The servant’s expression was one of polite confusion, as though asking why Luke found this surprising. However, Luke was genuinely flustered. The term "young duke" could only mean Theo, and the idea that Theo had personally issued such an order left him dumbfounded.
Luke hesitated, unsure of how to respond, when Gwen appeared, climbing the stairs with his usual poised demeanor. Noticing Luke standing awkwardly at the door, Gwen gave a courteous bow before approaching with a curious expression.
“Is something the matter, sir?”
“Uh... I think I can handle getting ready on my own...” Luke mumbled, gesturing vaguely toward the servant.
Gwen immediately understood the situation, noting the awkward standoff between Luke and the servant. His lips curled into a soft smile.
“The young duke specifically gave these instructions. It would mean a great deal to us if you would allow us to assist you,” Gwen said smoothly, bowing slightly. The servant beside him also lowered his head in deference.
Luke’s expression twitched awkwardly. By now, any lingering drowsiness had long since vanished. Assist me with what, exactly? he thought, unable to grasp the necessity of this arrangement.
“That guy... I mean, Theo, what exactly did he say?” Luke asked, his tone half-annoyed and half-resigned. He couldn’t fathom what Theo might have said to create such an embarrassing situation.
Gwen merely smiled, a knowing glint in his eyes.
This morning, Gwen had started his day much earlier than usual. The reason was simple: the master of the estate had returned the night before. Upon waking, Gwen had assisted Theo in preparing for an urgent meeting at the Imperial Palace.
Right before Theo left the estate, he had stopped Gwen and spoken to him.
“Gwen, I have a request regarding Luke. He’s not a morning person, so please pay special attention to him. He might trip on the stairs or hurt himself. Considering his injured hand, it would be best to assign a dedicated attendant to assist him.”
Having known Theo since his youth, Gwen was well-acquainted with his taciturn and reserved nature. Yet that morning, Theo had been uncharacteristically verbose, repeating his request several times. Even the other servants had been taken aback by the sight.
What truly shocked Gwen, however, was what Theo said next.
“If it weren’t for my summons to the Imperial Palace, I would have done it myself. I’m sorry, but I’ll have to rely on you.”
Hearing this, Gwen—who had served the Redrick ducal family for decades and rarely let his expression slip—had been so startled that he stammered. The idea of Theo personally tending to Luke was enough to render even someone as composed as Gwen momentarily speechless.
“The young duke is very concerned about you,” Gwen said finally, choosing to summarize Theo’s words in a way that conveyed the sentiment without revealing every detail.
Luke sighed deeply, rubbing his face with both hands as if to ward off the mortification creeping up on him.
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“Um... may I assist you now?” the servant asked tentatively, still waiting for permission.
“Do whatever you want...” Luke mumbled in a voice barely louder than a whisper. Then, as if utterly defeated, he trudged toward the stairs. The servant quickly followed, keeping a close but respectful distance.
Watching Luke’s retreating figure, Gwen noted the faint blush on the tips of his ears, a subtle but telling sign. With a pleased smile, Gwen turned away, leaving Luke to deal with his predicament.
***
Twelyn Imperial Palace.
Theo entered through the golden gates, going through several rounds of identity and purpose verification by the palace knights, before finally setting foot on the grounds of the main palace.
Though there wasn’t a single knight in the palace guard who wouldn’t recognize the face of the Empire’s Supreme Commander, this was the Imperial Palace—the very residence of the Emperor and the royal family. Only a select few had permission to enter this sacred heart of the Empire, and even they were subjected to rigorous verification procedures.
As palace servants passed by, bowing in greeting, Theo remained acutely aware of every step he took. The Imperial Palace, lauded as the most holy and exalted place in the Empire, was paradoxically also where gossip and intrigue spread the quickest.
The burdens Theo carried on his shoulders were far from light: the heir to the Redrick ducal family and the commander of the Empire’s military. To ordinary citizens, he might appear as a larger-than-life figure blessed with extraordinary abilities, but to the Empire’s entrenched elites, Theo was a target of constant scrutiny and rivalry.
Those watchful eyes had been on him since the moment he was born. From the day the Redrick family announced the birth of a son, the social circles—and the entire Empire—had begun forming judgments about Theo.
By the time he was learning to read under his father’s guidance, Theo was already exposed to the inner workings of the family estate. The Duke of Redrick, while a kind father in private, was mercilessly exacting when it came to grooming an heir. This meant Theo had to remain constantly mindful of his every action.
If Theo had learned one thing early in life, it was this: no matter how perfect you strive to be, to some, you will always be a convenient target. He came to this realization after a single sigh at a social gathering he attended with his mother had led to rumors the next day about the “disrespectful attitude of the Redrick family’s only son.”
The ironic part? Those who were quick to judge Theo held him to impossibly high standards only because of his exceptional position.
