Chapter 5

“Mmm…”

How much time had passed? His mind felt thick and foggy. Aiden lifted his hand to rub at his heavy eyes, but his arm refused to move. Instead, the chilling, metallic clack-clack of grinding chains echoed in the darkness.

“…What the hell.”

Desperate to assess his surroundings, Aiden rapidly blinked his eyes. As his vision adjusted, the blurry shapes in the dimly lit room slowly sharpened into terrifying clarity.

“Hmm? Are you awake, Admiral Rosley?”

A soft, profoundly gentle voice drifted through the gloom. Aiden whipped his head toward the sound.

“I was beginning to worry because you slept for so long.”

An impossibly tall figure that forced Aiden to crane his neck. Brilliant blond hair that effortlessly captured the eye even in the suffocating darkness. A sharp, patrician nose.

“I was terrified I might have made a mistake and permanently ruined you.”

It was Clyde, the Grand Duke and his forced marriage partner.

“Y-Your Grace? Why are you here…”

Aiden’s stuttering question died in his throat. His limbs were bound by heavy chains. He was in a completely unfamiliar, desolate space. And Clyde’s words dripped with a sinister, underlying meaning. All the evidence pointed toward one horrifying conclusion.

“Did you… kidnap me, Your Grace?”

“Haha! As expected of the great Admiral. Your situational awareness is exceptionally sharp.” Clyde’s bright, melodic laughter hummed through the air. But the joy was fleeting. In the blink of an eye, the warmth vanished from his features, leaving behind a chilling void. “However, could you please refrain from packaging my actions with such a heartless word like ‘kidnapping’?”

“What are you—”

“I simply brought you here because you kept trying to slip through my fingers.”

Under the dim, flickering light, those cerulean eyes glinted with a terrifying, predatory madness. It was as if the gentle, refreshing demeanor he had shown during their first meeting had been nothing but an elaborate, sickening lie.

“Aiden. A good dog should be wagging its tail to earn its master’s favor. Did you really think trying to run away was a viable option?”

Reaching out, Clyde threaded his long fingers through Aiden’s hair, petting him with agonizing slowness. A violent shudder ripped through Aiden’s spine at the touch of that ice-cold hand.

“Don’t you agree?”

Begging for his life or furiously demanding an explanation would clearly only excite this absolute lunatic further. His mind racing, Aiden intentionally aimed a sarcastic, mocking sneer to provoke him.

“Let me guess. You locked me up because you love me too? Is that the kind of deranged bastard you are?”

“How did you know?”

The hand tangled in Aiden’s hair slowly, deliberately trailed down the bridge of his nose. Eventually, those frigid, entirely lifeless fingers brushed against his lips. Thump, thump. Aiden’s heart hammered frantically against his ribs. Instinctively, he clamped his mouth shut.

“Shh. You need to relax.”

“No—”

The exact moment those long fingers ruthlessly pried his lips apart to invade his mouth—

“Aaaargh!”

Aiden shrieked, his eyes snapping wide open. The dark room and the predatory Grand Duke instantly vanished, replaced by the warm, familiar sunlight of his bedroom.

“Crazy bastard… it was just a dream.”

Covering his face with his hands, Aiden gasped for the breath he hadn’t realized he was holding. His arms moved freely; the heavy iron cuffs had never existed.

To think I’d have such a horrifying nightmare. It had to be a psychological side effect of the grueling paperwork and his three-week confinement.

Just then, a voice broke the silence.

“My goodness, little brother. Is this what a month of confinement does to a person? What a spectacular way to wake up.”

A voice brimming with suppressed laughter drifted into Aiden’s ears. His jaw dropping in shock, Aiden whipped his head toward the sound.

“Did you sleep well?”

Standing near the doorway was a woman with deep brown hair pulled back into a high ponytail, her crimson eyes practically sparkling with amusement. It was Amelia, the second child of the Rosley Marquisate and Aiden’s older sister.

“Noona! I missed you so much!”

As Aiden practically launched himself into her arms for a desperate hug, Amelia giggled and gently patted his messy hair.

“Did you have a nightmare, Aiden?”

“Yes! It was an absolutely terrifying dream, I’m telling you!”

While Aiden shamelessly whined, melting into his sister’s comforting touch, another voice chimed in.

“Oh dear, my poor baby. Lucen locking you up for nearly a month must have given you terrible nightmares.”

A beautiful, aristocratic lady with her light brown hair elegantly pinned up stepped into the room, her voice dripping with maternal warmth. It was Aiden’s mother, Marchioness Celestia.

