Family Deals and Fleet Reckoning
“Right, now that I think about it, it's about time we started looking for a fiancée for our youngest. Anyone catch your eye?”
My father suddenly brought up my marriage while slicing the meat.
This could get dangerous.
Of course, the fact that he was even asking meant he was willing to consider my opinion to some extent.
But to make a choice, I needed candidates, and the only noble lady I knew was Lieutenant Aisa.
“I don't have anyone yet.”
“Then I'll set up a few meetings during your next leave.”
“There's no need to rush it that much, is there...?”
I tried to dissuade him, but that was easier said than done.
“It's a time-honored tradition for the heir to establish a family as soon as possible and find stability. Your mother and I got engaged at eighteen and married at twenty. What's so rushed about that?”
Hey, that's way too fast.
No, by Korean standards, that was getting married before the ink on his ID even dried.
The highway of marriages.
“Ha... haha, but both of my older brothers are still unmarried. How could I go first?”
“The heir who will inherit the family marries first. The others follow in his wake.”
“Even so, I hear my eldest brother has a fiancée. Once he marries her, then I...”
Tems Oclo had been engaged since childhood to the eldest daughter of Count Haol, who wielded considerable influence in the political sphere.
Given their ages, he'll probably marry soon, but that should buy me at least a year.
But conversations never flowed the way I wanted.
“That engagement has been called off.”
“Pardon...?”
“Would they hand over their precious eldest daughter to a man who ran away from the succession just because he's scared of war? The Haol family isn't beneath us.”
Grind.
The sound of Tems Oclo, sitting two seats away, grinding his teeth reached my ears.
Dad, isn't that a bit too provocative?
No exaggeration—he looked ready to lunge with the steak knife. It was terrifying.
“They wanted to switch the engagement to you instead. Not ideal, right?”
“Yes...? Ah, yes. That would be... a bit.”
Marrying my brother's ex-fiancée wasn't something I could easily stomach, no matter what.
Or is it? It does feel like the ultimate revenge.
We could film a morning drama, but filling the role of lifelong partner just for revenge would be a loss.
“For our youngest, we need to aim higher. At least a marquis family. Don't you agree?”
“Dear, wouldn't that be difficult?”
My mother, listening from the side, voiced her concern.
Yeah, that does sound tough.
A capable woman could marry above her station.
But a man marrying above his? That was rare unless he was exceptionally outstanding.
“My lady, even if it's hard to get a marquis's eldest right now, a second daughter is feasible. There are already families showing interest.”
“R... really?”
“How many men his age have even caught the emperor's eye, even briefly? It'd be weirder if they weren't salivating.”
Now that he mentioned it, Father's words carried weight.
I am pretty impressive.
It was the reward for all my hard work. From the outside, in these wartime days, youngest captain ever? A total hot stock.
Wait, if it's a hot stock, it only has room to climb higher.
A brilliant idea to rein in Father's runaway enthusiasm flashed in my mind.
“Father, wouldn't that be a waste?”
“What do you mean?”
“Think about it. My value will only rise with time. Wouldn't it be a loss to settle for a partner at my current worth?”
“A loss, you say.”
“As you said, right now it's a marquis's second daughter at best. I'm not satisfied. I want at least an eldest from a marquis—or higher—to secure a solid family ally.”
My passionate words hung in the air, plunging the table into silence.
What's this? Why is everyone so quiet?
I expected applause from this money-obsessed family, but it was eerily still.
No way they're suddenly prioritizing love over money?
I worried briefly, but this was the Oclo family.
Not a chance.
Clap clap! Clap clap clap!!!
“Brilliant thinking! I was blinded by short-term gains. I'm ashamed.”
Father set down his utensils and applauded.
“You can't chain the feet of a bird about to soar higher.”
“No, Father.”
“Sell at the peak. Knowing this simple yet profound concept means I won't worry for the next half-century. Ha ha!”
He looked genuinely thrilled.
Marriage delayed, mood lifted—what better outcome?
“While our youngest raises his value in the army, I won't slack either. Time to work harder.”
“Please don't overdo it for your health. I still need your help a lot.”
“Of course. I have to see my grandchildren first.”
Father spouting grandpa-level lines.
It threw me off a bit.
Hey, you're still in your forties.
Even if his grandchild married and had kids, he'd be in his sixties—plenty of time left.
“Of course. You'll see them for sure.”
“I can already imagine it. Just how grand a family we'll ally with. Ha ha!”
Father laughed heartily.
Watching him, my heart wasn't at ease.
Damn, now I really have to bring home someone top-tier.
Minimum now was a marquis's eldest.
That made Lieutenant Aisa-level women the bare minimum.
Impossible.
