crushed by their father’s overwhelming aura, the two supposed accomplices fled the scene without so much as a backward glance. And just like that, Marquis Lucen maintained a flawless, undefeated winning streak for an entire week.

“Please, I don’t care who it is, just someone get me out of here…”

Overwhelmed by the agonizing memories, Aiden buried his face in his hands and expelled a heavy, ragged breath. Right at that moment, a series of low knocks rapped against the door. Judging by the time, he assumed the butler had arrived with his meal. Since he couldn’t escape anyway with Marquis Lucen undoubtedly hovering nearby, Aiden listlessly gave permission to enter.

“Admiral. Have you been well this past week?”

Following the metallic clack of the lock disengaging, a painfully familiar, dry voice filtered into the room. Aiden’s head snapped toward the entrance. His adjutant, Logan, stood firmly in the doorway—and miraculously, his ever-present shadow of a father was nowhere to be seen.

Convinced the heavens had finally granted him a golden opportunity, Aiden frantically hobbled toward the exit. However, as if explicitly designed to crush his dreams, the heavy oak door slammed shut right in his face.

“Ah.”

Of course. 

The fleeting joy that had illuminated his crimson eyes instantly warped back into hollow despair. Aiden pressed his forehead against the solid wood, thoroughly defeated. Rather than offering any words of comfort, Logan calmly began his report.

“Marquis Lucen informed me, ‘Now is the time, Major Donovan. This is the perfect opportunity to finish all the paperwork Aiden has been actively dodging.'”

“Hah…”

“He also added, ‘Tell him to stop dreaming of escaping and to focus on his damn job.’ For the record, sir, his tone was highly mocking.”

Aiden could ignore a lot of things, but he absolutely refused to abandon his naval duties. Instead of arguing, he waved a dismissive hand, silently indicating Logan should do whatever he wanted.

“Please wait over there, sir.”

Without a word of complaint, Aiden dragged his feet toward the study area and sank into the leather chair. A moment later, a line of servants marched into the room, depositing a truly horrifying, mountainous stack of documents onto the desk.

“These are the tasks you postponed indefinitely while deployed in the field, sir.”

Logan expertly categorized the sprawling mess of paperwork, stacking them neatly into imposing towers. There’s so much. There’s way too much. Just as Aiden was numbly scanning the sheer volume of his impending doom—

“I expect these to be fully processed within two weeks.”

It was an unfathomably cruel ultimatum. When Aiden could only stare blankly in stunned silence, a faint smirk tugged at the corner of Logan’s mouth as he dealt the final blow.

“And these are the newly submitted reports and approval requests. They are not incredibly urgent, so you have three weeks to process them.”

As Aiden let out a hollow, breathless laugh, Logan’s smirk deepened into a distinctly satisfied grin. “Since you are entirely incapable of escaping anyway, sir, I suggest you work diligently.”

The man looked as though he had been eagerly awaiting this glorious day his entire life. I suppose I have no choice. Quietly blaming his own accumulated karma, Aiden reached out toward the towering stacks. The very first document his fingers brushed against was the Q4 Comprehensive Operations Audit Report. Just reading the agonizingly boring title induced a wave of dizziness, and the report’s oppressive, brick-like thickness practically crushed his soul.

“Furthermore, a strategic meeting has been scheduled for one hour from now,” Logan noted, checking his pocket watch. “The executives agreed to hold it here in your quarters.”

At this point, Aiden wasn’t even surprised by the sheer audacity of it all. He was nodding along in resigned acceptance when a sudden sense of incongruity struck him. His eyes snapped wide open. “Wait a minute, a meeting? What meeting?”

“We received an urgent request for naval support from the Repeto Kingdom. They are experiencing severe difficulties due to pirates relentlessly pillaging their major trade routes.”

“Those pirate bastards again…”

Technically speaking, pirates were the root cause of his current forced marriage predicament. If it weren’t for those sea-dwelling rats, he wouldn’t be locked in this room, and he certainly wouldn’t be facing a one-way trip to the frozen North! As a blazing inferno of fury washed over him, Aiden clenched his fists so tightly his knuckles turned stark white.

“I apologize, sir, but you must set your anger aside. His Majesty the Emperor has explicitly denied your deployment.”

“What? Why? The Repeto Kingdom is a vital, cherished ally. I should personally lead the fleet.”

What do you think the reason is? The look Logan directed at his superior was swirling with a complex array of emotions. Exhaling a tiny sigh, the adjutant slowly shook his head. “Regardless of the reasons, today’s meeting was organized solely to discuss and appoint a suitable candidate for operational command.”

“It would be so much simpler if I just deployed,” Aiden grumbled, pouting as his eyes rapidly skimmed the dense text of the audit report. Suddenly, his gaze snagged on a specific passage. Tap. Tap. The rhythmic sound of his finger striking the oak desk echoed through the quiet study.

