Chapter 90: Chapter 90

Luke strode out onto the harbor, taking in the scene before him, and immediately thought about how much Theo must hate this kind of display. Theo wasn’t the type to enjoy such pomp and ceremony. Moreover, if there were anyone among the captains who would orchestrate this sort of spectacle, Luke could already imagine the culprit’s face without needing to look.

Sure enough, Mile’s booming voice rang out, and Luke barely managed to stifle a laugh. Eight months might have passed, but some things never change—especially Mile’s obnoxiously sycophantic and foolish nature. Despite working alongside Theo for so long at the captain level, he still hadn’t grasped that Theo didn’t appreciate such blatant flattery.

“You really haven’t changed at all, have you?” Luke clicked his tongue and shook his head in mock disappointment.

Mile, utterly flustered, could only point at Luke in response, his face a comical mix of shock, with eyes, nose, and mouth all gaping wide. It wasn’t just Mile; the Third Division soldiers standing behind him also recognized Luke, exchanging wide-eyed glances with each other.

“Wh-why are you here? Luke, why are you here, and with the Commander no less…?”

It was, in some ways, a reasonable reaction. After all, Luke had disappeared without a word after retiring and was now standing next to the very man who had been his rival.

“What have you done to the Commander?” Mile demanded, his hand moving to the sword at his waist. The clinking of his weapon echoed sharply in the night air.

“What’s this? Planning to use violence against a civilian? And you call yourself a soldier? A captain, no less?” Luke taunted, his voice dripping with mockery.

At Luke’s pointed words, Mile let out a frustrated grunt and removed his hand from the hilt of his sword. Imperial soldiers were sworn to protect their own citizens, above all else. Unless faced with monsters or enemy nations, they were required to exercise extreme caution before even considering drawing a weapon—especially against their own people. This principle had been drilled into them relentlessly since their academy days, and not even someone as clueless as Mile could claim ignorance of it.

“I asked you why you’re here! How is a civilian even disembarking from a military ship?” Mile pressed, his tone filled with suspicion.

“Well, about that…” Luke scratched the back of his head, contemplating how much to explain. Clearing up the misunderstanding here and now felt like a chore, especially since the captains and higher-ranking officers would soon learn everything, including Luke’s involvement in current affairs.

“Mile.”

Before Luke could respond, Theo’s cold voice cut through the tension, slicing through the night air like a blade.

“I’ll keep this brief. Do not show further disrespect to Luke.”

“…Pardon?” Mile instinctively straightened his back under Theo’s icy gaze. The chilling atmosphere made even the surrounding soldiers tense up. Luke, standing nearby, was a bit surprised himself.

“I’ll explain Luke’s presence at tomorrow’s meeting. He’s here for an important purpose, so there’s no need for such hostility.”

“B-but…” Mile stammered, glancing back and forth between Theo and Luke. Catching Mile’s eyes, Luke smirked and pulled down one of his lower eyelids while sticking out his tongue in a playful gesture.

Mile’s face turned a vivid shade of red, clearly visible even in the dim light. It was a thoroughly satisfying sight. Back when Luke was still a soldier, decorum had kept him from indulging in such childish antics, but now, there was nothing stopping him.

“By the way, Mile, since you’re here, there’s something I need you to take care of.”

“Of course, sir! Whatever you need!” Mile responded, his voice full of zeal.

“There’s a criminal on the ship that we brought from the west. They’re an important witness, so I need them escorted directly to the central prison.”

The mention of a criminal seemed to catch Mile off guard, but he quickly composed himself. Following orders without question was the hallmark of a soldier. Saluting sharply, he shouted in response.

“Yes, sir! My squad will escort them to headquarters immediately.”

At Mile’s signal, several soldiers stepped forward, standing at attention to receive the criminal. Meanwhile, Luke, tired of standing around, picked up his belongings and began to walk away from the harbor at a leisurely pace.

“You must be tired; allow me to escort you,” Mile said to Theo with an overly earnest smile. However, Theo didn’t respond. Mile, puzzled, turned to glance at him, only to find Theo’s attention fixed on Luke, who was trudging toward the harbor exit.

“Mile, I leave the escorting to you,” Theo said curtly before striding off after Luke, leaving a bewildered Mile behind.

“Luke, where are you going without even saying a word to me?” Theo asked as he caught up, effortlessly taking Luke’s luggage from his hands.

“Where do you think? I’m not going to stand around there all night. Besides, I don’t want to look at that guy’s face any longer than I have to,” Luke replied with a huff.

It had been quite a while since Luke had retired, and he’d thought he had shaken off most of the feelings tied to that chapter of his life. But one thing remained constant—Mile was still as insufferable as ever. This was the same man who had once threatened Pail for personal gain and tried to entangle Luke in his schemes.

