The Whole Empire Thinks The Admiral Wants To Steal The Bride - Chapter 1

　　☆☆Chapter 1 – The Whole Empire Thinks the Admiral Wants to Steal the Bride☆☆

Chapter 1 – ‘This Empire Is Hopeless, Right?’

　　9:30 AM

　　”Admiral Glenn, did you know that His Highness Joshua is getting engaged to that crazy woman Theresa?” Harvilin asked not too subtly.

　　Glenn nodded – he was reading the report sent by Harvillin – and pressed the intercom on the table with his slender index finger, instructing the butler to bring in a cup of coffee for the guest.

　　”Yes, of course I do. Last night’s press conference was fantastic. The entire Empire is talking about it now.”

　　Harvillin was very upset.

　　His face was full of “Then why are you still sitting here?”, but Admiral Glenn was concentrating the data in his hand and didn’t see the man’s expression.

　　Harvilin is the director of the First Legion’s Military Intelligence Department and a subordinate of Admiral Glenn. The flaxen-haired Alpha has a photographic memory, great data analysis skills that could compete with optical computers, and a burning, gossipy heart.

　　The minute hand moved five circles on the clock face at a constant speed. Harvilin took a deep breath and asked tentatively, “Do you really approve of His Highness Joshua’s marriage from the bottom of your heart?”

　　Glenn was reading the key data without looking up: “Why not? I respect Joshua’s personal wishes. Even though he is a member of the royal family, he has the absolute freedom to choose who he wants to marry.”

　　”Whoever he chooses?”

　　”Yes, no matter who he chooses, I will give him my most sincere blessings.”

　　Harvilin’s eyes turned red as he heard this, and he thought: ‘Admiral Glenn loves His Highness Joshua so deeply. At this moment, the golden heart beneath his calm appearance must be shattered.’

　　Admiral Glenn didn’t remember what he said at all. He thought to himself: ‘The situation on Jinlu Star is good. It’s a good opportunity to let those brats in the college to go out and gain some experience.’

　　Five minutes later, the butler, Alfred, brought in two cups of coffee in china bone cups with exquisite patterns. He handed one to Havelin and placed the other in front of Glenn.

　　Glenn put down his work upon hearing the voice and raised his eyebrows at the horrible cup of black coffee in front of him.

　　”Alfred, I remember I only asked for a cup of coffee for Havelin.” It was supposed to be the normal one with milk and sugar.

　　Alfred gracefully performed the deacon’s salute and smiled lovingly: “Admiral, the bitter taste can soothe the pain in your heart, and so can talking to a friend.”

　　Havelin nodded solemnly, showing a look of deep approval.

　　Glenn sat in the chair in a daze for a while, until the butler closed the door, then he turned his overly handsome face to Harvelin, with a hint of doubt in his dark eyes: “Harvelin, did you understand what Alfred said just now?”

　　Harvillin straightened his back and said seriously, “Yes, Admiral. Mr. Alfred hopes that you can forget the pain in your heart. If you need someone to talk to, I am willing to serve you at any time.”

　　Glenn: “…”

　　Glenn: “…Thank you.”

　　‘Although Havelin’s eyes were sincere, what was he talking about?’

　　12:00PM

　　During lunch, Glenn passed by the garden and saw several familiar Beta maids sitting under a tall sycamore tree. They had sad faces and were talking in low voices while holding silk handkerchiefs.

　　Glenn didn’t want to eavesdrop, but the Alpha’s excellent hearing had automatically filtered out the conversation that was floating in the wind.

　　”Well, what shall that gentleman do?”

　　”I didn’t expect His Royal Highness the Crown Prince would make this choice.”

　　”Yes, from now on I can no longer openly be a fan of Grand Duchess Theresa…”

　　”Shh – keep your voice down. You’ll get beaten for saying something like that at a time like this!”

　　”I don’t care, I don’t believe in love anymore!”

　　……

　　‘Your Royal Highness? The Crown Prince? Archduchess Theresa?’

　　‘Could it be that Joshua has a secret lover that he doesn’t know about?!’

　　The upright Admiral Glenn was struck by lightning and felt that he might need a copy of the latest gossip newspaper on the capital planet to learn about the latest emotional dynamics of his colleagues and friends.

　　1:00PM

　　After lunch, Glenn stayed alone in the study looking at the star map. He was planning to draft a battle plan for Jinlu Star.

　　The young admiral took out a pen from the drawer and found a stack of silver-inlaid writing paper from the bookshelf – this was a special supply from the palace, a gift from Joshua. He stretched his body and sat down at the desk in a relaxed manner.

　　After entering the Third Galactic Era, the oral input function of optical computers gradually became the mainstream input technology, but Glenn was still accustomed to using paper and fountain pens. This ancient touch passed down from ancient times kept his mind clear.

　　Just as the four big words “Operation Plan” were written on the manuscript paper, the communicator placed on the desk suddenly began to vibrate wildly.

　　Glenn saw the name on the communicator screen, a bright smile appeared in his eyes, and he picked up the call and said easily:

　　”Hi, Chris, long time no see. Is everything fine on Gulangxing—”

　　——Before he uttered his words, the adjutant, Chris, almost screamed from the other end.

