Aaron nodded and his sincerity could be seen as he said, "Senior, I have always admired you. I'm very grateful for this rare opportunity. I'm honored to go with you."
He gave a rare respectful bow along with his agreement. General Sam smiled; his whole body shook in excitement. He is feeling truly happy. All he could utter was, "You brat! Don't butter me. This old man may not be able to take it." He really can't take it.
General Sam smiled continuously and asked, "So is General going back to the borders?"
Aaron replied, "The situation at the Central planes are almost wrapped up properly. I may only need to return once in a few days." He continued again, "Even so, I will return once I'm done here and if his majesty allows this small servant to go."
While they were talking and laughing, Stephan from the flank saw everything. Behind him, several palace courtiers and advisors are talking about today's event. He was walking towards the palace door when he saw Daniel looking with eyes filled with admiration towards General Sam.
The beautiful face, so jade-like skin but slightly tanned and rosy lips high nose, and that bewitching eyes which can make people forget where to step next. That mole, so cutely hanging below his eyes. The person is soul-sucking.
Stephan stood frozen at the same place seeing Daniel so beautiful. Behind him, other courtiers also saw this scene. Several couldn't help but sigh in admiration but who knows what they are thinking in their heart? He waved his hands indicating to disperse. He muttered under his breath, "Daniel looks beautiful."
He without any extra thought walked towards them. They seemed pretty close to each other. Suddenly he felt tightened and scratchy to separate them. His eyes darkened and only locked on the beauty in front of him.
Stephen walked toward them and stopped. He greeted, "Senior General Sam, General Daniel nice to meet you."
Aaron heard his voice clear yet hoarse for some reason. He glimpsed at him and saw a very handsome person. He felt his heart beating crazily right after seeing Stephan. A handsome yet casual person appeared before him. Fair, strong, and what else could be described as an immortal, that portrayal can be fit for this person. But the most important thing is the eyes, those beautiful eyes. Aaron can't dare to look more and bowed. His heartbeat sped up and only words rang in his mind, "Who is he?"
But soon he could not ponder any longer because his cold face started to heat up. He tightened his face to be more serious and faced him. He cleared his mind and greeted with a bow, "Your royal highness."
General Sam also greeted smiling; he is older than the crown prince. So, it is natural for him to be more casual, "Your Highness. Nice to meet you too. It's been a long time since we met after that hunting event a year ago."
Stephan smiled as he normally does and replied " It would be a hunting event again. General Sam, please guide me again. You were busy handling the border disputes year-round. I wanted to visit you for military guidance."
General Sam patted his shoulder, "I'm free after one last issue. Crown Prince, please visit the training session to talk."
Stephan nodded, "Very thanks for teaching me."
Pausing here he glanced at Daniel and asked the question of which is scratching his heart, "The two generals seem to have an important discussion. Sorry to interrupt."
Aaron cannot help but think, 'Yet you still came knowing you would be disturbing others?' but he paused at his thoughts. Realising he was being so spoiled towards Stephen. He is the Crown Prince and it doesn't matter if he comes here or not, it's all his wish and it's natural.
General Sam said with a free spirit. It could be seen that he is very excited, "It was about Jenal city's flood incident and bandits hidden in it. The general and I were talking about going there."
He gave a gist about the situation there and the Crown Prince also displayed his heartfelt sadness. The Jenal is not a very big city, but it is a very important one. Jenal produces a very large amount of rice and wheat every year which is the main source of food of Shenoy. Of course, as big as the country is it is not the only source, but having it as good and productive is better than having nothing.
They talked for a while. In this conversion Aaron didn't participate. He is a junior here, and he doesn't like to talk unnecessarily, so he just stood with them. If it is others, they would feel discomfort but for him this is comfort. Ignoring everything in this world having only peace of mind is his thing.
Yet today is different from any other day, he is unable to have that peace of mind because of Stephan. He would just think about the person before him. But soon he couldn't just stand there when the banquet was about to commence. Jerry and Jenny waved at him to come.
