Chapter 1

“Admiral. We’ve received a report,” his adjutant announced. “Though obscured by the dawn fog, they’ve spotted a vessel presumed to be the Rotterie.”

“Is that so?” Aiden stood up and pulled his rifle from its storage compartment. The intricate silver foil wrapping the rugged chestnut rifle clearly displayed his penchant for extravagance. “Assemble the men.”

Instead of acknowledging the order, his adjutant, Logan, exhaled a long breath. “Admiral. You must apprehend the pirates using the most peaceful methods possible, without inflicting any damage on the warship.”

His Majesty the Emperor’s orders. You haven’t forgotten, have you? Logan didn’t voice the rest, but his piercing brown eyes conveyed the message perfectly.

“Why should I?”

A massive headache assaulted Logan at Aiden’s completely dismissive tone. He pinched the bridge of his nose, feeling as if his lifespan had just been halved. Regardless, his duty was to persuade his superior officer. “What will you do if His Majesty truly forces you into a marriage with His Grace the Grand Duke?”

“What do you think? I’ll run away with everything I’ve got.” Aiden grimaced, as if the mere thought annoyed him. “You think I’d go back to the damned North where the Grand Duke lives? After all the suffering I went through to shake off my old man and get to the capital!”

“Admiral. Even so, calling the Marquis ‘your old man’ is… And didn’t you fail to shake him off? You’re living with him in the capital right now.”

Logan Donovan never let a single word slide. Aiden clicked his tongue, glaring at his adjutant through narrowed eyes at the painfully accurate remark. “An arranged marriage is just an empty threat that will never actually happen, so I don’t care.”

“But Admiral—”

“Think about it, Logan,” Aiden interrupted, waving a hand. “If you were the Emperor, would you want to give an unpopular deadbeat like me to the Grand Duke?”

Calling himself a deadbeat was a severe understatement considering the monumental achievements he had amassed. Ten years ago, when the Tonus Empire invaded and war broke out, Aiden—then a naval academy cadet—was rapidly commissioned and thrown straight into the battlefield. A brilliant strategist and a top-tier combatant befitting his valedictorian status, Aiden contributed massively to the Empire’s victory. It reached the point where everyone believed that any battle he deployed to was a guaranteed win, no matter how disadvantaged they were.

And Aiden turned that blind faith into reality.

He received medals as a war hero and was promoted time and time again, eventually seizing the title of the youngest admiral in the Empire’s history. Granted, there was that one incident where he staged a sit-in protest, demanding to be demoted to captain when they ordered him to stay on land since he was an admiral now.

Does that mean the Admiral is truly unpopular?

Not at all. While Aiden’s features appeared somewhat delicate, he stood just over one hundred eighty centimeters tall and possessed a well-muscled, firm physique typical of a soldier. Despite standing under the blaring sun every day, his snow-white skin and lustrous black hair exuded a frosty aura that betrayed his origins. People often gave him the peculiar compliment of being both beautiful and handsome, likely due to the striking contrast between his thick, long eyelashes, full lips, sharp jawline, and brilliant crimson eyes.

Thanks to those outstanding looks and achievements, marriage proposals and party invitations endlessly poured in for him.

Of course, the Admiral doesn’t care about any of that because he is obsessively in love with nothing but the sea and hunting pirates.

Knowing all these facts better than anyone, Logan desperately wanted to argue. However, sensing that refuting him would only prolong the conversation, Logan simply shook his head.

“See, Logan? You think so too, right?” Aiden burst into hearty laughter, evidently pleased with his adjutant’s silence. He was probably the only person alive who would laugh with joy at being acknowledged as a deadbeat.

What exactly is he planning to do if this forced marriage actually goes through? Suppressing a sigh at the vivid disaster looming in their future, Logan announced he would prepare for departure and slipped out of the office.

***

“The wind is perfect, and the waves are calm. It’s the perfect weather to wipe out some pirate scum.”

Looking up at the sky, Aiden shifted his gaze to a flag fluttering not too far away. A bizarre skull painted on a black background, adorned with a blood-red moon beside it. It was the flag of the Rotterie pirate crew, who had recently been pillaging the routes leading to the Celton Empire.

“Prepare for battle,” Aiden commanded, his low voice rolling across the deck. The naval crew swiftly scrambled to their stations. “Let’s begin.”

“Yes, Admiral!”

The ship altered its course in sync with Aiden’s command. As if waiting for this exact moment, the navy unleashed a barrage of cannon fire upon the pirate vessel. The pirates, who had been completely oblivious in the tranquil waters, finally noticed the warship only when their ship began violently pitching in the waves.

Soon, the counterattack commenced. Ear-splitting roars tore through the air as pirate cannonballs flew toward the naval warship.

“Shoot them out of the sky before they touch the ship!” Aiden shouted over the din. “If we get a single scratch, Logan will throw a fit!”

“Yes, sir! We’ll keep that in mind!”

“And the rest of you, aim to tear their sails to shreds!”

Shouts and thick smoke blanketed the azure sky. Though heavily outnumbered and outgunned, the pirates clearly didn’t know the meaning of surrender. Even as their ship splintered around them, they relentlessly fired their cannons in a desperate counter-assault.

