6: Conflict of Interest

A knock sounded at the front door, and the gathering was convened in the hall. Lenny, the butler, opened the door with a warm smile, revealing five gentlemen waiting outside.

"Good evening, everyone," one of them greeted the host of the party. He was tall and dark-haired, with a pleasant countenance.

"Welcome, all of you! Please, do come in!" Lady Whitrose extended a gracious invitation, and the gentlemen entered with smiles.

"This is for you, madam," one of them presented Lady Whitrose with a large bouquet of tuber roses. She accepted it with gratitude, her smile brightening.

"Well, thank you so much! Come, let's gather in the dining room. The young ladies have been eagerly waiting for your arrival." They made their way past a prominent portrait of the late head of the household, one of the gentlemen pausing to gaze at it with a sense of pride.

"It's truly an honor to join you for dinner," a gentleman with red hair spoke politely. Lady Whitrose smiled and nodded, guiding them to the dining area.

Upon entering the room, the two young ladies rose from their seats. Krea had reserved a chair beside her, and the gentleman with red hair walked directly to her, kissing her hand gently before taking his seat. He whispered something to her, prompting a sweet smile in response.

The gentleman with brunette hair sat next to them, while the other two— one with cocoa-toned skin and black wavy hair, and the other with milky, silky skin and straight shaggy blonde hair— took seats on Ayleth's side. They playfully vied for proximity to the young lady, eventually settling into their spots.

Clearly, there was an air of tension amongst them.

As dinner commenced, Ayleth broke the ice. "So, when did you realize you wanted to marry my sister?" She directed her question teasingly at Peter, the one with red hair. He grinned in response.

"Well, I wasn't entirely sure until she came to tend to my wound during the Kaibo Mission up north. She extracted a broken arrow from my leg and skillfully sutured the wound. From that moment, I found myself admiring her bravery and vowed to keep her love and courage forever stitched into my heart." Everyone around the table listened attentively, murmuring appreciatively as Krea blushed, elegantly seated and relishing her meal while engaging in the conversation.

"That's the reality of our profession," Barda chimed in, sparking laughter among the group. Indeed, being a soldier often meant being confined to the camp or strictly following mission plans. Opportunities to explore the outside world were quite rare.

"We face danger with every mission and battle. While some ladies might develop feelings for us if they encounter us, their families usually object to such relationships due to the risk of losing their husbands at a young age. That's why many of us remain unmarried. It's hard to find a suitable partner within the confines of the camp, and meeting someone outside is nearly impossible. Peter is one of the lucky ones to have met Krea. I admit feeling envious, but I'm genuinely happy for him," Cedric added, and the others nodded in agreement, understanding the predicament all too well.

"Explain that to her," Krea suddenly said, directing her spoon toward the front.

"Excuse me?"

"Explain to whom?" Cedric asked, perplexed. Krea gestured with her utensil, pointing to someone in front of her.

Cedric followed her gaze to find Ayleth. She seemed engrossed in her meal, paying extra attention to her steak. The unspoken tension still weighed on his mind, but he figured they could discuss it later. After all, they had the entire evening ahead to exchange glances and engage in meaningful conversations.

"Krea, is there something I should know?" Lady Whitrose's inquiry caused a collective sinking feeling among the group.

"About what, mother?"

"About why you asked Cedric to explain something to Ayleth,"

Krea paused, searching for words. Suddenly, all eyes were on her.

"Well, I think now isn't the appropriate time to delve into that matter, as we're still enjoying our dinner. We can discuss it after we're done," Krea smiled and redirected the conversation back to the meal. Lady Whitrose acquiesced, and the dinner continued as everyone savored their food.

***

Ayleth sat by the lake, dipping her toes into the water. The cottage behind her was situated in a perfect spot, nestled deep within the forest. Her father had discovered this property during a mission, and it had always been his dream to have a peaceful family cottage. While they used to live in a bustling military camp in the town center, Lady Whitrose, despite her life as a General's wife, preferred the tranquility of the forest. She found solace in nurturing a garden and escaping the clamor of the marching army. Here, at least, she could find some reprieve from the solitude.

Ayleth was still feeling a sense of injustice over the earlier conversation. Why should there be anything wrong with her desire to join the army? She thought Krea would be the one to understand her best, yet even her sister had warned her not to broach the topic again.

"Your sister had quite the conversation with us earlier. Seems she's quite concerned about your plan," Cedric suddenly emerged, breaking the silence. His blonde hair and blue eyes shimmered as he smiled warmly at her. Ayleth chose to ignore him.

"Well, I suspect I'll be in for a hearing session from my mother soon," she sighed.