He bowed and politely said, "The event is about to start. I shall leave first for convenience. Please continue your conversation."
General Sam and Stephan nodded. Aaron didn't waste any more breath walking straight towards the entry grand door where Jerry and Jenny are waiting for him at the flank.
General Sam said with a sigh, "I don't understand why he is still single. With his look, he can marry any woman under the heavens." his words carrying indications.
Stephen finding this amusing laughed and said, "That's to be said. Everyone in this country says he is indifferent to women. Maybe he doesn't like women but men."
He didn't see the story saying the general likes men or women, but he did read that Daniel only has one friend and that is Stephen. So, taking this person under his wings wouldn't take much effort, would it? He blinked his eyes slowly. Calming the hurricane of emotions.
Staring at his back General Sam shook his head and expressed, "He is always surrounded by men in the army." He added smiling and caressing his long goatees, "Your Highness doesn't know this, but the army also has man beyond beautiful like these scholars. Yet there are no men he is close with either."
He suddenly laughed and added, "Certainly, even a man would fall for him. Liking a man is nothing special either. I do think he can be matched with man more than woman. No woman can match his looks. His will outshine them."
He again said with a meaningful grin, "If I was to be judged and can say outrageous words then he can be matched with someone as handsome as you, Your Highness."
Hearing his words Stephen looked at this General with slight shock and doubt. Stephan can't help but think that General Sam knew how he felt toward Daniel because he didn't try to hide it from him. Yet it was just today, that he expressed such an attitude towards Danial, why General Sam is so perceptive. But, as if Sam was casually saying things he changed the issue, "Such a handsome and great talent. I regret coming into this world too early."
Stephan's gaze also followed Aaron's figure with his profound eyes "Truly a peerless beauty and talent." While he looked at Daniel's back, he missed the interesting flash across General Sam's eyes.
When they were talking earlier, Sam saw Stephen have his eyes locked on Daniel. If not, he would glance at him from time to time. If this is not the start of something incredible then what could be?
He wants to see them together. What imperial family rules, what people thought, what worldview. All matters are the heart of the person in the end. The Crown Prince is a person of resolute and far sighted thoughts. We can have someone of kind heart, but most of the time, in life one just needs a person who is resolute about their words and actions. Such person can treat their other half with respect and unwavering love. If Daniel and Stephen became one, what a wonder it would be. General Sam continued his talk with Stephen thinking about different things in his mind. He doesn't know this but not long after this he would be in cloud nine.
Aaron felt Stephen's gaze following him. He really couldn't calm down his silly heart. He tried to calm down till he was exhausted. He thought, he must not meet this person again but if he didn't wouldn't their friendship ends here? And is his task incomplete? So, what should he do now? His thoughts are messy, and all he can do is sigh in his heart.
Looking at his constant frozen look the twin exchanged looks but remained silent. He took a moment and after a while, headed in, with his twin guards, He calmed down his emotions.
The Eunuch announced his arrival, "Honored guests, let it be known—arriving in the hallowed halls this eve, the valiant General Daniel Frank, a hero of the empire, strides forth with the grace of a mighty lion. His presence, like the rising sun, commands respect and awe. Let us all rise in reverence and welcome him to our midst."
After his announcement was made the entire hall fell silent. because the thing that General Daniel doesn't like noise has been known by everyone. There is a rumor saying at the party on the border side due to the certain person the atmosphere grew noisy. The general slapped that person thrice. Even though the person was drunk he was not forgiven but mercilessly slapped a few more times to be sober. No one wants to test if it is true or false.
All the people present heard clear and strong footsteps sounding in the entire hall. Looking slightly upwards from the ground the crowd saw his long slender legs, then porcelain-like slim hands, then his robust body, and at last that peerless look that can topple the whole country appeared. Beautiful like something else that they never saw, but he doesn't feel feminine at all. The person is lean like bamboo.