“Isn’t that expected from the son of Duke Redrick?”
“As the future head of such a distinguished family, he should be doing more.”
Even though Theo told himself he didn’t care, the weight of those words had built up layer by layer in his mind. Eventually, he decided: he needed to break free of this cage. As long as he remained in this environment, nothing he did would ever be recognized or valued. If he was destined to be torn apart for privileges he was born into, he would rather show them what he had achieved through his own efforts.
This determination led him to defy his father’s staunch opposition and enroll in the military academy. Even there, he couldn’t fully escape the shadow of his family background at first. Later, after gaining significant influence in the military, the scrutiny only intensified. Yet, it was still far more liberating than being tethered to the name of the Redrick family.
The military was a place where people were judged by their abilities, not their lineage.
"I don’t know what you were like in that house, but I do know how much you’ve worked as a soldier. At least I do."
Hearing those words from Luke the previous day had made Theo realize something: there were words he had longed to hear his entire life.
“......”
The faint tremor in his chest was unfamiliar. It was as though the awkward touch of Luke’s hand brushing his hair still lingered. Was it because of the words themselves, or because they had come from Luke?
Deep down, Theo already knew the answer.
“...I hope he didn’t fall down the stairs,” he murmured absentmindedly, his hand brushing over the empty space at his side.
To carry personal belongings like crystal orbs or recording devices into the main palace, prior approval was required. Since Theo had requested this emergency meeting on short notice, he hadn’t had time to prepare.
Luke, who wasn’t a morning person, had been entrusted to Gwen with repeated instructions, so there shouldn’t be any problems. Still, the thought of another servant touching Luke’s body made his stomach churn. For now, however, Theo had more pressing matters to address as Supreme Commander.
The audience chamber came into view. Theo stopped before the large doors, adjusted his attire one last time, and stepped inside.
Seated around a rigid rectangular table were the Empire’s key ministers: the Minister of Finance, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Minister of Justice, and the Chancellor overseeing administrative affairs.
“Theodore Redrick, Supreme Commander of the Empire’s military, has arrived at the audience chamber,” Theo announced formally, his tone reflecting his authority as the highest-ranking military officer.
“Welcome,” the Minister of Finance greeted with a warm smile.
“My apologies for being late,” Theo said, bowing slightly.
“No need. We’ve only just arrived ourselves,” the Minister of Justice replied, his solemn voice echoing through the chamber.
“The Emperor has just left his office and will be here shortly,” the Chancellor added.
“Yes, Your Grace,” Theo responded, taking his designated seat.
As he sat, the Minister of Foreign Affairs shot him a disapproving glance.
“So, Supreme Commander, I hear you urgently requested this meeting,” the minister began, his tone laced with annoyance. “I lost sleep over it, you know. You refused to explain anything in advance, saying you’d only speak once everyone was present.”
“It’s not a matter suitable for written reports. This is a serious issue,” Theo replied calmly.
“It had better be. His Majesty has postponed urgent matters to attend this meeting.”
The minister snorted and turned his head away. Theo silently observed him, reminded of the Imperial Army’s elder council—another group that constantly regarded him with suspicion and hostility. If he remembered correctly, Gabe had mentioned that this minister was quite close to them.
“Rest assured, Your Grace,” Theo said with a measured smile. “The matter at hand is more than worthy of your concern.”
The minister’s expression twisted sourly, but Theo chose not to escalate further.
Although Theo was the youngest in the room and the least experienced in state affairs, he was still the head of the Empire’s military—a position increasingly influential within the Heiner Empire.
“The Emperor is entering.”
At the announcement from an aide, everyone in the chamber rose to their feet. The door on the far side of the room, reserved exclusively for the Emperor’s use, opened, and the Emperor entered at a deliberate pace.
“We greet Your Majesty,” the ministers and Theo said in unison, bowing deeply.
“My apologies for keeping you waiting. Please, be seated,” said Emperor Cedric Roelad as he took his place at the head of the table.
Once everyone was seated, the Emperor addressed Theo with a curious smile.
“Commander Redrick, it seems you’ve been through a lot since I last saw you. Is the work proving too demanding?”
“It is not. Even if it were, it is my duty to persevere,” Theo replied, his tone respectful yet firm.
Cedric chuckled warmly. “Good. Let us proceed quickly, as I know we are all busy.”
The Emperor gestured for Theo to begin.
“First, I must apologize for requesting this meeting on such short notice. During a recent inspection of the western Calum branch, I uncovered evidence of a threat to the Heiner Empire,” Theo began, his voice steady and deliberate.
The chamber immediately buzzed with murmurs.
“Go on,” the Emperor urged, his tone sharpening.
“Yes, Your Majesty,” Theo said, meeting the gaze of each minister in turn.
“It appears that the Welharun Empire is engaging in actions that violate our peace treaty.”