Chapter 5.3

The quarterly noble meetings were always dull. Every time Lucas attended, it felt like a waste of time, but unlike Jayden, Lucas had a title, so it was obligatory.

Though called a noble meeting, they didn’t have voting rights. However, as an advisory group, they could influence the King’s decisions, thus impacting politics and administration overall. Yet, Lucas, who was in the military and close to the Crown Prince, didn’t particularly care about the influence of the noble meetings.

So, he let his thoughts drift, passing the time. His indifferent expression and consistently upright posture kept it from showing.

“I think I could love him.”

Not saying she loved him, but thinking she could love him.

What did that mean? What was Wendy’s intention behind those words?

To someone who neither believed in love nor wanted it, defining its meaning was confusing.

But one thing was clear. Being able to love someone else meant being ready to love someone else.

That meant she no longer loved Lucas.

But so what? Lucas had no intention of responding to or accepting Wendy’s feelings, so it was naturally a good thing for Wendy. As long as the person she entrusted herself to was trustworthy.

And Ryan Serandon was certainly such a person. 

But what was this bothersome feeling?

Like a trivial wound that kept drawing his attention, even though it could be ignored.

“I think I could love him.”

Love. Love, she said.

Was Wendy’s love, which she had passionately declared day and night, something that could be erased in just half a year?

But so what? The love she felt like a fever she briefly suffered from in childhood, akin to admiration, naturally fades as one grows up. 

If anything, it was fortunate that it had passed lightly rather than becoming something serious.

Then, was it regret?

That I would no longer see Wendy’s innocent eyes glimmering shyly like summer sunlight?

Not because Wendy changed, but because… no, was it because now she would prioritize another man, not me…

“Whew.”

Lucas pressed his furrowed brow with his pen.

It was really nonsensical. If Wendy meets someone, falls in love, and gets married, it’s natural for that person to be her priority. There’s no reason to feel disappointed.

Thus, these thoughts were even more pointless and a waste of time than the noble meeting. Yet, thanks to these meaningless thoughts, the noble meeting passed quickly.

As other nobles left the meeting room, the Crown Prince, who presided over today’s meeting, called Lucas.

“Duke of Devon. May I see you for a moment?”

In his 30s, the Crown Prince primarily handled politics, national administration, and military affairs in place of the King, who focused on diplomacy. Without bias and with a broad perspective, he actively gathered opinions from the younger generation rather than the elder nobles. And his main discussion partner was Lucas, who was also young and held the title of Duke.

“Is it about the southeastern sea route?”

“Yes. It’s close to your estate, isn’t it?”

“Yes. However, that sea area is practically closed due to pirates.”

“I know. So, even if we go around, we had to use land routes for exchanges with the eastern continent.”

Recently, diplomatic relations with the Moraior United Nations on the eastern continent were opened.

With mutual interests aligned, they planned to increase trade, but the biggest obstacle was the pirate group based on the islands connecting the Moraior United Nations to the Eta Sea. They were notoriously cunning, making it difficult to eradicate them, and their ships were fast, making pursuit and evasion challenging.

“I plan to conduct a pirate eradication operation with the Moraior United Nations. Some agreements are already in place.”

“Is that so?”

“The problem is finding suitable personnel for the operation.”

“We should select someone from the navy.”

“Yes. Besides the military operation, opening the sea route is a major task, so someone with knowledge in various fields is needed. So, I’ve shortlisted candidates and would like your honest opinion.”

The Crown Prince handed Lucas the details of three candidates.

Lucas received the documents indifferently and noticed a familiar name.

“Ryan Serandon is included?”

“Yes. Are you acquainted with him?”

“Yes, quite well.”

Responding casually, Lucas scanned the data of the three candidates. Though it was an important matter, Lucas’s opinion was quickly formed.

“If it were me, I’d recommend Sir Serandon. He’s impeccable as a navy officer, has business acumen, and is knowledgeable in economic concepts.”

“Not giving him high marks just because he’s a friend?”

“Surely not. Do I seem like someone who would do that?”

Lucas chuckled.

