A ball was being held at the detached palace to celebrate and commend the success of the large-scale pirate subjugation operation.

Kian entered the hall late. His conversation with the Emperor had gone longer than expected, leaving him fatigued.

He would have skipped such a bothersome social event if he weren’t today’s guest of honor.

“Congratulations, Commander Larson. Please sit here.”

Admiral Kensington, the naval commander, tilted his glass and gestured for Kian to take the seat beside him.

The admiral sat alone at the table, clearly waiting for a private conversation.

“Now, I’d like to pour a drink for today’s hero.”

“Thank you.”

He picked up the champagne bottle and filled Kian’s glass to the brim. His generous pour suggested he was already somewhat tipsy.

“Since you’re here at this honorable occasion, I’d like to hear your thoughts.”

“I simply did my best to fulfill my duty. I don’t think I did anything worthy of such praise.”

“Isn’t that excessive modesty? Have you been well since returning to shore?”

“Yes. I’ve been resting well, thanks to you. Have you been well yourself, Admiral?”

Something weighed on his mind. His stalling suggested a difficult topic ahead.

“I hear we’ll have a lot of rain this summer. I’m fine with it, but I’m worried about you, Commander.”

“What do you mean?”

A slight crack appeared in Kian’s otherwise composed expression.

“We received some intelligence. It’s about your personal circumstances. I don’t need to explain in detail – you probably know better than I do what I’m talking about.”

He could guess the content of the intelligence without checking. It must point to very personal matters that occasionally occurred during heavy rainfall.

“I understand your concerns, Admiral, but my personal circumstances have never interfered with my duties. That was true since my military academy days, and it will remain so.”

“I know. Someone as meticulous as you wouldn’t let that happen. Still, isn’t your position too important to ignore potential situations?”

“…”

“Everyone knows how the Larson family has devoted themselves to the Empire’s seas for generations. It’s an honorable legacy. However, I know that achieving military glory isn’t your goal. If you’re going to retire anyway, wouldn’t it be most fitting to do so at such a glorious moment?”

He knew this merely notified him of an already made decision, despite his minimal defense.

Therefore, further conversation would be meaningless. Kian silently placed his glass on the table.

“His Majesty doesn’t know yet. Well, it’s better that he doesn’t.”

Admiral Kensington added dryly.

The source of the intelligence was crystal clear. Those who most wanted him to retire must have orchestrated this.

Of course, retirement and marriage had no direct correlation. They must know well that it served as a convenient excuse perfect for drawing out the marriage. They probably just wanted to demonstrate their influence by cleverly manipulating this situation.

However, it had already exceeded the level he had tolerated to simply watch quietly like before.

* * *

The nobles began pairing up and moving to the center of the hall while the band prepared to play.

It was the first dance of this ball. Kian spotted his fiancée, Penelope Steward, mingling with noble ladies near the liqueur bar.

“Good evening.”

Kian greeted them lightly. The noble ladies with Penelope exchanged surprised glances at his unexpected appearance.

“It’s an honor to share this occasion with you. Congratulations, Your Grace.”

“My goodness. This is our first time seeing you in uniform. It suits you perfectly.”

“How enviable, Lady Steward, to have such a gallant fiancé.”

Though somewhat startled by his sudden appearance, they all offered their courteous greetings to today’s guest of honor.

Kian answered merely by slightly raising the corner of his mouth, then got to the point.

“May I borrow my fiancée?”

Penelope Steward’s composed eyes widened slightly at his words.

“Would you allow me?”

His words brightened the noble ladies’ faces with their romantic tone.

“By all means. We must have been thoughtless in our excitement.”

“Indeed, we must be getting old. We apologize.”

“Please go ahead, Lady Steward.”

Regardless of their fussing, Kian extended his hand to Penelope with emotionless eyes.

“Shall we?”

It was an invitation to dance. Penelope accepted with a somewhat dazed expression.

* * *

The dance music began to play, drawing all eyes to the couple.

The carefree Duke of Larson who had no interest in succession and the unwanted daughter of Steward who was well past marriageable age. Though called the most noble union among high nobility, it had already expired as a topic and fallen to mere gossip.

Yet here they were, sharing the first dance at an official event. The socialites’ tongues would surely wag.

Penelope Steward shared in the surprise. Following her fiancé’s escort to the center of the hall, she maintained perfect composure on the surface.

However, Kian noticed her constantly moistening her lower lip, her mouth seemingly dry from the unexpected situation.

“Are you nervous?”

“A little. This is the first time you’ve asked me to dance, so I’m somewhat flustered.”

Kian laughed briefly at her honest confession and executed a skillful turn.

“For someone who’s nervous, you dance the waltz exceptionally well.”

“You as well, Your Grace. I’m surprised by your dancing skills.”

Since he rarely danced, she hadn’t known he was this good. Was it because he was a soldier used to physical activity? Or was it due to his thorough training as the Larson heir?

Kian von Larson surpassed all partners Penelope had ever danced with.

“I think that’s enough for pleasantries. Did you once ask me to call you by name?”

“I did.”

Penelope recalled their tea time at the Larson greenhouse.

Would he actually call her name now? What change of heart had come over him today? Though bewildered, it wasn’t an unpleasant feeling.

Penelope looked straight into his eyes, waiting for him to call her name.

“Penelope Steward.”

His voice was cold. His eyes held no particular emotion. Perhaps that made it even more tense. Penelope swallowed hard.

“The reason I asked you to dance now is because my patience has run out.”

“I don’t understand what you mean.”

“If you don’t understand, there’s no need to. If you can’t break off the engagement, at least do your job properly.”

He narrowed his eyes sharply.

Since he had just been with the admiral, had he already heard about that? Though she had expected a negative reaction, this was the first time Kian had shown such immediate, overt hostility.

“I know surveillance is your specialty. So keep watching carefully from now on. Watch what kind of man the man you’re so desperately waiting for is.”

Their sharp gazes locked intensely.

“Just as you always do. Every detail. Understand?”

His voice, emphasizing each word, sent chills down her spine.

“…Why are you doing this to me?”

Penelope asked with a pale face, forcefully hiding her trembling fingertips.

“Our engagement was originally arranged by His Majesty’s order.”

“It was.”

“I too gave you a chance out of loyalty to His Majesty. A chance for you to withdraw on your own.”

Meanwhile, Kian maintained his composure without the slightest change in expression, even as he pressed her point by point.

“To be precise, the engagement was with my brother, not me. And there was no set timeline. Isn’t that right?”

“So what?”

“Fine then. Let’s see who withers away first. Probably the one who’s thirsty will go first. It would look better if you initiated the break-up. If I take action, it won’t end with just a simple break-up.”

His sneer made Penelope’s face grow increasingly pale.

“What… what do you mean?”

“Well. I wonder what I mean.”

His words suddenly became shorter.

“Find out. You’re good at that.”

Kian whispered with a smile into Penelope’s frozen ear. To outsiders, he would appear to be a fiancé whispering loving words.

At that moment, the dance ended perfectly on cue. Kian bowed to his fiancée as if nothing had happened, then smoothly disappeared into the crowd.