Seeing Mile thriving as if nothing had happened only served to irritate Luke. He could easily imagine the stories Mile must have spun after learning about Luke’s retirement.

“So, where are you headed now?” Theo asked.

“You’re not seriously asking that, are you? I need to find a place to stay, obviously. I can’t just sleep on the streets when I’ll be here for a while.”

Luke had sold his house in the capital when he left for Calum. Back then, he’d been so certain he’d never return that he had no hesitation in getting rid of it. Now he was starting to regret that decision.

“Luke, you’re here as an important associate of the military. Naturally, I’ll take full responsibility for your accommodations,” Theo said firmly.

“I’m not staying in the military dorms.”

The very idea of being surrounded by people like Mile again, even indirectly, was unbearable. Luke wanted nothing to do with anything that even remotely reminded him of the military.

“I never planned to take you there,” Theo replied, nodding as if he had already anticipated Luke’s objection.

“Oh? Then where?”

Luke’s curiosity was piqued. He looked at Theo with a questioning gaze.

“I’ve already decided on a suitable place for you.”

“Well, if it’s a fancy inn, I wouldn’t complain.”

Luke was prepared for a prolonged stay in the capital and wanted someplace comfortable and decent.

“It’ll be better than any inn,” Theo promised with confidence.

“What? Better than a fancy inn? Is there even such a place?”

Luke asked incredulously, wondering if some new luxury accommodation had popped up since he’d left. But Theo didn’t elaborate further, and Luke, knowing Theo wasn’t one for empty boasts, didn’t press the matter.

His curiosity carried him as he followed Theo, his mind racing with possibilities. However, it wasn’t long before his hopeful anticipation turned to disbelief.

“…This can’t be where I think it is,” Luke said, his voice tinged with exasperation.

“I’m not sure what you think, but this is the Redrick Ducal Estate,” Theo replied matter-of-factly.

Luke slowly turned his head to glare at Theo, his expression one of pure disbelief. Of all places, Theo had brought him to his own residence. Luke had momentarily forgotten just how unpredictable Theo could be.

“What’s with that look? I didn’t lie, did I?” Theo said, unperturbed.

Of course. “Better than a fancy inn” had to mean this. There was no way any inn could rival the grandeur of one of the most prestigious ducal estates in the empire.

Luke stared at the massive mansion before him, its sprawling grounds so vast they couldn’t fit entirely into his view. The elegant and stately architecture exuded an air of timeless sophistication, even under the cloak of night.

“Let’s go in,” Theo said, still carrying Luke’s belongings as he led the way through the estate’s grand entrance.

The sight that greeted them was nothing short of breathtaking. The estate’s staff had lined up in neat rows to welcome Theo, bowing deeply as he passed.

“Welcome back, Young Duke.”

The scene reminded Luke of the overly formal reception Theo had received at the harbor. Wherever Theo went, he was greeted with this kind of deference. Luke found himself looking at Theo with renewed appreciation, and Theo, noticing the attention, cleared his throat awkwardly.

“They don’t listen even when I tell them not to make a fuss. It’s just because I haven’t been back here in a while. Bear with it for now.”

“It’s not bothering me,” Luke replied, glancing around at the staff and the mansion’s opulent surroundings.

“It just reminds me that you really are the famous Young Duke of the Redrick family.”

The time Luke had spent with Theo as a soldier was much longer than any other phase of their relationship. In the military, Theo wasn’t the Young Duke; he was a squad leader and a strong contender for Commander-in-Chief. Although everyone in the military knew of Theo’s noble lineage, no one treated him any differently because of it. Status and background didn’t matter in the military—what mattered was your dedication to protecting the empire. Well, except for people like Mile, who shamelessly tried to curry favor once he learned of Theo’s family’s influence.

“You’re pretty impressive, you know,” Luke said honestly, watching as Theo passed through the grand doors, receiving the reverence of everyone they encountered.

But as soon as Luke spoke, Theo’s demeanor shifted. He suddenly stopped in his tracks, covering his mouth with his hand and avoiding Luke’s gaze.

“Hey, are you okay?” Luke asked, tilting his head to study Theo’s face. He tried to catch Theo’s gaze, but Theo stubbornly avoided him, looking increasingly flustered.

“…Good thing it’s nighttime,” Theo muttered under his breath.@@novelbin@@

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Luke asked, puzzled.

Before Theo could respond, a voice called out from ahead.

“Young Duke.”

It seemed someone had come to greet them. Theo straightened up, as if the interruption had snapped him out of whatever mood he was in. Luke couldn’t help but feel that Theo was acting strangely, but he decided to let it go—for now.