Yelodia, although a noble herself, didn’t much care for the ways of the aristocracy. She had realized at just ten years old that even those with immense wealth and honor couldn’t avoid humility in the face of death.

She especially found it laughable—and even petty—when nobles looked down on others simply because of their birthright.

‘Most of them wouldn’t last a week without their prestigious name,’ she thought cynically.

Despite these sharp thoughts, Yelodia greeted the woman naturally.

“Hello, My Lady. Lovely afternoon, isn’t it?”

“…Hello. Yes, it is,” the woman replied calmly, her low voice composed and measured. Feeling a peculiar familiarity, Yelodia quickly took a liking to her and spoke again.

“Are you here because a family member is being promoted? Congratulations.”

“Thanks to the care of Zeus and Lonel… And I assume a family member of yours is being promoted as well?”

“Oh, not family yet, but… someone who soon will be invited me to the ceremony.”

A faint blush rose on Yelodia’s cheeks as she answered, the reality of her engagement to Edward sinking in.

They would marry and start a family.

‘We’ll have children too,’ she thought, feeling her heart race a little faster.

While she didn’t know exactly how men and women joined together, she’d seen the way maids and servants exchanged glances and knew enough about the longing they felt for each other. Whenever she became aware of it, she would feel an odd tickle at the bottom of her feet.

Just then, the woman asked Yelodia, “Would it be improper of me to ask your name, miss?”

“Oh, I’m…”

At that moment, a servant placed a glass of iced lemonade before Yelodia. The tall glass was beaded with droplets, looking refreshingly cool.

Yelodia blinked, then looked up at the servant.

“You may serve the lady first; I can wait.”

“If you wait a moment, I’ll bring hers as well,” the servant answered, slightly flustered.

“Then why not bring both from the start? Why did you bring only mine?”

At Yelodia’s sharp remark, the servant fell silent, his lips pressed tightly together. The woman’s humble attire had apparently made her invisible to him from the beginning.

Lowering her gaze, Yelodia looked down at the table before fixing her eyes firmly on the servant, her deep green eyes reflecting a cool dignity.

“I won’t be angry. Go ahead and explain yourself.”

“Well… I…” Unable to hold up under her gaze, the servant took the lemonade in front of her and set it before the woman, his hands faintly trembling.

“I-I’ll bring another right away.”

“Fine. I’ll wait.”

The servant hurried off, practically fleeing. The woman exhaled a small, ambiguous sigh.

“You’ve stirred up some trouble. People are giving us strange looks now.”

At her words, Yelodia looked down, her expression crestfallen.

“Forgive me for causing a scene. Did it bother you?”

“Not particularly… I just didn’t want to cause trouble for a young noble lady.”

“Well, I don’t mind. After all, there aren’t many people in the Empire who could harm me. But you must be thirsty, so please, drink up.”

The woman, after a long look at Yelodia, raised the glass of lemonade and took a sip.

A faint exclamation escaped her lips, suggesting that the cool, tangy taste delighted her.

“I thought you’d like it. I heard that now that trade has resumed with the Kingdom of Pharrell, we’re getting plenty of quality lemons.”

“Is that so?” the woman replied, taking another sip. Half the lemonade had already disappeared, and Yelodia watched her warmly, smiling.

The woman reminded her more and more of someone, though she couldn’t quite place who.

Just as Yelodia was about to speak again, a loud horn sounded.

“It seems they’re about to start,” the woman noted.

Indeed, the brass band, led by a horn player, marched onto the parade ground, followed by officers in crisp white summer uniforms, stepping in unison. Then came the regular soldiers.

“Wow! How impressive!”

As the parade ground filled with officers and soldiers, everyone around gasped in admiration.

“Attention!”

“Present arms!”

At that command, the soldiers in white caps raised their swords, creating a path toward the platform. It was an awe-inspiring sight.

Down that path strode the Emperor himself, dressed in a splendid uniform of red and gold.

“Long live His Majesty, the Emperor!”

“Long live the Emperor!”

Officers and soldiers looked up at the platform with intense devotion, stomping their feet in unison. The sound echoed powerfully, as if shaking the ground.

“Positions!”

“Stand!”

At that moment, with a sharp clap, the soldiers froze in place. Applause erupted from the audience, with some excited spectators even standing and whistling.

“Amazing, isn’t it?” The woman’s voice was full of admiration, and Yelodia, unable to hide her excitement, flushed with enthusiasm.

