In the dark of night, Livia glanced cautiously down the hallway. The dim moonlight filtering in revealed an empty corridor.

Edward had already returned home, and the duty officers were patrolling elsewhere. This could only mean one thing—it was the perfect opportunity.

As expected, the office door was locked.

Livia carefully pulled a small pin from her pocket, slipped it into the keyhole, and fiddled with it. Click. The office door opened with a soft sound.

Swallowing hard, she stepped inside and silently closed the door behind her.

‘It should be somewhere here.’

Hastily, Livia began searching through the shelves crammed with tactical books.

Ever since she had seen Edward slip a letter into one of those books, she had been dying to know its contents.

“What are you doing?”

“…!”

Livia’s shoulders stiffened, her throat dried up, and her heart pounded erratically.

Slowly, as if her neck were made of rusty metal, she turned to look. Under the desk, Beyhern was lying flat, staring up at her.

She almost let out a scream.

“W-what are you doing there?”

“I could ask you the same. And you’re clearly not up to anything noble.”

Beyhern retorted with a bemused expression and dusted off his trousers as he stood.

Livia eyed him nervously from head to toe. He shrugged nonchalantly and said, “Are you going to keep standing there? Hurry up and find it.”

“Find what?”

“What do you think?”

As Beyhern grinned, Livia, momentarily flustered, soon returned a conspiratorial smile.

The two began rummaging through the tactical books together, looking unmistakably like thieves looting the place.

“For heaven’s sake, what a taste in books. It’s all tactical manuals and military strategy.”

“As I always say, despite his appearance, his preferences are so stifling and old-fashioned. How does he expect to ever have a proper romance?”

“Just find the letter already. We need it if we’re going to give him advice—or meddle.”

“Are you really doing this just to offer advice?”

Livia squinted at him suspiciously, but Beyhern only shrugged.

“Do I seem so devious? Like someone who’d snoop into a superior’s private life for fun?”

“Yes.”

“…Fair point.”

Beyhern didn’t bother denying it. Soon, the pair dove enthusiastically back into their search.

The naval headquarters was teeming with oddballs willing to stay up all night prying into their superior’s romantic affairs, and tonight, Livia and Beyhern were the unofficial representatives of that peculiar crowd.

“Found it…!”

Livia cried out, her voice tinged with elation, as though she had unearthed a treasure. She had discovered a fragrant letter hidden between the thickest of tactical books.

Beyhern impatiently leaned closer. “Hurry up and open it.”

“Hold on. I’ll check it first.”

“Major Livia, remember, there’s a proper order to things.”

“I’m the one who found it, aren’t I?”

“Well, what are you waiting for?”

“Quiet. I’m about to open the Vice Admiral’s letter…”

Both froze as if turned to stone. Livia’s complexion paled, and her breath caught.

“You two seem to be enjoying yourselves snooping through my personal affairs.”

The voice was one they should never have heard in this room.

Livia prayed this was just a bad dream as she turned her head.

Standing by the door to the lounge, arms crossed, Edward stared at them with an unimpressed expression.

“Vice Admiral… This isn’t… uh, how long have you been standing there?”

“Since the beginning. I’ve had a good look at both of you rifling through my private documents. Should I convene a court-martial?”

“Well, actually… we only wanted to offer you some advice…”

Sweating profusely, Beyhern stammered out a desperate excuse.

“Advice for your dull and old-fashioned superior? How thoughtful. I’ll pass.”

“…”

“For two officers with so much free time, I’ll assign a special task. No complaints, I assume?”

Edward smiled faintly, and Beyhern gulped audibly. Livia’s face was already one of resignation.

Beyhern dropped to his knees with a thud and pleaded for mercy. “I was wrong! Please forgive me!”

“I was more at fault, Vice Admiral!” Livia followed suit, not wanting to lose in this peculiar competition of penitence.

Watching his most trusted subordinates groveling, Edward felt a headache coming on.

“Honestly… what do you take me for? A fool who can’t manage his love life without meddling?”

“No, not to that extent…”

Beyhern protested, alarmed, but Edward sighed as though the denial wasn’t needed.

