Gallop, gallop.

“The Baron didn’t seem to know either…”

At Yelodia’s signal, Tully’s pace quickened, and the mansion’s scenery began to blur past more rapidly.

Whenever she felt overwhelmed by complicated matters, Yelodia had a habit—one she had started around the age of fourteen—of riding her horse at full speed without any particular destination.

Riding freely like that always seemed to clear the tightness in her chest, making her feel at ease.

Suddenly, the area near the back gate grew noisy. It was because Yelodia hadn’t slowed her horse.

“My lady, are you planning to leave the estate just like that?”

“Yes. Please open the back gate for me!”

As soon as she made her request, a servant rushed to the iron gate.

“Please wait just a moment.”

The servant hurriedly pulled the gate open.

After making a leisurely circle around a small pond, Yelodia lowered her upper body and swiftly passed through the back gate.

“Hyah!”

The well-paved roads of Freia were perfect for horseback riding.

Encouraging Tully forward, Yelodia sped down the streets without hesitation.

She had no idea how far she had gone until suddenly, a vast, blue sea stretched out before her eyes.

“Wow, Tully, we’ve come too far.”

As if only now understanding her words, Tully slowed his steps.

She had been heading toward an isolated place and had ended up at Rommel Harbor.

The cool breeze from the port soothed Yelodia’s flushed forehead.

“Should we head back now?”

Sensing her command, Tully instinctively turned around.

Before long, the horse was trotting lightly along the broad, quiet road.

“Wait a moment, Tully.”

That was when Yelodia spotted the massive building of the naval headquarters.

“Shall we go over there?”

As if drawn by an invisible force, she guided Tully toward the structure.

At the main entrance of the headquarters, two navy soldiers were inspecting visitors.

Yelodia dismounted slowly, taking hold of the reins. Sensing her intent, Tully followed at a slow pace.

As she approached, a soldier stepped forward to address her.

“What brings you here?”

“Edward—um, may I see Baron Adrian?”

“Baron Adrian, you say…?”

The navy soldier exchanged glances with his companion and then, as if startled, looked back at Yelodia.

Was it just her imagination, or had his movements suddenly become much sharper?

“Do you have an appointment with His Lordship?”

“Hmm, is it difficult to meet him without one?”

Yelodia asked with a hint of resignation. The soldier, though looking troubled, answered firmly.

“If you don’t have a prior engagement, I’m afraid it will be difficult to meet His Lordship.”

Yelodia lowered her head slightly, disappointed.

She hated to return to the mansion just like this, but she also didn’t want to trouble the soldiers.

“Lady Xavier?”

It was at that moment that Livia, hurrying through the main hall’s corridor, turned around with her mouth agape.

She looked as if she had just seen a ghost in broad daylight.

“What brings you all the way here?”

“Oh, hello, Officer.”

Yelodia greeted her cheerfully.

“You visited the mansion last time, didn’t you? Ah, your name was…”

“You can call me Major Livia! P-please, come this way! I’ll escort you to the Baron!”

Without any regard for the soldiers’ stares, Livia rushed over to Yelodia.

The soldiers, visibly intimidated, stiffened and saluted.

Livia glared at them before speaking.

“This lady is a very important guest of the Vice Admiral. You haven’t been disrespectful, have you?”

“Disrespectful? Absolutely not!”

“That’s right. They were just asking about the purpose of my visit.”

Yelodia quickly defended the soldiers.

Livia glanced at her, momentarily speechless, before scanning her outfit.

“……”

With a shirt, vest, fitted trousers, and boots, Yelodia looked as if she had just walked out of an equestrian competition.

‘As expected… She prefers practical clothing over dresses.’

It was certainly an unusual preference for a noblewoman, but Livia was in no position to comment on her superior’s fiancée’s fashion choices—nor should she.

Swallowing a sigh, Livia straightened up.

“Jacques, you take care of her horse.”

“Yes, ma’am!”

The soldier named Jacques responded in a booming voice.

Livia, who had been so stern just moments ago, suddenly wore a warm, spring-like smile.

“Shall we? I’ll guide you to the Vice Admiral’s reception room.”