"You know, as much as I hate to agree with her, deep down, I wouldn't mind if you joined the army," Cedric acknowledged that the conversation had been leading them nowhere unless he added a little intrigue to the mix. A touch of manipulation might be the best way to capture her attention.

"And why is that?"

"There are countless reasons to dissuade you from joining the army. But there's only one reason why you should. And perhaps, that one reason is the most compelling," Cedric took a seat next to Ayleth. He playfully splashed the water and gazed at her with his captivating blue eyes.

"Please spare me your persuasive tactics."

"How can I be persuasive when my heart is already intertwined with yours?"

"You and your smooth words!" Ayleth retaliated by splashing water at him. Cedric chuckled and returned the favor, splashing water back at her. Their laughter echoed across the serene surroundings.

"I merely wish to serve my country and honor my family's legacy. I've been trained for this since childhood. My father always hoped his children would follow in his footsteps and join the army. Without any brothers, it seems fitting for me to carry on that tradition," Ayleth explained. She brushed her hair back with her fingers and stood, moving toward a log chair. Cedric followed suit, his heart dancing with delight.

"If you do join, you could make history – the first female citizen to enlist in the army," Cedric mused.

"I'm not seeking to set records. I simply want to continue my father's legacy."

"It's a challenging path, you know. You'll need to work tirelessly to earn your place. The competition for top spots is incredibly tough," Cedric attempted to provoke her, but Ayleth merely chuckled.

"You have no idea how my father trained me. I'm determined to secure that top spot," she said with confidence. Cedric did his best to maintain a composed expression.

Every time she smiled, Cedric felt his heart tremble. Her smile, along with her beautiful red hair, held an enchanting power over him. He was captivated, but he understood that winning her heart would be no simple feat. He needed to proceed with caution, progressing step by step.

"There are definitely both good and bad aspects to joining the army," Cedric mused.

"What's the bad one?"

"You'd be putting yourself at risk," he replied.

Ayleth let out a sigh.

"And the good?"

"We'd get to see each other every day," he said with a smile. Ayleth glanced at his slightly flushed face. Clearly, he had something on his mind.

"I'm joining the army to serve, not to meet you every day!"

"But if you do join, we would end up seeing each other," Cedric insisted.

Their eyes locked in a meaningful gaze.

"I respect your aspiration to be one of us, but deep down, I wish you'd let go of that dream. I'd rather see you like this, dressed as a common person, surrounded by this breathtaking scenery," Cedric finally tugged at the heartstrings.

"As you mentioned earlier, we could meet every day if I'm in the army," Ayleth pointed out.

"It's not that simple. We might cross paths daily, but we wouldn't have the chance to talk freely. Sure, we'd see each other, but we wouldn't be able to be friends in the same way," Cedric explained.

"I don't see why you're so concerned. We already have limits now," Ayleth responded.

"But if you were to become my subordinate, those boundaries would become even more defined," Cedric sighed.

"I don't see why this has to be such a big worry. We can still have those informal moments, can't we? We're friends," Ayleth asserted.

"But there could come a point where you'd end up under my command, and then there would be even more restrictions between us," Cedric explained.

"I don't understand why you're making this so complicated. We've been handling our limits just fine," Ayleth argued.

"But there's still potential for us to push those boundaries further," Cedric added, causing both of them to fall into a thoughtful silence. Ayleth began to comprehend where this conversation was headed.

"It's getting late. I need to..."

"Ayleth," Cedric interrupted her.

"Cedric..."

"I've had to muster all my courage to say this to you. I've been waiting since the day we met. I realize now that if I don't say it soon, I might never get the chance," she knew this moment would come. Ayleth stood abruptly and looked away.

"Ayleth..."

"Cedric..."

"I have to admit that as much as I cherish our friendship, I don't want to let you go. I love you, not just for your beauty or your status. I love you because you're the only person who makes me feel normal. When I'm with you, I can forget all the rules and protocols. And now you want to join us. Where can I go to feel normal again?"

"Ayleth, you have no idea what it's like inside that world. I don't want to lose you and lose that sense of normalcy. But most importantly, I don't want to lose you," he gazed at her with his intense blue eyes, now tinged with sadness.

This time, his eyes held a weight of emotion. Ayleth couldn't meet his gaze for long. He continued to approach her until he stood right in front of her.

"Ayleth, I want you to be a part of me. The missing piece that completes me," Cedric confessed, holding her hand tightly.

"Cedric, if you truly love me, you should understand me," Ayleth said, withdrawing her hand and walking away, leaving Cedric behind.

As she walked away, a sense of disappointment settled in her heart. If he truly loved her, he should have understood her better.