“Walter, are you serious?”

“From now on, I’m going to be serious.”

Walter Asner savored the aroma of tea as he lifted his gaze.

Despite his playful expression, his brown eyes were sharp and cold like blades between narrowed lids.

Wigor Asner, the leader of the neutral faction and Duke. Despite his old age, he had persevered thus far in handing over the succession to his grandson Walter.

However, I heard that there were growing numbers within the neutral faction who supported Harrison, Duke Asner’s second son and the Imperial Army Commander.

Was Harrison Asner also coveting the ducal title? Perhaps that’s why he was so flustered by Walter’s declaration that he would receive the title.

Sidney scrutinized Harrison’s inner thoughts with a suspicious gaze. He was bombarding Walter with questions in an almost pressuring manner.

“So, you’re saying you will inherit the Asner family? Suddenly? After showing no interest at all until now, why all of a sudden?”

Stopping mid-sentence, Harrison’s sharp eyes turned towards Sidney.

The overwhelming pressure exuded from his grim expression and bulky physique was tremendous.

“Could it be because of you again this time?”

“Uncle.”

Harrison Asner raised his hand to silence Walter. His eyes were sharp and persistent as if penetrating the essence.

It was genuine concern for his young nephew, and wariness towards the person next to him.

Sidney straightened his back and calmly waited for Harrison to speak.

“I asked Lieutenant Warden. If Walter’s decision has something to do with you again this time.”

Sidney’s fists resting on his knees involuntarily clenched at Harrison’s sarcastic emphasis on the words ‘this time’.

It was true that Walter Asner had joined Crown Prince Edward’s investigation team to help Sidney.

And recently, Walter had convinced Commander Harrison along with Logan to make an emergency arrest of Dean Hamilton, the culprit behind the Conrod serial murder case.

As an uncle, it was understandable for him to suspect that Walter had been swayed by Sidney.

But coming out so blatantly like this made Sidney want to rebel for no reason. Focusing his eyes on Harrison, Sidney spoke clearly.

“Commander, I think you don’t know your nephew very well.”

“Lieutenant Warden.”

Harrison raised his eyebrows and called out in a low warning tone, but Sidney didn’t even blink.

Walter Asner being swayed by someone? As if. With what means could anyone control that unpredictable fellow who acts on his own whims like a loose cannon.

“The one who doesn’t listen to his grandfather and uncle, do you think he would listen to me? That’s how resolute Walter Asner is in his own beliefs, so he will take responsibility for them accordingly.”

“Hmm, responsibility……”

Commander Harrison Asner rested his chin on the armrest and intently observed his lighthearted nephew and Sidney.

His sharp, discerning gaze was reminiscent of a predator selecting its prey.

Perhaps he was trying to guess the true intentions of his nephew who had always seemed immature, or maybe he was calculating how his own position would change as a result.

I hoped it wasn’t the latter. If Harrison was aiming for the ducal title, it would be difficult for Walter to deal with him.

Just as Sidney tensely gulped without realizing it, a hearty laughter was heard beside him.

“Haha, as expected, you’re the only one who believes in me.”

Caught off guard, Sidney found his wrist grabbed by Walter as he stood up, blinking his eyes widely.

Walter winked one eye as if to say it was alright and bid farewell to his uncle.

“Then, we’ll get going now.”

“Walter, sit down. There’s still more to discuss…”

Despite Harrison Asner’s stern shout, Walter grinned and displayed his unique wit.

“You can intimately share the rest with Grandfather. Ah, just tell Grandfather that Uncle persuaded me.”

“Don’t tell me you haven’t even consulted with Father yet…”

Let’s go. Walter waved his hand once more and turned around.

Looking over his shoulder, Harrison Asner was holding his forehead as if troubled.

In the quiet office, the repetitive sounds of a pen scratching paper and pages being flipped were heard.

As if to stop Logan from reaching for a new document, Raon Lind cleared his throat.

“Lord Logan, you should leave now.”

“Not yet?”

“Yes, the conversation with the commander seems to be taking long.”

At the sound of Logan putting down his pen, Raon Lind closed his mouth. Logan, seated with his back to the window, raised his eyes and checked the clock on the wall.

10:12. Even after an hour had passed, Sidney still hadn’t returned.

Logan glared at the pile of documents he had checked.

Nowhere was there any content that would prompt the commander to summon Sidney early in the morning, and even if there were, there was no way he would exclude Logan, the head of the investigation team.

Did the commander have a personal matter? Unlikely. He was someone who clearly distinguished public and private matters more than anyone. Then, as expected……

Tuk tuk, Logan’s index fingernail tapped on the desk as he twisted his lips.