When meeting Jayden and Ryan, their conversations weren’t limited to the military. They discussed and debated various issues, including politics, economics, and society, and Ryan’s insights, having experienced a broader world than Lucas or Jayden, were quite intriguing.

“Hmm. I see. But Ryan Serandon is young. Isn’t he lacking experience and maturity compared to the other two candidates?”

“Since exchanges with the Moraior United Nations are new to everyone, someone with flexible thinking might be suitable. Considering the long-term cooperative relationship, isn’t it more beneficial to have a young and talented individual gain experience and maturity?”

“Indeed. I understand. I’ll actively consider your opinion.”

The Crown Prince nodded, holding Ryan’s documents.

After hearing Lucas’s opinion, Ryan Serandon, whom he initially considered lacking due to his age, seemed different. In the long run, when he becomes King, Ryan would be of a suitable age to assist him.

“Hmm.”

The Crown Prince smiled contentedly.

Lucas sipped the tea he couldn’t drink during the noble meeting to soothe his dry throat. It was already cold but tasted quite good.

***

Lucas entered a gentleman’s club in the capital and slowly scanned the inside. In one corner, Ryan was sitting alone. Normally, Ryan would wave his hand energetically as soon as Lucas entered, but today he seemed down.

Lucas approached Ryan. The liquor in the bottle on the table was almost untouched, and the ice in the poured glass had mostly melted, increasing the volume of the drink.

“Why are you sitting here all alone?”

“You’re here?”

Lucas sat down heavily in front of Ryan. He poured himself a drink, adding ice.

“What’s up? You asked to meet so suddenly.”

“I need your advice.”

“Advice? From me? That’s unusual. Is Jayden coming?”

“No. It’s not something to discuss with Jayden.”

“That’s really unusual.”

Lucas lightly clinked his glass with Ryan’s and downed half of it at once.

He had a rough idea. He had already heard that the Crown Prince had summoned Ryan to inform him of a new mission.

“I met with His Highness the Crown Prince a few days ago. I received a new mission.”

“……”

“I received the order directly from His Highness, not the Commander. Aren’t you surprised?”

“I was surprised.”

But Lucas was more surprised by Ryan’s reaction than the unusual chain of command.

The joint operation to eradicate pirates with the Moraior United Nations was an opportunity to showcase Ryan’s military prowess, and opening new sea routes demonstrated his broader capabilities. When the Crown Prince becomes King, it was a golden opportunity to secure a position as a close aide, guaranteeing future success. It was a mission to accept without hesitation, not something to drink over with a gloomy face.

“What’s the problem? It’s an incredible opportunity.”

“How long will it take? Half a year? A year? It could take longer, right?”

“Well. The military operation depends solely on your ability, so it shouldn’t take long. Opening the sea route with the Moraior United Nations would be the challenging part. Since both countries’ interests are intertwined.”

Ryan leaned his head against the back of the single sofa. His unusually dark expression and atmosphere made Lucas ask curiously.

“Why? Sick of long voyages?”

“No, it’s not that. Well, it’s not exciting, but if I hated it, I wouldn’t have joined the navy.”

“Then what is it?”

“What do I say to Wendy?”

Lucas paused while pouring a drink into his empty glass. The golden liquid splashed, causing the ice to clink and fall.

“At this critical turning point in your life, are you really worried about Wendy?”

It was absurd. How could life and a woman be equal concerns?

“Wendy could have been my turning point too.”

Even with his dark expression, Ryan smiled broadly, as if recalling something pleasant. Watching him like that irked Lucas, as if it was grating on his nerves.

Lucas put his glass down on the table with a clink.

“If it’s relationship advice, call someone else.”

“You’re so cold.”

Ryan propped his chin and stared at Lucas.

“You’d obviously choose the mission over a woman, right?”

“Why ask when you know? And didn’t you call me to hear that? Not someone else.”

Ha ha. Ryan let out a weak laugh.

Opening new sea routes was also Ryan’s dream. He chose the navy partly to escape his father’s shadow, but mostly due to his desire to explore uncharted territories.

“If I propose to Wendy……”

“No.”

Before he could finish, Lucas cut him off firmly.