“Thank you so much for your kindness, Officer.”

Yelodia answered with a bright smile.

That gentle, elegant smile sent a wave of warmth up Livia’s neck.

Surrounded all day by gruff men or women who were barely distinguishable from them, Livia found the sight of this delicate noblewoman’s smile almost overwhelming.

She wasn’t even a man, yet she felt flustered.

“It’s only natural. A guest of the Vice Admiral is a guest of mine as well.”

Suppressing a cough, Livia led the way, with Yelodia following closely behind, her eyes twinkling with amusement.

Livia’s curiosity was nearly unbearable.

“I was truly surprised at the engagement ceremony. I never expected to be invited to the Grand Duke’s estate. It’s belated, but it was truly an honor.”

“An honor? I heard that the Baron values you as one of his trusted officers.”

“Such undeserved praise. I was simply lucky enough to get randomly assigned.”

Livia blushed and scrambled to say anything.

Yelodía tilted her head in curiosity.

‘What’s “randomly assigned” supposed to mean? Would I be laughed at if I asked?’

She wasn’t the type to let her curiosity go unanswered.

“Um, Major, what does ‘randomly assigned’ mean?”

Livia’s face grew even hotter.

“Did I say that out loud? Uh, well… When Vice Admiral first needed an adjutant, no one was eager to take the position. So the personnel department ended up selecting one at random from the files. The soldiers called it ‘spinning the wheel’…”

“……”

“As a result, I was fortunate enough to serve under him. Really, it was pure luck. Haha.”

Despite Livia’s awkward laugh, Yelodía couldn’t bring herself to join in.

Hearing that Edward had been disregarded as a junior officer did nothing to lift her spirits.

Suddenly, she recalled something Edward had mentioned in passing.

“Being bullied during mealtime isn’t a big deal. It happened often when I was a lower-ranking officer.”

So it had been true.

Yelodía, whose mood had taken a steep dive, silently continued walking down the corridor of the naval headquarters.

‘I’ve ruined the mood with my thoughtless words. I really need to learn to keep my mouth shut.’

Livia wiped the sweat from her palms, scolding herself internally.

She had just upset the future wife of her superior. There was a good chance she’d get a harsh reprimand from him for this.

As she walked, lost in thought, a nobleman unfamiliar to her caught her attention. Her sharp gaze narrowed.

‘Who is that?’

The man, exuding aristocratic elegance from head to toe, was just entering Edward’s reception room.

At a glance, he looked like the typical highborn who enjoyed throwing his weight around.

“Oh dear, it seems the Vice Admiral already has a visitor.”

It was an extremely inconvenient moment.

Livia hesitated, unsure where to take Yelodía.

‘Would the officers’ lounge work? If there are people there, it might be a problem. Maybe the office would be better…’

As she mulled over her options, she sneaked a glance at Yelodía.

Yelodía was staring at the reception room door, a frown creasing her brow.

“Theodore?”

＊ ＊ ＊

Edward had been a little distracted since morning.

Even as he sat at his desk reviewing documents, his thoughts kept drifting elsewhere.

And every time that happened, the same question resurfaced in his mind.

‘What exactly happened?’

Lately, Yelodía had seemed unusually downcast, and it was bothering him immensely.

Even last night, she had looked up at him with sorrow and confusion brimming in her eyes.

“……”

Her translucent green eyes had shimmered with unshed tears, as if they might spill at any moment.

Edward suddenly felt as though a heavy stone had settled on his chest.

“Sir?”

“……”

“Sir? Is something troubling you?”

“Oh, Beyhern. Come in.”

Beyhern, who had knocked several times, entered and gave a somewhat awkward salute. Edward nodded absentmindedly and asked,

“What is it?”

“A stack of invitations has arrived for you, sir.”

At Beyhern’s words, Edward instinctively looked up—and immediately stiffened.

His adjutant was holding an enormous pile of invitation cards.

“What is all that?”

Beyhern placed the stack on the desk and answered matter-of-factly,

“Just what it looks like—invites. It seems the nobility of high society are quite eager to establish a close acquaintance with you, sir.”

“……”

Edward couldn’t help but let out a quiet sigh.