“…Deliberately avoiding, I see.”

“Isn’t it the same for you? For three days, not running into each other at the same house and workplace… It’s difficult with just one person’s will.”

Raon Lind grumbled and blatantly glanced at the clock. His entire body was saying, ‘You avoided her too, what nonsense are you spouting. Hurry up and get going.’

Logan was far more irritated by the misunderstanding than his assistant’s insolent behavior.

“I didn’t avoid her, I was being considerate of her circumstances.”

“Lieutenant Warden said she would stay in the guest room for the time being, leave for work at dawn, and, um, sleep because she wasn’t feeling well. When such a situation persists for three whole days, doesn’t the host directly ask the guest why they want to change rooms, if work has been busy lately, or how they are unwell…?”

As Raon listed off the points one by one, the muscles on Logan’s face twitched slightly. It was because his hidden inner thoughts were being bluntly pointed out.

Logan folded his arms as if defending himself and spat out his words sullenly.

“So, what do you want to say?”

“Usually when a man silently keeps an eye on a woman’s mood, it’s because he has committed some sin. Just in case poking at something that can be sneakily passed over ends up creating a sore…”

After stabbing at Logan’s core with each word, Raon belatedly trailed off and pretended to be wary.

Wait, that’s too specific. Could it be something he experienced himself?

Logan recalled the fact that Raon Lind was married and briefly jumped to conclusions.

“So, did your wife let it slide?”

“This isn’t about me.”

“Who said it was?”

Logan slightly raised one corner of his mouth while intently looking at Raon’s solemn face.

When a mocking smile was added, Raon’s eyes turned sharp.

“It’s clear that Lord Logan made a mistake that day while drunk. Women’s avoidance always has a reason.”

Finally, the roundabout talk ended. Logan felt a strange satisfaction at that fact and nodded his head.

There’s no way Sidney would act on a momentary emotion. I must have made a mistake somewhere.

No matter how much he searched his spotty memories while stroking his chin.

“The last thing I remember is getting in the carriage.”

“Then, do you remember taking off your coat and jacket in the carriage?”

“Ha, no way.”

Logan cut off Raon’s words with disgust.

No matter how drunk he was, he always kept his attire neat even on the battlefield and in the hottest weather.

Especially the thought of being disheveled while in uniform was unimaginable……

Suddenly, Logan’s thick eyebrows twitched at the belated realization that he had been sleeping in his uniform shirt and pants.

“That’s right. Even after I struggled to dress you, you unbuttoned everything saying it was hot.”

My goodness, to display such unsightly behavior…… Logan roughly rubbed his chin and muttered to himself.

“If she saw me in such a state, it’s understandable for Sidney to be disappointed. No. Fortunately, she would have been asleep…… Could it be that I woke her from her sound sleep and angered her?”

“Lieutenant Warden was awake. Much later, she put you to bed and left the bedroom.”

Don’t tell me I made a drunken scene. Perhaps because he imagined the worst-case scenario, the color drained from Logan’s face.

Raon Lind adjusted his glasses and bowed his waist. Then he lowered his voice to a whisper only audible to Logan and spoke secretively.

“Have a conversation in a good atmosphere. Conveniently, there’s an imperial banquet tomorrow……”

Logan listened attentively to Raon’s plan and laughed, slightly raising the corners of his mouth.

The moment she heard Walter’s playful suggestion on the way out from meeting the commander, Sidney’s first thought was that it was bothersome.

However, now that Walter, who had been neglecting his responsibilities as the successor of a family, had finally made up his mind, she nodded to hear him out.

A biting wind swept through the training grounds laid out in the forest behind the Imperial Army headquarters.

Sidney took off her coat, jacket, and the sword at her waist and handed them to a soldier. Then she chose a bastard sword from among the swords prepared for sparring.

With each swing of the greatsword, the heavy sound of wind being sliced and the sensation awakened the muscles throughout her arm and entire body.

“As expected, the greatsword suits you.”

Walter, who said that, also had a bastard sword slung over his shoulder with a ‘clank’.

Walter’s short crimson hair was tousled by the wind, and his broad shoulders, triangular body, and firm muscles were revealed under his gray shirt and white pants.

Sidney glanced over his friend’s body and adjusted his grip on the sword.

“You’re still in good shape. I don’t know if that monstrous strength of yours remains the same though.”

“Me, I’m always the same. Even now, I’m only looking at you like this.”

Walter tilted his head once towards the training grounds and grinned, revealing his white teeth.