“Mother is here now, so you can rest easy.”

Wearing a serene, comforting smile, she pulled Aiden into a tight embrace. As her gentle hand rubbed circles on his back, an uncharacteristic wave of sorrow washed over him.

“Mother… why did you come so late? Do you have any idea what Father did to me?”

As Aiden pouted and complained, Marchioness Celestia began soothing him with the practiced ease of someone who had done this a thousand times.

“Whatever did Lucen do to my adorable youngest son other than lock him in his room?”

“I was just standing there minding my own business, and he yelled at me for lacking dignity! And he stood outside all night long monitoring me so I couldn’t escape!”

He had done nothing but work his fingers to the bone for the Empire, yet his reward was imprisonment and forced exile to the frozen North. Fuelled by genuine injustice, Aiden’s voice grew louder and more frantic.

“Mother will make sure to give him a very stern scolding. Was there anything else that upset my baby?”

Hearing her reassuring words, a brilliant thought flashed through Aiden’s mind: If it’s Mother, she might actually be able to cancel this entire Northern marriage! No matter how relentlessly stubborn his father was, he could never win against his wife. Aiden immediately drooped the corners of his eyes, utilizing his most pathetic puppy-dog look.

“You know exactly how much I absolutely despise the North, Mother! Yet Father is trying to force me to go there!”

“Oh dear. I know you must be incredibly upset, but it is an Imperial decree. You simply must go to the North.”

It was a baffling, utterly incomprehensible response from the woman who had been fiercely taking his side just seconds ago. As Aiden stared at her in stunned silence, Marchioness Celestia flashed a bright, cheerful smile and continued.

“Have you not met His Grace the Grand Duke yet?”

“…I met him.”

“He is an incredibly sweet and considerate gentleman, isn’t he?”

I told him I hated the North, and he aggressively insisted we live there anyway! How on earth is that sweet or considerate?! The furious rebuttal clawed at his throat, but it felt as if his vocal cords had been entirely paralyzed. He couldn’t force a single word out.

“Furthermore, heating magic has advanced by leaps and bounds these days. Living in the North truly isn’t so bad anymore.”

But what about the disgusting monsters?! Before Aiden could even voice the desperate question, Celestia preemptively answered it.

“You are a fully grown adult who fought in a war. Surely you can handle a few minor monsters on your own? Besides, unlike in the past, the monster population has drastically decreased since His Grace moved there.”

But being an Admiral who can’t even set sail is—!

“His Grace and the top mages are working tirelessly to lift the curse on the sea as we speak, so you needn’t worry about that, either.”

It was as if Celestia had telepathically read his entire script. She flawlessly dismantled every single excuse he had before he could even vocalize them. Having delivered her flawless counter-argument without granting him a single second to interrupt, she lightly clapped her hands together.

“Ah, and your confinement is officially over, so feel free to go out and enjoy yourself.”

Ultimately, the only words Aiden could force past his lips were a defeated murmur. “…Thank you, Mother.”

“Congratulations on your marriage, Aiden.”

Completely ignoring the devastatingly sad, pleading look Aiden was shooting her, Celestia left the room with a radiant smile. The second the door clicked shut, Aiden slowly turned his head to glare at Amelia, who was still standing nearby.

Knowing exactly what that pitiful, desperate glare meant, Amelia exhaled a heavy sigh. “I can’t help you either. How am I supposed to overturn an Imperial decree? Just give up.”

“Don’t you feel even a tiny bit sorry for me?” Aiden let the corners of his eyes droop even further, looking so profoundly tragic that most people would have instantly handed over their life savings.

Amelia merely shrugged. “Nope. Not even a little bit.”

“Noonaa…” It was a sickly sweet, incredibly drawn-out whine that practically dripped with manufactured cuteness. If any passing naval officer had heard that tone, they would have been utterly horrified, demanding to know, ‘W-Who are you?! What have you done with our terrifying Admiral?!’

“Don’t be like that! Won’t you please help your pretty, adorable baby brother?” Aiden delicately grasped Amelia’s index finger, gazing up at her through his thick lashes.

“…!”

As far as Amelia knew, out of all the people in the world who shamelessly referred to themselves as “pretty and adorable,” absolutely none of them actually were.

But Aiden was the infuriating exception. His perfectly rounded head practically begged to be patted, his large eyes sparkled like crushed jewels, and his impossibly long eyelashes fluttered with devastating precision. He was genuinely prettier and more adorable than the porcelain dolls she used to play with as a child.