“Each of you will write ten pages of reflection and clean the main building’s bathrooms. Any objections?”

“Thank you for your leniency, Sir!” Livia looked up at him with genuine gratitude.

Reflection papers were no stranger to her since her academy days. Ten pages would be a breeze.

“And for a month, you’ll both attend dawn drills.”

“Gasp…!”

“Vice Admiral…!”

“What? Would you prefer the court-martial instead?”

Edward’s icy glare silenced their protests. Beyhern vigorously shook his head. “N-not at all, Sir. Such a generous punishment… I’m overwhelmed…”

Knowing they were doomed for the next month, Beyhern’s voice faltered. Morning drills were Livia’s nightmare, and her pale face said it all.

The next morning, junior officers laughed openly as Beyhern and Livia, two of the naval headquarters’ most influential figures, ran laps and practiced drills alongside newly commissioned officers.

“Those aides, huh? Instead of doing their jobs, they got caught snooping into the Vice Admirals letters.”

“I heard it was a love letter from his fiancée!”

“Honestly, they’re completely out of their minds. …So, did you read the letter?”

“Major Livia read the opening part, apparently.”

At those words, the officers rushed toward Livia. They, too, were dragged into dawn drills starting the next day.

***

Yelodia reunited with Edward much sooner than she had expected.

How soon? Just five days after visiting the Empress’s Palace and a mere day after receiving his letter.

‘Why did I even bother writing that letter? I didn’t think we’d meet again this quickly…’

She glanced at Edward, sitting across from her, rubbing his tired eyes, and asked, “You seem exhausted. Are you busy with work?”

“That’s part of it… A lot has been going on.”

Edward’s reply was tinged with fatigue.

“I heard the Navy Admiral is away. I imagine you’ve had to take on his duties as well, which can’t be easy.”

“To be honest, it’s not busier than during wartime. But lately, I feel like I’ve been summoned to the palace more often than I go to the naval headquarters.”

Edward’s words carried a sharp undertone, prompting Yelodia to glance away, feigning a cough. Edward’s gaze lingered on her before he spoke again.

“You seem to know something about that.”

“His Majesty tends to find excuses to call people he favors to the palace. He seems to enjoy having them nearby.”

“…I see.”

“Lady Selina seems to have made a good impression on him as well. I thought he’d invite her, too, but it seems she didn’t come today?”

Edward let out a low hum and looked troubled.

In fact, the Emperor had explicitly requested that Edward bring Lady Selina along. But treating it as a mere formality, Lady Selina had politely declined and saw Edward off from their estate.

When Edward conveyed this to Yelodia, she looked slightly disappointed.

“His Majesty will likely feel a bit let down. You see, he actually prefers simple, heartfelt conversations with people he cares about over mingling with the nobility.”

“I hadn’t considered that. Thank you for letting me know.”

“I hope you don’t think of His Majesty as someone so lofty that he’s out of reach. Like us, he has emotions and enjoys keeping pleasant things close. Of course, you can’t treat him too casually…”

“I understand what you mean.”

As they approached the palace, Yelodia finally voiced something she had kept to herself.

“I’ll be cheering for you today. But if I end up rooting for His Majesty next time, I hope you won’t take offense.”

“I won’t.”

“Though, for some reason, I feel like you’ll win.”

Edward couldn’t help but smile faintly at her added comment.

“You’ve never seen me play, though.”

“Well, people do have instincts, don’t they?”

“Yours are… remarkably sharp.”

At his compliment, Yelodia covered her mouth with her hands and laughed, her eyes sparkling like polished jewels.

“You really don’t plan on losing, do you?”

“No, I intend to give it my all.”

“Hmm… Honestly, I thought you wouldn’t care for this kind of competitive spirit. Chess is different from war, after all. It’s more trivial, and losing doesn’t tarnish your honor.”

“Then you’ve misunderstood me.”

Edward’s voice was low and resolute, his gaze deepening as he spoke.

For a moment, Yelodia found herself staring at him, speechless, before she turned her eyes to the window. Somehow, her throat felt dry.