Tsk. 

Clicking his tongue briefly, Aiden loaded the rifle in his hands. “How foolish.”

Even on the violently lurching deck, Aiden maintained his breathing and posture with absolute flawless stability. Bang! The bullet launched from the muzzle traced a smooth, deadly parabola before slamming into the pirate ship. The fierce projectile grazed the pirate captain’s face and embedded itself deep into the mast. At the sight of their captain nearly losing his head, the pirate crew descended into pure chaos.

“We have lunch to eat, so let’s wrap this up quickly without dragging it out.” Aiden chuckled, reloading his rifle once more.

As his impeccably precise shots continued to narrowly miss vital targets, the pirates’ morale noticeably began to break. They finally realized exactly whose masterful marksmanship was toying with them.

“Phew…” Without breaking a single drop of sweat, Aiden slowly steadied his breathing.

The battle ended in an overwhelming, one-sided victory for the navy. Contrary to his mischievous words, Aiden had utilized strictly moderate methods, leaving the warship completely spotless. Just as Logan was breathing a sigh of relief after scanning the aftermath, a panicked voice shattered the peace.

“Admiral! We have a major problem! An allied fleet of pirates is approaching at high speed!”

The frantic crewman’s voice battered his eardrums. Simultaneously, Aiden’s crimson eyes sank into an icy calm.

Ah. We’re screwed. Logan clutched his head, vividly picturing the imminent future.

***

“Except for Admiral Rosley, the rest of the crew sustained only minor injuries. However, the repair costs due to a half-shattered deck, destroyed sails, and various other damages amount to… one, ten, a hundred…”

The Emperor dryly read off the invoice, gazing down at Aiden, whose leg was heavily wrapped in bandages. His look clearly said: If you have an excuse, make it now.

Aiden rolled his eyes. The Minister of Finance was currently groaning, clutching the back of his neck as usual. It was a rather pitiful sight, but Aiden ignored it and spewed his customary, flattery-laced excuses.

“…The Sun of the great Celton Empire and the Master of the Navy, Your Majesty the Emperor. I did not intentionally ram the warship into the pirate vessel.”

“I am well aware of that from reading the report,” the Emperor noted. “Thanks to that maneuver, everyone got off with minor injuries, correct?”

“Yes, exactly. Therefore, if you could show us some leniency and grant us a little extra budget to repair the warship…”

“Haha, of course. I shall arrange a special budget for you.” A warm laugh echoed through the office. Unlike his initial sharp glare, there were no reprimands about why Aiden had disobeyed orders.

Does that mean that ridiculous order is being swept under the rug? Just as the corners of Aiden’s mouth began to slyly creep upward, a low, slightly amused voice settled over the room.

“However, that is entirely separate from the orders I gave you. Did I not explicitly command you to conduct the battle using peaceful methods?”

“Your Majesty! You were actually serious?!”

“Admiral, I do not tell lies. Since you disobeyed my command, you shall marry my son.”

“What the—!”

As soon as the Emperor finished speaking, the door swung open and a middle-aged man with black hair strode in. His mere presence, bolstered by his tall stature and massive physique, radiated an overwhelming pressure. Making eye contact with the man who had effortlessly barged in, a panicked Aiden shouted loudly.

“Old man—I mean, Father!”

Marquis Lucen offered a brief greeting to the Emperor before issuing a swift command to the burly men who had followed him inside. “Grab him.”

“Yes, Master.”

The four burly men instantly restrained Aiden.

“What are you doing?!” Aiden thrashed wildly. “Your beloved youngest son is about to be forced into an arranged marriage!”

He violently struggled as if he would sprint out the door at any second, but thanks to his injury, he couldn’t put up much of a fight. Unwilling to be dragged away this pathetically, Aiden desperately hollered words he didn’t even mean. “Right, an heir! Don’t you need an heir?! Huh?!”

“You have older brothers and a sister above you,” the Marquis replied flatly. “Their offspring are more than enough.”

“I know times have changed, but you expect me to believe a stuffy, narrow-minded traditionalist like you is just going to sit back and watch two men get married?!”

Despite the sarcastic jab, Marquis Lucen slowly nodded without a single change in expression. “Actually, it worked out perfectly. I couldn’t find anyone suitable for a rascal like you, but His Grace the Grand Duke is overflowing with qualifications.”

“I—I! I like women. I like women, I tell you!”

“Tsk. Do you think I’ve forgotten that your first love was some nameless boy you met in the capital?”

Unable to refute that, Aiden desperately latched onto his prospective partner instead. “His Grace! His Grace the Grand Duke might like women!”

“I have nieces who are women, so why would I specifically pair my son with you?” The answer came from the Emperor. Crossing his long legs, he offered Aiden a radiant smile. It was a smile so benevolent it induced a migraine.

“The elders of the Imperial Family! They’ll definitely oppose a marriage between men!”

“That won’t happen. They are all very open-minded.”

“The other nobles—!”

“Who would dare defy a joint decision made by the Imperial Family and the Marquisate of Rosley?” the Emperor countered smoothly.

