Chapter 21

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The torrential rain that had relentlessly drenched the Empire for days finally ceased, making way for a brilliant, scorching sun. The humid, heavy wind brushing against their cheeks signaled that the season had officially transitioned into the blistering heat of full summer.

Throughout it all, Aiden had been buried under such an apocalyptic mountain of work that he hadn’t even noticed the changing of the seasons. Fighting his way through each grueling day, the date of his wedding finally arrived.

“Well, I suppose the day is finally here.”

Though his attire and destination were vastly different, it felt exactly like he was deploying for a major military campaign. Well… technically speaking, it is pretty similar. Exhaling a light sigh, Aiden returned to his bedroom. Right at that moment, a soft knock preceded Celestia’s voice.

“Aiden, it’s Mother. May I come in?”

“Ah, yes. Please come in.”

At Aiden’s permission, the door opened, and Celestia stepped into the bedroom.

“Are you nervous, dear?”

Nervous… There was absolutely no reason to suddenly feel nervous now, so Aiden slowly shook his head.

“I am an Admiral, Mother. Wouldn’t it be rather comical if I were nervous over something like this?”

“Oh, my sweet Aiden. What does being an Admiral have to do with getting married?”

Celestia gently pinched her youngest son’s cheek, careful not to use enough force to actually hurt him. A soft groan slipped past his lips, quickly followed by a bright, innocent laugh reminiscent of his childhood.

“Aiden.”

“Yes, Mother.”

“No matter what situation you find yourself in, never forget that you are my absolute first priority.”

It was an incredibly soft, deeply warm voice, yet for some inexplicable reason, it seemed tinged with a profound sadness.

“Come now, Mother. Wasn’t Noona always your first priority, not me? If I were truly your first priority, you would have violently opposed this forced marriage, even if it was His Majesty’s decree!”

Hoping to lighten the mood, Aiden deliberately fired back with a playful, teasing complaint. Perfectly understanding his intent, Celestia giggled.

“My goodness, how on earth did you figure it out? Amelia is first, you are second, and your brothers tie for third.”

“Father would burst into tears if he heard that.”

“Oh, my dear Aiden. Do you truly not realize how utterly beautiful your father looks when he cries?”

“That is something I absolutely never, ever wish to know for the rest of my life.”

At Aiden’s violently firm rejection, Celestia burst into radiant, genuine laughter, and Aiden joined in. Just as the sound of their shared laughter filled the bedroom, Butler Thomas entered and bowed deeply.

“Young Master. The carriage from the Imperial Palace has arrived.”

Waiting at the grand entrance of the Rosley Marquisate was a detachment of the Imperial Guard, escorting a magnificent carriage drawn by four flawless white horses provided directly by the Imperial Palace. Emblazoned heavily with the Imperial crest, the carriage was so excessively gilded that under the blazing sun, it didn’t just sparkle—it practically blinded anyone who looked directly at it.

Upon closer inspection, Aiden noticed that the sides of the carriage featured massive, crystal-clear glass windows, offering a completely unobstructed view of the interior.

“And here I thought carriages exclusively used by Imperial Princes were always designed with heavy curtains for security reasons.”

“Aiden, what is the matter?”

Hearing Aiden’s sudden, highly amused scoff, Marquis Lucen tilted his head in confusion.

“It’s nothing, Father.”

“Are you acting out because you’re nervous?”

“I am absolutely not nervous. Do you honestly believe the people who forced me into this marriage would actually care enough to consider my nerves?”

“Haha! Of course they would! My beloved youngest son is getting married today; as your father, it is my absolute duty to ensure your mood is bright and your health is pristine.”

Perhaps because it was his son’s wedding day, Marquis Lucen actively suppressed his temper, meticulously choosing the most polite, refined words possible despite Aiden’s blatant provocation. It was a clear declaration that he absolutely refused to lose his temper today. However, completely betraying his polite vocabulary, his eyes were already aggressively screaming a barrage of nagging lectures and fury at his son.

“We shall depart first.”

“Yes, Understood.”

“Do not even dream of running away. Come straight to the Imperial Palace.”

“I won’t. If I had any intention of running away, I would have done it ages ago.”

“Hmm… Very well. We shall see you at the Palace, Son.”

Marquis Lucen lightly patted Aiden’s back and climbed into the prepared carriage. Marchioness Celestia and the rest of the family quickly followed suit.

“I’ll see you all shortly.”

Aiden waved at the slowly departing carriage before turning back to the estate. Without him noticing, the entire staff of the Rosley Marquisate had gathered at the entrance.

“Young Master! We will never forget you!”

“Please stay healthy and safe in the North, sir!”

“Young Master! Congratulations on your marriage!”

Um, I’m planning on coming right back, though. Burying his true intentions, Aiden simply smiled and offered his sincere thanks.

“Admiral Rosley. We must depart now.”