“Logan. Who exactly are the candidates currently being considered for operational command?”

The tapping abruptly ceased, replaced by a low, dangerously calm voice. The petulant, whining man from mere seconds ago had vanished entirely, replaced by a commander with a lethally sharp, blood-chilling glare. Visibly tensing under the oppressive weight of that stare, Logan swallowed hard before answering.

“I believe the current candidates are Captain Raymond Harrison, Captain Sophia Cox, Captain Liliana Forest, and Captain Arthur Mason, sir.”

“I see. Is that so.”

Responding with arid dryness, Aiden shifted his gaze back to the paperwork. Logan quietly observed his superior’s unreadable expression for a moment before systematically digging through the mountainous piles, extracting several specific files.

Rustle, rustle. 

The crisp sound of turning pages seeped into the silence. A few minutes later, as Aiden closed the audit report, Logan stepped forward and presented the newly sorted files.

“Here you are, Admiral.”

Aiden briefly scanned the documents Logan handed him. They were the highly detailed Q4 operational reports for every single officer nominated for command.

As expected of my Logan. Offering a small smile of praise for his adjutant’s impeccable efficiency, Aiden set the detailed reports aside and stood from his chair. Simultaneously, the study doors opened, and a group of maids entered carrying his immaculate naval uniform.

“Ensure everything is prepared so we can commence the meeting immediately,” Aiden ordered.

“Yes, Admiral.”

Several minutes after Aiden stepped into the adjoining dressing room, the high-ranking naval executives filed into the suite. Returning Logan’s crisp salute, they engaged in hushed, casual chatter—the vast majority of which revolved entirely around Aiden’s impending forced marriage.

Our Admiral is going to throw an absolute fit if he hears that. Just as Logan was exhaling a deeply troubled sigh, Aiden emerged, fully dressed in his pristine, authoritative uniform.

“Greetings, Admiral Rosley.”

The executives instantly snapped to attention, cutting their gossip short to deliver perfectly synchronized salutes. Aiden casually returned the gesture before taking his seat at the head of the long table, waiting for the proceedings to begin.

Before diving into the core agenda, several pairs of eyes darted toward Logan, practically screaming that they had a mountain of burning questions to ask. However, blatantly ignoring their probing gazes, Logan swiftly announced the start of the meeting.

Tsk. 

A brief, muffled click of a tongue echoed softly in the room, but Logan remained entirely unfazed, continuing his concise briefing on the day’s primary objective. Once the explanation concluded, the executives began distributing the materials they had meticulously prepared.

“Here are the dossiers, Admiral.”

“Thank you.”

Exactly as Logan had reported, there were four distinct candidates for operational command. As Aiden methodically flipped through the provided materials, a strange, suffocating tension began to pool within the study.

“Admiral, may I begin?”

“Ah, of course. Please proceed.”

Brigadier General David was the first to take the floor. “I firmly believe Captain Liliana Forest is the most qualified officer for this operation. If you review this data…”

Unlike the other executives who occasionally interjected or added supportive commentary regarding the candidates, Aiden simply sat with his arms tightly crossed, offering nothing but slow, measured nods. He resembled a detached, silent observer far more than the ultimate decision-maker. Yet, his gaze remained terrifyingly sharp and calculating.

Because of that piercing scrutiny, the atmosphere in the room grew so overwhelmingly heavy that the executives practically forgot how to breathe. Even so, they fought through the crushing pressure and concluded their respective presentations, leaving a heavy silence hanging in the air.

While everyone held their breath, waiting for Aiden’s final verdict, Vice Admiral Karen cautiously broke the silence.

“Admiral. While the other captains are undeniably exceptional, I personally believe that no one currently surpasses Captain Raymond Harrison.”

“No one surpasses Raymond, you say…” Aiden, who had maintained absolute silence throughout the entire meeting, finally spoke, his words slow and deliberate. “And why exactly do you believe that?”

It was a question that completely stole the breath from her lungs. The undeniable truth was that Raymond was objectively the most brilliant and decorated officer among the nominees—a fact that was virtually impossible to refute.

He was the runner-up of the Naval Academy, boasted an operational success rate nearing eighty percent, and had seized the rank of Captain at an astonishingly young age. The glittering titles attached to his name were nearly as extravagant as Aiden’s own.

And as his Academy classmate and comrade-in-arms, the Admiral should know those facts better than anyone here. 

That exact question echoed through the minds of Vice Admiral Karen and every single executive seated at the table. Concealing her inner bewilderment, Karen furiously racked her brain to provide a satisfactory answer to her superior’s inquiry.

“Captain Harrison boasts extraordinary management capabilities. The consistently high level of satisfaction maintained by the fleet under his command serves as undeniable proof. Furthermore, his operational performance is exemplary, which is clearly reflected in the Q4 audit report.”

“Is that right.”

When Aiden merely agreed without attaching any further interrogation, Vice Admiral Karen exhaled a quiet, shuddering sigh of relief.

