Chapter 62: Brother’s Domain
The quiet workshop echoed with the voice of a mother calling her daughter.
“Delia.”
Delia blinked, startled by how foreign her own name sounded when spoken by her mother. Even though she was close, it felt as if it came from far away.
“Yes, Mother.”
“Let’s go back.”
Hearing her mother’s moist, tender voice, Delia quickly nodded.
“Yes.”
Delia turned to Aaron and hurriedly greeted him.
“Thank you for today, Commander.”
She sent a silent gesture of thanks to Aaron before moving closer to her mother. She clasped her mother’s arm tightly, as if afraid it might slip away.
“Let’s go back quickly, Mother.”
Feeling Delia’s grip through her arm, the Queen slowly turned toward the carriage. She smoothed her daughter’s hand as she walked, and Meredith followed with her head bowed.
Watching the three walk away, Aaron’s face twisted with displeasure.
“Not at all,” he muttered quietly, his voice lingering emptily in the workshop.
With the Queen taking away her warmth and light, the air around him felt even sharper in contrast. Once she left, the space became bitterly cold and dark. If it weren’t for Delia, quietly signaling him with her eyes, he might have abandoned all his gentlemanly composure.
Aaron gritted his teeth, staring at the backs of the three. But the moment the Queen stopped and turned toward him, his eyes instantly lost their harsh edge, replaced with a polite, practiced smile.
“Commander.”
“Yes. How may I help you?”
Aaron quickly readjusted his expression and bowed formally. At the Queen’s movement, Delia and Meredith also turned to face him.
“Should I call you the Regent now?”
“Whatever you prefer.”
“What are your plans for tonight?”
Delia’s eyes widened at the sudden question, and Aaron froze mid-step, staring at the Queen.
“I am thinking of inviting you to the royal dinner this evening, if it suits you, Regent.”
The Queen’s voice, calm and low as always, filled the workshop. Aaron and Delia exchanged surprised glances. A sudden dinner invitation? Could it be that she is finally giving permission? Is our secret meeting over?
Just as delight began to bloom on Aaron and Delia’s faces, the Queen continued.
“If you’re busy, another time will do.”
“No.”
Interrupting her, Aaron smiled and quickly organized his schedule in his mind. No matter what, he would make time. He would make it a leisurely evening.
“I will attend the dinner.”
“Thank you for making time.”
“It is an honor to be invited. I will see you shortly.”
Aaron and the Queen exchanged respectful bows, ending their conversation with perfect etiquette, as always.
Soft candlelight illuminated Aaron and Colin standing in front of a large mirror. Colin busied himself helping the Commander prepare for the Queen’s dinner.
“Commander, as you did in our homeland, please don’t overwhelm the ladies with your words,” Colin urged while adjusting Aaron’s shirt collar.
“I never have. I’ve always spoken politely.”
“But whenever the ladies speak with you, they inevitably end up in tears, don’t they?”
Aaron buttoned his shirt nonchalantly.
“That’s not my fault if they’re delicate.”
“Because you strike with words, Commander.”
“I only ever speak the truth.”
“Too much truth can hurt. You must always tell the ladies how beautiful and graceful they are.”
Aaron ignored Colin’s advice and looked up at the mirror. A few strands of hair still stuck out of place. He chuckled softly and smoothed them down.
No one could survive messing up the hair of Aaron, the empire’s only Duke and Commander-in-Chief, except for one person: her.
Delia. Whenever she touched his hair, she would make tiny, kitten-like sounds of satisfaction. Her hands, stroking and fondling him, were mischievous beyond measure. Did she even realize what kind of beast she held in her arms?
Aaron smiled softly, thinking of Delia, when a small sound reached him: click.
The door opened, creating a ripple in the air that shook the candle flames. The shadows danced along with them.
“Commander.”
A soldier entered and saluted Aaron.
“What is it?”
“The Emperor’s envoy has arrived.”
“My brother? Why suddenly?”
The smile in Aaron’s reflection vanished instantly. His ash-colored eyes, a symbol of the Shteilitz Royal Family, glinted sharply.
He stared at the mirror for a moment before issuing a low command:
“Let them in.”
The Emperor’s envoy entered, draped in a cloak embroidered with the royal Iris symbol, bowing respectfully to the Duke.
“I bring greetings to Duke Bergen.”
Aaron glanced at the envoy lazily.
“What is it?”
His tone betrayed no warmth or respect, only efficiency. The envoy, undisturbed, replied politely.
“The Emperor has sent a letter for you personally, Your Grace.”
Aaron stopped what he was doing, took the letter, and frowned at the familiar yet unwelcome seal. He broke the wax and quickly scanned the contents.
The letter was elegantly penned but contained trivial demands:
“Act responsibly as Duke. The sudden peace treaty and marriage with a princess of a defeated nation have unsettled the nobles. It was difficult to calm them. Without the Emperor’s approval, royal marriages are invalid. Bring the princess, and she will be recognized as Duchess. Return home quickly.”
This was not his concern. For Aaron, who would remain in Eorenti, the Empire’s politics were a story from another world. The princess he adored would be dragged away, despite his promise to let her stay.
“Nonsense,” he muttered. Even if Delia wanted to go, he would refuse. The nobles, drunk on parties, gambling, and indulgence, would corrupt her. He could not bring his precious princess there.
“Unnecessary interference,” he said.
“The Emperor wishes to know when you will return, Your Grace,” the envoy pressed. Aaron frowned. He had no intention of going back. Calmly, he replied:
“Tell him the situation here is still unstable; I will observe further.”
He glanced back at the letter. Though he had once considered the Empire a refuge, now Eorenti was his home. And considering who had sent the letter, it was clearly not a simple order to return.
His gaze paused at one point in the letter.
“You say Estrella’s movements are unusual?”
The envoy, as if expecting the question, replied calmly.
“Yes. There has been abnormal military movement within Estrella.”
Estrella. Another empire to the east, a long-time rival of Shteilitz. Strategically placed along the route to the Eastern Continent, it had long been a thorn in the side of Shteilitz.
“Probably because the southern three nations joined our Empire, making them nervous,” the envoy explained.
“No surprise. How much have they exploited their position between us and the Eastern Continent?” Aaron clicked his tongue and scanned the rest of the letter.
“Now that they cannot, they are frustrated.”
To reach the Eastern Continent by land, Shteilitz must pass through Estrella, which had become wealthy through its control of trade. The southern conquest was planned to bypass this, but now the new trade route reduced their leverage.
“Emperor worries about this, apparently.”
“Ah. Really? My brother?” Aaron murmured. The envoy pressed on enthusiastically.
“Therefore, Your Grace is to go to the eastern border and check Estrella.”
Aaron cut him off.
“Tell him it is his concern. Let him worry and solve it himself.”
