A Morning Chat

After getting up, Victor went for a run on land for the first time in ages. He had spent so long at sea that he had been unable to do his usual morning exercises, which had felt strange. Now, at last, he was back on solid ground.

After the banquet the night before, all the Vela Nobles had left Farview Palace with Marquis Guilford. It was the king's residence. Marquis Gelorge could stay there as a member of the royal family, but the others could not.

Fortunately, Marquis Guilford's estate was not far from Farview Palace. The Vela Nobles had gone straight to his private estate, where the accommodations were far better than those aboard the ship.

The others had probably enjoyed a rare good night's sleep. Victor did not see anyone until he had finished his run and was about to return to his room for a bath.

"Marquis Victor, you're up so early! I thought I'd be the first one awake!"

"Oh, Count Edmund. You stayed at Marquis Guilford's estate too? I thought you'd have gone home last night."

The newcomer was Count Edmund. Victor had not seen him when he left the banquet and had assumed he had gone home—or left with his female companion.

Edmund gave an awkward smile. He knew what Victor was getting at. After all, Victor had seen him with his childhood friend Saphinia the night before.

Still, Count Edmund explained, "Marquis Victor, my home isn't in Beckman City. It's in Lip, another major port in Eastern Coastal Province. Lip is the home port of the Third Fleet, which my father serves with, and my family's fief is nearby!

"Saphinia left with her father last night. I simply hadn't seen Chief of Staff Laou Allen in a long time, so I rode in