At the Captain of the Imperial Guard’s respectful prompt, Thomas stepped forward to perform one final, meticulous inspection of Aiden’s attire. Rather than wearing standard ceremonial wedding garments, Aiden was dressed in his immaculate formal Navy uniform, strictly adhering to Imperial military protocol. The pristine uniform was flawlessly pressed, entirely devoid of a single wrinkle. Today, he had completely swept his bangs back, fully exposing his forehead and sharp eyebrows, which served only to aggressively amplify his already devastatingly handsome features.

Thomas carefully adjusted the alignment of the medals and the Admiral insignia pinned over his heart before pulling his lips into a trembling smile.

“It has been the absolute greatest honor of my life to serve you, Young Master Aiden. Though I cannot accompany you to the North, I shall pray every single day that you find endless happiness there.”

Though it had started relatively steady, his voice violently wavered as he reached the end of his sentence. Ultimately unable to hold it back, heavy tears began cascading down Thomas’s cheeks.

“Sniff. I have served you since the exact day you first arrived in the capital, and now you are already getting married…!”

“Remind me again, who exactly was the person actively conspiring to keep me glued to His Grace the Grand Duke’s side?”

Despite the playful, teasing jab, Thomas continued to weep openly while beaming with overwhelming joy. Prompted once again that they truly needed to leave, Aiden climbed into the carriage, escorted by the heartfelt cheers and farewells of his entire staff.

“Thomas, I leave the estate in your capable hands.”

“Yes, Young Master.”

Just as the carriage door was about to close following his brief farewell—

“Please wait a moment!”

A desperate shout tore through the air as a man, appearing to be an errand boy, practically threw himself at the carriage. Despite the highly irregular, sudden interruption, Aiden signaled the Captain of the Guard to stand down so he could hear the man out.

“What is the matter?”

Under the Captain’s sharp interrogation, the man gasped for breath, barely managing to force the words out.

“Huu… Greetings, Admiral Rosley. My name is Peter. The Guild Master… that is, Lord Julian, sent me.”

“Julian?”

Hearing the familiar name, Aiden stepped back out of the carriage. Peter immediately extended a small, intricately carved box.

“Lord Julian explicitly requested that I deliver this directly into your hands, sir. He also asked me to convey his deepest, most profound apologies for being unable to attend your wedding. Finally, he sends his sincerest congratulations on your marriage.”

Withering under the freezing, lethal glares of the Imperial Guards, Peter rapidly spat out his memorized message and immediately scrambled backward. Offering a brief word of thanks, Aiden took the box and climbed back into the carriage.

Hiyah! 

Accompanying the coachman’s sharp bark, the carriage smoothly departed the Marquisate, steadily increasing its speed. Staring blankly out the window at the rapidly shifting scenery for a moment, Aiden eventually shifted his gaze to the box resting on the seat beside him. He swiftly untied the crimson ribbon, which was the exact same shade as his own eyes.

“Hmm?”

Resting inside the box was a letter and a compass. The compass’s golden exterior was excessively, aggressively adorned with a myriad of dazzling, priceless gemstones. The needle pointing the way was etched with breathtakingly intricate patterns, and a highly detailed, miniature dolphin carving rested perfectly in the center.

In short, it was an incredibly gaudy compass boasting absolutely zero practical utility. Furthermore, because it was forged entirely from solid gold, it was far too heavy to comfortably carry in a pocket.

Who on earth designed this specifically to be used? Clicking his tongue in deep exasperation, Aiden set the gaudy compass aside and picked up the letter. For a letter sent by the notoriously long-winded Julian, it was surprisingly thin. He sliced it open.

To my beloved friend, Aiden.

I am so incredibly sorry I couldn’t attend your wedding. It breaks my heart that I won’t get to see you looking breathtaking in your formal uniform. Anyway! The wedding gift I prepared for you is a compass. Knowing you, Aiden, I’m absolutely certain that the second you looked at this heavy, excessively flashy thing, you thought, ‘Who on earth designed this specifically to be used?’

Hah. A breathless chuckle escaped Aiden’s lips. The bastard’s ability to perfectly read his mind and hit the nail right on the head was uncanny.

However, completely contrary to its appearance, if you ever lose your way while navigating, this compass is the absolute only thing that will point you toward the one, true path. The merchant who sold it to me absolutely swore by it.

Let us meet again soon, Aiden.

From your precious comrade and friend, Julian.

“‘The absolute only thing that will point you toward the one, true path,’ you say…”

Aiden’s long, elegant fingers slowly traced over the sentence, which had been written with noticeably heavier, darker ink. He strongly disliked the rough, grating texture of the parchment. Setting the letter down, he tilted his head back to stare at the carriage ceiling. The impeccably engraved crest of the Celton Empire filled his vision.

When I first entered the Naval Academy, I stood before the flag bearing that exact crest and swore a blood oath to never betray the Empire, pledging my absolute, eternal loyalty. The sudden, nostalgic memory drew a low, genuine laugh from his lips.

Without him noticing, the carriage had already passed through the bustling city streets and was rapidly approaching the Imperial Palace. Neatly folding the letter and tucking it back into the box, Aiden muttered to himself.

“Alright, Julian. I suppose I’ll find out for myself whether this is truly a magical compass that points toward the one, true path, or just an excessively expensive piece of trash.”

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