To think this kid is a ruthless war hero and the youngest Admiral in naval history. Briefly mourning the absurdity of reality, Amelia clicked her tongue. And she mourned even more for the fact that she was actively falling for this blatantly engineered, sloppy seduction tactic.

“Aiden, the North you remember is from thirteen years ago. Just go up there and judge it for yourself first.”

“Noona.”

“…If you still hate it after giving it a chance, I’ll help you then.”

“Are you serious?!” Those crimson eyes, a shade slightly darker than her own, instantly ignited with brilliant starlight.

Right, who else is going to take care of our stupidly cute youngest brother if not me? Amelia straightened her spine, lifting her chin with aristocratic pride. “Have you ever known me to tell a lie?”

“Noona!” An incredibly excited shout filled the room as Aiden threw his arms open and crushed Amelia in a suffocating bear hug.

He might have looked slender and delicate in clothes, but his body was forged entirely of dense, hardened muscle. The air rushed out of Amelia’s lungs, and she violently swung her fist into his back with everything she had.

“I can’t breathe! Do you think you’re still a tiny kid?!”

Despite the dull thwack of the brutal punch, Aiden just kept beaming like an idiot. This absolute moron is an Admiral. Still struggling to accept that terrifying truth, Amelia sighed deeply. “Go get dressed. We have somewhere to be.”

“Somewhere to be? Where?”

“A party.”

Aiden absolutely despised parties. Dancing and engaging in highly sophisticated, agonizingly subtle political chatter were the exact opposite of his preferences. As Aiden’s brow furrowed in deep displeasure, Amelia quickly added the context.

“It’s a Navy Charity Party hosted by the Harrison County.”

“…Understood. I’ll go.” Aiden swept his messy bangs back with a sigh. He still didn’t want to go, but since it was a charity event dedicated to the Navy, his attendance was practically mandatory. Furthermore, he couldn’t exactly refuse an invitation from the Count, who was his former superior officer.

“Look at our baby brother, all grown up! Agreeing to go right away without throwing a tantrum. Good boy, such a good boy.” Amelia giggled, aggressively ruffling Aiden’s hair.

You just yelled at me for not being a kid anymore, so why are you treating me like a toddler?! A mountain of complaints surged up his throat, but Aiden didn’t dare rebel against his only potential savior.

“Come in,” Amelia commanded toward the hallway.

As if they had been waiting with bated breath, the butler and several maids immediately entered. Throwing an order over her shoulder to ensure the Admiral was styled impeccably, Amelia swept out of the room.

“Young Master. Please bathe first. We have drawn the water for you.”

“Right.”

Stepping into the bathroom, the soothing, delicate scent of lavender immediately filled his lungs. After a blissfully relaxing soak, he returned to the bedroom to find his formal naval dress uniform and its accompanying accessories meticulously laid out.

“Young Master. May we begin?”

“Of course.”

At Aiden’s nod, the maids swiftly approached with the pristine garments. They executed the dressing process with practiced, terrifying efficiency before stepping back.

Aiden inspected his reflection in the grand full-length mirror. A deep navy cloak was draped elegantly over one shoulder, secured firmly with an ornate strap to prevent it from slipping. The dress uniform, heavily embroidered with intricate gold lace, aggressively prioritized extravagant display over combat mobility. However, to ground the look and prevent it from appearing overly gaudy, a heavy, dark leather baldric crossed his chest. Fixed meticulously over his tie was a brilliant brooch bearing the crest of the Rosley Marquisate—a stark, undeniable declaration of his lineage.

“Good work, everyone.”

It had been quite a while since he had worn the full, uncompromised dress uniform. The reflection was slightly unfamiliar, yet deeply satisfying. Aiden carefully smoothed back the half of his bangs that had been styled upward. The imperial medals pinned over his heart and the golden insignia denoting his supreme rank of Admiral glittered brilliantly with his every breath.

“Young Master, the carriage is ready.” The butler’s voice drifted through the door following a polite knock.

Accepting the polished wooden crutches the butler handed him, Aiden slowly navigated his way down to the first floor.

“Hah.”

With every agonizing step down the grand staircase, a fresh wave of colorful curses directed at his father clawed at his throat. He desperately forced them down; he absolutely refused to be late to the party just because he got trapped in another one of Marquis Lucen’s legendary lectures.

As Aiden limped out to the waiting carriage, Butler Thomas immediately pulled the door open. “Young Master Aiden. Please have a safe and pleasant evening.”

