The Marquis of Rose

Despite the shattered relationship between Lyra and the Shedd family, people still clung to the notion that family ties were something that couldn't be undone, no matter how deep the rift.

Even with everything that had gone down, there were still those who found it hard to believe that the connection between them could be completely severed.

For starters, her parents' past made things delicate, especially in military circles. And then there was Ansel—a vice admiral with serious clout.

Nobody in their right mind would cross him just to side with Lyra, no matter how talented she was.

At the end of the day, she was fresh out of the academy, still green in the eyes of most, and didn't have nearly enough pull to challenge someone with Ansel's power.

Maybe if she looked for a spot in a smaller corps, one that was hurting for talent and less wrapped up in political games, she could have a shot.