A flower does not pick its own petals. General Danial not once looked expectant but cold. Utterly gorgeous. An individual loaded with a dignified aura. People couldn't help but sigh. Such a person went to the battlefield fighting with enemies. Who can guess if not for his reputation as a cold general that this beautiful person is the youngest general in Shenoy's history? Not any young master of a big family but an orphan. It is truly a remarkable fact for which everyone in Shenoy is proud of.
The young women saw such a handsome beauty and they were in amazement but soon envious. They wonder if the general is honestly a human. Feeling envious of that face is more gorgeous than any woman. The civil servants' shudder into pieces due to fear because of his cold look. He is excluding immense frostiness. The higher officers of the army held their heads up because the general was the person who guarded the two ends of the country all by himself. Protecting the weak of those ruins.
Envy is like drinking poison, and expecting others to die.
At the innermost side of the hall, a pair of big eyes fixedly also followed Aaron. He is John, slender and sweet. He is a beauty however he could not be compared to Aaron. Daniel is so beautiful that it would be a lie if anyone said they were not envious of him. John too felt this. His heart cannot help but feel rage seeing someone superior to him in looks. He always keeps up saying he doesn't like those who are in higher ranks to act like a god. Yet he is like them. He looks down on people who are lower in rank and more towards those who have no backing like General Daniel. Those people who have no background are the most pathetic of all. They don't have anyone as their parents and brothers and sisters. They would leave behind descendants, but they would never be cared for genuinely. His gaze followed till Daniel reached the center of the hall. He gritted his teeth to hold his mocking words.
Aaron felt such an intense gaze, so he conformed to it and found the most crucial target of his task. The ladies from that side blushed in excitement. Amidst this Aaron noticed, John looked at him like other nobles, but he saw resentment in him. However, he looked away so fast that he appeared casually glancing toward that side.
Aaron thought John did have beautiful features. He had also attracted a lot of attention. But his body is so small not like a man at all. He is excluding feminine aura which made people treat him like a feeble lady.
A man who wears a woman's mask hides a serpent's heart. Aaron understands this very well. When he was still alive, those women groups who loved to cause troubles were the most troublesome ones, but the men, the men who were trying to behave like a flower were the ones hiding the sea of malicious intentions.
Aaron sat at his designated seat collecting his thoughts back. Various official young men and old superiors started to greet. He did not drop his frostiness front however his voice loosened up while talking to his subordinates. "You all can stay where you are. I will listen to you one by one."
These people are from the border side. High official visits are very common to the palace from the border side for different purposes. The army does guard those areas, but the importance placed on them is not as high as it is in the capital city. Some cities would be neglected for their internal development. So, they have to talk with the general and other high officials about their needs.
Some soldiers also came to him regarding the matter of their leaves. He could only ask Jerry, "Collect their written reports and bring them later on." He cannot neglect their life. Although they are soldiers, they also have families not orphans like him. Thinking about his own life Aaron felt wrong. Why even during this transition he doesn't have any family? He sighed and skipped this negative thought.
He looked at the clean table before him. The low wooden table has intricate carvings. Giving it a sophisticated air. There are Lotus Leaf Tea, Yellow wine, Rice wine, and Imperial red wine. The most flavored drinks served during the important events in the palace.
The emperor is really generous to actually waste such good drinks for all. Aaron glanced at others but didn't touched the drinks. Now his status is at risk. The emperor is eyeing closely at him due to fear of military power. Others perspective of Danial is very biased due to his looks and achievements, sometimes good and sometimes bad.
Aaron on the other hand is biased towards his soldiers and has different views regarding these subordinates of his. These soldiers and army officials are the shield of the country. They all are equal, and they have to sacrifice themselves at any moment. They are helpless fighting puppets. In ancient times, people were forced to go to war. Any one or two people from every house. They have no choice but to go for a living. In front of his subordinates, Aaron will always speak softly after all, who knows, what will happen tomorrow. He chatted with them for a while and the surroundings never once became noisy. This made Aaron relax considerably.