Aiden offered a polite nod of acknowledgment and pulled himself inside. Noticing the Admiral was securely seated, the coachman barked a sharp command, and the carriage smoothly rolled away from the Rosley estate.

Aiden leaned his head against the glass, quietly watching the rapidly shifting scenery. The capital, which had looked somewhat bleak and barren just weeks ago, was now bursting with vibrant spring colors. Perhaps because it was his first time outside in nearly a month, the view was so breathtakingly beautiful he couldn’t tear his eyes away.

Should I just make a run for it right now? The impulsive thought flared up, but he instantly crushed it. This was an incredibly important naval party; he couldn’t vanish now. Besides, thanks to that horrifying nightmare involving Clyde’s icy fingers, he didn’t even want to entertain the concept of ‘escaping’ today.

“Come to think of it, since the Harrison County is hosting the party, Raymond will definitely be there.”

Thinking of Raymond naturally dragged his mind back to the unresolved issue of the Repeto Kingdom operational command. Objectively, just as Vice Admiral Karen and Logan had argued, appointing Raymond was the most logical, strategically sound choice. Normally, Aiden would have rubber-stamped the decision without a single second of hesitation.

“But for some reason, I just really don’t want to do that this time.”

A subtle, nagging sense of incongruity he had felt while reading the Q4 audit report was actively dragging at his ankles. According to that report, a sudden combat engagement with pirates had erupted during a merchant escort operation commanded by Raymond. Despite the ambush, there had been absolutely zero casualties or injuries, and minimal resources were expended. Furthermore, the battle was concluded with terrifying speed.

The auditor had practically worshipped the ground Raymond walked on, burying the report in glowing, borderline sycophantic praise. Yet, even Aiden—a man universally hailed as the greatest naval genius in imperial history—had never managed to execute a sudden ambush defense that flawlessly without a single scratch to his fleet.

Aiden had aggressively cross-referenced the audit with the detailed combat logs multiple times, but Raymond’s pirate eradication remained impossibly, unnervingly perfect.

“Well, once the anonymous feedback report arrives, I suppose I’ll find out the truth.”

Whether Raymond had meticulously covered something up, or whether he truly was a magnificent commander who had surpassed even Aiden himself. If it was the latter, it would be a joyous occasion for the Navy. But if it was the former…

“Young Master Aiden, we have arrived.”

The coachman’s announcement sliced through his darkening thoughts. Shaking his head to clear his mind, Aiden called out an acknowledgment and grabbed the crutches resting beneath his seat.

“I’m ready. Open the door.”

The heavy carriage door swung open. Through the widening gap, a blurry figure standing in the courtyard slowly sharpened into focus.

Possessing faded orange hair and murky green eyes, the incredibly familiar middle-aged man was waiting directly in front of the carriage. It was Aiden’s former superior officer and the host of tonight’s gala, Count George Harrison. The moment their eyes met, a warm smile spread across the older man’s face.

“Admiral Rosley. It’s been quite a while. Have you been well?”

“Good evening, Brigadier General—Ah, no, Count George.”

Out of sheer ingrained habit, Aiden had instinctively snapped a salute and used the military title. When he frantically corrected himself, Count George burst into hearty, booming laughter.

“Brigadier General! It has certainly been a long time since I’ve heard that, but it remains a highly pleasant title.”

Still chuckling, Count George extended a sturdy arm to assist Aiden down the carriage steps. Murmuring his thanks, Aiden carefully gripped the proffered arm and lowered himself to the ground. Though the Count had aged, his body felt just as dense and hardened as it had during his active duty days.

“Let us head inside. Everyone is eagerly awaiting your arrival.”

“Then, I’ll just grab my crutches—”

“Leave the crutches to the servants and hold onto my arm.”

Count George locked his arm securely, offering Aiden absolutely zero chance to pull away. Possessing a deeply ingrained military mindset, Aiden simply couldn’t bring himself to blatantly reject a direct order from his former commanding officer.

“Thank you, Briga—Count.”

Wearing a painfully awkward smile, Aiden leaned on the Count and began the slow walk toward the grand ballroom.

“Regardless, Admiral Rosley, I am truly grateful that you chose to attend tonight despite your injured leg.”

“Not at all, Count. It is an event dedicated to the Navy; it is only natural that I attend.”

Aiden’s diplomatic response caused the already beaming Count George’s face to light up even further.