“I believe this is a suitable place to conclude today’s meeting,” Aiden announced smoothly. “I will inform you of the final decision at a later date.”

“Yes, Admiral.”

“I shall see you all next time.”

The executives had an endless barrage of questions they desperately wanted to ask regarding the forced marriage, but facing the clear, indisputable dismissal, they clamped their mouths shut and swiftly exited the room.

“We will take our leave, Admiral.”

The moment the heavy oak doors clicked shut behind the final executive, a harsh, exhaustion-laced breath tore through Aiden’s gritted teeth. Rising from his chair, he strode over to the desk where Logan was silently waiting.

“Logan.”

“Yes, Admiral.”

“Out of those four, who do you personally want to take operational command?”

“What kind of answer are you looking for, sir?”

“Well, the Vice Admiral already provided the objective answer,” Aiden mused, his gaze drifting toward the towering stacks of paperwork on his desk. “How about a subjective one?”

Flashing a wickedly mischievous grin, he snatched up the audit report resting on the polished wood. Hmm, a low, thoughtful hum vibrated in his throat.

“Subjectively speaking, I also believe Captain Harrison assuming operational command is the optimal choice,” Logan replied smoothly.

“Is that so?”

Aiden’s slow, drawling voice was entirely flat and devoid of emotion. He picked up the detailed operational report that had been laid out for him.

“I suppose that’s true. Raymond has been an exceptionally brilliant talent ever since our Academy days.” His elegant, slender fingertips lightly traced over Raymond’s name printed on the crisp parchment. “Befitting a scion of the Harrison family—a prestigious naval lineage—he’s an impeccable marksman, a brilliant tactician, and possesses outstanding crisis management skills.”

As he continued his lethally calm praise, Aiden flipped the cover open. Logan listened intently to every single word, closely observing his superior’s every micro-expression. In stark contrast to his gentle, lilting tone, Aiden was brutally and rapidly tearing through the pages of the report, one after another.

“Even his detailed operational reports are flawlessly perfect.”

Aiden gently closed his eyes, tilting his head back to stare blindly at the ceiling. Haa. A deep, heavy sigh slipped past his lips.

“Logan.”

“Yes, Admiral.”

“Prepare an anonymous report regarding Raymond Harrison.”

Though entirely blindsided by the utterly unpredictable command, Logan didn’t ask a single question. He simply bowed his head. While his superior often displayed a playful, maddeningly dramatic side, as an Admiral, he possessed an intellect and strategic brilliance that absolutely no one could surpass.

“I will have it prepared immediately, sir.”

“Good. And make sure it’s done quietly, without causing a scene.”

***

If the concept of pure, unadulterated exhaustion were to physically manifest as a human being, it would undoubtedly look exactly like Aiden Rosley right now.

By the third week of his confinement, his normally vibrant cheeks had grown deathly pale, and his crimson eyes had lost all focus. Exhaustion clung heavily to his features, and the hand gripping his pen trembled faintly with every stroke. Yet, the fact that his breathtaking looks hadn’t diminished in the slightest despite his haggard state was a little—no, incredibly—infuriating.

Quietly observing this pathetic display, Logan clicked his tongue internally. Meanwhile, Aiden, who had practically fused with his oak desk to process the paperwork, finally squirmed and pushed himself upright.

“Logan. How is the air outside? Is it refreshing? Is it warm?”

“You would know perfectly well if you simply opened the balcony doors, Admiral.”

“I refuse. If I open those doors, that vicious old geezer will be standing right down there, glaring up at me.”

“Well, then.” Logan gestured toward the final document resting on the polished wood.

The once-mountainous stacks of paperwork had miraculously dwindled down to a single sheet. It was the hard-earned result of Aiden working like a madman without even a spare second to formulate an escape plan.

“If you sign this final document, I will personally assist you with your escape,” Logan offered smoothly.

“Really?!” Aiden’s dull eyes instantly sparkled back to life as he snatched up the final paper. It was a training authorization form. “A training permit. Right, of course I have to authorize training.”

Humming a cheerful tune, he scribbled his signature in a flash and shoved the paper into Logan’s hands.

“Thank you for your hard work, Admiral.”

“Yeah, yeah. Now, how are we going to escape—”

“Unfortunately, I still have a mountain of tasks left to handle, so I must take my leave.” Slicing cleanly through Aiden’s excited rambling, Logan casually gathered the freshly signed documents and strode out of the room.

Thud! The heavy door slammed shut with a sound that felt significantly weightier than usual.

Utterly paralyzed by the sheer audacity of the betrayal, Aiden could only stare blankly at the closed door.

“Traitor.”

Violently ruffling his bangs into a messy bird’s nest, Aiden collapsed onto the plush bed. The moment his exhausted body sank into the soft mattress, his already impossibly heavy eyelids fluttered shut.

Soon, a deep silence claimed the room.