Then her gaze fell on a man at the front of the officers’ ranks.

“Wow…”

The man standing before the soldiers was dressed in a pristine white uniform, with a longsword at his side and medals filling the left side of his chest.

It was Edward.

“So, that’s Baron Adrian, the one being appointed as the Vice Admiral.”

“The one engaged to the Duchess Xavier’s daughter?”

“I can’t see his face clearly from here, but he seems quite different from what I’d heard.”

Yelodia pretended not to notice the glances directed her way as she gazed at Edward.

It was the first time she’d seen him in his white uniform, and even from a distance, he looked exceptionally handsome and striking.

When the soldiers finished assembling, Edward turned to face the Emperor.

At that moment, the Emperor raised his voice as he addressed the soldiers.

“Behold, this brave knight of mine has defended the Empire and my own life! I appoint Edward Kierie Adrian as Vice Admiral of the Feorn Navy. May he receive the blessings of Saint Zeus and Saint Lonel until his last breath—and beyond.”

The Emperor extended a gleaming ceremonial sword to Edward.

Edward knelt as he accepted the sword with both hands, and thunderous cheers erupted.

“Long live His Majesty the Emperor!”

“Long live Vice Admiral Adrian!”

“Long live the Empire of Feorn!”

With her heart swelling, Yelodia gazed at the Emperor and Edward, captivated by the solemn, almost mythical scene.

The Emperor went on to award medals to those who had distinguished themselves in the recent naval battle, starting with Edward. His aides, Beyhern and Livia, were among the recipients as well.

The stiff and formal salutes of the officers to the Emperor earned both admiration and laughter from the spectators, most of whom beamed with pride.

After the ceremony, the soldiers marched in formation, saluting the Emperor as they passed. Their movements were precise, as if they had trained tirelessly just for this day.

The Emperor, seated with a view of the parade ground, looked on with satisfaction.

As the march ended, the soldiers were dismissed for some free time.

By then, dusk had begun to settle, and the sea in the distance was tinged with a reddish sunset.

‘Why hasn’t Brother Hester come back yet?’ she wondered.

True to his nature, Hester likely hadn’t noticed the time, caught up in some intense discussion about the latest academic paper.

Growing increasingly uneasy, Yelodia looked around.

Most soldiers had dispersed for their evening meals, and most of the nobles had stood up, eager to move to a better spot for watching the fireworks.

Then, the woman who had been seated next to Yelodia suddenly asked, “Is something troubling you?”

“My youngest brother hasn’t returned yet. It’s getting darker, and I can’t wait here indefinitely.”

Yelodia glanced over to where Edward was standing as she answered.

As if sensing her gaze, Edward, who was issuing orders to his aides, looked back toward the audience.

“…!”

Startled, Yelodia held her breath. He was coming directly toward her.

As Edward drew nearer, people’s stares became even more obvious.

Even from afar, Edward had stood out with his striking appearance, but up close, he had an air both sharp and cool. His high, prominent nose and large, vivid eyes with faint double eyelids gave him an exotic look.

“That’s… him…” someone murmured, swallowing nervously.

‘What should I say? Congratulations… Yes, I should congratulate him first, right?’

Yelodia’s mind was a whirl of thoughts as she struggled to think of the right words for her fiancé. An odd mix of nervousness and excitement made her knees feel weak.

When Edward finally smiled at her from close range, she found herself speechless.

“So, here you are,” he said.

“Aren’t you busy? Not working?” she asked.

“I’ve finished all the most important tasks.”

Yelodia blinked in surprise. She hadn’t expected the woman who’d been sitting beside her to converse so familiarly with Edward.

With the same calm voice she’d used all evening, the woman complimented Edward.

“You looked splendid.”

“Thank you. It’s thanks to the soldiers’ hard training,” he replied with a gentle smile before turning to Yelodia.

“I didn’t expect to see the two of you seated together. Did you enjoy the ceremony?”

“Yes, it was really impressive. But…” Yelodia glanced at the woman, her eyes filled with curiosity. Edward let out a small chuckle and explained.

“It seems I haven’t introduced you yet. This is my aunt.”

“…Pardon?”

The woman stood and introduced herself with a graceful bow.

“I am Selina. Pleased to meet you.”

Yelodia stared at Edward and his aunt in surprise, switching her gaze back and forth.

It had never occurred to her that the woman was Edward’s aunt.