“I’ve felt this since you were nothing but a fresh-faced chick, but finding a naval officer as flawlessly perfect as you is a true rarity. Such unwavering devotion to the Navy, paired with such transcendent skill! It was precisely because you were our Admiral that I could retire with absolute peace of mind.”

It was the kind of high praise that naturally made one’s chest swell with pride. Aiden tightly pressed his lips together to prevent a goofy grin from leaking out, but he couldn’t completely mask the deep satisfaction blooming on his face.

“You praise me far too highly, sir.” Doing his absolute best to scrub the smugness from his tone, Aiden responded with practiced, aristocratic humility. “It isn’t just me. Your son, Captain Raymond Harrison, is also incredibly devoted to the cause. He has been an immense help to me.”

“…Yes. Raymond is certainly an excellent officer. I am quite pleased to hear he has been of use.”

In stark contrast to his incredibly soft, gentle voice, a chilling frost rapidly spread across Count George’s face. However, because the brilliant light spilling from the ballroom cast deep shadows over his features, Aiden completely failed to notice the terrifying shift.

“Ah, we have arrived.”

At the announcement, Aiden shifted his gaze to the grand hall where the gala was in full swing. Befitting a Navy Charity Party, the sprawling room was meticulously decorated with nautical motifs. A spectacularly intricate warship carved entirely from crystal-clear ice drew immediate gasps of admiration, while the massive oil paintings lining the walls vividly depicted the glorious history of the Celton Empire’s Navy. Beside them, banners bearing the Navy’s golden crest fluttered majestically in the ambient breeze, easily stoking the fires of Aiden’s military pride.

“Here you are, Admiral.”

“Thank you.” Aiden nodded to the servant who had seamlessly appeared to hand over his crutches.

“Actually, there is someone specific I would like to introduce you to…” Count George began.

Just then, a burst of conversation sliced through the soft, elegant melody of the orchestra. It was obnoxiously loud. Count George immediately snapped his head toward the source of the disruption.

That worthless bastard, how dare he. Identifying the source of the noise, Count George viciously gritted his teeth, his hands curling into tight fists as he cursed internally.

“Hmm?” Noticing the Count abruptly stop speaking, Aiden followed the older man’s murderous glare.

A small group of extravagantly dressed nobles was gathered near the center of the room. Standing directly amidst them was a man in a pristine naval uniform, dominating the conversation with a bright, engaging smile. Though Aiden could only see his back, the vibrant orange hair and the massive, broad-shouldered physique instantly gave away his identity.

“…Admiral Rosley. It appears the gentleman I was looking for is standing right over there. Shall we head that way?”

Haa. Exhaling a deeply irritated sigh that Aiden couldn’t hear, Count George spoke while keeping his eyes locked onto the naval officer. Despite phrasing it as a polite suggestion, the Count didn’t even wait for an answer before aggressively marching toward the group.

Given absolutely zero time to refuse, Aiden was practically dragged along in his wake. The sharp, rhythmic clack of hard leather shoes striking polished marble echoed steadily closer.

“And that is why I—”

“So this is where you were.”

Count George’s booming voice cleanly decapitated the ongoing conversation. The surrounding nobles instantly swiveled their heads toward the Count. Simultaneously, the naval officer slowly turned around. His deeply tanned, sun-kissed skin was undeniable proof of a life spent relentlessly working beneath the harsh sun.

Clearly furious that his conversation had been so rudely severed, the muscle in his tight jaw twitched violently.

“…Father.”

However, the second Raymond realized exactly who had interrupted him, the flicker of deep displeasure vanished from his face as if it had never existed. It was instantly replaced by an incredibly docile, submissive expression—one that looked entirely out of place on a man with such a massive physique and distinctly sharp features.

“Ah, Raymond! It was you. I couldn’t recognize you since your back was turned. My, it seems you grow larger and broader with every passing day.”

Count George reached out, firmly clapping a hand over Raymond’s shoulder. To an outside observer, it looked like a deeply affectionate, fatherly gesture. In reality, the grip was so crushingly tight it induced blinding pain. Yet, Raymond utilized every ounce of his willpower to desperately drag the corners of his mouth upward.

It was a horrifyingly awkward, intensely uncomfortable smile. However, because Raymond kept his head slightly bowed in submission, even Aiden failed to catch the unnatural expression. Furthermore, the surrounding nobles had immediately glued their eyes to Aiden the second he arrived, leaving them completely oblivious to the silent, violent tension between father and son.

“I hope I didn’t interrupt an important discussion?” Count George asked smoothly.