Aiden couldn’t argue any further and dropped his head in defeat. Even if he kept fighting, these stubborn old men would undoubtedly ignore his opinions and force the marriage through. The fact that they had tied his limbs to prevent his escape proved it.

Wait. Suddenly, a brilliant idea flashed through Aiden’s mind. I’ll just pretend to obediently follow their orders, go to the North, and then use pirate hunting as an excuse to escape, right? It was a pretty decent plan, and a crooked smirk tugged at Aiden’s lips.

“Then I shall send someone to the Marquisate to adjust the wedding schedule and details,” the Emperor declared.

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Haha! Don’t worry, I will ensure the wedding is an incredibly grand affair.”

Completely oblivious to Aiden’s secret escape plan, the two older men shared a hearty laugh.

“Let’s go.”

At Marquis Lucen’s command, the four men hoisted Aiden over their shoulders and carried him out of the audience chamber. Aiden remained perfectly docile and compliant until he was shoved into a carriage. Pleased by his youngest son’s seemingly resigned behavior, Marquis Lucen offered a warm smile and patted his back.

“Don’t worry, Son. His Grace the Grand Duke is incredibly handsome. His personality is famously gentle, and his reputation as the finest prospective husband among the Northern nobles is absolute.”

“I’m being forced into a marriage. What does any of that matter?” Aiden grumbled in a sullen voice, hiding his true intentions. Well, I’m going to run away from the North the exact second the warship repairs are finished anyway, so it matters even less.

“It matters because from now on, you must stay glued to His Grace’s side every single day.”

“Father. I am an Admiral. In this day and age, who would be so old-fashioned as to refuse to acknowledge their spouse’s career?” Fury boiled within Aiden at the Marquis’s words, but he suppressed it and spoke as mildly as possible.

“Who said anything about not acknowledging your career?”

“Then why are you saying such suffocating things?”

“You probably don’t know this, but the Northern sea completely froze over recently due to a monster’s curse.”

Thump, thump. Aiden’s normally steady heartbeat began to accelerate. “…Which means.”

“Which means you won’t have a single bit of work to do until the curse is lifted.”

“Aaaaargh!” Aiden’s shriek violently shook the carriage. “That’s not fair! How does that make any sense?!”

A frozen sea meant no ships could set sail. In other words, his ambitious, grand escape plan from the North was entirely ruined.

“Lift the curse yourself, then,” his father suggested.

“I’m not even a mage! How am I supposed to lift a curse?!” A furious breath hissed through Aiden’s gritted teeth.

Right, shouldn’t I just run away right now? Aiden rolled his eyes, scanning the scenery outside the carriage window. Immediately, a sigh-filled voice drifted into his ear.

“Don’t even think about it.”

“…Think about what?”

“Do you really think a bastard with a broken leg can run very far?”

He really is terrifyingly sharp. Aiden clicked his tongue where Marquis Lucen couldn’t hear him. Is there no other good way out of this?

Aiden Rosley.

The youngest admiral to make a name for himself as the Empire’s greatest strategist, maintaining an unbroken streak of flawless victories. He absolutely refused to experience his very first defeat in a battle with his entire life on the line. After agonizing over it for a long while, a single weakness of Marquis Lucen popped into Aiden’s mind.

This might not be so bad.

He was much older now than he had been back then, so Aiden wasn’t sure if it would work properly, but it was better than giving up completely. Having organized his thoughts, Aiden drooped the corners of his eyes to look as pathetic as possible. Then, he spoke in a thick, tearful voice.

“Father.”

“What is it?”

“Do I really have to be dragged off to the North, leaving behind this warm sunlight and the brilliant sea of the capital?”

Right on cue, warm sunlight cascaded down into Aiden’s crimson eyes. Thanks to the lighting, he looked as pitiful and sorrowful as the tragic protagonist of a melodrama. “Does your beloved youngest son truly have to go to the freezing, dreary North where disgusting monsters roam?”

His sparkling, pleading gaze pierced straight into Marquis Lucen’s face. The Marquis’s cheeks, normally as white as snow, instantly flushed a deep pink. The firm, resolute corners of his mouth began to twitch uncontrollably.

Oh. It still works.

Ever since Aiden was a child, Marquis Lucen had been exceptionally weak against this specific look. Even when Aiden was caught running away to the capital, the Marquis had folded instantly upon seeing this gaze, saying: “Haha, my beloved youngest son can do whatever he wants. Fine, your father will meet with the Admiral and ask him to write a letter of recommendation for the naval academy. No, wait, should I just ask His Majesty the Emperor instead?”

Aiden had thought it only worked back then because he was young and cute, but his father’s physical reaction was exactly the same. However, contrary to the flush on his cheeks, the verbal response he received was completely merciless.

“Of course you have to go. It is an imperial command; we cannot disobey. And what kind of admiral finds monsters ‘disgusting’ anyway?”

After spitting out that sarcastic remark, Marquis Lucen firmly turned his head away. It meant he was absolutely done talking.

Dammit…

Covering his face with both hands, Aiden let out a deep, heavy sigh. Was he really going to be dragged off to the North like this? While Aiden sank deeper into despair, the carriage arrived at the Rosley Marquisate.