The Marquis's Daughter
“Come to think of it, both of you are nobles. You’ll have some common ground, so it should make working together easier.”
“Pardon?”
This was news to me.
A noble-born officer?
I’d been buried in yesterday’s paperwork and hadn’t checked on the probationary staff, but something about this felt off.
“Haha, no need to be surprised. The military runs on class and rank anyway.”
Fair enough.
She’s with the Intelligence Agency, so what’s so special about that?
I pushed down the creeping unease, exchanged a few more words, and left the battalion commander’s office.
This must be the mess hall.
Heading from the battalion HQ toward the Subjugation Company area, my eyes naturally drifted to the mess—old habits from running the supply company.
It’s tiny. Seriously quaint.
No exaggeration; it was a tenth the size of the one I’d managed.
Food matters, though.
You fight better on a full stomach.
“Here we are.”
Three two-story buildings not far from the mess. The middle one screamed company HQ, with barracks on either side.
“Sir!”
“Sir!”
As I stepped into the training yard to enter the HQ, the soldiers in the middle of drills spotted me and snapped salutes.
“Is that the new company commander?”
“Looks like it.”
“A captain, and he seems awfully young.”
Their whispers were low, nothing out of the ordinary.
Should track down the deputy first.
I was about to ask the nearest soldier when a white-haired woman stepped forward from the group.
“Sir!”
Her voice and timing stood out—distinct.
I turned to see an elegant beauty radiating refinement…
Two diamonds. Found them.
In the Subjugation Company, a first lieutenant could only mean the deputy company commander.
“Sir! You’re the deputy, right?”
Since this was technically my first subordinate, I flashed a bright smile and returned the salute by the book.
Her face rings a bell, though.
Beauty like that sticks, man or woman.
Definitely… wait. No way.
The moment her name hit me, my smile froze solid.
“Yes! First Lieutenant Aisa Lintun. You might not remember, but it’s been a while, sir.”
Oh, hell no.
I’d considered the worst case might be a classmate, but this blew past even that.
Why the hell is the Rinton Marquis’s eldest daughter here?
Training camp rankings: third place.
I still remembered her glaring daggers at me and Ion.
“Y-yeah, of course. Long time no see. How’ve you been?”
“Busy, sir.”
She must have been.
Three months of grueling training and exams.
Why would a marquis’s daughter join Intelligence? The Rintons aren’t sword-obsessed like Derek’s family. Old blood, deep history—that’s it. No reason for a path this extreme.
“I see.”
“Feel free to drop the formalities when it’s just us, sir. Same class, but you’re my superior.”
She suggested easing the awkward air.
What’s with the friendliness?
It was a debt I’d have to settle eventually, so no reason to refuse her olive branch.
“Uh, sure? Anyway, looking forward to working with you.”
“Likewise, sir. Let’s head to HQ. I prepped your office yesterday.”
I followed her inside.
“The Subjugation Company splits into three platoons. First floor has platoon leader offices and the maintenance room.”
“Where do the soldiers wait?”
“Barracks, unless training. They muster if something pops up. Monsters don’t clock in.”
“Makes sense.”
Sticking to a schedule in a unit like this would be idiotic.
“Second floor: control room, company commander’s office, conference room.”
Standard military setup, nothing fancy.
Platoon leader offices on-site is a bit unusual.
Glancing as we passed, all three were NCOs—master sergeants.
“How are the platoon leaders?”
“Sharp personalities, given the job, but good people.”
“Glad to hear it.”
I’d make the rounds later. We entered my spotless office.
Click.
Aisa shut the door the second I was in.
The sealed space stirred… dread?
Ahem.
I cleared my throat to break the tension. No dice.
“I was shocked, sir.”
Her tone shifted—icy now. Mask off.
“Shocked?”
“Yes. I thought you were coasting in some eastern coastal battalion.”
At least it wasn’t hostile.
Right, no reason she’d hate me.
I was overthinking; objectively, I had zero reason to flinch.
“Just us? Casual’s fine. Classmates, right?”
“No, sir. You outrank me, and in the Agency too. I’ll keep it formal.”
Firm as steel.
Her call; no point pushing.
“Makes me awkward, but fine. I’ll adjust.”
This won’t be easy.
I sat, scanning the handover docs.
“How long you been here?”
“Exactly twenty-three days today.”
Longer than expected.
“Saw last week’s report. Anything new?”
“Just the monster surge. Nothing else.”
“Hmm. Back to square one, then.”
My musing slipped out mid-thought-sort. Oops.
I looked up to her sour expression.
Mouth. It’s always the damn mouth.
Too late; damage control.
“Not blaming you, so don’t—”
“No, sir. No real results. I’ll assist and learn from you.”
Venom laced her words.
I’d screwed up bad.
“Haa.”
Aisa Lintun stripped off her outerwear and uniform, heading to the bath in her quarters to wash away the sweat.
Drip.
Hot water filled the tub.
As she rinsed lightly, it brimmed.
“Ahhh.”
She shut off the tap and sank in.
Post-training full soak: her reward for a brutal day, fuel for tomorrow, time to sort thoughts.
What the hell is that guy’s deal?
Palan Oclo replayed in her mind.
I busted my ass through exams to get in, and he special-recruits straight to graduation and joins up.
To Aisa, Palan was one big question mark, start to finish.
A nobody she’d never heard of in society suddenly third in training.
Fastest lieutenant promotion in their class for some merit.
Then word of captaincy at Rimir Castle left her speechless.
And last week.
Assigned a mentor like every probationer.
Palan Oclo, her training camp classmate.
She’d zoned out a full day.
While I was grinding, he was soaring.
Her lifelong rival had always been Ion Belburn.
Similar ages, constant comparisons; she pushed daily to win.
Always one step short.
Even in camp, marches decided it—Ion edged her out.
But… there was one more.
Second place: unfamiliar name.
Now her official Agency mentor.
Palan Oclo loomed taller, more solid than Ion.
Seemed green up close. Acting?
Bubble bubble.
She dunked to her lips, bubbling softly.
Consistent merits mean something’s there.
Uncovering it: her top goal beyond duty.
To observe, stay close. Any ideas?
Brain firing hot, she pondered.
Make him need me: be useful. Organize reports?
His words hit.
“Back to square one? Harsh. I tried hard.”
Bubble bubble.
She dunked again, soothing fury.
Done soaking, she dressed—but early bath was a poor choice.
Goblin horde sighted in Sector 21!
Goblin horde sighted in Sector 21!
“Trouble again.”
“Haa, damn it.”
“Kids barely rested, and now this? Heaven’s pissed or something.”
The three platoon leaders in my office scowled at the blaring announcement.
Handover docs unread, and boom—alert.
Frustrating, but I masked it, speaking calmly.
“How do you usually handle goblins?”
“Depends on size, but max two platoons out of three.”
First Platoon Leader Master Sergeant Jerun explained politely.
“This broadcast means prep. Scale details soon.”
“Tough luck, sir. Taking over the busiest spot lately.”
Second Platoon Leader Master Sergeant Belto and Third, Edric, chimed in.
“Means it’s critical now. Gotta hustle.”
I bullshitted while awaiting the next broadcast.