“N-No, sir. Not at all.”

“Is that right? Well, that’s a relief.”

Count George raked a dry, utterly emotionless gaze over his son before instantly snapping his attention back to Aiden. The moment his eyes landed on the Admiral, they sparkled brighter than the massive crystal chandelier hanging above them.

“Admiral Rosley. This is Count Lucas, the gentleman I mentioned earlier.”

Gesturing toward a nobleman with neatly slicked-back blue hair and a warm, inviting demeanor, Count George made the introductions.

“Count Lucas, allow me to introduce the greatest Naval Admiral in imperial history, Aiden Rosley.”

“It is a profound honor to finally meet you!” Count Lucas exclaimed in awe, eagerly extending a hand. Aiden firmly grasped it, returning a polite handshake.

Watching the interaction with immense satisfaction, Count George slowly shifted his eyes back to his son. Perhaps furious at having the spotlight so ruthlessly stolen from him, Raymond was entirely failing to conceal the deep displeasure staining his face.

It seems he is in desperate need of a proper ‘education’ tonight, Count George noted internally.

“I apologize, gentlemen, but I must briefly step away to discuss a private matter with Raymond.”

“Ah, yes, Count. Please take your time.”

“Make sure you don’t overwhelm our dear Admiral while I’m gone.”

Tossing out a playful, mischievous smile, Count George grabbed Raymond and marched out of the hall. The very second the host vanished from sight, the gazes of Count Lucas and the surrounding nobles turned shockingly blatant. Then, as if they had rigorously rehearsed the script beforehand, they all began parroting the exact same phrase.

“Admiral Rosley, our deepest congratulations on your marriage!”

Those damned old geezers didn’t just force a marriage on me, they forcefully spread the rumors too! Completely at a loss for words, Aiden could only offer a vague, non-committal smile and a stiff nod.

From that point on, the absolute only topic anyone wanted to discuss was his impending marriage to the Grand Duke. Desperate to steer the conversation back toward naval matters—as was appropriate for a Navy Charity Party—Aiden tried multiple times to change the subject, but it was practically impossible.

“Regardless, Admiral Rosley, it is truly a profound shame that we must send you away so soon when you’ve barely had a chance to grace high society.”

I’m not ‘going away’ anywhere; I’m coming right back to the capital. The furious correction burned on his tongue, but Aiden simply maintained his painted-on smile. However, the very next sentence caused that flawless smile to violently crack.

“Though our brilliant Admiral can no longer protect the seas of the Celton Empire, it is an undeniable fact that we have enjoyed lasting peace entirely thanks to you. We shall never, ever forget your loyalty and devotion.”

“We wholeheartedly cheer on your new beginning not as an Admiral, but as the Grand Duke’s Consort!”

What the hell are they talking about?! 

Before Aiden could even demand an explanation, a large group of naval officers aggressively pushed their way to the front and snapped crisp salutes. Heavy, glistening tears pooled in the corners of their eyes. One officer in the back was literally gasping for air as he sobbed openly.

“A-Admiral Rosley, sir! It has been the greatest honor of my life to serve under you!”

“Everything you have taught us… we will engrave it into our hearts forever, sir!”

“Even after you retire, please don’t forget us!”

The nobles.

The Navy.

Every single person in this room seemed convinced that his marriage was completely synonymous with his permanent retirement. Not the Emperor who orchestrated this disaster, not his father, not even the terrifying Grand Duke had ever explicitly told him to resign his commission!

“Wait a minute, everyone, what on earth are you—”

Just as a deeply panicked Aiden opened his mouth to aggressively correct the horrifying misunderstanding—

“Admiral Aiden Rosley, sir.”

A polite, yet entirely emotionless voice sliced through the chaos. It was Raymond.

“If you are amenable, there is a highly sensitive matter I wish to discuss with you privately. Could you spare me a moment of your time?”

This is an incredibly urgent, critical issue. The intense, unblinking eyes staring directly into Aiden’s soul practically screamed the words.

Exhaling a deep, centering breath, Aiden nodded his agreement. He didn’t need to waste his breath correcting these ridiculous, baseless rumors personally; Logan and Jerome, who were undoubtedly lurking somewhere in this party, would ruthlessly exterminate the misinformation for him.

“I apologize, gentlemen, but I must step away for a moment.”

The nobles enthusiastically waved him off, insisting he go right ahead.

“Let us head to the drawing room, sir,” Raymond offered, turning to lead the way.