　　”Oh my God, Glenn, His Highness Joshua is actually engaged? And to that crazy woman Theresa?!”

　　Glenn: “…” Everyone is quite concerned about His Highness Joshua’s marriage.

　　Glenn concealed his emotions and narrated calmly, “Yes. His Royal Highness Joshua personally held a press conference last night. The engagement ceremony is scheduled for the 8th of next month. Grand Duchess Theresa will visit Fran a week in advance.”

　　Chris’s lips trembled, and the scenes of the admiral and the crown prince’s love over the years flashed through his mind like a kaleidoscope. Finally, he let out a long sigh.

　　Chris: “Well, it’s great that you can see things more clearly. Although I didn’t expect His Highness to accept this kind of political marriage, it’s for Fran after all, so I can understand it. You…you take good care of yourself. I will go back to the capital star to report on my work next month, and I will drink with you then.”

　　Chris’s image flickered a few times, and he quickly hung up the phone amid his subordinates’ urging.

　　Glenn: “…”

　　‘Is it because I woke up the wrong way today?’

　　2:00PM

　　”Okay, mother. I know. I will send my regards to His Highness Joshua on your behalf.”

　　”Yes, yes, Grand Duchess Theresa is a very beautiful female Alpha.”

　　”…Why are you crying?”

“Are you gay?”

　　”No, mother, I’m not gay. I like Omegas, but I haven’t met the right person yet.”

　　”Wait, why are you crying again?”

　　”…Okay, father, please comfort mother. I don’t know what happened.”

　　”I have no plans to start a family for the time being…Father, why are you crying too?”

　　”…Okay, I’ll come back to visit you during the holidays. Bye.”

　　Glenn hung up the phone and for the first time ever thought about whether he should go back to bed and sleep for a while. He didn’t have the habit of taking a nap, but…

　　‘Maybe I’m still dreaming,’ Glenn thought with some regret.

　　3:15PM

　　The Fran Empire now has three legions, each with a legion commander who holds the rank of admiral. Glenn, as the commander of the first legion, always sits first from the left at the round table during meetings, just behind the old marshal.　　

　　As soon as Glenn sat down, Miranda, the bold female admiral and commander of the Second Legion, leaned over to him. Her amber eyes flickered slightly, and she asked hesitantly, “Hey, Glenn, are you okay? I heard that His Highness Joshua is getting engaged to that crazy woman Theresa?”

　　‘Is it about His Highness’s wedding again?’

　　Glenn’s resolute brows tightened and he said calmly, “I’m fine. Yes, I heard that too.”

　　Miranda’s eyes were full of sympathy: “Oh, my poor Glenn! Believe me, Cupid’s little arrow will always pierce your heart.”

　　Glenn: “…”

　　Because Joshua is engaged, did the meeting’s appetizer become discrimination against single generals?

　　Miranda paused and thought for a moment, as if she had made a difficult decision, and said solemnly again: “If one day you decide to disrupt the wedding, I will go to the scene to help without hesitation!”

　　Glenn: “…………………?!”

　　The events of the entire day finally connected together like beads on a string, and Glenn was so shocked that he almost fell off the soft seat.

　　He and Joshua? God, what are these people around him thinking about every day? And even his father and mother?

　　”What did you just say?” The admiral’s narrow black eyes widened.

　　”Stealing bride—” Ke Xi said slowly, “If it’s you and Joshua, I’m willing to lend you 10,000 mecha soldiers.”

　Miranda was instantly displeased and raised her chin at her old rival: “Lazy guy, I proposed this first! Glenn, I’ll give you 20,000!”

　　”Whatever you want, boring woman. I’ll give you twenty thousand and one.”

　　”You want to fight, Ke Xi?” Miranda clenched her fists until they made a crackling sound.

　　Miranda’s gunpowder-scented pheromones and Ke Xi’s sea-salt-scented pheromones poured out, and the entire conference room smelled like a tsunami meeting a bomb.

　　Glenn’s mind was like a destroyed doomsday movie set, and his handsome face kept changing. After a while, he slowly said in the pungent pheromone: “Do you think His Highness Joshua and I are a couple? Don’t you think this is ridiculous? His Highness and I are comrades-in-arms who trust each other with life and death. We are close and innocent friends.”

　　He got no response.

　　Admiral Glenn looked around and saw pity on everyone’s face. Miranda was the most direct. Her expression seemed to say, ‘Look, he’s deceiving himself again.’

　　Glenn was full of black lines: “…I am telling the truth.”

　　”Don’t you know that the long embrace between you and the Crown Prince on Gulang Star still often appears on the front pages of newspapers?”

　　”Ordinary parting wishes. Ke Xi and I also hugged each other.”

　　Ke Xi: “I don’t remember.”

　　”After the Battle of Atenes, your comrade’s neck bore your bite mark!”

　　”He lost his inhibitors. It was necessary.”

　　”Then why is there a photo of you and the Crown Prince embedded in your military badge?”

　　”Because I am an orphan, Joshua is a friend I can trust with my life.”

　　Everyone in the military: “Stop talking, we all understand. Admiral, we support you!”

　　Glenn had a blank expression on his face, and his hands, which were calloused from operating a mecha, slowly covered his eyes.

　　‘——Is there any hope for this kind of military? No, this empire is hopeless, right?’