If I kept rolling in Intelligence Agency, maybe, but after this landing op, I was heading to the rear.
No more good news, stock plummets.
Shit, whatever. Future me will figure it out.
That's how you handle these things—kick the can.
“With the youngest's marriage on hold, we should find a match for the eldest first.”
Father said, eyeing Tems mid-meal.
“I hear Viscount Javelin’s second daughter is quite sharp. What do you think?”
Whoa, how much lower can it go?
From count's eldest to viscount's second—not even eldest.
That was delisting territory for a stock.
“I'll go meet her.”
“Good. My lady, handle it, please.”
As Mother and Father chatted, Tems's face was a sight.
Hey, don't flip the table, okay?
His face flushed red—he looked in bad shape.
“My stomach's not feeling well. I'll excuse myself.”
Tems finally set down his utensils and stood.
“Go rest if you're unwell.”
With permission granted, Tems bolted from the dining room. Father clicked his tongue.
“Tsk tsk. So immature and pathetic.”
“Dear, don't be too harsh. He's hurting from the broken engagement. He really liked her.”
“If he wanted to keep her, he should've manned up and taken responsibility. Don't take his side, my lady. It's his karma.”
Father's blunt words contrasted Mother's gentleness.
Refreshing enough to skip the digestive.
“Second son.”
“Y... yes, Father!”
Edmon, ever the wallflower, jumped at the call.
“I trust you'll accept reality and behave.”
“Of... of course. I'll help my little brother diligently.”
“Good. That's how you keep food on your plate. Remember, leaving home means hardship.”
Leaving home means hardship.
True that.
“Yes...”
Second brother looked a tad regretful.
Whatever.
This guy's got no guts. He won't try anything.
He'd accepted reality fully by now.
Keep quiet, and I'll secure him a spot in the company.
I'm generous like that.
“What's your leave schedule?”
As I reached for the turkey leg, Father asked.
“Sudden leave, so no plans. Just rest and some training.”
“The training grounds in the estate are cleaned, but tell me if anything's inconvenient.”
He thought of that.
Target of the people for a reason—thoughtful.
“Thank you.”
“Drop by the company when you have time. You'll lead it someday—better show your face.”
Spot on.
“I'll make time to visit.”
Face time is essential. Essential.
Had to carve out a full day.
“Just tell me the day before.”
“Got it.”
After that, we discussed company matters and wartime news—dull stuff—before heading to my room.
“Ugh, two hours for dinner?”
Mother tired early, or it'd have been three.
From what I heard, he's collaborating with the military to overhaul the entire meal system. Impressive guy.
I'd half-jokingly said he'd build Amazon 2.0, and Father was already executing.
Discharge, and I inherit this machine.
Heart wouldn't race? Liar.
“Life's fun. Really fun.”
Reason billionaires invest in pharma past fifty.
“Company in two days.”
I sketched a schedule mentally and eyed the neatly stacked novels on the desk.
“Whoa? Already volume 10?”
Thought it'd be seven max. Author must've grinded.
Locked in a room writing nonstop?
Details unknown, but promising.
“Gonna binge at least two days.”
Quick wash, grabbed volume 6, dove into bed.
“Salute to the Supreme Commander!!!”
“Chuuuuwung!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”
Yalk Island naval base.
All field-grade officers and above assembled in a line for the unexpected supreme commander's visit.
“Are you the base commander here?”
“Major General Bellum Otfil! Honored to meet you, Supreme Commander, sir!”
“Which base?”
“121st Base, sir!!!”
Major General Bellum bellowed so loud I worried his vocal cords would tear.
This iron discipline tensed the commanders behind him plenty.
Even the supreme commander doesn't warrant that, does he?
Screw up, and military career's over. Stay sharp.
The commanders prayed for a smooth day.
But if he were that easygoing, Bellum wouldn't be so rigid.
“On the way in, your alert posture was a total mess. Only the 121st base, and already slacking?”
His words cut like a sword's edge.
Bellum's legs shook like aspen leaves.
“N... no, sir!”
“Then what did I see? Duty discipline this lax? Did the chief of staff say that's acceptable?”
Bellum clasped his hands behind his back, sensing potential disaster.
“I'm sorry! We'll correct it immediately, sir!!!”
“Tsk tsk.”
Maemold clicked his tongue, passed Bellum, and headed to the other commanders.
“Brigadier General! Geol Mioran!!!”
“Brigadier General! Baku Regaif!!!”
Commanders barked ranks and names thunderously.
Maemold scrutinized each face.
Passing down the line, he halted before one.
“Col... Colonel Gailan!”
“Which base?”
“130th Base, sir!!!”
“The 130th has long heads. The military's improved. Wouldn't you say?”